AMOC 2010 Racing Calendar? and How long can it go on (merged)

[AnneReed]

If threads start getting contentous with in-fighting, they usually get moved to the members only section. If you are an AMOC member, just let Webby know your membership number and he will give you access to it.

John/James

The conduct of just a few has left a very nasty taste in the mouth

You know I agree with you on this one - but are you willing to let those few send those of us drivers, marshals and spectators, who love the friendly atmostphere of the AMOC race events, off in disparate directions because of it?

Anne

[andy97]

Time to do what the Alfa guys did? Or get another club to races for Astons?

[AnneReed]

I think one of the strengths of the Aston Club is that we do have the different sections, it would be a real shame to split it up. Also, whatever 'club' you have there will be the same sort of in-fighting every so often. We have not had that many problems in the 75 years we've been going, although I have only been there for 29 of those years!

Anne

[99hjhm]

Originally Posted by AnneReed

If threads start getting contentous with in-fighting, they usually get moved to the members only section. If you are an AMOC member, just let Webby know your membership number and he will give you access to it.

John/James


You know I agree with you on this one - but are you willing to let those few send those of us drivers, marshals and spectators, who love the friendly atmostphere of the AMOC race events, off in disparate directions because of it?

Anne

True Anne, but it's those running the show that have caused the issue in question, not the usual trouble makers like me for once.

It's also fustrating that it gives more ammo to the anti racing brigade in AMOC, I must be one of/the youngest member in AMOC that actually cares/knows whats going on, so it needs protecting for the future, or where am I going to go racing.

[SZRacer]

I definitely take on board your points, Anne, in that it would be a shame to see the whole AMOC racing organisation fall apart through lack of support, albeit that it's the organisation imploding rather than exploding.

What I'm about to say may seem harsh, but, I feel, it may offer another perspective:

I think I could speak for most of my 'lot' (I'm the team 'Captain' for the Alfa team in 50s Sports Car team Challenge), as well as probably other non-AMOC racers. And you have to understand that for us non-AMOC, or Aston owning racers, that, callous or not, what happens to AMOC is slightly irrelevant to us, other than losing a series to race in. We have huge loyalty to the 50s sports car series, which is a great, well-supported series, which we love racing in (as I'm sure do you). It's true to say, most of us would race with it, WHOEVER ran it.

However, we are not AMOC members, do not enjoy the same benefits as such (we don't get any of the AMOC hospitality at race meetings, and I have to say are made to feel slightly second-class citizens by the 'blazers' in AMOC).

I have a tremendous amount of respect for both Mark Campbell and John Turner, and am likely to take their side, rightly or wrongly, because I know that they both have their hearts in the right place, love racing, and from a club point of view love(d?) AMOC,

They both seem to have been sh*t on from a great height.

Reading between the lines, you have to understand that this doesn't particularly engender any sense of duty/loyalty from myself. Maybe a bit harsh but....AMOC is a car club, for Aston Martin Owners, that runs races in which other marques can race. HSCC/CSCC/BRSCC/BARC etc. etc. are clubs run by racers for racers, and as such have a slightly more democratic structure.

I think what is (to an outsider) happening to AMOC is really sad, but has happened in numerous clubs before now.

James

Originally Posted by AnneReed

I think one of the strengths of the Aston Club is that we do have the different sections, it would be a real shame to split it up. Also, whatever 'club' you have there will be the same sort of in-fighting every so often. We have not had that many problems in the 75 years we've been going, although I have only been there for 29 of those years!

Anne

[R59]

I'm not an AMOC member (yet), though with no series left to run my car in within it's bounds, it's looking like I won't be.

I was touched by the warmth at the Silverstone meeting (my first with the club) and the end of season dinner & dance. It made me sure that I'd found somewhere that I was going to be pretty well settled.

Now it's all gone rather bizzare to say the least!

What I do know is that the first meeting at Snetterton is probably going to have a race that I, and my wheels, can have an outing at.

I hope it'll all get sorted out with minimum bloodshed, but it seems that the walls are pretty splattered already!

[AnneReed]

James

Thank you for your words - it is better to hear what you think than not.... I will forward your comments back with the hope that we can 'do better'.

Mark and I have been trying to get the sponsorship to enable all drivers to enjoy the hospitality, because like you, we were aware of the divide. I will continue to pursue it.

I hope I do see you, and your team, out with us later in the year, but understand if we don't.

Anne

[SZRacer]

Thanks, Anne. Point taken.

And to clarify, I'm sure I would have no problem racing with AMOC this or next season, if everything works out.

I'm certainly not anti-AMOC (nor pro-AMOC either, I guess), and there are some great people in the club who've made us most welcome.

Likewise some others who aren't/haven't...

Just saying that as a paying 'customer' of the racing, I also need to feel that my racing budget is spent wisely!

James

Originally Posted by AnneReed

James

Thank you for your words - it is better to hear what you think than not.... I will forward your comments back with the hope that we can 'do better'.

Mark and I have been trying to get the sponsorship to enable all drivers to enjoy the hospitality, because like you, we were aware of the divide. I will continue to pursue it.

I hope I do see you, and your team, out with us later in the year, but understand if we don't.

Anne

[99hjhm]

Originally Posted by AnneReed

James

Thank you for your words - it is better to hear what you think than not.... I will forward your comments back with the hope that we can 'do better'.

Mark and I have been trying to get the sponsorship to enable all drivers to enjoy the hospitality, because like you, we were aware of the divide. I will continue to pursue it.

I hope I do see you, and your team, out with us later in the year, but understand if we don't.

Anne

Not sure which James this was aimed at, but.....

Anne, If there is races that are run to agreed regs, I'm sure we will be there. I think it's now pretty obviouse WE don't agree with whats happened, and I feel for the moment it wont be the same. Have to wait untill voting for the CoM and more politics.

Unless somebody is offering another series that can compare with AMOC on a cost and ease? basis, I think most people will still come and race. (If they were planning to.)

[Rudernst]

I have the highest respect for Mark Cambpell and the tremendous amount of work that he and his lot put in.

In all fairness they were allways facing an uphill battle because the crew before then had run run the ship well and truly aground, insisting on a tremendous amount of red tape.

I remember writing to the comps com, not getting ans answer of any kind, and the item not beeing discussed either. You never had the feeling that the individual competitior counted for much in the early 2000s.

Phone the HSCC and they will try do anything they can to help You.

I have started racing with the AMOC and did not know any better but when I switched to the HSCC I was surprised how easy procedures can be if somebody puts his mind to it.

On the other hand I am traditionalist and it is sad to see that AMOC racing is endangered. Because structures like that only die once and can never be ressurected.

Despite the best effort of Campbell et al, the specialist racing clubs such as the HSCC or the 750MC are and should better than the AMOC because their existance depends on it.
The AMOC gets an influx of new members buying the cars and they dont care for the racing side at all. That will be the deciding factor in the end.

Rudolf

[Brian A]

This morning, the regs and entry form arrived for the AMOC Snetterton meeting on Easter Monday - so life goes on. It came with a letter from Angus Dent as the new Chairman of the (new) Comps Committee. No comment about the recent troubles which is probably best. The five race program includes a 2 hour race for the GT4 cars and a 1 hour all comers endurance race. 50s team race is still there, but how many will turn up?

[R59]

I'm looking to do the Enduro GT race - if they'll have me!!
At least I get a 2min rest midway through the race!!
That's enough time to drive out of the circuit, down the A11, refuel, and get back!!

[AnneReed]

Pleased to see the 50's race is 40 minutes long and a 1 or 2 driver race. So both David and I will be in it.

Anne

[alfaracer156]

I am thinking of doing the 1 hour enduro race in my 3 dr Seirra Cosworth,is anybody interested in doing this race and sharing costs? Mike

[R59]

I wasn't able to make the Snetterton meeting as my car wasn't ready, for various reasons I won't bore you with.

But - I had a count up from the tsl-timing results.

FORTY TWO cars took the start split between five races.

FORTY TWO!

I know it's Snetterton, and not Silverstone, and it's early in the season, but crikey! I bet the Comps department is having kittens, especially as it's the 75th year of AMOC.

I should add that some of those cars competed in more than one race, so while there were 42 classified starters, there were not 42 physical cars actually ready to race (there may have been pre-qualifying!)

[Rudernst]

I had a look at the results as suggested.

What a sad state of affairs.

Much worse than I feared.

Kicking Cambell out was the final nail in the coffin as far as I was concerned.

Looking back: farming it out to Master as discussed several years ago would have been a lifeline allthough I did not like the idea at the time.

Rudolf

[GORDON STREETER]

The 2 hr race must have been exciting to watch with 7 cars doing most of it !

[terence]

Knowing what MSV charges for a day,I hope AMOC has a decent backer!
Such a shame if it drops off of the calender,its a very good club!

[R59]

My sentiments entirely. It seems that people have voted (on Campbell's departure) with their feet.

I was hopeful that this meeting was going to be well supported, though the longer races may have put many off.

We'll see what it's like a Mallory.

Regarding farming it out to Masters, that's something that they are strongly against. At least they have John Hutchinson as permanent comps sec now, he's a good guy, full of enthusiasm for the cause, and I hope that some of it rubs off on others.

It looks like they're not running another "Enduro GT" this year, so there's nothing for me to do with them.

I also fear that the last round of the year may be canned (Donington) as there's still no sign of a leaseholder for the circuit - just a shame that Wheatcroft & Son can't get it all back running in-house first.

Come of BRDC or MSV, take it on!!

[Tim Falce]

Maybe it's fallout from this

[john ruston]

Sure is-When Jim and John and their mates went a lot of people voted with their feet.We were going to do full Pre War series with six cars but plug was pulled when those two left and now no and virtually no Pre War racing.
Amoc's loss is Legends gain as we seldom (or never)do VSCC

[Tim Falce]

Looks like it'll be AMOC, read Jaguar Drivers Club and Jaguar Car Club before that. We have a race with them at Brands in June I wonder if it'll happen.

[Al Weyman]

I think John was up at Cadwell on Saturday and dropped by to say hello unless i mistook him for someone else!

[zefarelly]

Is it not also a question of recession . . . I've just been testing again and Woodgood had an empty pit lane for the 2nd month in a row, numbers are massively down on last year ( this was just a general test day for all )

[ascarracinguk]

oh well, was looking forward to marshalling the oulton meeting later in the year....wont be doing it now though.....42 cars is a complete joke