Britcar

[blueoval2]

What's happening to the Britcar championship they appear to be really struggling with numbers? I guess it's a money thing again it is a real pity I love doing their meetings, but at the moment I'm afraid with the grids they are getting it hardly seams worth it...

[kipper]

I think it is a general lack of money, combined with a resurgence in the popularity of British GT and GT Cup.

[blueoval2]

I guess one championships gain is another ones loss, it's a pity as JT puts on a good package.

[ascarracinguk]

Sorry to say, but outside of silverstone it's always been complete rubbish!

3 times I've volunteered for events that have promised over 40 cars and only 10 or so have turned up....put the championship down and let the remaining teams join gt cup or british gt

[andy97]

The trouble is that many of the teams don't actually have cars that are eligible for British GT. If you want to do relatively high end endurance racing but don't have homologatedd cars where else do you race in the UK? Maybe time to consolidate and run bother Britcar grids as a single combined 90min race on some one else's package than trying to run full meetings?

[blueoval2]

They used to run the GT's and produtions together maybe that is the way to go, as you say Andy some of the cars wouldnt fit in elsewhere.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by blueoval2

They used to run the GT's and produtions together maybe that is the way to go, as you say Andy some of the cars wouldnt fit in elsewhere.

The problem is that the British Endurance Championship runs under a National A permit, whilst the Productions run under a National B one. The MSA don't allow grids to be merged, when the series are of different levels (I can see some logic behind this as it avoids grids with overly large speed and experience differentials). The 24hrs was exempt from this as it never formed part of a championship.

[blueoval2]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

Sorry to say, but outside of silverstone it's always been complete rubbish!

3 times I've volunteered for events that have promised over 40 cars and only 10 or so have turned up....put the championship down and let the remaining teams join gt cup or british gt

Sorry I hardly think it's always been rubbish outside Silverstone, Yes Silverstone attracts bigger grids but Britcar was once a really good championship were ever it was..

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by blueoval2

Sorry I hardly think it's always been rubbish outside Silverstone,

The first **itcar meeting at Oulton Park was the worst day's "racing" I've ever had to endure. Apparently the second one was just as bad - I was one of many marshals who vowed "never again" after the first one.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by blueoval2

Sorry I hardly think it's always been rubbish outside Silverstone, Yes Silverstone attracts bigger grids but Britcar was once a really good championship were ever it was..

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

The first **itcar meeting at Oulton Park was the worst day's "racing" I've ever had to endure. Apparently the second one was just as bad - I was one of many marshals who vowed "never again" after the first one.

My feeling on the matter is that is the early years of Britcar were something of a test of endurance for all concerned due to often fairly small grids - particularly when Britsports races were scheduled - and entry lists that were often removed from reality. However, to my mind the last couple of seasons has seen some steady improvement in terms of quality and quantity of the grid. Its a bit things have taken a steps back this year.

[simon_blay]

I'm signed up to marshal the event that has taken the place of the 24hr in September. Really loved the 24hr and giving the revised weekend a go in the hope it will be similar grids and atmosphere. Sounds like that might not be the case

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by blueoval2

Sorry I hardly think it's always been rubbish outside Silverstone, Yes Silverstone attracts bigger grids but Britcar was once a really good championship were ever it was..

Try telling the oulton marshals that! I think the best grid weve had was 14 or so!

[kipper]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

Try telling the oulton marshals that! I think the best grid weve had was 14 or so!

I think the largest Britcar grid at Oulton was 24 cars.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by kipper

I think the largest Britcar grid at Oulton was 24 cars.

Actual numbers or the entries listed in the programme? The entry lists as published in the programme for the first meeting were almost total fiction.

[numbersix]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

Actual numbers or the entries listed in the programme? The entry lists as published in the programme for the first meeting were almost total fiction.

...I seem to remember three cars going round at one point.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

Actual numbers or the entries listed in the programme? The entry lists as published in the programme for the first meeting were almost total fiction.

Actual cars - although as I said in my previous post, the entry lists in the early days of Britcar did lack a certain level of accuracy.

[pauln]

Still better than Speed, which never seems to get into double figures.

[blueoval2]

Well the meeting this weekend at Snetterton now consists of 1 x 3hr open test session 1 x qualifying and 1 x race for the production class.. Not looking to good for the future.

[Richard Sneader]

Too many clubs running rubbish like this. I was going to go to this but have pulled out. Not wasting my fuel money on it. Its about time(again) that things like this that cant produce a quality grid numbers wise running long races should be scrapped. This does nothing in my opinion for motorsports.
There does appear this year from what I have seen clubs still running things that have had poor grids for the last couple of years and still producing poor grids this year. Money is tight no argument their so perhaps its time to re evaluate how much motorsports there is and do something to stop producing these poor grids. I have been to a number of meetings where there is 1 or 2 good grids then a lot of poor grids on 10 or less cars having 2 or 3 races in the weekend. Also far to many 2 day meetings now adding to the costs but I understand why clubs are doing this. Things do need to change though.

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by kipper

Actual cars - although as I said in my previous post, the entry lists in the early days of Britcar did lack a certain level of accuracy.

Accracy!!!!! I don't think even jk Rowling wrote that level of fiction or fantasy!!!!

[Slipstick]

I think we should have a general rule that no race can last longer than 5 minutes x the number of cars that start. If you can only muster 6 cars then a 30 minute race is your lot .

After all it's not supposed to be the marshals and spectators endurance they're testing is it ?

OTOH I'm not a big fan of endurance racing anyway, it's not just Britcar.

Steve

[blueoval2]

The old argument, we have too much Motorsport. Too many championships for to few competitors, the MSA needs to look at this..

[flying muppet]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

Try telling the oulton marshals that! I think the best grid weve had was 14 or so!

There were TWENTY THREE actual starters last Summer at Oulton; it was a fantastic race too...

[numbersix]

Originally Posted by flying muppet

There were TWENTY THREE actual starters last Summer at Oulton; it was a fantastic race too...

'Tis true. I reluctantly volunteered for this and was most presently surprised.

[roys1]

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