Oulton park missing off calendars

[Bomber604]

Of the 3 confirmed club calendars I've seen for 2014:

Khumo BMW
CTRC
750mc

None of them are racing at Oulton.

Is there a link, cause or problem with booking race meetings at my favourite circuit?

[andrewc]

Maybe the fact that for most club meets, Oulton is a Saturday only affair, and many want to go for two days?

[Bomber604]

Why is it Sat only?

[kipper]

750MC haven't gone to Oulton for a couple of years due, I understand, to the lack of availability of two day meetings as it is a long way for the bulk of their members to travel for a single header meeting. I suspect Kumho BMW and CTCRC runners are looking to haver some variety in the circuits they go from year to year (for instance, the CTCRC didn't visit Cadwell or Donington this year, but will go to both in '14).

That said, by my reckoning Oulton will have approximately 16 one day meetings next year (shared between BARC, BRSCC, CSCC and MSVR) in addition to the British GT, BTCC and Gold Cup meetings.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Bomber604

Why is it Sat only?

Oulton is only allowed to operate on four Sundays a year (and then with nothing on track before 12). These traditionally go the biggest (and presumably most lucrative) meetings comprising the BTCC, the Gold Cup and the two Superbike meetings. This explains why British GT is held on the Easter Saturday/Easter Monday, with no track action on Sunday.

[andy97]

CSCC have taken 2 successive Saturdays with half of the clubs series racing at each. Oulton is an important and popular venue for us, so we have to be there.

[Al Weyman]

I am glad CTCRC are not going there much as I like the track its a pain to get to on a Friday afternoon from London and a long way for just a single header one day meeting.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Bomber604

Why is it Sat only?

Saturday only meetings at Oulton have existed since at least the 1960s, when I was competing in the Redex Special Saloon Championship and our trips to Oulton were always on the Saturdays.

As I and my team had proper jobs, we couldn't get Friday afternoons off. This meant that the crew would prep the car on Friday evening, as we did every Friday, whilst I grabbed a few hours sleep. We would then set off for Oulton from North London at around midnight, with an extra team member driving the tow car so that the rest of us could catch a few zzzs along the way.

Arrival at the track would just be in time for a hearty breakfast, followed by scrutineering, and then practice and the race in the afternoon. Then it was pack-up time and a quick dash down to Mallory for a Redex round on the Sunday. Sleeping arrangements on Saturday night were, to say the least, crude in the Mallory paddock.

Sunday morning at Mallory, and it became a tradition for my crew to cook a big fry-up for anybody else stupid enough to sleep in the paddock or for those that got there early enough. Then it was time to remove the gearbox and diff to change gearing, followed by scrutineering, etc.

Sunday evening and the drive back to North London, where we lifted the engine and gearbox ready for rebuilding for the next race weekend. I usually hit the sack at around 2 to 3 in the morning, and was up at 6.30 to start the day job.

Never regretted a day, though.

[Bomber604]

Fair play, that's proper club motorsport!

[andrewc]

One of the weekends I am schedules to be there they are using the Friday / Saturday. I wonder if they can get enough marshals?

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by andrewc

One of the weekends I am schedules to be there they are using the Friday / Saturday. I wonder if they can get enough marshals?

Which weekend? I would assume that the Friday's a test day, in which case it will be covered by the normal weekday marshals supplied by the circuit, not the organising club.

[andrewc]

18/19 July

Formula 4 - 1 quali, 3 races
F3 Cup - 1 quali, 2 races
Monoposto - 2 grids each 1 quali, 2 races

I can't believe the race calendar is entirely single seaters.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by andrewc

18/19 July

Formula 4 - 1 quali, 3 races
F3 Cup - 1 quali, 2 races
Monoposto - 2 grids each 1 quali, 2 races

I can't believe the race calendar is entirely single seaters.

Not quite all single-seaters - the Ariel Atoms are "racing" as well.

We'll have to wait until nearer the time to see what the format is - possibly qualifying on Friday, racing on Saturday so that Friday isn't counted as a race day.

The F3 Cup calendar shows it as two days, Monoposto & Atom only show it as one day.

[andrewc]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

Not quite all single-seaters - the Ariel Atoms are "racing" as well.

We'll have to wait until nearer the time to see what the format is - possibly qualifying on Friday, racing on Saturday so that Friday isn't counted as a race day.

The F3 Cup calendar shows it as two days, Monoposto & Atom only show it as one day.

Yes, Mono are having it as a double header - one quali and two races, rather than their normal 2 day meeting format of one quali and one race per day. They have two grids so thats 6 sessions.

Atom Cup in 2013 was one quali and two races.

[Al Weyman]

Just heard I may be there with the British Gt's I wonder if that's a two day event I do hope so. Err I mean on the same race card!

[Al Weyman]

Oh just googled and its a three day easter weekend, that's a must do then!

[KayBee]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Oh just googled and its a three day easter weekend, that's a must do then!

You have the Sunday off.

[andrewc]

British GT has usually been a Saturday and a Monday meeting. Previously British F3 were there Friday and Saturday, but didn't want to spend a day kicking their heels around an empty paddock on Easter Sunday, so they went home and F3 Cup filled their slot on Monday.

[Al Weyman]

Really that's not too good but I fancy you are indeed correct looking back at the timetable, not sure I fancy that either and knowing Oulton I can see them kicking everyone out on the Sunday. If race is on Monday and qually on Saturday I would miss the qually and start from the back it wont make a jot of difference at the end of the day! They really don't make it easy for the clubman to compete anymore do they?

[andrewc]

I spent several days there - testing Friday, watching Saturday, reading a book on Sunday, action Monday. Its quite nice and peaceful on the Sunday

[Woolley]

Been running like that for several years. We've tended to take the caravan up Friday evening, Saturday marshalling, Sunday a nice day out somewhere, then Monday back on track. Makes for a nice week-end.

However, this year it clashes with WEC. No contest, I'm afraid.

[EastonNeston]

BF3 used to do Saturday & Monday, until SRO decided one year that they had their following round at Monza, starting on the Thursday!

[Justin Moran]

The fact its clashing with the WEC is going to be a tough call for me, I do enjoy the BGT but I know I can catch them elsewhere in the year, the WEC however is a once a year event and as much as I really dont enjoy Silverstone, like you Woolley its a no brainer.