Lydden hill - Easter British Rallycross

[Hickey]

Weather is looking at its great British bank holiday best for the weekend, wet and windy!

Any news on updates to the entry list?

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by Hickey

Weather is looking at its great British bank holiday best for the weekend, wet and windy!

Any news on updates to the entry list?

I just spotted the updated entry list here:

http://www.rallycrossbrx.com/assets/...ted-160324.pdf

Just had a quick skim through (so forgive me if I've counted wrong!), but I think thats:

15 British Supercars
3 Belgian Supercars
11 British Super National
15 Belgian Super National+
21 Belgian Super National-
5 Junior Swifts
15 Super 1600
17 Suzuki Swifts
6 RX150
6 BMW MINI
7 Hot Hatch
7 Retro Rallycross

So 128 cars in total? Can't wait to see some racing for the first time this year, roll on Sunday!

(Possibly a typo, but I note that Ollie is entered in his Focus again?)

[Hickey]

Cheers Steve I wonder if and how they will mix classes. With that many entries they might need to!

[chunder]

Sadly it is the state of the nation with British rallycross isnt it, has been for a while, far too many classes and no real concentration on making one class a clear direction for the future.

You need 3 or 4 max like we had until the early 00's. If you are not quick enough, race something else.

No rage buggies, theya re toilet break fodder and not a lot else!

[Hickey]

Always impressed at your finding of the negatives! It's annoying to have so many classes. Think maybe stock hatch and mini could go in Belgian supernational- category and mix supernational+ with supermods. That said each class is full enough not to need mixing (whilst numbers in RX150, retro, hot hatch and mini are low, there's enough for a full enough grid of 6 or 7).

[chunder]

Only as much as I am amused by your ability to ONLY pick out the negatives in anything I write and have the gall to comment about it if there is a mixture of views in any of my posts.

Touche my dear.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by chunder

Only as much as I am amused by your ability to ONLY pick out the negatives in anything I write and have the gall to comment about it if there is a mixture of views in any of my posts.

Forgive me if I'm missing something chunder, but what part of this post...

Originally Posted by chunder

Sadly it is the state of the nation with British rallycross isnt it, has been for a while, far too many classes and no real concentration on making one class a clear direction for the future.

You need 3 or 4 max like we had until the early 00's. If you are not quick enough, race something else.

No rage buggies, theya re toilet break fodder and not a lot else!

...isn't negative? I've looked closely and I can't see it!

Not massive numbers in some classes, but hopefully enough for some decent racing. Glad to see there are enough enough numbers in Supercars and Super Nationals to justify the new final format as well.

Latest weather forecast on the Met Office shows some periods of heavy rain, but at this stage I don't care: I just want to see some racing!

[Hickey]

Biggest concern for me is predictions of gusts up to 65mph on Monday. At what point is it unsafe to race/have gazebos up etc.. hoping it all goes smoothly and also just want to go see some racing!!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Hickey

Biggest concern for me is predictions of gusts up to 65mph on Monday. At what point is it unsafe to race/have gazebos up etc.. hoping it all goes smoothly and also just want to go see some racing!!

This is the worry for me too - the weather tomorrow looks ok at times at grim at others, Monday looks evil. Gazebos are no use is anything other than a light breeze - we lost one that was tied to a wheel on each corner, the wind picked it up and threw the whole lot over the top of our Transit. Luckily there was nobody standing the other side!

[Hickey]

Met office reports suggesting some areas not as bad as feared. Guess it's time to cross fingers. Crowds will inevitably be affected which is a shame.

[geordiecriag101]

Im in a 50/50 mind to go depending on how bad the weather will be, after spending all day at Silverstone in similar conditions it will be a nightmare if its as bad as expected.

At least the setup seems to be going trouble free judging by the last post on the facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/BritishRall...08324909242152

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by geordiecriag101

Im in a 50/50 mind to go depending on how bad the weather will be, after spending all day at Silverstone in similar conditions it will be a nightmare if its as bad as expected.

I think tomorrow looks 'ok' (wet but nothing to worry about), Monday looks like standing up at the top of the hill might not be possible

Originally Posted by geordiecriag101

At least the setup seems to be going trouble free judging by the last post on the facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/BritishRall...08324909242152

They could do with moving those bloody flags out of the way - why stick them between the spectators and the track? That just blocks the view. Oh well - maybe the wind will take care of them.

[Barrie]

Mad Mark having an eventful trip down. Hopefully he can get there but not looking good at the moment.

[BertMk2]

Well Mark made it but has got work to do on the car overnight after hitting the tyres hard. Good day today - the weather was far better than I expected and there was some great racing. Hope for more of the same tomorrow. No Dave Newsham though - car trouble so a no-show.

[Hickey]

Felt so sorry for Mark. All that effort getting there and then nudged into the barrier. Difficult to see from the side line but it looked fixable.
Great day of racing and look forward to lots more tomorrow. Would pay money for weather as good as today!
PS well done Andy grant. Great first heat.

[geordiecriag101]

Was following on the live timing and seamed really close in all the classes, looking forward to being there tomorrow as it seams the rain should be gone by lunch time thank god

Hope Mark gets a change in luck soon as it seems it's all bad at the mo.

[chunder]

Was planning on going today but took a look at the weather and decided against it, still big family gathering, good food and a few beers, cant say i feel i missed anything!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by chunder

Was planning on going today but took a look at the weather and decided against it,

You missed out - the weather was mostly sunny (albeit with a strong cold wind) and the racing was pretty good in all classes. Hopefully those that hit problems today will get the cars fixed for tomorrow (and hopefully everyone survives the forecast wind overnight intact).

[Hickey]

Any idea if newshams car will be there tomorrow. Commentator suggested it could have been sorted today and delivered tomorrow. Still a chance at finals.

[CS1]

Is there a live feed for tv anywhere?

[chunder]

To be fair, getting home would have been horrendous today as the bridge was closed for me and the other side was bad enough when I came home at 7ish. I had a lovlely day with family and the like, one that I would have missed if at a track anywhere.

Sadly Lydden is becoming one of those tracks that is a bit too far to sit in awful M25 traffic for for hours, Total bummer, but fine if you live down there.

[Barrie]

First trip to a British Championship round for a long time. Was ok, lucky the Belgium's were there as all the best races were from there classes. Supercars were a real let down sadly apart from Dan Rooke. Oh and journey back to Colchester a nightmare. Trying not to be negative as a lot of time and effort it put in, but something is lacking in British rallycross.

[ebby]

Have to agree Barrie. Never known an attrition rate like it. Rooke drove well and had reliability which has thwarted any LD machine for a few seasons now. There were so many races with the field so spread out, not a huge number of close races. I thought the semis and final format is designed to weed out the slower cars yet Flaherty coming second and Grint who binned it into the tyre wall finishing third in the final says it all. Godfrey must have been kicking himself especially with not having time to refuel in an hour lunch break?

[geordiecriag101]

Same here unfortunately! The supercars just seem to be so fragile now that even the smallest touch is causing big problems, although that is the normal for any LDM car so Well done to Dan for his first win.

Got to say as well great to see Jef Mertens walk away from his spectacular crash in his semi with no injuries.

Was great to see such a wide range of cars that the Belgians brought over n ill agree with Barrie that they put on a great show.

[BertMk2]

I thought the supercar final was great - the cars have always been somewhat unreliable - just today it seemed to be taking out the front runners. I enjoyed Grints recovery drive - he was really committed and could easily have thrown the towel in when he binned it but didn't and got rewarded for it. I'm really not sure how Godfrey managed to fail to fuel the car though? Very odd.

The supernationals were good as well, really pleased for Emery getting the win after all the problems he's had with that car. Agree on the point about the Belgians though - the best racing was in the Belgian classes (and the best car - how good is that Mk1 Escort?).

The weather was far better than originally forecast too which was a pleasant surprise (although I did have to turn around twice on the way to Lydden due to fallen trees!).