2025 Championship - A new Era

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

There has been a steady decline in numbers of competitors in the WSCC Speed Series over the years and the SSOT has been considering what to do to change things to make it once more an attractive series to be in. in 2024 we opened the Championship up to all 7' type cars to try and increase the competition, but there has not been a great take up off this. So to endeavour to bring more people in we are re-launching the series under the name 7's Speed Series. To find out more please read the enclosed PDF explaining the changes. We hope you will get on board with this and that 2025 can be a more successful year.

 

 

7s SS draft Sept 24.docx.pdf

[Two7]

Seems a good idea to be more inclusive so we get more entries.   Just 2 observations,  neither of them can be fixed quickly.   1)  A lot of potential entrants live way south of Birmingham,   the list of venues may not appeal to them.  2)  a bog standard 7 is never going to outperform some of the modified machines in the road going class.  Therefore how about a best improvement over previous season award,   this would lock people into taking part year after year and would reflect their skill development.

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

Thanks for your suggestions, which are appreciated.

1) getting the balance of the venues has always been a problem with ours and any other Championship. Caused to some extent where the venues actually are. So the Midland Hillclimbs of Prescott, Shelsley and Loton being to the west and none to the east of the country. But also Sprints being so spread out, with few in the centre.

We are planning on seeing where the interested competitors are based and try and support those customers, with geographically close events if we can.

 

2) That's a sensible idea which needs exploring further 👍

 

Thanks 

[S2T]

I think it is important that as much feedback is given as soon as possible particularly around the venues and the actual number of events, then the Committee can pull together the programme.

Anglesey and Blyton are in recent years the most popular events so my personal view is that these should form the core. It is debatable whether we want a large number of events which geographically may provide more accessible venues or whether a small number of rounds that participants can focus on lets say 8 meetings, The latter option may encourage a higher turnout at these events.

I believe the overall objective is to increase the number of regular entrants as there is nothing worse than travelling hundreds of miles to find you are the sole class entrant

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

14 minutes ago, S2T said:

I think it is important that as much feedback is given as soon as possible particularly around the venues and the actual number of events, then the Committee can pull together the programme.

Anglesey and Blyton are in recent years the most popular events so my personal view is that these should form the core. It is debatable whether we want a large number of events which geographically may provide more accessible venues or whether a small number of rounds that participants can focus on lets say 8 meetings, The latter option may encourage a higher turnout at these events.

I believe the overall objective is to increase the number of regular entrants as there is nothing worse than travelling hundreds of miles to find you are the sole class entrant

 

Yes please, the more feedback from as many people as possible will be really appreciated, this Championship will only work if competitors want to be part of it.

 

Good points re Blyton & Anglesey and the SSOT have picked that up.

 

Your last sentence is very much what we want to achieve, 15 years ago there were 120 competitors in the Championship and whilst we may not get back to those numbers, were certainly need to achieve higher number than currently to make it a success.

[Smudge62]

Nick have you not thought about Castle Coomb as the midland championship boys come down to Gurston so I would have thought Coomb would be a little nearer for most ?

[Paul Baker]

I’ll put my hand up and say that I’m one of those people quite interested in the idea of taking part in the speed series. The two biggest reasons for me holding back are highlighted by @Two7 above - I live in the south west and taking a look at the schedule it would mean a lot of time and travelling, and  there would be a lot of events that I just wouldn’t be able to get to because of the time commitment it would entail. I also have a standard kit - I love the car but I know it just wouldn’t be able to compete. I would definitely enjoy taking part though, so maybe the ‘most improved’ trophy would be a good idea, something a bit like the Jack Sears trophy in the BTCC, something that I could realistically aim at.

 

Some decent tracks down this way, particularly Castle Combe and Llandow spring to mind.

[Terry Everall]

It’s a bit of a pain when you can’t stay pvernight in the paddock at Llandow and have to pay for adjacent campsite etc

[S2T]

12 hours ago, Terry Everall said:

It’s a bit of a pain when you can’t stay pvernight in the paddock at Llandow and have to pay for adjacent campsite etc

Spoken like a true Yorkshireman

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

Thanks for all the comments, please keep the discussion going on what you would like to see.

[djm]

Commenting as a spectator re tracks.

 

How about Thruxton although I don't think I've ever seen a sprint advertised there.

 

+1 for Castle Combe I always enjoyed spectating there when the speed series used to visit years ago.

[stephenh]

The problem with Castle Combe (or one of them) was noise. For the more highly tuned engines it was difficult to get below the dB limit, which was lower than most circuits, and was strictly policed by the local authority as they had regular complaints from some local residents. I had to rebuild my silencer on 2 occasions when I competed in the Speed Series, so I stopped going there.

[djm]

Yes noise has been a problem for a long time at Castle Combe although they have had the final of the British Sprint Championship there for several years. It's part of the Great Western Sprint and this year is on Saturday 12th October. Several club members take part (not usually in Westfields though) and is attended by some of the fastest sprint cars in the country.

[Two7]

Castle Coombe would get a big thumbs up for me.  Bristol  motor club run a sprint there.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Castle Combe was always one of my favourites and the first Sprint I ever did in a Westfield.

 

A quick track but it always felt relatively safe. Back when it was the first of the season in March it could get a bit cold and even one with snow!

 

appreciate some of the front runners in the speed series had issues with passing noise, but for balance I never had any problems in a road going car. 
 

public option of motorsports, noise and the environment are changing so I feel we should all be doing a little bit more to make our race cars quieter to promote a better image.