Jump to content

Nealius

Member
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Profile Information

  • Location
    Bishop Auckland, Co.Durham
  • Association with F1
    BriSCA fan since '86

Recent Profile Visitors

5,160 profile views
  1. Is that you volunteering to set up and perform a Punch & Judy show on the terraces there Dave? How to run a Stock Car meeting - special edition. "That's the way to do it!" The 3 hours would fly by, I'm sure. And though he might not tolerate that entire duration, stood there as the target of your ire, I should imagine Mr Rees would happily recognise your selfless efforts, with two complimentary tickets to the next Stoke F1 meeting? Oh actually, hang on... 3x Heats at 16 laps each, Final at 20 and Grand National at 16 would equate to the quoted 84 laps. Don't think we need to call Sherlock Holmes in just yet. Great that yet another preview thread has started off with such unbridled enthusiasm though. No danger of any 'seasonal affective disorder' setting in with these dark nights, when you've got these gems each week, just the touch of a screen away to light up your life?
  2. Craig Finnikin's getting a bit of a raw deal in these preview threads of late, I notice. Last week he was a 'dominatrix', this week he's from 'Leak'. Could this, albeit one-character imperfection, be a sign, though?! I'm sure the preparation of those #55 machines is impeccable. But even so, in light of this most recent, possibly cosmic intervention ["from amongst the shooting stars, to a Shootout SuperStar", if I may!] dare they risk not quadruple-checking everything, or if that's already standard procedure, then 5 times? It's tight at the top - so I hope everything's just as tight as it needs to be on the Finn tar car as well. Can't afford to be pee'ing points away now? I'd better be careful else I'll be breaking into a "go on Craig!" and waking up some of these early-to-bed forum dwellers...
  3. Thanks (and commiserations in the circumstances) to Startrax for making the call at this stage. Cheers Keith for putting it out here so quickly. Hope it can be re-arranged. Was going, whatever the weather but, anyway. If anyone bumps into this 'Lorenzo' chap, do feel free to chain him to a fencepost and administer a savage verbal dressing-down, on behalf of the whole BriSCA StockCar community?!
  4. As hesitant as I am to disturb what are now, hopefully, quite settled waters, I do need to dive back into this one momentarily - as a matter of integrity, if nothing else. Your post is a revealing one Rod, but the above couple of lines are perhaps the most telling of all - both in content and tone. It seems very much, as though the fundamental premise of my post passed you by somewhat, if not entirely. I was not 'making interpretations' of anything. I was taking issue with Betwetter1203 posting what, in the absence of any hard evidence, could only possibly be his opinions, as if they were proven facts. Whether those opinions are shared by you, or by 50,000 others, does nothing to alter that they remain, opinions. "8. Unsubstantiated hearsay, gossip, or rumour, that is presented as fact, or may cause distress to, or damage the reputation of any person or organisation." That, quoted from THIS PAGE. Need I say more? I for one reckon that's a very reasonable and prudent rule to have in place, and really not that difficult to adhere to. The difference between, for example, "It is" and "I think it is"?! Your words in reply to me, may be well-meaning, some of them at least - and I don't want to come across ungrateful or dismissive. Nonetheless, in light of the above, I cannot help but question whether you were in quite the position to critique that you seemed to believe. Even less, to almost hold me to account in making further demands regarding my 'opinions', as if you are owed them. You aren't. That is to assume I even have opinions on those matters. As far as I know, it isn't mandatory to have opinions, or to shout them from the rooftops if and when you do. That's it really. Hopefully not overly-clever or uniquely-styled for you this time, and believe me, not something I wanted to or take any pleasure in posting.
  5. Hmm, I dunno. I've a feeling the writer might not be that wide of the mark. Considering 55's recent form, I wouldn't be surprised if he gives them all a good whipping.....
  6. Nigel - you've inspired a bit of racing related research - I've been on two of my favourite websites, briscaf1stox.uk and Since 1954 and gathered the following... Hednesford BriSCA F1 turnouts 2009-present (Previous nights' meetings and turnouts, where applicable, in brackets. The 2010 through 2018 Hednesford's were all WCQR's, as were the 2011 through 2018 Birmingham's) 08/11/2009 - 23 (Coventry Trust Fund 59)18/04/2010 - 26 (Birmingham 36)10/04/2011 - 42 (Birmingham 56)22/04/2012 - 29 (Birmingham 44)21/04/2013 - 28 (Birmingham 35)13/04/2014 - 35 (Birmingham 41)19/04/2015 - 34 (Birmingham 46)17/04/2016 - 44 (Birmingham 56)09/04/2017 - 36 (Birmingham 53)15/04/2018 - 42 (Birmingham 51)16/06/2019 - 50 Interesting. You appear to be stating facts there. So... What is "more expensive machinery"? More expensive than? Is there a monetary threshold you must have spent above, in order to stand any chance of, say, a win or a podium finish at Hednesford? And what is this "big advantage" this machinery has? Can you quote car costs, lap times, results between someone who is in this more expensive machinery club versus someone who isn't? Michael Scriven (12) has been very successful there. 15 of his 38 wins achieved at the track, including 5 Finals. From 2015 through 2017, Heat & Final three Hednesford's in a row. Do you class him as having "more expensive machinery"? It isn't any of my business really what he or anyone spends on their racing, but going by your assertion I can only presume, with a record like that at the track, he must be throwing £millions at it? Using the bumper is "very dangerous due to the higher speeds", you say. Is it? Higher speeds than where? Very dangerous in comparison to what? Sitting at home in a rocking chair? Knitting? Can you flesh that out please? It's a Hot Rod or Sprint Car track is it? So definitely not a StockCar track? People - whether drivers, spectators, whoever - roll that one out about Hednesford as predictably as the tide. Purely through, I suspect in many cases, having heard it enough times they think it's gospel. So they continue to repeat it and so the cycle goes on. I wonder if the etchings for the 1988, 1991, 1995 and 2001 World Finals on the trophy, read John Lund, John Lund, Keith Chambers and Rob Speak respectively - or next to those years does it just say "Void - doesn't count, wasn't on a proper StockCar track"?! And is there an asterisk somewhere on the chequered portion of Tom Harris' roof this year, saying likewise? As far as I know, it's held F1 StockCar races since as far back as 1954, including four World Championships, two British Championships and two European Championships. 123 meetings and counting - fair enough not as many as some venues through history, but it's as much of a StockCar track as any other in my eyes. And it needs a minimum 25 cars on track "to be anything like stock car racing" - do you have a fixed view, a template, of exactly what an F1 StockCar race should look like, then? And this cannot possibly be met if there were, say, 22 or 23 cars in a Hednesford race? I am intrigued as to exactly what criteria need to be satisfied, in order for these cars and drivers to elevate a race from simply, what, touring around the track in a procession, to, "stock car racing"? To me, the variety of tracks, surfaces, speeds, fence types, flat, banked, wide, narrow, bumpy, smooth, the way a Hednesford race is different to a King's Lynn race, which is different to a Skegness race, which is different to Sheffield, and so it goes on, the assortment, the contrasts between, all of that IS F1 StockCar racing. A massive part of its appeal. How boring would it be if there was just a standard track like in athletics, 400 metres, more or less carbon copies of each other just in different locations? Sheer number of cars on any given track may help to ensure more in the way of 'incident', purely through less available space, and them being more likely to bump into each other whether intentionally or not. Incident, for me though, certainly does not always equate to entertainment. Cars piling up, spinning, bouncing off the fence and each other on a soaking wet shale track for example, more through being out of control than anything else. I don't find that particularly entertaining, more just farcical really... Looking forward to this one anyway, regardless of its 'status', tags or whatever it shoulda, woulda, coulda had or been in the eyes of so many. I don't think it does anyone any favours to question the common sense, or planning ability, of bodies like BriSCA and the BSCDA, as if they haven't a brain cell between them. It's another page of BriSCA F1 StockCar history waiting to be written. 22nd September 2019 at Hednesford Hills Raceway will only happen once. You just never quite know, with any meeting. Writing one off until the whole thing is done and dusted, is unwise, in my estimation at least. Writing one off, as one commenter clearly saw fit to do, not only 6 days prior to the event at the time, but without even the first booking list having seen light of day as far as I could see? Even by the, sadly, expected murk of so many of these preview and booking threads, that was really going some. Hopefully it does prove to be commercially worthwhile - an all-new fixture as far as I understand, for INCARACE, and fingers firmly crossed it can become something permanent and with F1's as a part of it going forward.
  7. Thank you belatedly Jane, Nic & Roy for the news, results and updates - your collective time, energy and dedication (massive understatement more than likely), is much appreciated As has been the case for years, I very often catch up several hours after the event, about 3:30am it was in this case, tentatively scrolling down from the top post-by-post so as not to spoil it - still quite suspenseful! How Roy manages to a) find out all this information in the pits and type out and post in such fine detail (given the busy environment and time constraints)?! Passion personified.
  8. Seconded I've heard of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but Sargent Mark's Lucky Pants? Whether they'd stretch out to a full album, likely only the man himself would know - but, for starters, it surely has BSCDA charity hit single written all over it (or written all over them maybe I should say)?! If you're reading this Simon Cowell, you can stay in LA this year. Relax. Looks like we've found our Christmas No.1 - X Factor UK 2019 rendered well and truly surplus to requirements...
  9. What makes you think 463 and 346 have been swapping over? Unless you're privy to some insider knowledge to the contrary, it would seem very much as though 346 is the only one whose finishing position - for whatever the reason(s) may be - was ever under any question or protest? From initially being announced as 9th, to then being demoted to 12th as read out in the amended results a short while after, to being reinstated to 9th again as confirmed Monday afternoon by the BSCDA?
  10. The Sheffield 14th April WCQR had a turnout of 33, of which I believe at least 25 made it out for the Grand National. Fair enough this coming Sunday will be a slightly different set of circumstances, as per what you have already touched on in relation to the Semi. Even so, isn't it a bit on the gloomy side to already be, essentially, writing the GN off as being anything other than a whimper? I would prefer to think and have confidence that, as one of the highest-ranking meetings on the calendar, the vast majority of drivers and teams will be doing their upmost to take to the track right the way through the format. I realise that will not be feasible for them in every single case. Personally, I like where the Semi is in the schedule as a whole - a couple of Mini races and an F1 Heat to warm us up a bit (not to downplay the importance of said races!), and build at least some anticipation for the Semi itself. Just supposing a 2/3rds were used - on paper, as things stand with an entry of 38, it would allow for the possibility (however unlikely albeit based on 'assumptions') of the Semi being the smallest grid of the 3 'Heats'. Would that be such great planning, to even allow any chance of the Semi, the 'main event', being overshadowed by 2 busy Heats? I would argue not. Really looking forward to the meeting myself, bang up for it - hoping it's likewise for everyone racing whether Semi or otherwise and look forward to, fingers crossed, being treated to some memorable StockCar racing, "hard but fair", as they say!
  11. "Race of the Century - 20 years on!" Personally think it would be a fitting opportunity to mark a significant milestone anniversary, of what must go down as one of the all-time most exciting F1 World Finals, the 1999 World Championship at Coventry? What better way to make use of the big screen on such an occasion, than to premier what would amount to a 'short' film (maybe 10-15mins at an appropriate time in World Final night pre-race build-up) comprising footage amalgamated from the original JSD Videos & SCA and new present-day interviews conducted this year, looking back at the race in context with then (1) Junior Wainman, (391) Andy Smith, (53) John Lund and (97) Murray Harrison. I know essentially that World Final was very well covered (understatement) by Neil Randon, with full input from the involved drivers in The Sound And The Fury - so whether it would be going over old ground too much for those concerned, I don't know. To be fair it is nearly 19 years since that was published though, so some younger/newer fans may not be aware of it all - maybe a new audience to tell the story to? Maybe a good way to get the crowd going a bit (more) just in case they aren't excited enough already?! If the aforementioned drivers are present on the night - hopefully 515 will be going for another WF and who knows, maybe 53 fingers crossed, as well as 197 trying to emulate his father two decades on - would be good to have them interviewed on track also to link the film piece to the night itself in the fullest way possible? A big ask I know, and it'd probably only work if you could get a really top notch production, editing and interviews wise as regards the film, the likes of Gears and Tears to do it justice. Otherwise admittesly I'd leave it well alone! But IF it were possible it is something I would love to see, for me it would really add something special to the occasion, as I don't think I will be alone in looking back on that one race in particular as having been almost dream-like in the way it panned out, almost as though it were a film itself. I may well be in a minority of one, but anyway, the idea is there... ...and before anyone asks, no I don't have to skills, time or anything else to 'do it'! But if anyone out there does, and if the drivers themselves were up for it (I don't know if the dust ever truly settles from these these things, I'm just a bloke on the terraces at the end of the day!) Maybe in a few hours' time I myself will think actually no, but hopefully no harm in posting the idea - it might branch off into something completely different or rekindle a memory for someone else, whatever! On a slightly different note, with it being the last World Final of this particular decade (the 2010's) would there be any appetite in having a run through of the World Champions from 2010-18, live big screen interviews with accompanying images/short footage of their wins? You could do those in blocks of 3 before the meeting maybe and/or between races - 2010/11/12 (391/2/217), 2013/14/15 (forgive the order was it 84/55/318?) then 2016/17/18 (515/445/390). Maybe another opportunity to add some human element and historical context to mark the added importance of the occasion? I dunno, anyway those are just what sprang to mind, in the time available before your brutally-imposed deadline!
  12. Given that it seems unlikely you will struggle to attract F1 participants, I could not agree with including another formula at the expense of (whatever number) F1's missing out as a result. Whether it be saloons or otherwise - the formula is immaterial - it's the principle on a fundamental level. F1 StockCars, hopefully at their best, at a place as good as the Norfolk Arena, raw, undiluted, relentless, as nature never intended but created anyway - that shouldn't need 'support' in a million years?! That is not to say I would just throw the F1 booking list wide open however - I wouldn't. What I would like to see is a structured approach, which would give the meeting overall a sense of flow and of, hopefully, building up to a second climax, of sorts. This rather than the anti-climax that Grand Nationals can be on any race night, and that effect is never more starkly demonstrated than on WF nights IMHO. There is without a doubt a balance to be struck between quantity and quality on such an occasion - having 120+ 'cars' in the pits might get a select number of people salivating all over their notebooks (having noticed 'cars' as the turnout obsessives' term of choice since way back, by the way, as if the drivers, teams, families are invisible...?!) It is very unlikely however to enhance the overall show, compared that is to a slightly more streamlined approach, but one which would hopefully provide a quite substantial opportunity for, still a hell of a lot of F1 drivers both UK and overseas, to get their chance to shine under those bright September lights. Something along the lines of.... 96 drivers to race CSF (Heat 1) Top 2 to WF, 3rd-5th to Grand Final (24 -2) Heat 2 - Top 5 to Grand Final (20) WF (Heat 3) - 2nd-13th to Grand Final (32 +2) Heat 4 - Top 5 to Grand Final (20) Cons 1 - Top 3 to Grand Final, 4th-15th to B-Final Cons 2 - Top 3 to Grand Final, 4th-15th to B-Final B-Final - 24 drivers - Winner to Grand Final Grand Final - 32 drivers Not sure on exactly how big WF grid is due to be so give or take a couple! And no idea if you can get anywhere near 96 in space-wise by the way, so if not, well, the anti-GN sentiment still applies whatever...! Obviously could go on and on about times when F1 WF-night format has been diversified in the past (Cov 2004 sticks out for example), but overall this is just my take on what type of format I think could work. I don't consider it a night to be hamstrung by the week-in-week-out format (GN's case in point) but also don't think it needs to be chopped and changed beyond recognition. It's a means to and end after all eh (whittling down a big pool down to a smaller one, in the same way so many other sports do) - but an oft-overlooked factor I suspect, in terms of avoiding that awful fizzle-out feel that, I must say, I have felt all too often on World Final nights (and days) down the years. I realise that is probably far and above anything you were wanting in terms of feedback - and that this topic, of ideal World Final formats and such, gets discussed so very often on the forum. There we go anyway, for what it's worth, the question and discussion lit the relevant part of my brain up, so that's just my bit for now!
  13. Looking through the names on that Semi Finalists list doesn't half remind me of the mid-late 1980's when I first went racing. I know it has always passed down the generations but this one in particular has a distinct 86/87 flavour! Some associated names & numbers of the time... 383 Dave Johnson 117 Rob Scriven 22 Paul Harrison 73 Rob Cowley 294 John Dowson 216 Graham France 218 Derek Fairhurst 323 Keith Riley 501 Chris Elwell 212 Frankie Wainman (And yes 515 FWJ although he was only just about to start, and I was thinking drivers who could've been in Semi's say 86-87) Hope it proves to be an enjoyable event for those taking part and watching - if only Birmingham was a few miles closer to Bishop Auckland, tempting...!
  14. You're not the only one who thinks it (request for a GP letter) is going too far lone groover - I'd say it's indignified at best, borderline inhumane at worst. There are so many reasons far wider and beyond those you already quote, as to why someone may have particular requirements diet/nutrition wise. Perhaps those who came up with this, GP letter stipulation, ought to realise that, in some cases, it could mean that day to day life, not to mention the planning and efforts put into attending an event like this, may be a little more stressful, and already take a bit more out of the person, than your average Joe on the street. It may be fair to say that if in such a position with what may be significant health problems, 'getting away from it all' and finally getting to those stadium gates, may come as a rare and welcome relief. And then to have to go through the indignity of producing a GP letter?! Bearing in mind the inevitable queue behind you, already burning a whole in your back with their eyes just itching to get through the turnstile? Talk about killing the mood... A classic example of a policy which may look good and/or fit for purpose on paper, but which seems to have been thought up with absolute zero empathy and forgetting it's actual human beings you're dealing with, not just emotionless black and white figures on a balance sheet. There must be a better way than that. Proper printed laminated cards recognised across all BriSCA stadia maybe a longer-term solution for regular fans, so at least things could be done with a bit of dignity?
×
×
  • Create New...