LEADFOOT

[bluespur]

Anyone off to LEADFOOT this weekend

[socram]

Nope. Hampton Downs Living legends race meeting. Also hope to see the McLaren Trust's CanAm doing a demo at lunchtime(s).
Sad that the events clash. Also Beach Hop weekend, so attendances at all 3 will be affected.

[bluespur]

Agree. It sure is a pity with the clash. Main reason I started this thread just to gauge the problem, if in fact there is one!

[RogerH]

I'll be there taking on Rod's hill again. I would have otherwise been racing at HD at the Living Legends meeting but made the choice to do Leadfoot. It seems there are quite a few cars/drivers doing Leadfoot that could have raced at the Living Legends.

[socram]

About 190 cars at Living Legends.

[Goat Boy]

Seems a bit silly having them on the same weekend, I suppose the early Easter break hasn't helped with the planning.

[socram]

I believe next year that there won't be a clash. Beach Hop may well still clash with one of them though. We have a fairly packed summer season at times, which is probably unavoidable.
Taking Pukekohe out for three months didn't help this season either.

Having watched the Leadfoot doco on TV, it worries me that with the range of machinery and the close proximity of trees in places, that it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident.

[Goat Boy]

A bit like the old days, eh? Same with the Paeroa bike race, always potential for serious injury or death there too, and not just the competitors either. We seem to have a funny set of double standards over here at times.

[socram]

I presume the Leadfoot is a totally private affair therefore no MSNZ permit required, nor logbooks, competition licences, MSNZ stewards, etc. It is 100% invitation only.

Those who do go, especially competitors, love it to bits, as they are treated very well indeed.

It begs the question, "Could you hire a permanent track and run your own race event without a permit?"

Great to see Leadfoot though, as like Goodwood Festival, an opportunity to see a vast array of machinery in action, but the times are really irrelevant.

[Southern Man]

Originally Posted by socram

I presume the Leadfoot is a totally private affair therefore no MSNZ permit required, nor logbooks, competition licences, MSNZ stewards, etc. It is 100% invitation only.

Those who do go, especially competitors, love it to bits, as they are treated very well indeed.

It begs the question, "Could you hire a permanent track and run your own race event without a permit?"

Great to see Leadfoot though, as like Goodwood Festival, an opportunity to see a vast array of machinery in action, but the times are really irrelevant.

I suspect that you maybe incorrect in much of your assumptions and yes from the reports given by mates who have been invited previously, it is a grand affair.

[The SpeCTator]

I saw a great hour long programme on the Leadfoot on the History Channel and it looks like a lot of fun.

I thought the course looked a little more challenging than the driveway of Lord March.

[socram]

Originally Posted by The SpeCTator

I saw a great hour long programme on the Leadfoot on the History Channel and it looks like a lot of fun.

I thought the course looked a little more challenging than the driveway of Lord March.

Glad it made it to the UK TV Chris! I am not sure that we have seen any of Goodwood, Festival or Revival, on TV here.

[Goat Boy]

Which is a pity. Another case for a dedicated motorsport channel of some sort - I see Sky are looking to lay on another 30 or 40 channels for sport by the sound...

[on_to_it]

Originally Posted by socram

Having watched the Leadfoot doco on TV, it worries me that with the range of machinery and the close proximity of trees in places, that it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident.

Like rallying?

[socram]

Originally Posted by on_to_it

Like rallying?

Good point! So why do bent street sprints normally require barriers everywhere?

[promax]

this thread is lacking photos

[on_to_it]

Originally Posted by socram

Good point! So why do bent street sprints normally require barriers everywhere?

It could be something to do with councils being involved, property issues, public roads and so on. I'm guessing of course but some ten-tenther might know a bit about it.

[sollitt]

Originally Posted by socram

It begs the question, "Could you hire a permanent track and run your own race event without a permit?"

The short answer is, yes you could. MSNZ does not have a monopoly on motorsport nor any legal authority to regulate motorsport matters.
The practicalities around finding a track willing to allow you to do so and securing insurances etc... might provide some complications.

Originally Posted by socram

.. why do bent street sprints generally require barriers everywhere?

Regular bent sprints generally don't. Street sprints will have added requirements due to the likelihood of increased spectator attendance.

[Bill Brown]

Originally Posted by sollitt

The short answer is, yes you could. MSNZ does not have a monopoly on motorsport nor any legal authority to regulate motorsport matters.
The practicalities around finding a track willing to allow you to do so and securing insurances etc... might provide some complications.

Regular bent sprints generally don't. Street sprints will have added requirements due to the likelihood of increased spectator attendance.

Any track doing so would be risking its FIA licence, MSNZ has either pulled or threatened to pull track licences for non sanctioned events in rhe past.

[socram]

News from Leadfoot as at Saturday morning from someone who was there: Bruce Manon barrel rolled his Ford Escort, Clark Procter also dinged his Escort/Nissan and the Custaxie was also dinged.

Clark Proctor set FTD Saturday (F5000 car?)

No doubt that when those who were actually there get home, we'll get more first hand info.

Hearsay only, from one who was there assisting with one of the cars: "There may not be a Leadfoot next year."

[The SpeCTator]

Sounds like this fun event is getting serious

[sollitt]

Originally Posted by Bill Brown

Any track doing so would be risking its FIA licence, MSNZ has either pulled or threatened to pull track licences for non sanctioned events in rhe past.

Hence the comment around practicalities. I would suspect though that in the present political climate MSNZ would do well to keep their head down in any such occurance as a resulting legal challenge would unlikely be in their favour.

[brown dog]

Originally Posted by socram

News from Leadfoot as at Saturday morning from someone who was there: Bruce Manon barrel rolled his Ford Escort, Clark Procter also dinged his Escort/Nissan and the Custaxie was also dinged.

Clark Proctor set FTD Saturday (F5000 car?)

No doubt that when those who were actually there get home, we'll get more first hand info.

Hearsay only, from one who was there assisting with one of the cars: "There may not be a Leadfoot next year."

Yes Bruce rolled his Escort after it crossed the finish time (was a good time too!) and it has a lot of damage. Clark went off a couple of times in his Escort, but damage was superficial. Fast time by Clark was in the March F5000.

I don't know where the rumour about no Leadfoot next year started, and have not heard that one yet. But Rod and Shelly are planning an even bigger and better event next year (if that is possible?) so I would not take any notice of gossip. It is the BEST Motorsport event I have EVER attended, anyone who was there will understand that, just amazing

Conrad Timms

[socram]

Originally Posted by brown dog

I don't know where the rumour about no Leadfoot next year started, and have not heard that one yet. But Rod and Shelly are planning an even bigger and better event next year (if that is possible?) so I would not take any notice of gossip. It is the BEST Motorsport event I have EVER attended, anyone who was there will understand that, just amazing

Good to hear Conrad. As I said, it was a comment from someone who was there and may have been related to the estimated $2m it cost the Millens to put on the event. I hope it does continue, as we do need these high profile events where there is such a fantastic variety of machinery.

During the early Goodwood Festivals of Speed, there was an emphasis on setting good times. As the event has matured, a high proportion of runners have elected for no timing and the event has not suffered at all. It is still a sell out each year with a 150,000 cap over the three days.

Most spectators just want to see great cars and bikes in action (or even static displays). For my last two Goodwood visits, I hardly looked at what was on the track as I couldn't get close enough for an unobstructed view!

[brown dog]

Originally Posted by socram

Good to hear Conrad. As I said, it was a comment from someone who was there and may have been related to the estimated $2m it cost the Millens to put on the event. I hope it does continue, as we do need these high profile events where there is such a fantastic variety of machinery.

During the early Goodwood Festivals of Speed, there was an emphasis on setting good times. As the event has matured, a high proportion of runners have elected for no timing and the event has not suffered at all. It is still a sell out each year with a 150,000 cap over the three days.

Most spectators just want to see great cars and bikes in action (or even static displays). For my last two Goodwood visits, I hardly looked at what was on the track as I couldn't get close enough for an unobstructed view!

Hi Ray,

Nobody has tried to hide the fact that the event does cost Rod and Shelly a lot of money to host, and the aim I guess is to turn it into something profitable in the years to come. They are taking a long term view of the event. This event is Rods dream, and I don't think making a dollar was the primary aim of hosting the event.

Everybody from the catering staff, to the officials, the security etc. were very friendly, not a bad attitude to be found anywhere! An interesting thing I noticed both years was that there was no rubbish dropped anywhere, everybody being respectful of the Millens generosity to host the event.

The drivers are all invited, and treated like royalty. There is no entry fee for competitors, breakfast and lunch are all catered (great food too!) there was a welcome party on Friday night, a formal ball and dinner on Saturday night (Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top played some numbers with the band- awesome!)

You can elect to be timed or untimed, and the emphasis isn't really on the competition, rather the spectacle of it all. Some great static displays too.

As a competitor it was certainly a privilege to be there

Conrad