MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages - 12th Jan 2014

[Suze]

I didn't think Longmoor had been full last year if not the year before either? [A quick look and it looks like it was last full in 2009 - Brands started in 2011]. I think I last did Longmoor in 2011, or 2012 - not sure now!

As with many venues, we're restricted on availability with Brands - and you might say well the circuit is quiet but it's wedding fayres and other things too which are going on at the venue. It's the second year it's run in this slot [having been at the end of January] but then people will say it's close to Goodwood and other events.... No perfect answer.

We also found with Brands that because it is popular, people not doing other events put in entries to ensure they had a spot, and then withdrew, but by that time some of the reserves had thought they might not get a run which is a shame. There were 22 withdrawals from pending and paid entries, which is a huge number!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Suze

As with many venues, we're restricted on availability with Brands - and you might say well the circuit is quiet but it's wedding fayres and other things too which are going on at the venue. It's the second year it's run in this slot [having been at the end of January] but then people will say it's close to Goodwood and other events.... No perfect answer.

I'm quite happy with getting the venues in the winter (not sure what this 'off season' thing is people have been talking about ). There is a bit of a cluster of events with Longmoor, Brands and Goodwood on top of each other but like you say it can't be helped.

Originally Posted by Suze

We also found with Brands that because it is popular, people not doing other events put in entries to ensure they had a spot, and then withdrew, but by that time some of the reserves had thought they might not get a run which is a shame. There were 22 withdrawals from pending and paid entries, which is a huge number!

Wow, that's quite a high drop out rate - I guess that's a lot higher than normal.

[Suze]

Chelmsford Motor Club is pleased to confirm that the MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages will be televised at 19:25 on Wednesday 12th February 2014.

The MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages will feature as part of an hour-long show called Special Stage Extra, which will be broadcast on Motors TV (Virgin Media Channel 545 and Sky Channel 447). The show is produced by Special Stage and is a new monthly show featuring a wide variety of clubman rallying within the UK.

[Suze]

The Special Stage Extra! show featuring the #MGJBHWS is now online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhnvpRbBB-0 It is also still being repeated on Motors TV regularly.

[BertMk2]

Great footage - could have been improved by featuring a certain Escort though