EuroBoss @ Brands

[Chigley]

I can say hand on heart, i'm never going to that circuit ever again.

This precisely why I won't go to Brands again. The circuit will not/does not cater for visiting marshals at its smaller events. As I was told previously it only provides camping facilities for the major 10% of its meetings. (Champcars and BTCC????) the FFF isn't catered for.
If Brands won't cater for marshals at its "smaller" meetings why should we travel to support for its larger events?

[b1ackcr0w]

Thankfully, that's the worst thing that's happened to me thus far - but if all were as bad as that, I'd on my bike pretty quickly also. I can sympathise with that view Cynic.

Octagon, here's one little detail to put you boys to shame. Castle Combe doesn't have a designated marshals campsite, but at least they have the common sense to tell you camp in a spot near a security guard and toilet block!! Not brain surgery is it?

[carrera]

As you are talking Brands, great job boys (and girls) during the Classic Thunder race, all the bits and pieces knocked off the cars were gone next time round.
Did flash my lights and wave at the finish, your efforts are appreciated by the drivers.

[Stephen Green]

Thanks for that Carrera, we do our best!

To the guys above who have suffered with camping facilities etc can I suggest you all put your feelings in a letter to Brands Hatch. By doing so there is a chance you may get something done. I would also send a copy of the letter to the organising club, in this case BARC, in order that they may take up the matter with Brands Hatch on your behalf. If you don't make your feelings known, the circuit management will never realise there was a problem!

[b1ackcr0w]

Originally posted by Stephen Green
Thanks for that Carrera, we do our best!

To the guys above who have suffered with camping facilities etc can I suggest you all put your feelings in a letter to Brands Hatch. By doing so there is a chance you may get something done. I would also send a copy of the letter to the organising club, in this case BARC, in order that they may take up the matter with Brands Hatch on your behalf. If you don't make your feelings known, the circuit management will never realise there was a problem!

I've already informally mentioned it to BARC, it seems they were promiced that the problem had been resolved.

Who at Brands would I write to?

[Stephen Green]

I'm not sure who is in charge these days. You could try Robin Murphy (the commentator) who is employed by Brands Hatch. I am sure he will forward your letter to the relevant person. Failing that, ring them and ask to who it should be addressed.

[Cynic]

I did send a letter to Trevor Jackson last season. His response was along the lines that talking to a brick wall would be more productive!

[Chigley]

Stephen, if you remember I wrote to both the BRSCC and Octagon (as it was) at the time of my run in with Brands over camping. The replies were basically if it costs money i.e. hire of toilets and showers, they aren't interested unless its a major!! meeting with lots of punters camping not just a few marshals.

[Chris Y]

At a recent clubbie at Bland Snatch, we were told we could camp at the normal campsite, but there would be no facilities, i.e toilets.

Thinking 'stuff that' we set up camp with a number of other people in the little grass area just outside the kart track, where we only had a short walk to a toilet block. A security official informed us that we were not allowed to camp there. "Why not?", we asked. "Because the area is not designated for camping" replied the security man. He then went on to tell us we would be moved on if we didn't move ourselves.

Anyway, we sold him a tall tale about the circuit office saying we could camp there, and we stayed 2 nights, Friday and Saturday night. Didn't see any security after that initial meeting.

My point is - that area is used as a car park (possibly VIP) for bigger meetings, but for clubbie events it's not used at all, so why not allow people to camp there? Why do we have to fight with security just to set up a few small tents. Jobsworths!

[Stoowert]

Having tried to seek regular employment with Octagon, I'll try & shed some light on this issue. Firstly, the management, with the exception of Murphy, have no experience in motorsport at all, just the entertainment business. Secondly, they employ marshals during the week from the local inhabitants and couldn't understand why anyone would WANT to travel a distance to marshal at a minor event. The upshot of it would be that the security are given their orders from someone who knows nothing about our chosen hobby, and therefore just can't see why we would want to camp. I wonder how many of these jobsworths think we get paid to marshal. Hmmm. Still, on a brighter note, we could be allowed to camp at our posts, then Octagon could charge tourists to drive round the track with the hope of seeing large orange-a-tangs in the newly constructed "Brands Hatch Safari Park"! Remember, you heard it here first!

[mark ch]

Even Harewood has a decent campsite with a tolet and shower block, and even Rockingham has found some grassed land for the "Rockinham Rivera" again tolets and shower block.. land a bit rough they've have made an effort. It seems visiting marshals are not welcome at Brands. (Maybe thats why their B/Y flag... only works there)

[Bryan Degerlund]

Try writing to Mike de Bono at Brands Hatch Circuits, I believe he was the guy who made all the promises at the Silverstone GP last year

[Peter Scillitoe]

Originally posted by mark ch
It seems visiting marshals are not welcome at Brands. (Maybe thats why their B/Y flag... only works there)

Mark

All the clubs that organise race meetings at Brands Hatch welcome visiting marshals. The clubs, however, cannot be held responsible for Brands Hatch Circuits' policy on camping facilities for marshals (or, rather the lack of them). The Black and yellow flag is another issue altogether, and has nothing what so ever to do with Brands Hatch Circuits; that is a matter for individual clubs and the MSA.

If you wish to criticise and/or make smart arse comments, fine. BUT, first get your facts correct

[Stoowert]

Well said Mr Toes! It does irritate somewhat when people criticise my home circuit as being "Aloof" and "Unfriendly" when myself and every other Brands regular that I know goes out of our way to make new, and visiting marshals welcome on post, and in the Kentagon and Hailwoods. Of course we tend to be in groups for breakfast etc. You get unofficial groups in any walk of life. I know there are some people who could be more flexible in their approach to new marshals at signing on etc, but they are under enormous pressure to ensure the track is properly covered, and they only get one shot at it. So if you feel you have been hard-done-by with your post allocation, or whatever, all I can say, you aint the only one! At the FFF 2001, I thought I'd been given a raw deal with post 10 - until we had 23 spinners in one race, 2 behind the safety car!
Now come on you orange blobs! We're all in this together, if you've been put off Brands in the past, give it another go. We wont bite! Ask the crew from post 4 at the CART race...

[pinki]

Gotta agree with Stoo there.

At the CART meeting I was observing on Post 7 with Mr Sillytoes and we had a number of new faces on the post. One of them is coming back for the HSCC meeting in July and has asked if he can work with me on a post out on the long circuit, I've yet to speak to Peter but I just know it's not going to be a problem.

A lot of guys at Brands go out of their way to make new-comers to the circuit welcome and we shall continue to do so. What more do you want? Buy your breakfast maybe