Track Attack comments and feedback thread - ALL

[rob0r]

Event Format

I ran in sessions 30-39 and 60-69, these had a few less cars in both. I think cutting the cars groups down to 5 might cause a too shorter break before the next run, though doing this could help extra braking room if someone over runs.

Track Layout

The track layout was perfect, I wouldn't change a thing. The braking box was an additional challenge which I enjoyed, though not very successfully! I much prefered the track in reverse, it seemed to work better. The "pothole" corner was no longer an issue whatsoever, even in a massively wide barge.

I didn't think there was an excessive amount of cones, or am I just too used to Marham? ;D. Either way it definetly wasn't an issue and I'm surprised it's been brought up.

I really liked the cone chicane and I think people should have the option on the 2nd lap to do either route without penalisation.

I vote for keeping the track format the same, and against an autotest. Drifting is half the fun and the biggest crowd pleaser. Grip or drift the format worked, I wouldn't change what's not broken. Though I can see why drift causes you more problems.

Preparation

It seemed much smoother than last year, the sessions were easy to track because the cars were in sets of ten. I would just wonder over to the "fire up lane" and check which numbers were next. Working in sets of five would make session tracking more difficult from my experience. The tannoy worked well, but I didn't notice it further into the show field.

Classes

I think the classes were fine, I wouldn't go for cylinder classing as that doesn't have a direct link to power. An BMW E30 2L 12v 6pot produces around 120bhp (and would be up against BCs Monza!), my BMW 318is 1.8 16v 4 pot produces 140bhp. At the end of the day we have class results and overall results so I don't see much issue. Class B was the biggest, but that's to be expected.

Other Comments

If it was exactly the same next year I'd be a happy man, this year was a blast!

[rob0r]

Another thought about group sizing, I think people missing sessions or one reason or another is inevitable. If we went down to 5 and 1-2 people missed the session then the break between runs would be too short and inconsistent. What about simply extending each session time and reducing the amount of cars?

[smellyferret]

As a pure spectator, I thought it was great. It was good to see a mix of cars in each group and not knowing what would be fast or slow

The fence on the show side was annoying (until I thought of moving the delica over to it and sitting on the roof!!)

I never saw anything that explained the lap format at the track though, may be useful to put up a simple explanation board for the viewers!.

However those are minor points on what was a great track for viewing.

[Hitch]

Maybe the back of the tickets could have a small map of the show stands and track layout?

[bstardchild]

Aug 10, 2010 18:07:38 GMT Hitch said:

Maybe the back of the tickets could have a small map of the show stands and track layout?

LOL that would require the track layout to be decided before the event ;D

[lewist123]

From a spectators point of view it was great. Car turn round in each round was nice and quick.

As a side note, thanks so much to HW and BC for letting the wacky racers out on the track.

Perhaps I should of told you how fast the bike was when on tarmac. I will wear a helmet next time if the speed makes you nervous. I wasn't going all out on the corners so I was safe enough, but if you want helmet and a leather jacket next time I can sort that out.

Oh and next time we should have considerably more speed. Perhaps some more power as well.

Thanks again for all your efforts! You guys (and gals) rule.

Lewis

[Fennec]

I vote for compulsory spring chopping before any car is allowed on track. This would prevent embarrasing body roll as demonstrated below.

[cobblers]

That's not body roll - That Cortina made the merc look like a go kart!

[The Doctor]

it was my first time on the track this year. To me it was perfect. Not too much cones, and the box stop was a nice challenge. I feel my luxobarge wasn't suited for it, so I have to bring another car next year! I'm kinda bummed I didn't race the track last year!

about the timing schedule going all wrong, it became clear very early allready (i was in the 2nd session, which allready started about half an hour late or something). I understand it needs more people, but i believe i read something about doing the briefing outside the track, which gains about 5mins allready!

[miketdsw]

I felt you had a really well organised but relaxed feel to the track use. Every type of car and driver was welcome and enjoying themselves.
Drifting is always a crowd pleaser, well executed or not lol, but I understand the issues it brings when managing risks and damage. Id still come to the show if it was no drifting but I doubt id be on track.

I think with regards to over running then it seems simple enough to rota in some extra time as a contingency and if its still spare come the end offer up one last session. Did you sell out each place this year?

[rtlkyuubi]

Aug 10, 2010 13:39:58 GMT Colonelk said:

I personally found it all to be excellent. The only thing with the box stop was that people didnt realise they had to pull out straight away in order to finish? Or thats how it seemed from when we watched. I could see issues with it if someone had brake issues coming into it, but I for one found it rather fun haha!

Obviously Id prefer the track to remain in a more open format for next year rather than autotest style, however Id understand if it had to change.

Too many cones on track? Not really, the whole "oooh the cones made us go around the chicane" excuse myself and Bigperm were using was just down to it being more fun the other way haha!
It was good to be steering round the 'pothole' as well

I think the classes were fair also

Smaller sessions would be a no-no for me (although I'm working on improved cooling as we speak!) as the car already had the 'tick of death' by the end of my second run.

Thanks again for allowing me out to play at lunchtime, I turned everything up to 11 to try and put on a good show, was a bit ragged to begin with but then found my stride. Was GUTTED not to get out on track with Declan but hey ho, thems the breaks.

I know the session times slipped, would it be worth putting the first session on track (as in parked up ready to go) for 9.45 so that we can all be briefed and what not in time for the 10am start that Haynes are allowed? Also, maybe worth admitting that the sessions do take a bit longer and just allowing more time per session (ie less session scheduled for the whole day)?

Aside from that, thanks again for your work organising and running the day chap I had epic amounts of fun

I pretty much agree with mark, layout was good, the stop box added more of a challenge (which i failed at probably more than once ;D) which was good. There was enough cones to show where to go, without too many to get confused. I think group size was good too. I went on track twice (30's and 70's) and I thought it was spot on.

The classes were pretty fair, but I think they could do with being split into, nearly standard and fully modified, as the mini who won class A looked and sounded pretty much race spec. But I would think that would cause too many classes for the ammount of cars that actually went on track.

Other than that, it was awsome and I would be deffently having more goes next year if its the same

[skinnylew]

It was my first year so i can't compare to last years but from a spectators point of view it looked excellent.

The stop box provided a lot of entertainment and i think was an effective way of slowing the cars down for the finish.
I wasn't sure how the cars were competing though, i assumed it was timed with penalties for not stopping in the box and missing the chicane. I would say the chicane was a bit slower than the bends providing a good mix.
The groups seemed to be quite fair, maybe some information boards explaining the rules, groupings etc might be good for spectators.
I'm definately going to try and enter next year in my Ax GTi turbo so I'm hoping there are no adjustments to categories as its only 1360cc!

Other wise the stewards seemed to be on the ball, maybe another steward needed down the bottom of the track but otherwise they reacted quickly to the Escort incident.

[alolympic]

I didn't actually realise the lap didn't finish until we crossed the line after the stop box I thought once stopped, that was it!

[swollen]

I think it was very good, I quite enjoyed it. only thing I thought of is what rob0r pointed out earlier in the thread and that's run it in reverse so your not braking at such high speed into the staging area.

[cptsideways]

I think some novelty type track action would be fun, sort of "Its a knockout" meets Russ Swift type stuff. It'd be great for for the crowds with some commentary & make it challenging enough for the drivers & make it fun to do in anything.

Remember those Pathe archive films of the caravanning challenge

www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=1042

[cptsideways]

Aug 11, 2010 22:19:12 GMT cptsideways said:

I think some novelty type track action would be fun, sort of "Its a knockout" meets Russ Swift type stuff. It'd be great for for the crowds with some commentary & make it challenging enough for the drivers & make it fun to do in anything.

Remember those Pathe archive films of the caravanning challenge

www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=1042

Additional points for period gear too

[surprisingskoda]

Aug 11, 2010 13:28:15 GMT alolympic said:

I didn't actually realise the lap didn't finish until we crossed the line after the stop box I thought once stopped, that was it!

In response to this problem that has been mentioned...

An autotest finish requires you to stop astride a finish line (or inside a cone box). You could end it that way - it's pretty simple to remember. The line element brings some skill and timing into play as well.

[andyf]

Very good from a spectators point of view. I think cobblers idea is an excellent one - instead of having the stop box, how about carrying on, then turning sharp right into what was the starting line last year.

The timing beam can be set up there so first lap would not interfere with it, and the cars would be entering the pits slowly because of the sharp corner, and at the back of the queue.

Have to say though, fantastic event and well done everyone for the organisation.

[Mantasport]

I was only there for half the day as i got called away to deal with something

But from my spectator (first time attending the gathering) point of view these were my comments.

I really enjoyed the Drifting from the Merc and Carlton wouldn't want to loose that ;D
Autotests are less enjoyable to watch for most people and harder to know if the driver went wrong or not.

The stop box didn't seem to confuse people as much as the fact that the stop line was after it (something i'm used to from Autotests)

So to help those unfamiliar with the system how about adding 2 small chequered flags to the top of the Stop-Line cones
Or even a banner above the track with FINISH on it (will check if our motorclub has one as i can easily borrow it for next year)

Then stop signs on the first cones of the Box with tape from top of those cones to the top of the second cones for the box.
(these i know i can bring if required)

We also use a marshal with a flag next to the stop box to indicate when he considers the car stopped, the car can then go on without penalty (obviously only when we have enough marshals)

We've used similar setups for autotests and the first timers said it helped a lot.

I liked the layout of the course, and appreciated the safety side of the run through after the stop line
Which is a consideration i always look at for finish lines on autotests and rally stages.

On the sessions getting later than planned throughout the day.
It looked like a lot of track down time was taken by the briefings.
If you had more helpers/marshals the briefings could be done earlier (while drivers were in the assembly point) which i would say would save a big chunk of time over the day.

This is not a criticism as it looked like you were doing most of the stuff yourself.
On that note you have a PM

Other than that the only problem from the day was that I didn’t bring my manta and book a session (or 3 )

[bstardchild]

Aug 12, 2010 12:48:16 GMT Mantasport said:

A lot of interesting stuff

Thanks for taking the time to write that lot out

Aug 12, 2010 12:48:16 GMT Mantasport said:

On that note you have a PM

And you have a reply