Speed Series Target Times 2012

[woodman]

I agree with Johns comment about concerntrating on your own class , but we have to look at the whole picture as far as the O/A championship is decided.

This problem would not exist if there was no O/A champion ,only Class champions instead

The new way of setting TTs eliminates the rogue slow times set when it rains for only some classes on the day or a drying track that did not qualify for the 113% rule or for whatever reason very soft times are set in one class

Stu

[Paul Aspden]

My comment regarding a wholesale change in target times may have been inaccurate, as the times haven't been changed, in some cases they have been ignored for what appears to be a valid reason. However, the lack of prior knowledge to the majority of competitors is what has provoked the responses, together with them only being issued a few weeks before the start of the season.....

Having now adjusted the times, hopefully there will be no need for further action next year, and competitors can look forward to stable regs (and times), something which is essential in my mind to promote the club. I have been involved in other areas of motorsport where the constant manipulation of the regs has caused the series to die completely. I for one will try to avoid that happening to the speed series.

That's my rant over!

Looking forward to the season ahead, with lots of close class competition and a great crac!

[Mid life crisis]

I agree with Johns comment about concerntrating on your own class , but we have to look at the whole picture as far as the O/A championship is decided.

This problem would not exist if there was no O/A champion ,only Class champions instead

The new way of setting TTs eliminates the rogue slow times set when it rains for only some classes on the day or a drying track that did not qualify for the 113% rule or for whatever reason very soft times are set in one class

Stu

Not disagreeing with you Stu. but if there was to be no overall champion and just class champions. Why persist with TT's when first past the post would be a fairer option. Quickest driver on the day under the prevailing conditions.

I also agree with John, if you are going for overall honors why would you enter a class with soft times. i.e. D this year, or indeed possibly D next year if quick competitors are put off entering, and investing time and money in a series they have no chance of winning.

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

There is a lot of guessing what will happen and people are saying the rule changes are bad, others that they are good.

Ultimatley no-one will know until the last event has been run and the scores counted.

Further suposition is pointless, we will all have to see what happens and that includes the SSOT, who as you will have gathered hope that the rule change will make for as close a competition between the classes as possible.

If you want to enter and have not done so then please do. It would help in getting the event regs out to all 2012 competitors, as some are only in e-mail form, not web based.

[Mid life crisis]

There is a lot of guessing what will happen and people are saying the rule changes are bad, others that they are good.

Ultimatley no-one will know until the last event has been run and the scores counted.

Further suposition is pointless, we will all have to see what happens and that includes the SSOT, who as you will have gathered hope that the rule change will make for as close a competition between the classes as possible.

If you want to enter and have not done so then please do. It would help in getting the event regs out to all 2012 competitors, as some are only in e-mail form, not web based.

I would imagine that the number of entries in each class would be a good indicator, however I agree with you, it is the attendees in each class at SS events that ultimately will provide the answer at the end of the season.

[Nick Algar - Competition Secretary]

Don't think so in today's current economic climate, I wouldn't read anything into the numbers on the day. Other Clubs were cancelling events last year and this has continued this year with a June Silverstone having just been cancelled this week. The LDMC October was poorly represented last year apart from WSCC and Lotus 7 Club.

I meant the results at the end of the year and how close the Overall Championship is and now many classes are close to winning it.

[Mid life crisis]

Don't agree.

This year 4 new drivers from within a 10 mile radius of where I live will not be competing in the SS, all of whom had expressed a previous interest.

Why?

They are new to motorsport, and just fancied a bit of fun competing against each other and myself in a few events we could drive to and then compete, while picking up some championship points off each other. A bit like a novice series.

Why did they unanimously decide not to, but persue other options? Because they did not agree with competing against target times. fastest on the day was their preferred route.

Just to add, one of the most restricting factors that prevents or deters new drivers from entering competitive motorsport is the cost of safety equipment. i.e. Helmets, suits, gloves etc. I as many other past and present competitors in both the speed series and other championships have spare equipment to loan to new drivers to get them off the blocks, have the SSOT considered this?

If the SS does not attract new entrants, in numbers, the series will die.

[Terry Everall]

We do need to attract new and younger drivers and in my opinion target times do not help in that respect.

That was why I ceased to be a member of NSCC a few yeras ago

[Mid life crisis]

Thank you Terry.

Let me make it clear I am in no way having a go at the SSOT of volunteers. I know or have met most, and have the greatest respect for their integrity and the good work they have done and what they are still trying to achieve.

I just genuinely believe that this tunnel route on target times is going to destroy the SS championship.

[Scottish Bloke]

Accepted, Stephen -- but Rich has gone in F before (and won the championship there ). He has a car which complies with the regs for F. He states that his aim is to win the championship again -- with 102 points theoretically up for grabs at every event, F would be the logical choice.

However, I hope that far fewer 102s will be delivered this year. We might well find that 100 turns out to be a rather acceptable score

As I'm very sure your aware David cars in F have evolved greatly in the last 2 or 3 years, ie horsepower and flappy paddle gearboxes, I simply do not have 10k (minimum) to spare to make my once very capable car competitive again. I've had 4 or 5 years in F and done reasonably well but common sense logic says it's time to move on to somewhere I think I can be competitive again.

Personally I think the lower class should be slower argument is completely flawed, if we all ran same horsepower engines in class, control tyres etc etc it may work but the mere fact that someone if C could have more horses than someone in D makes it pointless IMHO.

I agree with John, you compete in a class that fits your steed, never mind what's going on in other classes.

I'm bowing out of this one now as I've made my feelings clear. Good luck to everyone who competes this year, maybe see you around.

Rich

[woodman]

First past the post would be OK if we had a number of cars from each class at most events. But we often have only one or two in some classes at events.

I think it is unfair that a top driver could break national records at events but would probably not score very well if they were the only one in their respective class with the old 'first past post' system

I'm fairly sure the championship would have been over by half way last year with first past post! whereas with TTs it went down to last event

Steve I do not see what difference any scoring system would make to friends competing against each other on the day, its just best time. No system has any relavence to event acheivements as we are often mixed up with BECs , for instance in different classes

Also ,if your only planning a few events ,why does the system matter to you?

[Plays-Kool]

I don't think there is any correct answer too the problem. The first to the post situation is never going to be fair because there is always going to be a class at some point that won't have its full quota of competitors. The target times are good, you know what you've got to go for so just drive your nuts off, but then the whole soft target time ruling has now made it so even if you drive you nuts off you won't get rewarded for it. But as my father always said, life ain't fair! So no point b***hing and moaning about it, get in the car drive your arses off and see where you end up, you never know you might win, but if your not in it you can't win it! Simples!

[Terry Everall]

Just been looking at TT for Mira tomorrow

I think class H is wrong with TT of 46.17 as Matt did 45.80 last year