The Place

Bob B wrote:Next weekend has been declared an non-winding Bobert up period as it's his birthday on Sunday

Snap!

We racing or playing bingo???? Surely it safer if we do timed practice? Let alone more fun and more racing like????,

Paddock hill bend. First lap. Going to be exciting!

Sean, the ball bag really worked well last year. I sure you'll like it when you try it.

Im with sean on this 1 just from the size if the grid surely timed practice is safer? Ive already been warned i best not draw a spot on the back row

Si - who is this person that you disrespectfully call 'the ball bag'

If I wanted to participate in a safe sport I would choose bowls or something, Martin if you get pole in race 1 you will be at the back in race 2 but not for long I suspect keep an open mind till you try it.

Buddha.

HI Sean and Martyn and indeed all slidies attending Brands next weekend with the C.R.M.C. balls were introduced, or should I say re-introduced, last year - they were for many years the chosen method for selecting grid position. As to the safety factor, whatever system you use has it's drawbacks. In reality what makes the starts safe or unsafe are the competitors - I recall a gentleman a couple of years ago trying to win the race as he entered Paddock on the first lap, clearly he didn't win the race, he won a free ambulance trip to the local hospital along with several other innocent fellow competitors. One thing which people should bear in mind is that although we may have 30 on the grid, the Period 3's always start in front of the Periods 1 and 2 750's. So, for example if Sean draws a back row for the first race, he will only be at the back of the P3's, and then of course the second race he will be on pole position. With timed qualifying if Sean's transponder fails during qualifying or he discovers Ray hasn't prepared the bike quite as well as he might and posts no time then he will be on the back row for the first race, second race, third race and fourth race! And that would be the BACK ROW - 27 bikes in front - P1s, P2s, novices everybody! That would make your wotsit twitch! So, as Brian Gray said last year, it is up to the faster drivers to make their way safely through the grid. Yes we are all very competitive but ultimately we are doing this for fun and we all go back to work on Monday - and if anybody believes that the desire to own a piece of plastic is greater than the safety of their fellow racers then I shall be more than willing to purchase seven winners medals, and suggest the miscreant spends his weekends in the company of others.

Anyway Sean, your Dad managed to come very nearly second in the championship without incident - are you saying his driving skills are greater than yours???

See you all next weekend for a safe one.

Well said Ian and I totally agree with what you say . And Dave you sum it up perfectly too . The system worked brilliant last year - it is not broke so don't fix it! See you all there!

Spot on Ian

I remember years ago when the classic club started, you could get a trophy to remember the meeting you could choose to buy one if you wanted so there was not a problem if you didn't win.may be Bob can tell more

That is absolutely right Eve, you could by a replica for not a lot of money as a memento of a meeting. They were also presented to senior officials at meetings, e.g. CoC, ACU Steward etc.

That system is still in operation. On the entry form there is a box to tick if you require a momento of the meeting (this was a tankard but I'm not sure now) for a small fee.

How do you think my trophy cabinet is so full??

That's nice to know Ian. Regrettably my 'trophy' cabinet was abandoned when we moved from England.

every system has its draw backs. I think every race should be pulled from the bag, it does not add to the time it takes to set the grid up, this makes every race much more intresting as it does not always faver the fastest if they are drawn on the front every time, The problem with changing the grid round from the first race to the second is that if you are drawn in the middle you stay in the middle. and as for the slower ones in the way well that racing.