EuroBoss @ Brands

[b1ackcr0w]

V quickly .... I'm off to Brands for the EuroBoss this weekend - anybody else going?

[Bob Pearson]

We've got a car running if the FF2000 support race.

[Cynic]

I shall be heading off v.early tomorrow.

[Teletubby]

Yep, I'm in Race Control as Chief Incident! Bloody scary!!

[b1ackcr0w]

Mrs Crow & I are off to stay at my Mum's in London Tonight - camping @ the circuit Saturday - see you at the circuit sometime?

(1st time @ Brands for us!! )

[Teletubby]

Brekkies in the Kentagon (funny shaped building at the top of the paddock) at 7:30!

[sss]

thats to early, is there a second sitting, and has anyone told the kentagon staff what time brekafast is so they can expect the rush.

[Snapper Baz]

...and I'm Snapping for Autosport both days...the forcast is a bit naff though...glad I'm not in a tent!

[Novice]

Originally posted by Snapper Baz
...and I'm Snapping for Autosport both days...the forcast is a bit naff though...glad I'm not in a tent!

I'd hide in a tent for missing the finish of the Euroboss Baz. Fancy not checking the amount of laps before wandering too far past post 1.

[Snapper Baz]

I didn't have much film left anyway-fancy having just 20 odd laps for Euroboss, time I'd got to Clearways it was nearly over! Should have walked the otherway towards Paddock...might have got some action as well!!

[Stephen Green]

Sorry to have missed you Bob...Maybe next time?

[Bob Pearson]

What about Croft this week end Stephen?

[Stephen Green]

Going to Thruxton on Sunday Bob...sorry!

[b1ackcr0w]

Got up 05.30 Saturday arrived at circuit but not admitted despite having correct passes. Did post22a. Racing good but got thorough soaking. Couldn't camp at the circuit. Couldn't get into a B&B Saturday night. We had to abandon meeting half way through because of lack of place to kip. Got stuck in 3 hour jam on M25 to add insult to injury. After 500miles of driving, 2 heavy soakings and £50fuel out of pocket, I can say hand on heart, i'm never going to that circuit ever again.

What I want to know is if a titchy local club like Woolbridge Motor Club can organise adequate facilities at a place like Wiscome Park - how come a world famous circuit like Brands Hatch can't? Frankly, Octagon can go stuff their poxy excuses where the sun don't shine!

[Cynic]

What I want to know is if a titchy local club like Woolbridge Motor Club can organise adequate facilities at a place like Wiscome Park - how come a world famous circuit like Brands Hatch can't?

That's the million $ question isn't it? I suspect the answer is that marshals don't bring in any money (other than from those who are daft enough to pay the ridiculously inflated catering prices). This year I've started to become seriously disillusioned with marshalling pretty much for all the same reasons. I've never had a bad neeting in terms of the actual racing, but the endless argueing with jobsworths and sub-standard facilities are beginning to take their toll.I shall soldier on this year as all my holidays etc have been built around race events, but I will be having a good hard think in the near future about whether it's really worth continuing.

[Chigley]

I can say hand on heart, i'm never going to that circuit ever again.

This precisely why I won't go to Brands again. The circuit will not/does not cater for visiting marshals at its smaller events. As I was told previously it only provides camping facilities for the major 10% of its meetings. (Champcars and BTCC????) the FFF isn't catered for.
If Brands won't cater for marshals at its "smaller" meetings why should we travel to support for its larger events?

[b1ackcr0w]

Thankfully, that's the worst thing that's happened to me thus far - but if all were as bad as that, I'd on my bike pretty quickly also. I can sympathise with that view Cynic.

Octagon, here's one little detail to put you boys to shame. Castle Combe doesn't have a designated marshals campsite, but at least they have the common sense to tell you camp in a spot near a security guard and toilet block!! Not brain surgery is it?

[carrera]

As you are talking Brands, great job boys (and girls) during the Classic Thunder race, all the bits and pieces knocked off the cars were gone next time round.
Did flash my lights and wave at the finish, your efforts are appreciated by the drivers.

[Stephen Green]

Thanks for that Carrera, we do our best!

To the guys above who have suffered with camping facilities etc can I suggest you all put your feelings in a letter to Brands Hatch. By doing so there is a chance you may get something done. I would also send a copy of the letter to the organising club, in this case BARC, in order that they may take up the matter with Brands Hatch on your behalf. If you don't make your feelings known, the circuit management will never realise there was a problem!

[b1ackcr0w]

Originally posted by Stephen Green
Thanks for that Carrera, we do our best!

To the guys above who have suffered with camping facilities etc can I suggest you all put your feelings in a letter to Brands Hatch. By doing so there is a chance you may get something done. I would also send a copy of the letter to the organising club, in this case BARC, in order that they may take up the matter with Brands Hatch on your behalf. If you don't make your feelings known, the circuit management will never realise there was a problem!

I've already informally mentioned it to BARC, it seems they were promiced that the problem had been resolved.

Who at Brands would I write to?

[Stephen Green]

I'm not sure who is in charge these days. You could try Robin Murphy (the commentator) who is employed by Brands Hatch. I am sure he will forward your letter to the relevant person. Failing that, ring them and ask to who it should be addressed.

[Cynic]

I did send a letter to Trevor Jackson last season. His response was along the lines that talking to a brick wall would be more productive!

[Chigley]

Stephen, if you remember I wrote to both the BRSCC and Octagon (as it was) at the time of my run in with Brands over camping. The replies were basically if it costs money i.e. hire of toilets and showers, they aren't interested unless its a major!! meeting with lots of punters camping not just a few marshals.

[Chris Y]

At a recent clubbie at Bland Snatch, we were told we could camp at the normal campsite, but there would be no facilities, i.e toilets.

Thinking 'stuff that' we set up camp with a number of other people in the little grass area just outside the kart track, where we only had a short walk to a toilet block. A security official informed us that we were not allowed to camp there. "Why not?", we asked. "Because the area is not designated for camping" replied the security man. He then went on to tell us we would be moved on if we didn't move ourselves.

Anyway, we sold him a tall tale about the circuit office saying we could camp there, and we stayed 2 nights, Friday and Saturday night. Didn't see any security after that initial meeting.

My point is - that area is used as a car park (possibly VIP) for bigger meetings, but for clubbie events it's not used at all, so why not allow people to camp there? Why do we have to fight with security just to set up a few small tents. Jobsworths!

[Stoowert]

Having tried to seek regular employment with Octagon, I'll try & shed some light on this issue. Firstly, the management, with the exception of Murphy, have no experience in motorsport at all, just the entertainment business. Secondly, they employ marshals during the week from the local inhabitants and couldn't understand why anyone would WANT to travel a distance to marshal at a minor event. The upshot of it would be that the security are given their orders from someone who knows nothing about our chosen hobby, and therefore just can't see why we would want to camp. I wonder how many of these jobsworths think we get paid to marshal. Hmmm. Still, on a brighter note, we could be allowed to camp at our posts, then Octagon could charge tourists to drive round the track with the hope of seeing large orange-a-tangs in the newly constructed "Brands Hatch Safari Park"! Remember, you heard it here first!