FAST FORWARD………….

Marketing Machine 2001
Following the cancellation of the hillclimb at Pestolozzi, another venue has, temporarily at least, come under the hammer. Work is being carried out at Debden making it unavailable for the rest of the year, however Herts County have moved their October event to North Weald. Our round will therefore still apply, so look out for regs soon.

2002 MSA Sprint Leaders (National Sprint Championship)
Further to previous notes about the National Sprint Scheme, we have been invited to provide nominations for this event. Please support this event and contact Paul Parker at britishsprint@paulparker.f9.co.uk who will also answer any queries. The Final Run Off will be held at Croft during October next year and will be the only sprint event at this circuit.

Marketing Machine …………Next Year?????
Hooray! Somebody has stepped forward and taken this over, well for next year anyway.
“Golden” Gordon Franks will be the Championship co-ordinator for 2002 and will soon be compiling next year’s calendar and rules. I also had calls from others who had some interest in helping and Gordon will be in touch. As with the last couple of years, Ian (Crocker) will keep the scores and maintain the web page for the most up to date results service in the country (just like Radio 5 Live)

Class Structures
This old chestnut usually raises its head every couple of years, (forgive the phrase, I know that chestnuts don’t have heads) however, much correspondence and paddock mutter has been in evidence lately, specifically about Lotus Elise/Exige, and what constitutes a Standard car.
A meeting is being held soon between the various Championship Co-ordinators to try and resolve a few problems.
Several years ago I proposed that the Lotus were placed in with Kit Cars and Caterhams, as Specialist Sports Cars, but somehow they ended up in Roadgoing Sports and Saloons by virtue of a weight limit in Standard Production. Hopefully sense will prevail this time.
Another subject up for discussion will be the Budget Car class. Personally I think that it has not worked. The idea is quite good, however the paddock lawyers have got hold of it and turned it on it’s head, plus the numbers are just not there.
Nationally, other regions do not have a Standard Production Class, but simply a Roadgoing class. I suggest that this is the way forward for the southern regions, so that there is virtual parity throughout the country and you will at last be able to compete anywhere and know what your opposition is. I know that the argument goes that this is a good start for anyone to come into sprinting, however I think that those starting out have already got some form of modified car and will generally enter as roadgoing.
So if you have any specific views please let me know.

Steve Medhurst

The Acorn : September Edition