IN RESPONSE TO ROB LIDIARD'S CLUB LIGHTS
 

I'd like to start this bit with a huge whinge at Bromley council as they seem determined to make everyone's lives as dull and boring as theirs are. BROMLEY COUNCIL YOU ARE SH 1 T. Sorry but it's true. It was Crystal Palace that introduced me to club motorsport and was my favourite event of the year and my best motorsport day of the year after the Goodwood (festival). Living away, I have to bear with the Oxford post (weeks late) I found out from the Acorn that my home event, (I played in the park as a child, got drunk there in my early teens and found my passion there), was killed off, it was like I had just walked in on my girlfriend and my best mate. Knife in the heart! All I can think now is very very rude. Does Bromley not realise that by going all Victorian with the park, they are destroying a major part of motorsport history? In fact I believe it is the only circuit in its original configuration (second anyway) that remains.  I've seen Goodwood many a time but it's just another airfield to me. CP was a proper circuit, fast and challenging. It had the best viewpoints of any circuit, I know, bar Brands Indy. I apologise for this rant but I feel like I and many others have been robbed of our history.
Onto Rob's letter……
I feel that he is spot on pretty much, bar making tyres free (I can't afford new road tyres let alone soft slicks) I'll run down what I think is the consensus so far.
Chassis

  • Standard homologated hatchback (Stock hatch/Road saloon style)
  • Strut braces permitted as long as they are an "off the shelf" type
  • Shocks must be standard to the model. (Money guys, money!!)
  • If a cage is fitted the internal trim can be modified in an acceptable manner.
Brakes
  • Callipers must be standard to exact model - a 1300 must have 1300 callipers
  • Linings are free - I hate brake fade.
Stereo
  • Big fat ones show an excess of cash and a lack of grey stuff 
  • Upstairs - this is not Max Power (that mag should be banned and cars confiscated from all those who read it)
Event 
  • Two classes up to 1400cc and 1400 - 1650cc
  • Championship round run within existing events
  • To qualify, three types of event must be competed in.
  • Points - dunno really - maybe more for less popular events? The less people there are the more points available? Just an idea!
  • Engines must be standard to first oversize as per Haynes manual.
  • Race seats, if wanted can replace front road seats.
  • Fuel must be available from the average petrol station
  • All other equipment must be standard-Bodywork must be standard
  • Tyres must be road legal and not designed for motorsport use ie - everyday tyres.
  • Wheels are free but must not be larger than the largest wheel size fitted to that model -ie Mk2 Golf can run 14 inch  P-wheels but nothing bigger than that.
  • All cars must have road tax, MOT and valid road insurance, who cares if you drive it to the venue or not, you would be a bit silly to drive a road car to a scatter rally on a trailer!! 
But the biggest rule is to keep it ultra cheap and ultra fun!
I think it would be wise to start at Weald level, go bigger if its successful. I think it would be popular just because you could use any old boy racer banger mobile to compete for peanuts. With the death of Crystal Palace, I have nowhere to show off the 100% unique car I have come into contact with. It's officially called OB1 or Oxford Brookes 1. It was designed and built by 3rd year students at my university; almost everything on the car was designed and made just for this car. The car was made for the Formula student competition where various units have to design and build a single seat racing car from scratch. 
The engine is 600cc CBR engine (of the motorbike variety) and rather quick by all accounts. OB1 has a rather boxy Aluminium honeycomb chassis entirely designed and made by students. However under construction currently is OB2, which is a bit special. 
An F1 style carbon fibre tub prepared by students at Arrows alongside Jos Verstappen's 2001 challenger is currently sitting in the workshop awaiting assembly. I'll tell you all what it's like to drive these things when I find out, but I think its gonna be pretty special!
Well with the season upon us once again I have no race drive this time but I'm looking around to see what's about. For our first year project we are building a Ford Cooper and a Swift. 
Both ex-Castlecoombe racing school so seriously abused by the likes of us. The Swift is a state as was the Cooper, but the latter is nearing completion so maybe I'll get my first single seater drive in that! For a drive at the moment I've been hanging around mid grid in the Oxford Brookes Karting championship - sounds a bit Mickey Mouse I know but it is of a massively high standard. Last race on a drying circuit I had a two lap long wheel banging session with Emiliio De Vilota, the Spanish F3 driver. I ended up breaking my exhaust and losing a lap getting it fixed, but if ever you thought you saw a close race, last meeting was a two hour affair that was settled in the last two metres of the race - wow!! Anyway Roni Size just came on the radio so I'm gonna have to go and shoot off.

Sam Collins

Back to April's Home Page