Doninigton Park BRSCC tie in

[flagwaver]

Not sure how this will affect club racing?

http://www.donington-park.co.uk/news...ce-with-brscc/

[johngee]

I see this as a very positive step. The BRSCC have suffered over the past few years in not having a 'home' circuit and don't forget that 750MC are moving their offices there too. I think that, with Christopher Tate in charge at Donington, this is excellent news for British racing, both international and club.

[ascarracinguk]

Have to say its going to take a few years to get donington to its former glory, however they are definately making some pretty large steps in the right direction

Ps the circuit really needs a corner named after Robert fernell, he did so much for the track afterall

[Chris Y]

And one of the toilets named after Simon Gillett.

[wheelsportaddict]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

Have to say its going to take a few years to get donington to its former glory

Have to agree there, in the past Donington has been doing far too much wrong for far too long. They would also be well advised to work closer with clubs on the welfare of marshalls. I stopped marshalling at Donington because I was fed up with so many late finishes, i.e finishing at past 7pm for a club event after signing on and briefing 12 hours before, many-a-time with hardly any lunch break because their organisation was so poor and the lack of marshals because no one wanted to go there.

[chezza]

Thats not Doningtons fault though, thats the clubs with over ambitious timetables and poor planning. Nothing to do with the circuit organisation.

[wheelsportaddict]

Originally Posted by chezza

Thats not Doningtons fault though, thats the clubs with over ambitious timetables and poor planning. Nothing to do with the circuit organisation.

Partially it's Doningtons fault. They do have a say - or at least they should. Venues and clubs need to work together more closely so that the welfare of everyone from the volunteers (marshals, officials) right up to the people running the event are looked after and catered for.

Facilities at some venues could be better and provisions need to be made so that marshals and other people track side are able to get a break when they need one, but I know that comes down to encouraging more marshals to turn up and maybe a fine system for those who volunteer for an event then don't turn up.

[chezza]

The circuit don't have a say in how the meeting is timetabled really other than when there is planning stipulations such as a curfew or church break which have to be factored in. Apart from that the club is more or less allowed to do what they like with the timetable for a typical meeting. Some clubs are better than others that is for sure.

What should happen and what actually happens are two different things.

[grantp]

I do wonder if the long days are influenced by the slightly less rigid rules for curfew times at Donington.

More available hours means potentially another race and a another opportunity to reduce costs per competitor/

Or longer potential hours means higher charges and so the preference to squeeze as many pay per race competitors as possible onto the track during the available hours?

Or maybe just a slightly looser approach to running the days with minutes 'lost' here and there in the operation.

Mostly likely not just one factor involved.

So the solution would seem to involve finding a suitable way to deal with the welfare requirements. I suspect for many it's not the longer days (by an hour or so) that matter but the lack of breaks and general 'downtime'. Comfort and sustenance breaks are obvious needs, but perhaps also an hour or so off for a trip around the paddock, a snooze in the car or just relaxation with friends and relatives.

Given enough people to cover the posts that should not be too hard to provide for planning wise - but getting the bodies to be available in the first place may be a bit of a chicken and egg thing.

[wheelsportaddict]

Originally Posted by grantp

I do wonder if the long days are influenced by the slightly less rigid rules for curfew times at Donington.

More available hours means potentially another race and a another opportunity to reduce costs per competitor/

Or longer potential hours means higher charges and so the preference to squeeze as many pay per race competitors as possible onto the track during the available hours?

Or maybe just a slightly looser approach to running the days with minutes 'lost' here and there in the operation.

Mostly likely not just one factor involved.

So the solution would seem to involve finding a suitable way to deal with the welfare requirements. I suspect for many it's not the longer days (by an hour or so) that matter but the lack of breaks and general 'downtime'. Comfort and sustenance breaks are obvious needs, but perhaps also an hour or so off for a trip around the paddock, a snooze in the car or just relaxation with friends and relatives.

Given enough people to cover the posts that should not be too hard to provide for planning wise - but getting the bodies to be available in the first place may be a bit of a chicken and egg thing.

It's not just that though, there should be some consideration for travelling times. If you've been up since say 7am and by the time the meeting has finished, and all the equipment is put track side for collection or locked up and had to marshal until say 7pm, you're going to be pretty feeling a little weary and if you've got say a 2 hour drive home, it's going to be getting on for 10pm when you get there.

[grantp]

Travel to and from an event is a factor but that's true for anyone attending most types of events. That would apply to competitors and spectators too. Also catering staff and security although they are probably being paid!

The only broadly applicable solution to that would seem to be to volunteer close to home.

[wheelsportaddict]

Originally Posted by grantp

Travel to and from an event is a factor but that's true for anyone attending most types of events. That would apply to competitors and spectators too. Also catering staff and security although they are probably being paid!

That was part of the reason I liked doing events at Mallory Park, what ever's happening, 6pm that was it! I know there are several circuits that have a 6pm curfew, I don't see why ALL circuits couldn't have one.

[Greem]

What would the point of a national 6pm curfew be? When volunteering for all circuits we pretty much already know that:

Donington will be a late finish due to the lack of curfew (a good thing IMO).
Rockingham won't have enough people due to some outdated perception of the circuit.
Oulton will have a delay due to a red flag but will make the time up later and squeeze in before curfew.
Silverstone will be cold and windy but will finish absolutely on time.
Mallory will have Shepherd's Pie for lunch and will finish before 6pm.

And so on and so on. Variety is the spice of life!

What we really want is nearby, easily accessible & clean thunderboxes. At every circuit. On every post... although apparently that's too much to ask.

Personally I believe the 750MC and BRSCC tie-ups are a good thing for both clubs and the circuit. I have high hopes for all three for the future.

[grantp]

But but but.....

Carbon footprint reduction and all that!

You really need to be thinking in terms of leaf litter and a shovel at each post. That should be doable...

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by chezza

Thats not Doningtons fault though, thats the clubs with over ambitious timetables and poor planning. Nothing to do with the circuit organisation.

Depends who you ask. I stopped going for the same reason. Club blamed the promotor, promotor blamed the circuit, circuit blamed the club. The fact is it always seems to be a problem at this particular venue.

Hopefully 750MC will get final seal of approval over all timetables and Pete will look after our interests. Maybe then I'll go back sometimes.