2025 Championship - A new Era

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

5 hours ago, Mark (smokey mow) said:

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.

 

 

 

I can remember that year when it snowed, mind it did that at Croft one year too. 

 

Noise has always been a but of a problem at Castle Combe, 2 events are run there a year. Will add it to the "To be considered list" which is really what this is all about. What do we need to offer so more people will join in. 

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

On 21/09/2024 at 14:44, djm said:

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.

 

Not sure their is a Sprint at Thruxton, can't remember one.

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

17 hours ago, Nick Algar - Competition Secretary said:

 

Not sure their is a Sprint at Thruxton, can't remember one.

There isnt and there hasnt been. This topic came up recently whilst at Pembrey with Paul Parker. However, an MSUK official there let slip that they have recently acquired a sprint track license, but nobody knows why yet.

[CaterBram]

I've got to say that until Sunday at Harewood I was unaware that the championship structure had changed in 2024 and none westfields were allowed to compete & score.  based on what i can see of the calendar I can see alot of alignment with the events we are doing already and I think both Matt and I will be joining in with the 7 Speed Series next season.

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

3 hours ago, CaterBram said:

I've got to say that until Sunday at Harewood I was unaware that the championship structure had changed in 2024 and none westfields were allowed to compete & score.  based on what i can see of the calendar I can see alot of alignment with the events we are doing already and I think both Matt and I will be joining in with the 7 Speed Series next season.

Thanks, that's great to hear 👍. It's why the name change to make it more obvious. 

[Benrobson2999 - Kent AO]

Just catching up on this… one of the things I’ve often thought I’d like to have a go at. It’s great the club do it. Despite being in the South East corner, I’d happily sort a trailer and try and find the time throughout the year but my concern is always, mines just a road going Zetec 150hp car, and will not be competitive enough in the eligible class up against the times Duratecs etc. Reading some of the comments I hear others saying similar, if there was a novice group of some sort for general owners to compete in their “Sunday cars” that may be popular to get people involved?

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

19 minutes ago, Benrobson2999 - Kent AO said:

Just catching up on this… one of the things I’ve often thought I’d like to have a go at. It’s great the club do it. Despite being in the South East corner, I’d happily sort a trailer and try and find the time throughout the year but my concern is always, mines just a road going Zetec 150hp car, and will not be competitive enough in the eligible class up against the times Duratecs etc. Reading some of the comments I hear others saying similar, if there was a novice group of some sort for general owners to compete in their “Sunday cars” that may be popular to get people involved?

 

It would be great to see you out there having fun Ben. Your comment reminds me of the 2 Novice classes we used to have which worked as a great introduction into the sport. Thanks 👍 👍 

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

17 minutes ago, Nick Algar - Competition Secretary said:

 

It would be great to see you out there having fun Ben. Your comment reminds me of the 2 Novice classes we used to have which worked as a great introduction into the sport. Thanks 👍 👍 

Does that mean you may consider re-introducing similar for 2025, if there's enough interest? 

 

Why not put a poll on here to explore?

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

16 minutes ago, Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO said:

Does that mean you may consider re-introducing similar for 2025, if there's enough interest? 

 

Why not put a poll on here to explore?

 

Yes, a poll here together with where we have also communicated this new 7's Series to should start to firm things up. 

 

These posts are invaluable in suggesting the things to look at so very big thanks to anyone posting. 👍👍

[CarlM]

I'm just getting mine back on the road (after 10yrs in a garage while life got in the way and I tried to be a father to 2 little'uns), I've never competed before but I think this would be the perfect motivation for me to get it runing again for next year.

 

I'm sure I'll have many basic questions if I did enter though........ 

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

23 minutes ago, CarlM said:

I'm just getting mine back on the road (after 10yrs in a garage while life got in the way and I tried to be a father to 2 little'uns), I've never competed before but I think this would be the perfect motivation for me to get it runing again for next year.

 

I'm sure I'll have many basic questions if I did enter though........ 

 

Great to hear your getting it back on the road, you'll find that the kids will enjoy helping, mine certainly did. Hopefully something like this or the great club run-outs will motivate you a bit more. 

 

It's pretty simple to make a 7 type car meet the requirements to compete, we will update the guide for people this year. 

[CaterBram]

One of the discussions on Saturday at Anglesey was around perception, which to some extents applies here.

 

The perception that  a road going car will not be able to compete as everything is a fire breathing monster........

 

From an outsider who has competed for a just few years 😉 there is a perception that most Caterhams (Yes I used that word as a Caterham owner) compete in road going with a few Westfields in the mix, where as most Westfields compete in modified as fire breathing monsters, with very few similar tuned caterhams.

 

In real terms there is a place for everyone, within the event class structure, from road going standard westfields, to highly tuned and modified monsters in Modified Specialist production.

 

We are competing in roadgoing Specialist Production in a number of championships and see a good mix of road going cars (not just Caterhams & Westfields) with a mix of power and experience, the advice I always give competitors is compete with what you have, see if you like it and learn from experience and when something needs replacing always go for something better. 

 

will you be the quickest in the class straight away, probably not unless you are a budding F1 Driver, but if you enjoy it, and most do , you will improve and you will start rising up the rankings, but at first if you have a smile on your face and are improving then thats all that should matter.

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

12 minutes ago, CaterBram said:

One of the discussions on Saturday at Anglesey was around perception, which to some extents applies here.

 

The perception that  a road going car will not be able to compete as everything is a fire breathing monster........

 

From an outsider who has competed for a just few years 😉 there is a perception that most Caterhams (Yes I used that word as a Caterham owner) compete in road going with a few Westfields in the mix, where as most Westfields compete in modified as fire breathing monsters, with very few similar tuned caterhams.

 

In real terms there is a place for everyone, within the event class structure, from road going standard westfields, to highly tuned and modified monsters in Modified Specialist production.

 

We are competing in roadgoing Specialist Production in a number of championships and see a good mix of road going cars (not just Caterhams & Westfields) with a mix of power and experience, the advice I always give competitors is compete with what you have, see if you like it and learn from experience and when something needs replacing always go for something better. 

 

will you be the quickest in the class straight away, probably not unless you are a budding F1 Driver, but if you enjoy it, and most do , you will improve and you will start rising up the rankings, but at first if you have a smile on your face and are improving then thats all that should matter.

 

Thank you Chris for a very insightful and helpful post 👍

 

You are absolutely right re new competitors, they are very unlikely to start winning straight away and certainly just spending fortunes on bigger engines rarely is the answer, a well developed whole car approach often works better, it's more important to be able to stop, than go

What's most important is that competitors enjoy the events and the friendships made. 😄

 

We hope that we can welcome you into our 2025 Championship.