What a great 2nd NW Regional Round

[TonyM]

I thoroughly enjoyed today's racing at Stoke. This is exactly what we need in the NW *** VARIETY ***.

There are things that could improve, but we can say that about all our venues. In all honesty, I’d rather hit a tyre than a lump of concrete and I don’t really care that one is covered by BRCA rules while the other is not.

For those who expected perfection on the first 1/10th outing at the track – get a life.

For those who expected to finish early and went home leaving gaps in the marshalling – think carefully before booking round 3. It’s a long day, we know that in advance. Either allow for it, or next time help reduce the angst of your fellow drivers and don’t book in.

RANT OVER

[PaulRotheram]

I actually enjoyed today, the track was different and its nice to get some air time - its what these cars are made for! Bumps jumps and filth!

As you say Tony, it is expected to be a long day, however finishing at 7 Is abit excessive considering a national is finished before then. With the addition of stopping and starting for votes, it is slightly frustraiting.

The track, I thought, was good for an 8th track, the jumps were manageable - for anyone saying they werent through the day were simply not willing to learn. The quad jump in particular was great for me - risk it for a biscuit and double double, or keep it steady and single single double or be sensible and single them all.

Some sections did need work, and this is the feedback I'll give. The seperations between peices of astro were simply too big for our cars. With many corners having obsticles in the surface which are really not needed.
As the lap times were so long - 45-55 seconds per lap, this definatly needs to be made shorter. The back straight could be cut down and brought in back around to the straight by the rostrum making it a more sensible lap timing.

Marshal positioning - my biggest gripe of the day by far! For an 8th meeting where they were positioned were fine. However for a 10th race they were simply too far away from the action. I was 'lucky' to be driver number 6 - covering the quad and all i can say is that run from my chair to the jumps seemed to get further away as the day went on. This definately needs to be rectified if we return to the track.

I do however hold my opinion - a 10th club race should of been held before this meeting took place. I understand various drivers visited the track before today, however a shake down session does not come close to a full scale regional. As shown by today a few mistakes were made with time keeping making it to be a very long day. Arriving at the track for 7:30 and starting round one at 11am, with a full three minute gap between heats making it 8 minutes per heat, 1 hour and 30 per round - 6 hours for qualifying alone.
all of the above could of been rectified if a club meeting was held before hand.

However - I would definately consider returning if alterations were made and lessons were learnt.

Also thank you to our rep Woody for putting up with the hassle of holding a meeting like this, it was a tough day and all decisions made were fair.

[danDanEFC]

I was actually scared of the track when I turned up!

It turned out to be not much worse than any others, so I would like to thank all involved in running the day.

I hope we are welcome back next year

[Gavin Collingwood]

It won't be ran there again apparently it'll be held at storm valley indoor clay/dirt most likely

[Dean Washington]

it was a great day racing i thought, track was big yes, but least you didnt get to lap people/people lap you as often, so pretty much clean runs. if u didnt crash on the jumps . i struggled all day, but was down to my setup/driving not the track. my only complaint was the finals. dont know about other peoples but mine in both my finals no one was lining the grid up, in my 4wd final alone i quailfied 5th but for some reason car 9 from my heat sneaked his way up and started ahead of me . i understand it was late and some people wanted or had to get home but it seemed the interest level of the event dropped dramatically and no one cared as long as it finished asap.

but in all great day and i would go back if they were in next years regional
thanks to everyone who was involved with the running of the event.

[MikePimlott]

The track was hard and long yes, but it was the same for everyone on the day. The name of the game is to learn the track and get round as quick as YOU can.

i think next time if the track was shortened the marshall points would be more condensed, this would help.

i thought the policing the Stoke club introduced to our regional series is a huge step forward. Track is closed until all marshalls have changed, and penalties for those marshalls who can never be arsed .

Thanks to the Stoke club for hosting.

on a side note, all the people who voted to stay and then left anyway, can you remember this and vote accordingly should such a situation arise again.


Oh and Nick:
VVVRRROOOOOOOOOOMMM

[MikePimlott]

Originally Posted by Gavin Collingwood

It won't be ran there again apparently it'll be held at storm valley indoor clay/dirt most likely

Why not both ?

[Gavin Collingwood]

True

[the man from delmonte]

Originally Posted by TonyM

I thoroughly enjoyed today's racing at Stoke. This is exactly what we need in the NW *** VARIETY ***.

There are things that could improve, but we can say that about all our venues. In all honesty, I’d rather hit a tyre than a lump of concrete and I don’t really care that one is covered by BRCA rules while the other is not.

For those who expected perfection on the first 1/10th outing at the track – get a life.

For those who expected to finish early and went home leaving gaps in the marshalling – think carefully before booking round 3. It’s a long day, we know that in advance. Either allow for it, or next time help reduce the angst of your fellow drivers and don’t book in.

RANT OVER

Love the fact that you're defending it before anyone as even attacked it lol

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by the man from delmonte

Love the fact that you're defending it before anyone as even attacked it lol

I was commenting on the negatives I heard on the day, rather than any potential future attacks

[NeilRalph77]

Loved it! broke my car lost some bit's finished higher than I qualified, all in all good, long lap or short lap it's all good at least with cars only coming round 6 times you didn't have to marshal them as oftern, unless you were on the jumps! but as has already been mentioned the gap's between the astro were abit excessive and at times made for added obstacles, yes it was along day we seemed to get going late and there was too much time between rounds we could have been lined up ready to race whilst waiting for marshals not the otherway round, having said that thanks Stoke and thanks Woody.

[Tansley]

For me the biggest gripe I had was not about the track. Yes it could do with tidying up a bit for running 10th electrics cars on with some of the gaps in the track which I'm sure can be tapped over, I guess.
It's the not sticking to published running times. We all read the booking in time and practice time, start time etc. If people arn't there on time for when the booking in time closes, tough luck, it's not fair on the rest of the people who have to wait around and the day becomes longer than needed. If people breakdown on the way to the track then phone ahead and let people know, they can be booked in and catch up later, but lets stick to published times.

[gazhillAE]

Originally Posted by Tansley

For me the biggest gripe I had was not about the track. Yes it could do with tidying up a bit for running 10th electrics cars on with some of the gaps in the track which I'm sure can be tapped over, I guess.
It's the not sticking to published running times. We all read the booking in time and practice time, start time etc. If people arn't there on time for when the booking in time closes, tough luck, it's not fair on the rest of the people who have to wait around and the day becomes longer than needed. If people breakdown on the way to the track then phone ahead and let people know, they can be booked in and catch up later, but lets stick to published times.

The first jump of the 4 small ones needs sorting there's a big rut in the middle that sends the car out of shape something that an 8th wouldn't notice

Worst part of the track for me that