DTRC Brands Hatch 19/20 August

[Rod Birley]

Just had a reply from Brands. The maintainance staff do have a tractor and sweeper at the circuit. They sweep the circuit at the start of the day, and at the end. During the day it is the call of the organising club if they want an area swept. Usually the marshals do a sterling job, but with just hand brooms it can be a thankless task, particularly if drivers keep dragging gravel on. Not sure where to go on this, but certainly it can be raised at the next committee meeting.

[candp racing]

Originally Posted by Rod Birley

Just had a reply from Brands. The maintainance staff do have a tractor and sweeper at the circuit. They sweep the circuit at the start of the day, and at the end. During the day it is the call of the organising club if they want an area swept. Usually the marshals do a sterling job, but with just hand brooms it can be a thankless task, particularly if drivers keep dragging gravel on. Not sure where to go on this, but certainly it can be raised at the next committee meeting.

Asking (suggesting) that drivers run on grass after a visit to kitty litter would help a lot.
Then send them to pit lane for a 'gravel check' before letting them rejoin race. If the driver has caused the stoppage in the fist place they should have no probs. restarting from the pit lane at the back of the grid.

[Suze]

This one doesn't affect me as not a driver (yet! ), but can they not sweep the track during the lunch break as well (or at least the worst affected parts)? I agree re the idea of calling into the pit for a "gravel check" and suggesting that drivers run on the grass may / may not work - it's a good idea, but JP may not like his grass being run on, and drivers may not wish to surely as they are racing - and may see having to call into the pits at the end of that lap as bad enough already, as will add on further time.

[candp racing]

Originally Posted by Suze

This one doesn't affect me as not a driver (yet! ), but can they not sweep the track during the lunch break as well (or at least the worst affected parts)? I agree re the idea of calling into the pit for a "gravel check" and suggesting that drivers run on the grass may / may not work - it's a good idea, but JP may not like his grass being run on, and drivers may not wish to surely as they are racing - and may see having to call into the pits at the end of that lap as bad enough already, as will add on further time.

Suze
My suggestions of grass running and pit lane visit was only after a race stoppage. If all gravel visitors on sat. had to make a pit lane stop there would have been more cars in the pit lane than on the track!

[mini1400]

Originally Posted by candp racing

Asking (suggesting) that drivers run on grass after a visit to kitty litter would help a lot.
Then send them to pit lane for a 'gravel check' before letting them rejoin race. If the driver has caused the stoppage in the fist place they should have no probs. restarting from the pit lane at the back of the grid.

We do ask them to use the grass or keep off the racing line...

The MX5 that was pulled out the litter at Druids was asked to use the grass, but he used the racing line from Grahm Hill and was weaving to remove as much as possible. In fact, round the last corner he was locking up his brakes to dislodge even more stones...

[R59]

Was that Jim Kerr's brother Wayne driving that then?

[jonbryant]

In Race 1 there was a certain white BMW M3 that had a jorney through the Paddock gravel trap and brought a small quarry load back on... Can't have helped!

[jaysalv]

i think that the legends were as much to blame for the gravel on the track as the max5 dont sposed it helped the dtrc having such a late race .but i agree with regards to shaking the gravel off on the grass as there were a couple of legends and max5 cars that after a trip to the kitty litter on paddock bend continued on the racing line spilling **** loads of gravel on the track .after seeing russell bradleys car after the race looks like it has been shot with a shotgun new headlight and screen required

[Suze]

Originally Posted by candp racing

Suze
My suggestions of grass running and pit lane visit was only after a race stoppage. If all gravel visitors on sat. had to make a pit lane stop there would have been more cars in the pit lane than on the track!

Indeed, too often too true!

So wonder if even just a lunch time sweep would help though....

[tallguy_2]

hi suze,
good to hear you like the car, as of yet the only car built in the "national hot rod style" to race purposely on the long circuits, looks like lexan screens are the answer guys, lol.