The Place

The Regs for the meeting state the following:
"Competitors are not allowed into the paddock area before 6.30pm the night prior to the event."
I had assumed from this that the paddock would be available....

I would have assumed exactly the same Gordon, but that comes from the Supplementary Regulations which are a form of contract between the organising club and the competitor, entrant or team. For what it's worth, the National Sporting Code says:-
"Supplementary Regulations shall not be altered after the commencement of the period for receiving entries unless the approval of the permit issuing authority is obtained and all Entrants and Riders are notified of the changes made."
The Final Instructions do in fact inform you of the change, so I would guess the approval to make this change must have been sought from the Permit Issuing Authority (the ACU).

Not very fair, I grant you. But as you say, at this late juncture what choice do you have?

At least the weather for Monday looks a lot better and I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable day.

Over the many years that I have been involved in racing and organising meetings I have always tried to lay any blame at the correct door.
You all seem to be blaming the circuit but Dave has now pointed out where the blame should really lie.
Have you all contacted the club to ask
A why they didn't pay the small amount extra to use the paddock overnight?
B to let them know how you feel?

kew wrote:Over the many years that I have been involved in racing and organising meetings I have always tried to lay any blame at the correct door.
You all seem to be blaming the circuit but Dave has now pointed out where the blame should really lie.
Have you all contacted the club to ask
A why they didn't pay the small amount extra to use the paddock overnight?
B to let them know how you feel?

Hi keith - I don't think I mentioned where the "blame" lies - I was fairly sure it was not with the circuit - as for phoning anyone - I think one voice is likely to go unheeded - and can cause unwanted consequences in the future ?

kew wrote:Over the many years that I have been involved in racing and organising meetings I have always tried to lay any blame at the correct door.
You all seem to be blaming the circuit but Dave has now pointed out where the blame should really lie.
Have you all contacted the club to ask
A why they didn't pay the small amount extra to use the paddock overnight?
B to let them know how you feel?

OK - follow up on previous post - Just spoke to someone in Auto 66 office - and they are stating that the blame lies with the circuit - no one allowed in until 7am Monday - including the club officials.
Does anyone know if it would serve any purpose to phone someone at Donington - and who might be the person to speak to ?

Thank god Im NOT doing it.
Note to self;Dont enter any Auto 66 race meetings at Donington Park.
Must make sure I dont forget that.

Good luck Gordon,hope you have a enjoyable days racing when you eventually get in.

Well, 307 of my riders quite happily camped in the paddock at the same venue for 3 days, under exactly the same terms of hire contract. So I guess there's a little lack of forward planning there too.

Have a good weekend and don't let it spoil your fun regardless of any inconvenience.

David Stewart wrote:Well, 307 of my riders quite happily camped in the paddock at the same venue for 3 days, under exactly the same terms of hire contract. So I guess there's a little lack of forward planning there too.

Have a good weekend and don't let it spoil your fun regardless of any inconvenience.

Thanks for the good wishes - any point trying to speak to anyone at Donington ?

Tony - pity there'll be one less there - I'm starting to wonder myself though - do you still have the stuff we talked about last year ? (PM answer !)

iv rang donnington today and they have told me that i can enter the paddock after the car meeting!

what an absolute load of bollocks !!!!
its supposed to be fun the hassle seems to far outway everything.

rpmperformance wrote:iv rang donnington today and they have told me that i can enter the paddock after the car meeting!

Special treatment for you ?
I spoke to a lady in the Auto 66 office today - told me no go until 7am Monday - so somebody has their wires crossed...would be good to know for sure if any of the Auto 66 monday competitors will be able to get in the paddock on Sunday evening - not just your good self

bruce moore wrote:what an absolute load of spheroids !!!!
its supposed to be fun the hassle seems to far outway everything.

Ya gotta keep smiling Bruce - had enough upset when we wrote the cheque out for the entry fee
PS - I'll get that Mag back to you asap - unless you're going to Donington...

no rush mate enjoy your DAY! lets hope the racing is better than the organizing '
so Mr.Heyes is there?is he on a 350,interesting

bruce moore wrote:no rush mate enjoy your DAY! lets hope the racing is better than the organizing '
so Mr.Heyes is there?is he on a 350,interesting

Yes - Joe has decided to return to some "proper" racing - he's running a YPVS based motor - will be interesting... - and we've to learn Donington - only ever rode there once - a long time ago...

OK, well I know this is absolutely NONE OF MY BUSINESS, but.....

Last night I took the liberty of speaking to Bob Adams (Circuit Manager) and after a fairly lengthy conversation, he has said that if you queue outside Gate 21 (paddock gate) from 5pm on Sunday, he will allow Monday competitors into paddock 3 as soon as it is clear and allow access to Paddocks 2 and 1 as soon as the MG Car Club are completely clear. He anticipates this to be around 7.30pm but if the car club are running late, it may be as late as 9pm.

This is possible because (quite by chance) one of the BARC Rescue crews are staying on site until Monday morning, thus providing fire cover etc.

Security at Donington Park is now run by Mackenzie Arnold and the on site manager Jim is a very reasonable man. PLEASE wait in the appropriate places until you are told you may enter as I have asked them for this as a personal favour.

Have a safe one.

David Stewart wrote:OK, well I know this is absolutely NONE OF MY BUSINESS, but.....
Have a safe one.

Hi Dave - I think we would all like to say a big Thank You for sticking your oar in - surprising what can be done with a little extra effort - even though you shouldn't have needed to - again - thank you for making that extra effort on our behalf...funny how it didn't seem possible for a call to be made from "up north" to sort this...
OK - does anyone have a link to a circuit / paddock layout map ? - just curious what areas they call Paddock 1 / 2 / 3 ?

Thanks again Dave...