bl0498

Hi Simon, Just back from India - mine haven't turned up yet - any idea when? Thanks. Brian

Rob/Mark, I will sort a PDF version when I return from India. Brian

Hi David, I have had a quick look at the Regs and we have agreed to create a new class for you - TM1. The snag is we will be giving prizes only to the third place in that one person/car class and there will be a huge wind deviation factor applied to scores for that class also which means you stand no chance of winning the championship.....! Seriously as Mark suggests Class 2/3 depending on tyres. (Well given the paucity of postings on here recently I had to inject some humour!) Brian

Hi SImon, Sorry to be a bit late here - been away all weekend. Please can I order 2+2 all soft also... I will send you a cheque. Thanks, Brian

I would strongly agree with Graham on buying a new helmet. Used helmets may look undamaged after an accident but may be. If you don't know the exact history there is a real risk there. You only have one head - protect it well! Brian (with my Clerk of the Course hat on!)

Guys, In Marks absence I will contact the MSA on the List 1B issue. Brian Just seen TM's post so will leave this one to him! Edited by - bl0498 on 24 Jan 2007 22:21:47

Thanks Martin, But when it says V700/V7000 in the Blue Book that is what it means - not V70A! I spoke to Protyre my local tyre people in Gloucester yesterday and they couldn't give me a date when they could obtain these tyres as they were so new they didn't appear on their systems etc and couldn't quote anyb pricing so you might not be able to get them in that timescale Martin. Rob - Yes List 1A tyres only in Class 2. Yes you could run Stunners in Class 3 if you wish. The definition for Class 3 has only been amended from last year by adding the 'radials' bits and the tyre width sentence. Brian

Rob/Ritchie, These tyres are not listed in the List 1B in the 2007 Blue Book as far as I can tell. However Class 3 etc does not need Tyres that are in List 1B: 'Tyres to be any road legal E-marked radial tyre or listed in 2006 or 2007 MSA Technical Regulations Permitted Tyres ® List 1B – radial tyres only. Maximum tyre width 215mm.' The above is what is in the 2007 Championship regulations. Brian

Simon, How far do you think these tyres will last if I drive the car to/from events - 1000 miles? Thinking of doing class 3 with these tyres but still keen to drive to events - although I only managed 1 in 2006 but hope to do a few more in 2007! Brian

Hi Rob, What was decided back in November was that all class records would be reset in 2007 and all bonus points based on breaking them would be inoperative and the whole thing re-established for 2008. Given we now have a common class and championship scoring system based on SImons suggestion of 100 points etc for a win then it makes sense to be consistent across the classes - and thence for the championship. This is how the regs have been prepared. Hope this helps. Brian

Simon, Sorry to be a bit thick here - but presumably the recommended setup is 175 on the front with 215 on the rear? Do you know the differences between soft and medium? Just wondering... Brian

Mark/Graham, I should be able to help out on the Sunday if required. Brian

Hi David, Mark's list does not show that the only L7CGB organised events on the speed championship calendar for 2007 are the two events at Curborough and the Hethel event. All of the other events are as an invited championship to a meeting organised by others and our Caterhams will be in a minority at those meetings - although with 45+ cars at Loton we do tend to dominate it a bit! For example our MIRA and Shelsley Walsh events are organised by Midland Automobile Club and Loton Park by Liverpool Motor Club. However I am sure all of the organising clubs would welcome additional marshalling help - but alas there are no championship points though! Good luck with the season. Brian

Mine sent too Mark sans postcode... Brian

When I'm not in India and you are not in Ireland I'll give you a hand too Graham! Brian

Ash, I suggest you wait for the 2007 Blue Book on this issue. I believe there has been discussion on this. My harnesses have an FIA expiry date of 2006 on them - will need to check what this means for next year in terms of applicability for speed events. Obviously 3 inch harnesses are better at load spreading if needed. Advice - get a suitable gift voucher for new harnesses at Christmas! Brian

Mark, Put me down - India permitting of course! Brian

Hi Dean, Welcome to the world of hillclimbing and sprinting. The Blue Book indicates that you need a 10cm square head restraint pad behind the driver to support the helmet. A padded roll bar does not provide this. Also on my car at least the roll bar vertical is not central with the seat and is angled vertically. Caterham have told us that the Tillet seat will not in itself be sufficient to meet the force required so strictly you should mount the standard head restraint kit immediately behind the Tillet seat - irrespective of how close the seat top is to the roll bar. I would guess some scrutineers may allow this but some will not - and I would point it out if I saw it! The head restraint kit is a quick and cheap solution which removes this potential issue. Hope this helps, Brian

Thanks Dave for the Ps et al. I forgot to mention the garages which are quite tight. As for a route there I head to M5 J7 follow the ring road south and then head into Worcester and out again twards Martley. Trouble is I know the way not the road numbers! The roads are nicer on that stretch for a good blat! If you follow the signs from M5 J7 there is a very long period where there are no signs and you just feel you must have missed something. You haven't - keep going - and you will come to the right turn towards Martley and the road that Dave describes as very steep - it is and very windy too. Brian

Hi Guys, As promised a few tips for Saturday - most of these are in the Final Instructions which I am sure you have inwardly digested.... - Be there early, the paddock is relatively cramped, ideally unload trailers in the field. There can be a lot of congestion. Remember no towcars can be left in the paddock at all so you need to take tools etc into the paddock. A paddock location map is on display at the signing on hut. - Walk the course. It takes quite a while and a lot of effort! If you are feeling peckish you can always pop in for a bacon and brie roll from Alan Richards (MIRA!) at bottom S on the way down... Its unlikely that you will walk all the way up the straight to the finish paddock. So please note that the track turns quite sharply to the right once you enter the finish paddock. Many newcomers to Shelsley fail to notice this. - third set of numbers on the nosecone, can be smaller - get your car scrutineered as soon as possible. They come round in signing on order. - Once you are scrutineered you need to put your name down for practise batches by going to the back of the signing on hut. If its dry every one wants to put thenmselves into the earlier batches, if its wet then everyone wants the later ones in the hope it drys up. You need to leave a gap between practise runs so don't put yourself down to practise in batches 3 and 4 - do 3 and 5 instead for example. having an early practise means you can watch others either from the paddock or by venturing up to the spectator areas of the hill. - the paddock marshals are very efficient and do come and get you when its your batch - listen to the tannoy too. - Enjoy the food in the restaurant area next to the paddock - they do do sandwiches and some salads as well as the more traditional fried fayre. - You can see your times in the hut in the paddock at the top of the hill and also on the computer screens next to the restaurant in the paddock area. - Vodafone/O2 mobile phones don't work anywhere except in the top return paddock at Shelsley. Orange seems to be OK everywhere. - The Shelsley Walsh track looks deceptively simple. There is no run off. In the wet it is treacherous everywhere. In the dry the exit from Top S is the place where the back end always steps out - just make sure it doesn't hit the bank there or the sleepers etc elsewhere! The hill has its own weather too and it can be different at the top to the bottom...! - When returning down the hill and into the paddock it is quite normal for there to be a bit of congestion as the cars sort themselves out. Please go slowly in the paddock. If you are dual driving remember to turn into the dual drive paddock - the first turn into the paddock area. - Best spectating places beyond the start line are the benches just before bottom S. From there you can see a large proportion of the hill and the superb countryside in general. - If anyone wants to come and say hi they can find me in the Farmyard area just by the start line. Also in the odd Jag seen going up and down the hill.... - Enjoy youselves and soak in the atmosphere. Lets hope everyone has a great day - and we might get invited back again..... Brian Clerk of the Course

Guys/Barbara, Its not just Lotus 7 Club that are seeing the problem of reduced entries - it appears to be something across the board in hillclimb and sprinting. MAC are noting less entries for their Curborough and MIRA events (they dropped Llandow this year after years of lowish entries and rising costs) and even for Shelsley Walsh the numbers rejected are reportedly less! Similarly for other clubs I believe. So I think the problem is more generic rather than necessarily with our own club championship - although of course better promotion and understanding of how much fun it is always helps. I myself have been unable to date to compete in any of the events due to clashes with either work overseas or other dates. I was hoping to compete at MIRA but that may have to go - probably Curborough will be OK... My two penneth, Brian

Guys, I believe it is £12 per person admission - this includes parking. I believe U 16's are free but I could be wrong there. Brian

Rob/DSL, Black numbers on a carbon nosecone is, as David suggests, asking for trouble. A contrasting colour is required - white in this case being the obvious choice. The number does not need to be 9 inches high either as long as it can be seen from the course control/timekeepers hut that is situated to the left and in front of the car when sat on the start line. A lot of people make up these numbers out of tape - but personnally I put a white number square on the nosecone immediately above the Caterham badge and use the standard black numbers. Hope this helps, Brian

Thanks Graham!! - what can I say? In the interests of fair play if there are any situations where it could be construed that there is a conflict of interest I will be asking my Dep CofC to resolve them for me. I am confident we will not have problems however as I know how well behaved you guys are. To answer an earlier question - those accepted will get 2 spectator passes and a 'competitor' label for the competition car. Essentially this should provide everyone with the ability to provide entry for one person in addition to the competitor. So I leave it up to you guys to distribute your spare spectator passes around. Shelsley Walsh is a superb scenic venue for spectators - so all of those disappointed with not getting an entry can still have a great day supporting those that have - and see other cars too. Closer to the event I will post a complete set of do's and don'ts for Shelsley but here are a few to be to be going on with: - You MUST walk the hill. It is seriously steep and takes a long time. Motto - be there fit and early!! - You MUST have Three (3) sets of numbers. An extra set is needed on the front (either centre or near side) for Course Control/Timekeepers to view. The front set can be smaller. Hope this helps, Brian

Hi Mark, One XL one for me please. Brian (Lyall)