I have a dream.

[Turbo Tommo]

if  there are too many classes, perhaps  now is the time to have a debate ,and if there is agreement amend the regs, regards.

Mick, will you get on topic

[mhc]

why should sequential gearboxes in standard road going classes be banned?  Thats my topic.regards

[Mark Stanton]

Wakey, Wakey - Mr C              

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

Then us BEC guys could come and play in A,B,C & D, now that would be fun          

[mhc]

The more the merrier, 16 points every time, the classes seperated only by tyres and windscreens.

[woodman]

I thought that the std road classes were there to encourage as many people with road cars to have a go at the speed series. Sequential gearboxes [std or not ] are very expensive and create an unfair advantage ,especially mated to 200 hp. What is wrong with limiting them to the mod prod classes where they can compete with similar spec cars?

[scott beeland]

I have to agree with the woodman. Allowing sequential into all classes would stop some of the new blood coming into the series.Now I know some join the series just for fun (to get the car on a circuit and drive quick)and some for the social bit; in what otherwise is their sunday fun car; but others really want to develop the competetive side of their driving.

They may not; however have the kind of budget that allows a sequential box.

Should those people be put at a considerable disadvantage just because of financial/ engineering circumstance?

It can be very demoralising to be left in the weeds at every meeting because you haven't got the technology or finances to stay with those at the top. This surely is not a healthy situation for our series.

[mhc]

competitive racing always creates an (unfair advantage) wether its because of mechanical ie ,diff, engine gearbox tyres, build quality ect, or driving ability ,mine being indifferent compared to others ability,i can accept that no matter what car i drive, some people will always beat me, irrespective of car,regards.

[mhc]

Scott, its costs more to change from 8 valve to 16 valve, than it would from H pattern to Sequential, ask Mark,regards.

[scott beeland]

I can see where you're coming from  but by allowing a v expensive piece of kit into roadgoing (that gives a distinct advantage) I think it's reasonably plain to see that it would put a lot of people off continuing in a series where they cannot see the possibility of progressing in their class if that's what they want to do.

Surely the provision of "modified roadgoing" provides a better arena for such things as the sequential box. Apart from the bike engine boys there isn't a "standard" westfield that's issued with sequential; therefore it's got to make sense to only allow them in a modified class

Just my thought of course

[woodman]

Should those people be put at a considerable disadvantage just because of financial/ engineering circumstance?

It can be very demoralising to be left in the weeds at every meeting because you haven't got the technology or finances to stay with those at the top. This surely is not a healthy situation for our series.

I think that this is becoming more of a problem.

The split between the front runners and other is becoming wider in the road classes.

eg class c

none of the novices upgraded for this year have got near the front runners

i suspect that none of the novices upgraded from this year will do any better next year

Many of us cannot afford [or want to] spend 8-10K on an engine just to compete in a std road class.

I am not sure if it is worth entering this class next year just to make up the numbers

[mhc]

Scott, lets just see if my dream turns into reality, then we can pursue this disussion to its logical conclusion,thank you for the compliment,    11.16pm ,past my bedtime, goodnight folks.

[Turbo Tommo]

Scott, its costs more to change from 8 valve to 16 valve, than it would from H pattern to Sequential, ask Mark,regards.

He's got a point

[Guest]

Should those people be put at a considerable disadvantage just because of financial/ engineering circumstance?

It can be very demoralising to be left in the weeds at every meeting because you haven't got the technology or finances to stay with those at the top. This surely is not a healthy situation for our series.

100% agree with Scott.

I am not sure I want to compete next year - if my class is going to be invaded with even more exotic machinery.  Moving suspension mounting points from the standard, running on bald tyres (aka semi slick - certainly not road legal tread depths anyway), no working wipers (or motors) - and the list goes on.  This is what Class B this year looks like in certain quarters - with the additional advantage of a sequential gearbox, what chance do us people with "standard" cars have?

I joined the Speed Series for a bit of fun and some relatively fair (cheap) competition.  I accept that there will always be someone out there with a better car than mine - thats life - but rather than spending so much energy on a new points system - should we not be looking to get back to basics?  For those of us who want basic that is - everyone else can go into a modified class.  Like Scott - I don't have a shed load of money hanging around to make my car competitive next year (based on this years classes) - nor want to spend that type of money either.

Leave the points alone - look at making the class categories more fair - and administer the rules rigorously.

[Blatman]

Does fitting a sequential 'box actually give that big an advantage? I don't think it does. I'd back this up with some evidence, but my source is currently unavailable

When it comes back up, I'll post...