Poll: Standard engines at TT?

[dickyholdsworth]

There are less F2s actually racing now than there were last year. There were less last year than the year before. There were less the year before, than the year before that. Get the picture?

Just look at the three big "Sidecar Friendly" clubs - Derby Phoenix, Bemsee and NGRRC. The active entry levels are down even though they may have just as many teams registered.

There are 2 Very Good National F2 Championships - Swan Combi & FSRA F2, yet there have not been enough F2s to produce any non-qualifiers yet and the small grid size at Cadwell Park flattered the numbers actually entered.

The numbers at the TT are drastically lower than 2-3 years ago.

This isn't because F2 Sidecars are less desireable than they were a year ago, it's purely because of the cost of competing in todays climate.

You can stick your fingers in your ears and shout "La la la, I can't hear you" as much as you like, but the problem will not go away until it is addressed. The solution will not be 100% of what any particular crew, past or present, would like in an ideal world, but a compromise that gives 90% of the people 90% of what they want usually works fairly well.

The teams with all the expensive kit and investment cannot be expected to wave goodbye to it overnight, especially if the 2nd hand market to sell it on is simultaneously wiped out (that would drive some very good teams away and would be unfair on them).

A compromise over a sensible timescale might include:-

1.Teams keeping their full electronics packages for 2011 being ballasted accordingly. (every AMRCO circuit has calibrated scales).
2. No one being allowed to tune by machining or adding kit parts to a 2011 onwards engine.
3. A claiming rule for certain named parts (ECU, Exhaust, Loom, Data Aquisition System).
4. An end target of standard motors (that's the big metal bit, not the ancilliaries) for everyone by the start of 2013.
5. A nominated date for standard ECU units to be used by everyone (This doesn't mean you can't reprogramme the standard unit).

Tough issues and you'll have dozens of different opinions, but somewhere in that mix there will be a consensus of opinion that everyone can sign up to and that will be your solution.

When I decided upon the new F1 rules, I wanted to have a meeting of all the "Active" teams one Wednesday evening here at Mallory Park as I believe face to face debate is healthy and gives the opportunity for a much more open understanding of each others problems.
At the time, the FSRA representation didn't want to do that and I ended up having to phone around a few people who's opinions I have come to trust and respect over the past 10-15 years. The rules that we now have work very well, largely due to the input of those people. The rules are NOT what I originally envisaged, I modified my outline plans after having listened to the people actually putting their hands in their pockets and their money on the table. I don't drive/passenger a sidecar and I don't see any reason to think I'd know better than those that did/do, so the advice was taken and implemented. What I do have, is a reputation for getting things done.

John Ward at Mallory Park would certainly offer the F2 Teams the use (free of charge) of the Hailwood Suite for just such a meeting, if that was what the majority of active F2 teams wanted. Or you might be quite happy for the FSRA to handle it themselves and take the proposals to the ACU for ratification.

None of my business really, but I'm more than willing to help if required. (I'll get me coat. As Bob says)

I think you F2 boys should listen carefully and take Dave up on his offer before it's too late

[Eddy Wright]

Having read Dave Stewarts post I agree entirely.