Sprint comments and feedback thread - ALL

[littlefiat13]

mmmm just right said the baby fiat as it tucked into the first corner..way too big said the baby fiat at the wrong way hairpin!
and because baby fiats havent learnt to count went one lap too many.... however the wise organiser didnt tell baby fiat off because he already knew baby fiat felt like a curse word ... all in all i thought it was spot on and made the best of the facilities and used good sense in restricting the chance to build up real fast speeds who knows i might have hit 40 if the chicane had been left out! i will be back next year whatever the odds...well done once again. mick.

[bstardchild]

Aug 18, 2009 12:07:59 GMT littlefiat13 said:

mmmm just right said the baby fiat as it tucked into the first corner..way too big said the baby fiat at the wrong way hairpin!
and because baby fiats havent learnt to count went one lap too many.... however the wise organiser didnt tell baby fiat off because he already knew baby fiat felt like a fool ... all in all I thought it was spot on and made the best of the facilities and used good sense in restricting the chance to build up real fast speeds who knows I might have hit 40 if the chicane had been left out! I will be back next year whatever the odds...well done once again. mick.

I lol'd at all of that - Baby fiat looked great and double points for having a go - come back next with a motobike engine and slaughter everyone ;D

[rob0r]

My experience was slick and flawless. In was in the group 50-60 and I think there was 10 of us and the gap between laps was perfect for me. I was chatting until someone told me I was next and got caught completely by surprise. I was one that did a three lapper by accident, as Colonelk suggested the adrenaline just took over, it it makes any difference I felt like a massive plank! Especially as I had just laughed at someone in my group doing the exact same thing a few minutes earlier.

About that hairpin - I heard a lot about it and how bad it was, I really didn't think it was a problem and that was in a car I've never driven before. I wasn't going as quick as others were especially as it wasn't my car but I thought it was made to be a bigger deal than it actually was - but thats just my opinion.

I loved the stickers, I thought it was a great idea and memento. I didn't mind the lack of timing boards, it's quite exciting waiting to see them posted up online even if I ended up 55th! It wouldn't make a difference to me even if I was in my own car and going flat out and I wouldn't want to pay the extra.

Thanks for everyones hard work on the track it really made my day!

[DutyFreeSaviour]

Both myself and OB both sat and planned next years track weapons all because this was run so well. The briefing on the wait would of course speed things up a little - but it really wasn't anything to break sweat over.

As said above - every single person came off that track grinning like a total fool (which most of use are). Excellent job done and very, very much appreciated.

Track was a good all round workout for the cars, they could come in before cooking anything and cool down (those still with water/coolant in 'em) in between runs - just right.

Only point - personal really - your shaking and tutting as I approached take off really destroyed my confidence - I thought you were a nice guy but those kind of mind games with the opposition were unexpected to say the least

thanks Ian - see you out there next year. I'll see if I can get to Marham anytime in between

John

[bstardchild]

This is as good a place for me to also pop a thank-you in

Huge thanks go to

Keith and David for having the confidence to let me run the track action and just let me get on with it (just giving me a nudge here and there to keep me on the straight and narrow and helping to make sure Haynes were 100% OK with our plan)

Polly and Tash for making sense of what seemed like a great sign on plan then finding a big hole and fixing it whilst doing other stuff as well (multi tasking seems to come easy to the females)

To Bill and Rob for manning the gate and helping in so many ways on the track activity while I sat on my pushing buttons

Simon and James for helping make sense of the timing kit and planning a circuit that would work (also Michelle for not giving James a hard time when a 30 min task took 3 hrs)

Bryn for providing the coffee at a perfect moment when I was about to come down for the first time ever ;-)

All the drivers who took part for making it so much fun and the day end on a huge high.

[bstardchild]

Aug 18, 2009 12:32:11 GMT DutyFreeSaviour said:

Only point - personal really - your shaking and tutting as I approached take off really destroyed my confidence - I thought you were a nice guy but those kind of mind games with the opposition were unexpected to say the least

John - every time you came to the line I was struggling not to laugh and it was a struggle to work the timing gear - you were complying with the rules - no fluids dropping on the floor - steam was coming out of the bonnet instead and on other occasions the 300 ZX had to be push started by others in the group. Give the little car a pat on the back cos it didn't let you down.

[Mr Lobster]

As a spectatator it was great ;D Cars were on about the right time and the frequently changing cars meant you got to see plenty of variety without it getting too repetitive. Chicane on the main straight worked as well, a run down the straight wouldn't have been as interesting and would probably have led to more armco incidents at the bottom.

I'd say keep it pretty much as it is, £15 sounds like pretty good value. Not watching next year though - I want to have a go instead!

[bstardchild]

Aug 18, 2009 12:45:14 GMT Mr Lobster said:

I'd say keep it pretty much as it is, £15 sounds like pretty good value. Not watching next year though - I want to have a go instead!

And that's precisely why if we do it next year in a similar format I need to understand what worked and what didn't and put suggested improvements in to make it slicker and better or capacity will not meet demand and one of my key aims was to make sure no one was disappointed with the VFM or track time

It's the same with the whole RRG thing

RR07 at Mallory set the bar (had track activity)
RRG08 was different but raised the bar again in terms of show std
RRG09 once again raised the bar on all levels

So the expectation will always be that RRG10 must be at least as good or raise it again

[JamesImp]

Although i didnt drive, i think the track looked superb. Especially for small nippy cars like my imp, if only i had my own gearbox and some money. I don't think any more people could have fitted on the embankement to watch i was stood on my car for christ sake. I think overall it was a bloody good idea.

[Frankenhealey]

I've done track days, hillclimbs, autotests and sprints and a bit of drag racing and I probably had more fun at RRG09 than the rest put together.

The organisation was professional and within the limitations of the size of the track and the staging area everything was bl00dy good. Static car displays are fine but some of us want to get out and use them in anger and the mix @ RRG09 was perfect.

My admiration for BC, HW, the SW Massive and all other volunteers, helpers, suppliers of bacon and beer is immense and I intend to volunteer my services next year as a small way of giving something back (as long as I can bunk off for some track time ;D)

Just a couple of points (which in no way are criticisms, see boundless admiration above )

1. Unless that hole on the bottom corner is filled next year then it should be run the other way round. My car's too low to go pothole jumping
2. Were there any extinguishers about?

Cheers,

Ian

PS Next year you may have to run it for two days ;D

[bstardchild]

Aug 18, 2009 13:05:43 GMT Frankenhealey said:

I've done track days, hillclimbs, autotests and sprints and a bit of drag racing and I probably had more fun at RRG09 than the rest put together.

My admiration for BC, HW, the SW Massive and all other volunteers, helpers, suppliers of bacon and beer is immense and I intend to volunteer my services next year as a small way of giving something back (as long as I can bunk off for some track time ;D)

Mallory in 07 was the same for me - I volunteered to "assist" with the next show with track action as a result of the fun I had in order to give something back so I know exactly how you feel

Aug 18, 2009 13:05:43 GMT Frankenhealey said:

Were there any extinguishers about?

Beside my seat on the bank and bryn's rover but his wasn't much good after the second run

Good point thanks and I have a source for a few for next time that can be placed round the circuit for added safety

Aug 18, 2009 13:05:43 GMT Frankenhealey said:

PS Next year you may have to run it for two days ;D

Mallory we did track on sat and show sun - both days - hmm would need a lot of demand to recover the costs of hire

[Mr Lobster]

I think it worked very well - certainly from what I saw anyway - so on that basis if it ain't broke don't fix it, just modify it a bit

Drivers briefing would probably be better done outside the circuit as the cars wait to get it that way saving a minute or two when they get in. A sheet to hand out to drivers with circuit layout would probably be of use. That should help speed things up and save wasted time between sessions that way you can hopefully get extra sessions in. Making sure that the next car to go on the circuit is ready as well would help, driver strapped in, helmeted up and ready as the car in front of them sets off which would again save a bit of time.

As far as I can see the circuit layout is pretty spot on and the two laps would be sufficient for most people bearing in mind overheating issues and maybe some people not having any / much circuit experience.

As mentioned above - run over two days? I appreciate that this raises costs but can you 'pre sell' the track time in the same way as tickets to ensure that it would be viable as a two day event?

[rtlkyuubi]

This is the 1st time ive ever done any track driving and I loved it! ;D

I thought the organisation and track layout was spot on! Just people have said though, I don't think it would be good to increased the prices to put up a time board as I thought £15 was a spot on price. I wasnt trying to get a fast time either:



;D Cant wait till next year as Ill be in my own car and ill have plenty of goes!

[hairnet]

reverse would have been good

chicane was a good idea (andy/sierra ;o)

spectating was excellent

someone mentioned fire extinguisher - were there medical facilities on site?

the single lap (and a half) thing worked - not too short and not as long so everyone got a decent go

[useless inc]

I don't know what it was like to drive but it was brilliant to watch.

I didn't see it all by highlights for me:

I finally saw the lift off over steer Pug 205's are supposed to be infamous for after the 205 in the first group cocked it's back wheel about a foot off the ground in the hair pin and spun. You had to respect the commitment of going into the hairpin at that speed.

The drifting Senator driver showed some serious skillz. I was sure it was going to end up over the banking at a few points.

The 300Z was brilliant after it was bump started and flew around the track managing to combine dangerous and entertaining in equal proportions. I loved how it seem to be able to light up the tyres at seemingly any speed .

[Frankenhealey]

were there medical facilities on site?

St. John's (or similar) were in the red shed by the gate.

[Raoul Duke]

As has been said, it was just incredible to watch. I came soooo close to begging a helmet from someone and trying it myself, if it wasn't for the fact that my tracking was hopelessly out (and that I'd splashed out on new rubber on the Friday & couldn't afford to destroy it after 2 days) I definitely would have given it a go. Next year I'll be shredding large portions of tarmac, fo' sho'.
From a spectator's point of view, it worked really well - nice quick turnaround with loads of variety! Only at The Gathering would people be unafraid to show just how comical their various cars look being hammered round a track ;D

[Adam]

Aug 18, 2009 19:06:42 GMT useless inc said:

I finally saw the lift off over steer Pug 205's are supposed to be infamous for after the 205 in the first group cocked it's back wheel about a foot off the ground in the hair pin and spun. You had to respect the commitment of going into the hairpin at that speed.

;D The problem was actually that I wasn't going fast enough, so I didnt bother to brake i think.

Glad it was entertaining anyway

[CIH]

As a spectator I thought the track action was spot on. Also inspired me to keep the S12 and mod the nuts off of it (crappy wages allowing).
I even plucked up the courage to ask for a go but didn't have my licence Probably just as well with a 450 miles round trip and already overdue a major service.

[judgie]

was a very enjoyable day, and must say thanks to all the drivers for A, not crashing into me while i was standing in the middle of the track trying to get you ready for your runs and B. for all seeming like you had massive amounts of fun.
not sure how we could do the driver briefing outside the gates as each time i went out to make sure all the cars were lining up i ended up having to find at least one car for each session. doing it inside the track at least means you all get to hear it.
having the next car ready and lined up means all the drivers have to pay attention and not watch the loons having fun, which i think would change what seemed to be a very relaxed and enjoyable day.
i hope we got the balance between getting you round quickly and haveing fun about right.
cheers rob