rob spencer

I got a message yesterday to say Hethel is now full. I'm reserve #3

If I was only to do one event it would be Anglesey. Ok that's two events. oh, I forgot about Gurston Down which would be first on my list . . . And the mandatory Curbs would be second I suppose. But after them, Anglesey is my first choice, so can you put me down for Saturday night dinner please Chris.

Andrew Put me down for a place please. I'm assuming you've booked unseasonably warm dry and sunny weather for the day Rob

Chris i don't remember Rob J being in Class 2 Rob

Chris i don't remember Rob J being in Class 2 Rob

Chris Do you know if we'll be able to put cars in the garages on Friday night? Rob

Paul Can you add whitebait to my previous burger order. I'll see if there's room for any pudding on the night And thanks for sorting this out too R

Burger for me please Paul

I've just entered so can you add me to the list please.

I can't let Graham carry the yellow trowel at Loton without me having first admitted to a straight on moment on the last run (just after Graham) at Country. But: 1.I'll be in France for the Loton event and 2. I was made to carry the pesky implement at Llys y Fran after Llandow when no tyre even touched the grass (not to mention the wholly unjust award of the Golden trowel last season ) So its all your Graham

yes please Chris

Graham I like the idea of a bit of variety so I'll go with what Matt says. Rob

Graham Will you put me down for a place please. Can't have you getting too far ahead too soon Rob

Harsh but fair Mark, harsh but fair!

We are all in the same boat, but I think it relegates the early competition runs to being just "extra practice". But that extra practice is done not knowing when the "competition" is going to start ie when we can all start with some heat in our tyres; if you see what I mean.

I agree with Lynn on limiting the number of competition runs to four. At Aintree we have seen up to six or seven runs timed. As the other championships competing at the event limit their competition runs, their competitors tend to pack up when they've been done. This leaves fewer cars in the later runs and consequently the dynamics of the competition change with cars doing a run, getting straight back into a short queue, and then setting a faster time in the subsequent run due to warm tyres (I have a thing about warm tyres I'm afraid ). I think we should do everything we can to keep the competition as fair as we can, and limiting the number of competition runs to say four would help that. As Lynn says, "This would not mean that competitiors could not take advantage if further runs are offered and continue to get track experience, it would simply limit the number of competition runs". Rob

On the topic of tyre warming, I thought the rule we had a few years ago whereby in the case of duel drives, the faster driver would compete first on the cold tyres was very sensible. That's not how the running order has been set in the past couple of years and I think an unfair advantage has been handed to some already very competitive drivers when it needn't have been. I'm not saying a faster driver is more important than a slower one, such that the faster driver's competition is more important than the slower driver's, but it is true that the margins at the sharp end of the competition tend to be smaller than further back in the rankings and therefore small advantages have a greater effect. I've heard the argument that the faster driver is best kept with the main class runners (running later) to ensure evenness of conditions, i.e. it would be unfair for the most competitive driver running first to enjoy a fast dry run just before a shower wets the track for his/her competitors. But that doesn't wash as a fast drying track will have an opposite effect - and it doesn't happen very often. Tyres warmed by the first driver will give the more second driver an advantage every time. We should reinstate the fastest driver first rule Rob

I’m with Mike on this. Class 2 has been contested recently by a number of driver/car combinations that have been very evenly matched at the events we enter (maybe not me this year though). From the Northampton Motorsport dyno results earlier this year, ported 1600K Supersport cammed engines produce c. 146 bhp and Graham’s X-power 1800 was there or thereabouts. A 155bhp 1800cc R300 car entering Class 2 will have a very clear advantage over other cars which competed in the class this year, which were very evenly matched through the final speed trap at Curborough. You can bang on about driver skill being more important than power all you like but, all other things being equal, including driver skill, the R300 will beat the other cars most of the time. . . which as Mike points out, will cause current Class 2 competitors who want to stay competitive to get their cheque books out to get the extra power. I like the sound of Alan’s 150bhp for Class 2 (sorry Andrew :( ). But if there is to be a power output specification for the engine, there has to be a method of enforcing it (wherever it is set) such as a specified rolling road . I know its Clubman’s motorsport and I know its just a bit of fun, (No, it's a lot of fun) but that shouldn’t mean we don’t have effective rules to “encourage” all competitors to play fairly. Everybody can then get on with enjoying fair competition, which is what it’s all about isn’t it? Rob

Thanks for the offer Alan but it might be a bit too far for you with the whole family in tow. And no, I'm expecting to come away empty handed *weeping* Rob

Mark i was wondering if AB would mind a short diversion to pick me up for the lunch. It would certainly mean I could enjoy Andrew's very kind offer. And I could talk Alan through my last Anglesey2 lap which I think he would appreciate, don't you? Rob

I'll be booking early next week when I get back from holidayo

Al *wavey*That was me you saw. I'd just picked it up from having its cams timed nicely at Noble Motorsport . Unfortunately they must have used quite a bit of fuel on the rolling road as it ran out of gas about 200m after leaving their premises I was probably at morrisons filling a petrol can when you saw the car 😬

BTTT I'm still looking

I'm looking for four (or two twos if anyone has upgraded their rears to 8" and wants some garage space back). They don't have to be perfect as long as they're straight

Can you put me down for a spot please Chris. Paul, I'll get the glitter ball polished up Rob