The Towncross Engineering South Downs Stages 12th Feb 2011

[Circuitmarshal]

Welcome back everyone to The Towncross Engineering South Downs Stages for another year. We hope that the 2011 event will bring you everything you want motorsport to be, whether you are a competitor, team member or spectator.

Our thanks again go to all our commercial partners, especially Towncross Engineering and Highbury College who have renewed their association with us.

For 2011 we have moved the date back a week to 12th February to give two full weeks after the new Brands Hatch Rally. Also changes to local planning permission and minor changes on the circuit at Goodwood have allowed us to enhance the day’s programme.

A time extension will allow two extra stages to be run, in the dark. We anticipate the last car finishing by about 6.30pm. Also a relaxation of the lunchtime rules removes the risk of the final morning stage overrunning and having to be cancelled.

Also the addition of a couple of small tarmac patches will allow the run off areas at Woodcote and Madgwick to be used for the first time which will allow more stage layout variation.

Due to the time extension the maximum entry will be increased to fifty and, following several requests from competitors, the 2011 event will be a round of the ACSMC Tarmac Rally Championship.

Also, following the popularity of last year’s initiative the Highbury College TR7 Challenge will return and once again ten places will be reserved for these crews. The organizing team’s challenge this year is to fill all ten places following the seven which contested the initial event.

Regs will be available shortly. Previous competitors from the last two years will have them sent to them automatically, as will 2011 ACSMC Tarmac Rally Championship registered contenders. Otherwise if you want to sure of receiving a set contact Entries Secretary Mark Collings on markcollings205@hotmail.com or for any other queries info@southdownsstages.co.uk
Marshals: chiefmarshal@southdownsstages.co.uk

www.southdownsstages.co.uk

So make a note of the date and come and join the party!

The Organising Team

[BertMk2]

This might still be a bit too close to Longmoor and Brands for us. What's the fascination with TR7's? Seems an odd car to focus on?

[Circuitmarshal]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

What's the fascination with TR7's? Seems an odd car to focus on?

Answered your own question - Odd car to focus on!!
Think Phil Collings has a thing about them, but they come from far & wide to take part, even from Europe last year!!
You can do it - three in a row then a rest to build the bank balance up again!!
Go On you know you want to, only thing is as part of the ACSMC championship I guess it will get a bit serious now for some!
But spectating is FREE so you could try that!!

[Suze]

Originally Posted by Circuitmarshal

Also the addition of a couple of small tarmac patches will allow the run off areas at Woodcote and Madgwick to be used for the first time which will allow more stage layout variation.

But we used the outside of Madgwick last year anyway.... Really did think first corner, first stage and it was all going to be over - I should keep my driver under more control!

Hope to be doing this one over Longmoor and Brands.

[Circuitmarshal]

Originally Posted by Suze

But we used the outside of Madgwick last year anyway.... Really did think first corner, first stage and it was all going to be over - I should keep my driver under more control!

Hope to be doing this one over Longmoor and Brands.

So this time will be forest rallying round the perry track then!!

[Suze]

Sounds fun!

[jonbryant]

Clashes with the Lydden rallycross but easy decision where I'll be! See you at Goodwood

[Circuitmarshal]

Don't forget your night vision lenses or whatever you need for the stages in the dark!!
In case you not read the event website it goes on till about 1830 this time!!

[Suze]

Originally Posted by Circuitmarshal

In case you not read the event website it goes on till about 1830 this time!!

Yes, liked that when we spotted that!

[tbtstt]

Typical Lydden now falls on the same day as this! Grrr!

Thought you might like to know the website link in your first post doesn't work Circuitmarshal. I think you have a wayward comma in there!

www.southdownsstages.co.uk

[Circuitmarshal]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Thought you might like to know the website link in your first post doesn't work Circuitmarshal. I think you have a wayward comma in there!

Old Man/Fat Finger Syndrome!!
Thanks for putting the correct one.

[Circuitmarshal]

Regs and entry form are now available on the Competitors page of the South Downs Stages website.
Regs also went out in the post although may not have reached everyone yet as the Royal Mail refused to either collect or deliver in the snow last week until it had completely thawed on Saturday.

www.southdownsstages.co.uk

[Circuitmarshal]

Entry list is full few spaces for the T R's if they don't fill the spaces then the reserves move up so still a full entry.
Still taking marshals but as we feed you it would help to know in advance if your coming to marshal so we book enough food, don't want anyone wasting away!!

[Circuitmarshal]

TR7 V8's only one put in an enty so every one moves up on to the entry list.
Also we've had another withdrawal from a Brands Hatch retiree which means we now have no reserves on the list. I'm still aware of a couple of people who may not be ready in time for the 12th so if you know of anyone who would like to come and play then tell them to either get in contact or send an entry form in.
Bert Mk2 .....................
www.southdownsstages.co.uk

[BertMk2]

Finances dictate we don't do Goodwood

After Longmoor the car had to be jigged to get the front end straight again (and new wing, bonnet, arch, bib spoiler, paint, 2 wheels and various suspension / steering components). We got through Brands with no damage but we did kill off some of our tyres. After the late nights Martin and co put in during the run up to Brands (last Monday the car had no engine / gearbox) it's too much to get it ready again for Goodwood. It's a shame the 3 events (Longmoor/Brands/Goodwood) are all so close together, there aren't many in this corner of the country.

[Circuitmarshal]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Finances dictate we don't do Goodwood

It's a shame the 3 events (Longmoor/Brands/Goodwood) are all so close together, there aren't many in this corner of the country.

I Blame Suze!!

Trouble is all three venues are only available at this time of year.

[Suze]

Oi I had little to do with Brands, other than trying to sort out media during the day and keeping people up to date with results

You're spot on re dates / when venues are available unfortunately.....

Anyway, you should be grateful, we've chosen to do Goodwood over Brands and Longmoor!

[Circuitmarshal]

Suze Well I am!!
Looking forward to it now, even if it seems we can't start setting up until 1600 as it would seem they have a track day Friday.

[Suze]

Hehe good Sounds like Brands then, good for them but a bit of a pain! They had a trackday on Sat so as much as poss was done during the day, and whilst as much was cleared away as possible last night, there were quite a few people back there today - they had another trackday there today.

[Stephen H]

just noticed the draft road book with stage diagrams has been posted on the rallies website

[Circuitmarshal]

Originally Posted by Stephen H

just noticed the draft road book with stage diagrams has been posted on the rallies website

Thanks for that Stephen not had a PC for a few days.

We've published a 10 page "runners and riders" guide on the website with information about all the competing crews and cars on the rally this weekend. It's a good read and worth printing off a copy to bring along if you're coming to watch. It can be found on the competitors and spectators pages of the South Downs Stages website.

2011 Towncross Engineering South Downs Stages
Web: www.southdownsstages.co.uk Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/SouthDownsRally]@SouthDownsRally

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Circuitmarshal

We've published a 10 page "runners and riders" guide on the website with information about all the competing crews and cars on the rally this weekend. It's a good read and worth printing off a copy to bring along if you're coming to watch. It can be found on the competitors and spectators pages of the South Downs Stages website.

That's a good idea I like that - simple and effective. Would be good if there was a picture of each car along with the info too but I guess that relies on competitors supplying one (and you know how reliable they are ).

[Suze]

Two days to go....are we ready? Not really

[BertMk2]

Two days to go - this is about the "better put the engine and box in" stage isn't it?

[Circuitmarshal]

Originally Posted by Suze

Two days to go....are we ready? Not really

You and me both - but at least I've got a PC again shame all the info was on the old one!!