EELMOOR Sprint Royal 4th October 2015

[stylussprinter]

My Eelmoor event started predictably with a 61 sec first practice lap , around 4 secs off my last year's first run so was thinking a year out plus hip op had had a big effect on judgement. I lifted too early for the first right crossover , braked and changed down too soon also. Finesse getting through the crossover was hugely lacking , I really struggled getting through without losing it.
Second practice I sorted some of those issues but still lifted too early although not as much. The result was a 57 sec lap so going in the right direction.
First timed run I got more things sorted which gave me a 55 sec lap(over 55 but couldn't read the results clearly -- Stuart was telling me the exact time)
The next 3 laps gradually improved in very small increments but all were 55 point something laps.
There were 9 in class(a new class for me)and I ended up 2nd in class and after moving around from 3rd overall earlier on , eventually was 6th overall from over 80 entries -- pipped from 5th overall by a tenth sec/ a 420bhp MGB on 12inch slicks.
I admit to being disappointed I couldn't match last years time at Eelmoor though but pleased I managed to drag myself up from the 61 sec mark !
[/NB actual best was 55.27 sec's according to Stuarts reading of the new timing chart system -- my last year's best 54.4 sec'sb]

[Shooter63]

Have you got any updates on your Rops problems?

Shooter

[stylussprinter]

Have you got any updates on your Rops problems?

Shooter

I asked many others at the EELMOOR sprint(competitors)and most didn't know what I was talking about --- amazing I did talk to the scrutineer who actually certified my car many years back , to be '' log booked '' , so I could enter classes not road going and not need tax/mot/insurance. He'd already been talking to MSA officials and got no clear cut answers to similar questions I'd been asking. He said that he personally didn't really know and neither did the MSA guys
The new regs seem plain enough until you start throwing in particular cars/situations THEN no one seems to know b-------- er all
Having said that , one of us is in the throws of contacting Michael Duncan directly , as I did myself after the last hoo haa over new regs in 2007/8 . So watch this space for his reply

To answer your question though --- as things stand , I won't be competing next season

[Shooter63]

Trolling round the various web sites and forums, it seems that a lot of people running kit cars are thinking of hanging up the helmet and overalls, to drop this on competitors does seem a bit strange, I can see certain classes being very thin next year. For people like me who are thinking of " having a go" it just seems like another barrier. When the governing body acts like this it always makes me think if they care about the " grass roots" at all.

Shooter

[stylussprinter]

If people stop competing then it's more likely their reasons are the same as mine(already been at it for decades and spent more than the car will sell for in modifications , so can't just keep throwing cash at it)
However , if you're just starting and either haven't built the car(bought it for half or third it's cost) or have built it but not developed it as I've done THEN this new MSA regs cost is no big deal . IE. cage , helmet , hans etc on top of no previous expenditure apart from the build or secondhand purchase price.
They're pricing out us oldies who've been successful after developing their car plus honed their skills . Basically I'm pissed off because it's destroyed my only hobby(have no interest in anything else)plus left me a car I don't know what to do with

[stylussprinter]

I decided to attempt to get the definitive truth about these 2016 regs , as it affects my particular Stylus and the classic Alfa GTAm I'd intended to compete with next season. Have emailed Michael Duncan at MSA Technical with all the info on both cars ---- I'm not very optimistic that he'll surprise me , saying all is ok or at least , cheap to sort

[stylussprinter]

Michael Duncan replied today , it's good news for me . I'll be competing next season

[kevp]

Michael Duncan replied today , it's good news for me . I'll be competing next season

Not giving much away there Rob. More info would be welcome.

[stylussprinter]

Michael Duncan replied today , it's good news for me . I'll be competing next season

Not giving much away there Rob. More info would be welcome.

Contrary to the written 2016 regs as I and others read them , he told me that if my car has been scrutineered as eligible this 2015 season then it would be eligible in 2016

[MattD]

Michael Duncan replied today , it's good news for me . I'll be competing next season

Not giving much away there Rob. More info would be welcome.

Contrary to the written 2016 regs as I and others read them , he told me that if my car has been scrutineered as eligible this 2015 season then it would be eligible in 2016

An email from the MSA to me said...
"In simple terms the new regulation bring the ROPS requirement for Roadgoing Specialist up to the same standard as the Modified Classes, Sports Libre and Circuit Racing. There are no changes to the regulations for Modifieds, Sports Libre and Circuit Racing"

So I presume if Rob was OK in '15, he's OK in '16 .... except for the revised tyres & Hans requirements