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Target Times generate a great amount of comment and discussion because when it comes down to it they are very personal! In fact they are a bit like INCOME TAX not liked but a suitable alternative has so far not been found! Target Times should be considered in 2 parts 1) The Framework and Process 2) The Target Times themselves As far as the TT Framework is concerned it suits the SS very well as we have multiple classes and multiple venues. The big downside is it is now very complex to administrate and takes a great deal of time. This is time and effort that most competitors take for granted as the results usually appear pretty dame quick after each event! I will venture to suggest that with the lower number of competitors in 2016 WITHOUT the use of the Target Time Frameweork the SS may have ceased to operate! As for the actual Target Times themselves the the "holy grail" of only using class/venue records is fine as long as all classes and all venues are supported in equal measure to ensure we have a fair and acceptable graduation of times across each of the classes. This lack of graduation has become more marked in recent years as certain classes have become more popular than others resuling in some classes being much harder than others which across the competition DOES NOT tick the fair and equitable box? This situation has been proved by the fact that in the last three years the overall championship has been won by the same class twice and once by a car that many competitors felt was not technically compliant! The SSOT is asked on many occasions to look at the techical compliance of cars and if un-reasonable factors are found then the rules are amended to deal with the anomolies. I would venture to suggest that based on the same thinking and spirit of the SS the 2017 Target Times are possibly the FAIREST for all the classes and venues we could come up with! Hopefully you will see a fair graduation of times across all the classes, tyres and expert/novice driver groups! Yes in the persuit of fairness some "records" have been increased slightly which may if conditions allow be beaten either in 2017 or some other time in the future (whereas the regs for John Hoyle's engine has been changed permanently) We have removed "Records" that have stood un-challenged for 5 or more years and for 2017 the new event rule applies! We have softened Novice Times slightly again this year! We have added new venus where the New Event Rule applies for 2017! We have modified the Conditions Rule so that if we get another wet season the wet events will be scored on a fairer basis! There are still the odd soft times in each class! As has been said many times we do live in an "imperfect world" but we are trying to be even handed here to bring a balance and fairness to a competition that we all want to enjoy to one level or another! The SSOT is not sitting on its laurels either, we have set up a sub committee to consider alternative performance measurement systems that maybe able to replace our current TT system! So please put on your constructive thinking caps and look towards the future here, any regs from other championships whose systems you like please send us details, think up your own ideas, send them to us also,but please remember the rules must cater fairly for: Multiple Classes Multiple Venues A SINGLE competitior running on their own possibily multiple times per season and their times must score points in the SS I hope this helps to clarify what we have tried to achieve for 2017! We are running a Marketing Campaign to try attact more entrants so please do everything you can to get anyone you know to take part! Have a Great Christmas and Look Forward to a great SS season in 2017! Thanks G Have a Grea

Nice and open full reply Glutey, helps me understand it a lot, thanks.

@Rickyboy100 the push of shame lol

Not sure if agree with the first statement about technical compliance, if it's the car I'm thinking of, it simply played by the rules and was therefore technically compliant. As for the second statement, I fail to see why this reg was and is still present. To restrict a car from changing a crank in a class where there is no upper capacity limit is mad. Anyone thinking this restricts budget should think again. As for the tt's, consider having class champions only, no overall champ, and you can manage that a little easier..........

We are planning to send out a questionairre in the near future to try and address some of these issues you raise!. Demographics of the WSCC membership, members time pressures ie speed series v family demands, holidays etc, etc, Favourite venues, Cost of entry, travelling and accommodation etc etc etc Cost of competing and being competitive and so on! We are trying to be a fully inclusive championship and we need new entrants as well as keeping our current group happy! We don't have all the answers but we will try and gather enough info from as many members as possible to make balanced and considered decisions that will improve enjoyment and satisfaction levels of the SS. BR G

Great run out Rich was it 19 cars ?? @Robin (Red Spider) - Yorkshire AO here is a pic lol

Is this for a wide or narrow?

A very good night out,a bit of an adventure to get there and thanks to Tim for driving us around Chelmsford looking for Barry's car!!! Thanks again guys for dinner and have a very good Christmas and a very happy new year.

As I mentioned earlier there is a sub commitee which includes myself who will be looking at alternative scoring systems and will be evaluating these next year. ITo repeat my earlier post that does NOT mean we will change from the TT system if the future as that will be a decision to be made once other systems have been evaluated. We may well find what we have is the least imperfect system after all but we won't know if there's anything better until we explore them. Dont forget the whole issue is about finding a simple, fair scoring system that is still gives the regular competitor something to aim for whilst not putting new competitors from joining the SS and after all there is no denying there has been a slow decline in the numbers competing in recent years. There is some evidence to show there was quite a reduction after targets were introduced but clearly there are a whole combination of reasons such as the economy and the MSA debacle over ROPS and tyres. There is s lot to consider I all this. For the record I competed under the old " first on the day" system so I'm fully aware of the advantages and disadvantages of such a system. We already have some alternative ideas for alternative scoring systems to evaluate and as previously mentioned we will be meeting very early in the new year to decide what systems we are going to look at and to decide how we are actually going to go about evaluating them. What we won't do is start looking at ideas debated on here. Clearly we can't stop anyone fielding an idea on the forum ( and neither would we want to) however, there has to be set process so therefore will only consider sensible suggestions formally submitted via John Williams at the Comp Sec email address. He in turn can pass them to the sub commitee for discussion and consideration. Therefore if you have any ideas on how the current system can be made simpler or better or thoughts on alternative scoring methods then please let us have them. In light of some of the earlier " Terry time" comments, it won't have gone unnoticed by a few ( and I've heard comments to the same) that I compete in a single seater in class J and therefore may question why I'm on a committee making decisions on Westfields. My personal view is that I have no vested interest in any of the Westfield classes so therefore hopefully avoids any suggestions that any decisions I influence on the commitee are made to the benefit of any of any particular class and are therefore impartial. For the benefit some of the newer competitors I competed in the Speed Series for 10 Years in class F and G of the SS under both scoring systems so do have a bit of an incite of how the SS works. Mark

You could also cut 'n shut an inlet manifold to move the throttle bodies further away? Or a different brand manifold might position them better? I suppose, you could in theory, even machine a wedge shaped spacer to go between manifold and head to alter the angle of the TB's a little? Most of the foam type filters I've seen come with a wire mesh cage that supports the foam, by careful bending of the mesh, its possible to "shape" the foam a little. Also, most filter makers do blank versions of the mounting plates. By using one of these and cutting your own holes in it, it's possible to offset the filter slightly up/down/side to side. You can't go far, or it hits the trumpets, but it might be enough?

The car has been reconfigured from the nascar oval config. It's a bit difficult on left hand bends now.. R1Rs all the same size will fix it.

Mmmmmm mince pies, can't wait

Lego Catering van arrived, birthday present from my daughter. I'm a lucky boy.