Who's who in Formula Saloons 2004?

[R59]

Garry,

Who's entered this year so far?

Are we looking at a good start at Silverstone on Mon 12th April?

Rob.

[garry]

Like a lot of other Championships we will be thinner on numbers than we would prefer to be. We are hoping for 14 Cars for Silverstone but may be only 12. Although the quantity is not there the quality certainly will be and we have put on many a race of the day with lesser numbers.

[R59]

Good job you replied!! I just faxed my entry in for Silverstone!!

Fingers very very crossed. It will be ready, oh yes, it will be ready!

The last few months have flown past, it only seems like last week when my engine came in from the US, but that was January!

I won't be able to make the test day, but I hope to shake it down before qualifying!!

Rob.

[DAVID PATERSON]

From this side of the world, FS looks terribly exciting and something I would have to see if I ever got over there.

Australia has just launched a new series which seems to take a leaf out of your book. Have a look at www.touringcarchallenge.com and tell us what you think.

[R59]

That looks like it has a good chance of doing well, taking the 'redundant' cars from the V8 Supercars (that don't even feature in the Konica series), and Gp.A, and Supertouring, and AUSCar etc.. should get good grids.

Nice website too.

Rob.

[R59]

Dammunblast!

Not going to be there for the opener. Arrrghhh engine woes.

Should be sorted for Croft.

Rob.

[ss_collins]

Garry how many are there? could we have an entry list?

[garry]

Worst start to a year we have ever had, but it should pick up by mid season.
Actually entered:
Michael Woodcock, Garry Woodcock, Ric Wood, Johnathan Young, Don Grice, Jim Pocklington, Tony Brass, Martin Simms, Rob Compton ( now withdrawn )
Entries definately still to come:
Derek Palmer, Mark Adams.
Entries hopeing to come:
Andy Clarkin, James McAllister, James Hawkin.

[cannardd]

Still no sign of the Alfa 156s coming out to play...

[garry]

Terry may be out for the Super Tourer Challenge meeting in July. The 98 car looks more likely to appear next year due to lack of budget.

[R59]

Any news of me ol' mucker Tim Watson and his Mondeo?

Rob.

[loungelizard]

Tim is being treated for Lymph Cancer and has treatment every two weeks. When he feels better he will venture out.
We all wish him a speedy recovery.

[R59]

Oh no. I'd better find his number and give him a call.

I raced with/against Tim for many years, and I'm looking forward to doing so again.

Rob.

[hawkenr]

Hi guys, saw your question regrading "who's who". I will be hopefully joining you guys at Oulton park in June. I was hoping to make the Silverstone opener but my car (recently puchased 94 Mallock Cavalier)required more work than I thought, especially as we snapped the anti-roll bar at Combe last October in an open saloon race. Still mangaged to reach 3rd though from the back of the grid as we hadn't qualified due to a crack in the gearbox....which turned out to be far worse than expected....always the case.

The car's at the paint shop at the moment, but still waiting for my front wings to appear that will hopefully allow me to steer it round corners. Will be bright silver when finished with yellow mirrors and front grill as per Vauxhall Sport in 1995, though going for slightly brighter wheels than black.

Seriously looking forward to racing with you all...eventually

Richard Hawken

[G.Walker]

Welcome Hawknenr,

Good to see some more cars appearing. The results from Silverstone show unuasually low numbers, then i see other Formula Saloons in this BRSCC Euro Saloons thing at Mallory.
More Championships , smaller grids , proofs in the pudding!!

[R59]

Hi Richard,

I too hope to be out in the near future.

Parts are winging their way over the atlantic as we speak, and maybe, just maybe, Image might deliver my 18" wheels some two weeks late.

I am disappointed with the Euro-Saloons taking FS competitors away. Why anyone would want to race in a lesser championship is beyond me!

The BRSCC Euro Saloons should never have been allowed to get this far. There is far too much duplication of classes, and many classes that could easily be amalgamated to make big grid championships. Look at the RoadSaloons, which could have been amalgamated with the "Super Coupe" (not super, and not all Coupe's - Hmmm does the Trades Descriptions Act apply?). Their lap times were comparable.

I think that bottom line is, FS needs a big title sponsor, who is willing to put up a prize fund to match the quality of the cars in the series. Then watch the others creep out of the woodwork.

I guess we all stand more chance of jumping over the moon.

Rob.

[avro]

racing59

You may be disapointed but until you actually race in FS I don't think you are in any place to pass comment.

We raced in FS since it began and have supported it since but with newer cars entering with bigger budgets we were finding it difficult to compete, and its not much fun finishing at the back, people do not see results further than 4th place.

We have entered the Euro Saloons to try to counter the age of our car against some larger engined cars capable of matching our times.

You have touched a nerve of mine when I get critisised by somebody yet to turn a wheel, when you have raced in FS for over 5 years then come and talk to me.

And by the way we still support the FS and wish Garry and the other participating drivers all the best for the season.

[cannardd]

Out of the 8 drivers in the LeMans EuroItalia race at Mallory, 4 of them could have been at Silverstone for the Formula Saloon race.
(ok one of them was racing a Mk1 Escort instead of the 2001 Alfa 156 Supertourer that he has had for a year but as yet hasn't raced...)

[Ian Sowman]

More to the point, this was AutoItalia last year. Now it has been expanded it seems to have less cars...

[R59]

Avro,

More power to your elbow as some say.

If you re-read my missive, you'll see that I did in no way criticise the people who went over to race in Euro-Saloons, but the way that the series has opened up it's doors to catch cars that were running in other championships.

I am sad to see that many championships have been affected in this way, not just FS.

Avro, I'm not sure which of the former FS runners you are, perhaps you'll send me an email revealing your identity.

One of the cars that led at Mallory has been a front running FS car, and still could.

I don't expect to be a front runner to start with. After 15 years of racing something completely different, I have to learn to drive from the other end!
I'm not a pot hunter, I've won some in the past, but it's the competition that the main part. I'd rather have a good ding-dong race for 10th than a run-away win.

Rob.

[cannardd]

Originally posted by Ian Sowman
More to the point, this was AutoItalia last year. Now it has been expanded it seems to have less cars...

AutoItalia was failing and was due to be dropped.
Instead they expanded it (from only Italian cars) to include any car ever sold in Europe!
It should have been scrapped.

Under last years regs there would have been only four cars in that race...

[Ian Sowman]

AutoItalia would always have done better if it was on meetings with Alfas, Fiats and Ferraris every time.

[cannardd]

They should have dropped the stupid reverse grid feature (with the fastest cars starting at the back)
The field was usually in the final order before the end of the first lap, but it was an accident waiting to happen.
I know that many owners of some very nice Italian cars pulled out because of that.

[hawkenr]

Hi Rob, I have some 18" DYMAG rims (that came with my Cavalier) gathering dust if need wheels. In fact I have 19 of them and willing to do a deal. Have many tyres too.

Richard

Originally posted by racing59
Hi Richard,

I too hope to be out in the near future.

Parts are winging their way over the atlantic as we speak, and maybe, just maybe, Image might deliver my 18" wheels some two weeks late.

I am disappointed with the Euro-Saloons taking FS competitors away. Why anyone would want to race in a lesser championship is beyond me!

The BRSCC Euro Saloons should never have been allowed to get this far. There is far too much duplication of classes, and many classes that could easily be amalgamated to make big grid championships. Look at the RoadSaloons, which could have been amalgamated with the "Super Coupe" (not super, and not all Coupe's - Hmmm does the Trades Descriptions Act apply?). Their lap times were comparable.

I think that bottom line is, FS needs a big title sponsor, who is willing to put up a prize fund to match the quality of the cars in the series. Then watch the others creep out of the woodwork.

I guess we all stand more chance of jumping over the moon.

Rob.

[avro]

I think many of you are being a bit too critical about a single championship without due cause, the new Euro Saloons is trying to build on the success of the winter saloons championships held at Snet and Brands last year, both races were over subscribed, and with a multi class structure this is one way of collecting cars from small grid races or for people whose cars do not quite fit into the regulations of other series.

Euro Saloons has over 25 registations and the majority will be racing soon.

With regard to Formula Saloons, I loved the time spent racing with them, but dont keep blaming people like us for leaving after running for many years, throw some stick to the people that have the Super Tourers in their garages and say they are going to race but never do !!, I am sure Garry would agree that if drivers did what they said they were going to do there could be 15 Super Tourers or more out there, and if that was the case we would stand up and be counted and race back in as well.

Racing59, on some of your points I agree but still I don,t think you know what to expect, for instance the Nissan that won on Monday could not be a front winning car against the newer machinery, in fact he incured a lot of damage and wear by trying too hard, and although I agree with 'as long as I have a ding dong race for 10th I'm happy', that only lasts for a bit, all drivers want to be at the front.

The only way forward is that the MSA dictate where any specific car can or cannot run, for example Super Tourers and any race saloon over 450BHP race in FS, any Cosworth saloon in Ford Saloons, and Alfa Romeo in the Alfas etc..., but then drivers would feel part of a 'Police State' and put their cars away never to be seen again.

I for one don't know the answer but I don't think the MSA / BRSCC / BARC / BRDC are asking the right people the right questions, how many drivers, team managers, team helpers, marshalls and even spectators have they asked the views of, I don't know many whose input has been asked for.