Wheelspin e-magazine for January 2004 published. Go straight to the page at:
www.knightlybrown.net/sectionbegins/emagazine/sbemag003.htm
Then come back here to post your views and continue the debate.
Andrew
Wheelspin e-magazine for January 2004 published. Go straight to the page at:
www.knightlybrown.net/sectionbegins/emagazine/sbemag003.htm
Then come back here to post your views and continue the debate.
Andrew
This message has been deleted by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am going to agree with Andrew on the Overall awards/Class award for pretty much the same reasons. The “how many up the hill” discussion I agree with and I haven’t seen it better put anywhere else either. The night run I would disagree with and this comes from two, maybe three points: history or feel, location and car. The main points I feel are the car & location. If I start with the cars. By reducing the night mileage I think you will increase the use of more specialised vehicles, either specials or saloons more suited to the task, which will create more problems for the club as more sections become less of a challenge. If nothing else the use of lower axle ratios would increase as the reduced cruising speed would be less of a handicap. It may also see less of the competitors’ attention on roadworthiness. I feel the location of where the competitor lives is much more important than where the start is as they always have to get back. For extra kip you would have to be lucky enough to live nearer the new start location. Personally living in London moving the start from Popham to Sparkford for example will not increase any time in the land of nod by much maybe by none at all in the temptation to give in to increase the “just in case” time on the way to the start. I left an hour this year for the Exeter and it was all nearly wiped out going to pick up my passenger as when I got to the A4 going out of London to find three lanes of solid traffic as far as I could see with blue light flashing at the top. Living in London also makes any one day trial akin to a MCC event with the drive home although this pales in the light of Simon Groves’s trip to and from Cambridgeshire! Mark
ReplyDeleteWell, two out of three ain't bad. As regards the night run, I think that Mark has a good point on the 'car' issue although, surely, this is all part of the 'drive' versus 'trailer' argument and if you're going to drive all the way there and back you'll do it on whatever diff. you have irrespective of whether the run is part of the trial or not. I also accept that home location is a major factor but I would be more in favour of the night runs if they 'went somewhere'. We now have a situation where the Exeter is reduced to a Touring Assembly, which means most competitors get to Sparkford by as direct a route as possible (increasing the wait there), and only the Lands End includes the night run as part of the trial proper. I personally find that the Sparkford (Exeter) and North Petherton (Lands End) stops just allow the adrenalin level to drop to a dangerous level without providing the facilties to get any sort of proper rest. Any more views? Andrew
ReplyDeleteThe Night Run - For me these are an essential part of an MCC event which is and must be more than the sections. We have the ACTC events and other one day trials where the focus is on the competitive hills. I do not like the cut-down Lands End. I think it should be put back like it was a few years ago, long night run and finish at lands End even if there are no sections in the last 40 miles. The Exeter I would leave as it is, super event this year, even if I did drive stratight down the A303! I understand that for cost/authorisation reasons it had to be a touring assembly but I would have prefered to go all round Devizes provided it was an official route. I guess the Edinburgh is a bit special as it is a relatively new event compared to the others and when we get to where the hills are they are right on top of each other necessitating two circles. However, I would like the 3 starts and a night run back. So for me the MCC events should be Long Distance Classic Reliability Trials. If that is to far to drive your class 8 special then change your car not the event! Awards - I would be happy to see just the medals and a Triple as the prize. As much as I am really looking forward to getting my class award for The Edinburgh I don't feel class/overall awards fit into the spirit of competing against the club. 'Two Up', 'One Up', or 'None Up'? - I don't have an opinion on this one. Michael
ReplyDelete" the Edinburgh is a bit special as it is a relatively new event " Errm..... Then how come its celebrating its 100th Birthday this year?
ReplyDeleteSimon, What I meant is its present format. i.e a trial with the sections centered in Derbyshire. Michael
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrew for starting this. Night runs: Mixed feelings. I like a few night sections but long drags or circular routes to reach the trial proper are beginning to pall. I often wonder about the time element of MCC events. The enforcement seems patchy with occasional roadside disputes among competitors as to what is permissable. Are the time schedules part of the competition or merely nature's way of ensuring everything doesn't happen at once? Class awards: I have always felt that the competition is between the club and the entrant and this makes class awards redundant. Certainly if I am in line for a medal I don't try for a time on the special tests. It seems to me that getting a bit of silverware for driving a bit faster on a special test when only a few of the competitors are trying on it is a bit excessive. None up All up rule: Clearly last year's experiment suggests that the previous arrangement was better. I think the problem occasionally is that C of C's get a little confused between MCC events and one day trials and set sections that will stop all but a handful, the Bishop's path restart on the Lands End is an example. Clearly it would be unfair to the few who cleaned it to discount it but I do think that it should be regarded as unfitting for an MCC event, whereas for a one day event it would have been a triumph. All the best Tony
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting topic, I have only been doing MCC events for 6 years so cannot reflect on the past.. Night Runs. I am neutral about this, what I did not like was a run down the A303 being beaten up by the articulated lorries. In a small, open car at 50 m.p.h. you will always feel vunerable. Don't say go faster as you only arrive earlier and have longer to hang about. In a tin top you can at least catch a little sleep. Multiple Start Points. I like these as at least you know which third of the event you will be running in when you enter. With the Edinborough single start you could potentially be running first or last car year after year. Class awards. I agree with everything Tony Branson says on this. None up, all up rule. Again I agree with Tony on this. Lets have more discussion. Stuart Harrold
ReplyDeleteYou could always try following the Touring Assembly route which would take you off the A303 and take more time.... Couldn't resist!! Mark
ReplyDeleteI would like the Lands End to finish in Pz but as i am mindful that i don't aid the organisation of it. Aren't the marshals on the section responsible for the siting of the restart rather than the CofC? A restart such as Bishops last year in my mind near enough the same as a difficult hill that only a few clear, Litton, Cutliffe Lane & Simms appear for example. The Bishops restart still counted in the two up year as well Mark
ReplyDeletedont blame us marshels , all the restarts Ive been on have been set by the CoC
ReplyDelete