Delta's tea-break thingy, the lighter wassname - 2013

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

There'll be another one dumped outside your house in Kent tomorrow morning.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

There'll be another one dumped outside your house in Kent tomorrow morning.

That's fine, it's bound to be better than the one we've got !

[Peter Mallett]

I think it looks like a proper GT racing car. Brick-like or not it is a production car so this, the Mustang, the (stillborn?) C300 would all grace a grid if I had my way.

[garcon]

Rallying is alive and well at club level. It's just the WRC that's completely ****ed.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by garcon

Rallying is alive and well at club level. It's just the WRC that's completely ****ed.

Hmm.

Are you sure?

The entries looked a little sparse for a couple of events I checked out on line a few weeks back and a couple of regular(ish) events I can think of have disappeared.

Don't get me wrong, it's good to see that there are still events running at all but I do wonder if things are being held together more by shoethreads than shoestrings.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by grantp

Hmm.

Are you sure?

The entries looked a little sparse for a couple of events I checked out on line a few weeks back and a couple of regular(ish) events I can think of have disappeared.

Don't get me wrong, it's good to see that there are still events running at all but I do wonder if things are being held together more by shoethreads than shoestrings.

Good entry for next Saturday at Brands Hatch http://chelmsfordmc.co.uk/Entry/MGJBHWS13/EntryList.php

[justracing]

I know it's not rallying in the purist sense but it's a welcome event at this time of year

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by justracing

I know it's not rallying in the purist sense but it's a welcome event at this time of year

That is proper club rallying- a few at top of list with a chance of victory and the rest scrapping amongst themselves and probably having a ball doing it!

I like the 'potential entry, pending payment' Oh the shame.......

[garcon]

Well, no I'm not sure really. I know it still exists in some recognisable form, but I worry that the failure at the top is bound to filter down.

Must admit I've not exactly done much to help myself lately. Last time I went to a local rally was about 20 years ago.

[Al Weyman]

I think entries are going to be very sparse across the board in 2013 I'm afraid, when I read that the likes of Joss Ronchetti are selling up and quite a few others I know its looking like its really starting to bite now as I have predicted, dunno where we go from here but when I also read BARC have lost 700k in 2012 it doesnt make good reading and one has to ask where do they and others go from here, too late prehaps to even lower prices and if they put them up, well they are not a food retailer or a train company we cannot do without are they, a sticky situation alround.

[MGDavid]

Al, the market will dictate; I quote from CSCC's recent newsletter -

".... with packed grids due to strong support from all of you meant that 2012 was our most successful year to date. In 2013, our 10th. Anniversary, there will be NO increases in costs, membership fees, registration fees, and more importantly, race entry fees will remain the same".

[Mike Bell]

'Survival of the fittest' just like any business. Some are well run, keep overheads under control, look after their customers and sell what they want to buy......

BTW wasn't all this predicted same time last year?

At F1, WEC & WRC level it is different ball game..........

[terence]

And the year before. As said,sell what the customer wants,but under no circumstances put prices up,that is seen in so many business's. Thats when a business is in real danger of shutting down! Customers will vote with their feet.
One reason why I was so surprised with the 360,so many people said yes,we want value for money,which was the whole point in providing such a race,yet so many "yes's" didnt bother???????????

[midgetman]

Don't be surprised Terry, you'll find that when you organise anything from a booze up with a group of mates to a six hour race. Everyone says "oh that's a great idea" but probably 90% don't turn up. There'll be excuses and good reasons aplenty, but the bottom line will be only 8 people turn up. Then afterwards there will be numerous people clamouring "oh, I didn't know you were doing that, I'd have come if I had known/hadn't been xxxx-ing" but they never put their money down for next year.

Seen it loads, like I said from little things like company socials to, well, as we've found out.

[MartinSmith]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Don't be surprised Terry, you'll find that when you organise anything from a booze up with a group of mates to a six hour race. Everyone says "oh that's a great idea" but probably 90% don't turn up. There'll be excuses and good reasons aplenty, but the bottom line will be only 8 people turn up. Then afterwards there will be numerous people clamouring "oh, I didn't know you were doing that, I'd have come if I had known/hadn't been xxxx-ing" but they never put their money down for next year.

Seen it loads, like I said from little things like company socials to, well, as we've found out.

Could not have put better

[grantp]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Don't be surprised Terry, you'll find that when you organise anything from a booze up with a group of mates to a six hour race. Everyone says "oh that's a great idea" but probably 90% don't turn up. There'll be excuses and good reasons aplenty, but the bottom line will be only 8 people turn up. Then afterwards there will be numerous people clamouring "oh, I didn't know you were doing that, I'd have come if I had known/hadn't been xxxx-ing" but they never put their money down for next year.

Seen it loads, like I said from little things like company socials to, well, as we've found out.

It's a bit like the old Sales Training courses that would point out to the attendees the size of the prospect funnel required to make a sale (on average - some individuals beat the average).

40 fully qualified prospective customers required to make one sale. OK, maybe some of them cough later but in a given sales period that is the sort of level required. Obviously more contacts needed if they are not fully "qualified".

At the specialist end - high end luxury goods and so on - the numbers will change but one is still looking at a fully qualified percentage of the total spend available.

Getting the "mix" of product right for the target market you believe exists is important of course but not the only factor especially in racing where some customers are in it just for fun and others for the competition. Seems to me that to get full grids a balance of the two extremes (and all in between) is required if enough people are to turn up at enough meetings.

[Al Weyman]

I think like CSCC the 360 and even the V8s have bucked the trend because the advocate and in fact promote car sharing which slashes costs, others should take note and I am surprised BARC,CTCRC didn't and are staying with the traditional format that clearly is failing.

[midgetman]

On another point, did anyone else see the programme about Bonneville Speed Week on BBC2 last night at 10:00. I only saw the last half hour because Sarah was watching some arrant tosh on ITV, and it featured four British bike teams heading fro Bonneville.

Teams included a bunch of bikers building a 1969 Triumph Bonny in remembrance of a deceased pal, our own RickP Clio ?? With his Flower of Scotland project, and a guy who looked like he was re-enacting "The World's Fastest Indian"!

There is a second part, featuring the speed week itself. The announcer didn't say when it would be, so search Radio Times (other listings magazines are available)

[terence]

Originally Posted by midgetman

On another point, did anyone else see the programme about Bonneville Speed Week on BBC2 last night at 10:00. I only saw the last half hour because Sarah was watching some arrant tosh on ITV, and it featured four British bike teams heading fro Bonneville.

Teams included a bunch of bikers building a 1969 Triumph Bonny in remembrance of a deceased pal, our own RickP Clio ?? With his Flower of Scotland project, and a guy who looked like he was re-enacting "The World's Fastest Indian"!

There is a second part, featuring the speed week itself. The announcer didn't say when it would be, so search Radio Times (other listings magazines are available)

Watched it as well,little surprised by some of the language though,I have never heard car racers say words like that before,perhaps its just bikers?

Further to the 360,I'm not surprised,it seems to be the thing with an awful lot of brits at present.[Speaking from experience I'm afraid]

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Watched it as well,little surprised by some of the language though,I have never heard car racers say words like that before,perhaps its just bikers?

Just watched it. Some great characters that only biking world seems to produce. Looking forward to second part! Language sounded quite normal to me.

BTW some interesting cars in and around the Scottish workshop, I thought?

[HRSTR5]

Originally Posted by midgetman

On another point, did anyone else see the programme about Bonneville Speed Week on BBC2 last night at 10:00. I only saw the last half hour because Sarah was watching some arrant tosh on ITV, and it featured four British bike teams heading fro Bonneville.

Teams included a bunch of bikers building a 1969 Triumph Bonny in remembrance of a deceased pal, our own RickP Clio ?? With his Flower of Scotland project, and a guy who looked like he was re-enacting "The World's Fastest Indian"!

There is a second part, featuring the speed week itself. The announcer didn't say when it would be, so search Radio Times (other listings magazines are available)

I just spotted that on the BBC Website, so missed last night, but see it is available on iPlayer until the end of the week. Episode 2 is next Sunday evening according to website.

By the way, I was considering running Woodcote 10k with you and Iain next weekend, but I've caught the 'malaise' talked about in current thread and am giving it a swerve having initially expressed interest...! Honestly I prefer X-country than road, given my 'iffy' aging knees, and Iain talked me through the 'undulating' course, which didn't help! If there are any 5-10k offroad runs you boys plan, then I'll consider those for inclusion in the pre-season training plan! 5kgs off me will be cheapest bhp/ton gain I'm going to make!

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by HRSTR5

Iain talked me through the 'undulating' course, which didn't help! If there are any 5-10k offroad runs you boys plan, then I'll consider those for inclusion in the pre-season training plan! 5kgs off me will be cheapest bhp/ton gain I'm going to make!

"Undulating"!!!!! ****ing hell, an understatement! A couple of rollers at the start, then downhill for 5k, a steep climb for half a K, bit of a rest on the gentle slope down, then up, up and away for 400ft upwards and 3k along! Good fun though you should come. I'm not going fast, I've been injured for 4 months and only did my first 10 yesterday. Knack.....er......very tired!

I don't do off-road, don't like getting muddy. (Watch it pour down this weekend!)

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Teams included a bunch of bikers building a 1969 Triumph Bonny in remembrance of a deceased pal, our own RickP Clio ?? With his Flower of Scotland project, and a guy who looked like he was re-enacting "The World's Fastest Indian"!

There is a second part, featuring the speed week itself. The announcer didn't say when it would be, so search Radio Times (other listings magazines are available)

Next Sunday at 22.00 BBC2 and BBC HD. For anyone that hasn't seen it, The Worlds Fastest Indian is a film well worth watching.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

For anyone that hasn't seen it, The Worlds Fastest Indian is a film well worth watching.

Great film.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

For anyone that hasn't seen it, The Worlds Fastest Indian is a film well worth watching.

I was given this on a DVD and I third that !