Junior Drivers + EOS Locations.....

[Jonesy]

I'm not sure of the exact figures from the Junior Finals over the weekend but there were less than 10 in both classes on both days (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong).

To me this seems like our sport / hobby may have a bleak future despite numbers being at record highs over the last few years.

According to Southports website results from the same weekend as Eastrax (last weekend), they had 11 Juniors racing at a club meeting!!

When I started racing I had to qualify for the Junior Finals and remember travelling down to West London Model Car Club (1994 - I think) as a North West Reserve and not being allowed to race, along with other years when I didn't even make the event! I just feel that we need to look at bringing more youngsters in and getting them up to a competitive level. (That sentence is by no mean a dig at the Junior Drivers who made the journey to Eastrax)

I'm not saying Eastrax didn't deserve to host a National event because they produced the goods over the weekend and I'd be more than happy to go back there for a Full National next year BUT... The EOS finals need to be in a location where it is easy (easier) for all to get too IMO.

Now I know there are going to be pros and cons to this, Scotland were represented by Alan Hart only as an example over the weekend, and I'm sure if the F2s were in a more Northern location then we may have dropped some drivers who were more local etc etc...

I'm not sure what the solution is and with most things in life you are not going to please everyone.

Any ideas or does everyone feel the section will be ok in years to come??

[Mrs oOple]

I think it is great that the hobby has been thriving at National level, but clubs still seem to be suffering. I think that perhaps the best way to draw in the new champs is to promote the hobby at club level. Maybe raise awareness in schools or social clubs. Maybe have more local competitions aimed at the younger racers, give them more chances to win prizes throughout the year.

[bigred5765]

or even more incentives to race.

[Jonesy]

Originally Posted by bigred5765

or even more incentives to race.

That's a tough one though...

When I started, EVERYBODY got a trophy at the end of a meeting but after getting 40-50 trophies you start to get bored of that and only keep the odd one where you have a cracking result!

You can then offer incentives for the overall winners and no young kid starting out is going to win so that is also a no go (It would be good for your regualr national champions, Pidge, Ellis, Neil etc...)

I don't know what incentives you could offer.....

I'm sure I've been to Model Shop sponcered events where vouchers or prizes have been given to the winners of every final, maybe that would work although I also appriciate that model shops can not afford to part with 'free' merchandise.

[niggs98]

perhaps there could be incentives for the top none sponsered driver in each class at the EOS finals to pick up a b team drive from one of the big importers and have a different one sponser it each year,

more suport from the teams as well would be nice although having said that there was support from all the teams this year with notable top drivers there in the form of bradders, mossy, cockerill,yardy, preddy, sleigh, doughty and others all willing to help people of all ages and abilties which was really nice to see and gave massive encouragement, has been great to see all the thanks given from various racers at the event for the help given.

i know of clubs who have large amounts of juniours who just arnt prepared to even travel 20 miles to a regional let alone 3+ hours to an end of season finals, yet there are others who will travel to the end of the world for it, why is there such a marked change between regions in that way i dont know but its something we need to work on or there will be no next craggy or ellis to carry the uk mantle on.

anyone have anyother ideas as to how to turn this problem around

[Nick Goodall]

I still think the main problem is at Club & Regional level - Nationals being over subscribed every year looks great ont he surface but really is a problem as it's the only meetings people seem to want to do.

I think you should have to qualify to do nationals! I know you have to qualify for EOS finals but if you were to make people have to do regionals to get in for Nat's you'd raise the overall standard of Nationals but more importantly give clubs a far better chance of surviving due to having a guaranteed turnout at Regionals!

When i was racing at top level i'd still attend regionals as it was great practise and we used to still get really good drivers turning up - Even as we thought it was dying off a bit we'd still get 50-60 people at a Regional which was a great days racing without the stress of it being a national.

The way it's going there will only be around 8 clubs that can afford to keep going let alone have the interest to want to get up early and put all the effort into track maintenance / improvements.