Micro National Round 1 Thanks

[Jonesy]

This may take a while but here goes!!

When entries closed for this years National Series we were all aware that the calendar was short. As a BRCA Micro Committee member I felt I had a duty to try and rectify this situation so I approached Ellesmere Port (which is not my main club) and asked for their help - and so it began!

Ellesmere Port were fantasic in the help and support they have provided the section in hosting todays event. I'd like to thanks Stuart, Gavin, Steve for setting up as well as Mike (Oswestry), Dan and Darren for packing up. Most of all a MASSIVE thanks to Si Stickland (your D Final Winner today) for providing the Van and Trailer which has allowed us to transport the carpets, piping, jumps, ramps, PA and so on to the venue today. Si helped me every step of the way in the planning of this as well as execution of the event and all the hard work paid. The work put in from the club was excellent.

Many thanks to the BRCA Committee, Cris for not putting his nose in every 5 minutes (which is a testiment to the way todays meeting was run), Stu for Health and Safety Advice, Steve D and Chris B for making us change any of the track this morning, Mat North for his help in recent weeks ensuring you guys at all paid!!

Dave Blakely who works at the venue was also very instrumental in securing the venue for a very very very decent price and the guys from Mold Model Car Club were amazingly supportive in allowing us to use their venue and pipes. Oswestry Model Car Club also showed fantastic support in allowing us to borrow their 1/10th Off Road designed Table Top

We never had many issues today, in fact the greatest moan we had from drivers was the feature on the left hand side of the track which was 'random' at times but fun at others - and these moans were minimal! We had an issue first thing this morning when we turned up and the ceiling was leaking, that issue was soon 'mopped' up with a slight track change.

Big thanks go to my dad for sitting on Scruteneering all day, Mike Elliot for running the computer all day and Tom Yardy for some fantastic commentary - "Craig Harris is half way back to Wales" was a funny comment!

In relation to the turn out I really wish there were more drivers there to see it but the distance travelling for this meeting meant people stayed away then so be it. There is a time and a place for this discussion and now is not it!

I'm sure there are many more people I need to thank and if I've missed you off then I really am sorry, everyone deserves a pat on the back for today, I'm really really glad we did it!

Despite all the highs there has to be a low though, and that low was my driving in the Final, I am gutted that I never turned my Qualfying Performances into a win, and not even a podium. I felt my car was dialed all day but still we live and learn!

Overall, today was about you guys, the racers, and Ellesmere Port and I putting on a National Meeting, this was achieved in my opinion. I can measure this on the number of you that came over to me and shook my hand and asked me to thanks the guys that had put in the graft, appriciation from fellow drivers is always welcoming and you never know we may be persuaded to do another one in the future (especially if I can go that quick around there again )

Thanks and Good Night (i.e Time for a Beer)