Castle Combe GTs - Does it need spicing up?

[alfaman]

Having spent Sunday at Castle Combe watching an excellent day's racing I've been thinking about the circuit's own GT championship.

Sunday's entry had a very healthy 29 cars which seems excellent but when you look closely at it there are all the signs of a diminishing grid.

Virtually half the grid was made up of cars taking part in other races that weekend - so there were a handful of Porsches, some extra Radicals as well as some of the National Supersports whose race had been cancelled due to lack of entries.

As it was it was one of these interlopers who won and helped put on a very good race.

But on a day when there are no sports car championship visit is there going to be a grid of just 14 or 15 cars? Or is the BRSCC-SW looking at doing something about attracting more cars into the series?

People have previously mocked the appearance of the MGF in the championship and I know an MGF is hardly a GT car but at least he's making an effort and is doing more than 1 round.

Some of the other club GT championships seem to be doing pretty well - the DDMC at Croft etc and the South East Sports and Saloon series at Brands and Lydden. Mike Roberts seems to run his Jade all those races!!

There seem to be more and more cars eligible but the grids are getting smaller at Combe. May be it's a cyclical thing but I really hope it doesn't gradually slide in to non-existence.

What do others think??

[Chris Gray]

Maybe one of the problems with Castle Combe GTs (and I'm speaking purely as a spectator) is that it only races at CC. Obviously, they can't travel the country and still keep the ethos of low costs, but if you look at the DDMC series, they don't just race at Croft. Even so, their race at Cadwell was cancelled earlier in the year due to a lack of entries (I think). Maybe it's the variety that attracts more drivers?

[Dan Friel]

I keep saying the same thing.. but the series keeps going and proves me wrong. I remember saying five years ago that the series wouldn't survive another year.. but it got strong again. Do the drivers want to go to other circuits?? I certainly would.. but it doesn't stop some turning up at every round..

[Tony_Simpson]

One thing could be to introduce a couple of more classes. Keep the three for the special GT's, but have one more for up to 1000cc, to allow smaller bike engined vehicle in.

And have two for saloons/sports cars that do not fit into the championship race. so a class upto 2000cc non turbo and one for everything else, 911's Rover V8's, etc,etc

Yes the speed difference would be quite big, but not much more than some races this year.

What do people think about these couple of ideas

[Chris Gray]

I like the multi-class idea, although if you look at Welsh Sports/Saloons (I think its Wales anyway), they have about 8 class wiinners every race. I guess its OK if everyone gets a chance to win? But, yeah, one of the great benefits of that kind of series is the pure variety of the cars racing. Just look at the NSSC.

[ghinzani]

I can remember when there was 1 or 2 ex Group C Jags running there plus Dave Coyne in a C2 Argo bodied as a Lancia - against Special Saloons and Sports 2000 and nobody railed at the speed difference... and that was before the chicanes and circuit changes.

[paul.hickman]

What's in a title? - "Castle Combe GTs - Does it need spicing up?". Perhaps there was no pun intended, but the addition of a group C2 Spice might do just that!

That said, the erstwhile Bob Light certainly does not have it all his own way these days and this year there has been some pretty good racing throughout the field. More cars? Yes - but it only takes two to make a race....

And what of the the two other local championships? - to my mind it is the saloons that seem 'tired' (albeit large grids) and as for the Formula Fords, well lots of them and just like their counterparts of yesteryear, most (certainly at the head of the field) seemingly bent on their own destruction.

For me - brilliant circuit with generally good racing - but 'spicing up' yes please....

[paul.hickman]

Strange old world – just went to mulsannecorner.com for some obscure reason – and what did I find? – a Spice SE88 for sale - so come on you Castle Combe racers, shell out 140,000 euros for this little bit of history!!

[ghinzani]

how about Le Mans style starts? park the cars in the cornfield and run accross!

[Tony_Simpson]

Also with there being 4/5 Special GT series in the uk, would it not be a good idea to have an end of year bash at one circuit, where every special can race and compare themselves against the other drivers in the uk.

It should also be a great grid with everything from the Skoda Cosworth to a Davrian to the Stealths and Jades.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by Tony_Simpson
Also with there being 4/5 Special GT series in the uk, would it not be a good idea to have an end of year bash at one circuit, where every special can race and compare themselves against the other drivers in the uk.

It should also be a great grid with everything from the Skoda Cosworth to a Davrian to the Stealths and Jades.

What a great race that would be! My money would be on Tony Sugden......

[Dan Friel]

My money would definitely be on Bob Light.. but only if it was dry and on a circuit that he knew well, with long straights.. and with no tricky corners.

A certain Mr Vergers in a Radical would be a sight to see again. He would be out munching quicker cars..

They do all get the chance for such a race though.. isn't there a GT race in the Winter Series rounds??