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I am sure everyone is on edge waiting for next years dates so here they are:

19th March - Oulton Park
23/24 April - Croft
14/15 May - Cadwell Park
25/26 June - Brands Hatch

20/21 August - 24 Hour

Race formats will be as usual although there may be an enduro at Croft - I'll update as soon as we have this confirmed.

Pricing will be announced shortly.

As we count down the minutes and seconds to Anglesey I wanted on behalf of your board to wish everyone good luck for the race. Lets hope the weather stays fine and we don't have the type of winds that we encountered last year on the Thursday.  Detailed timings have been posted so that you can all see the programme and I look forward to seeing the entries for the fancy dress competition sponsored by Pete Sparrow.  Also don't miss the Graham Harper trophy presentation which is always a poignant moment and the opportunity to reflect on why we do this event.   In addition, this year I gather our French drivers will be bringing some cognac aperitif to share with everyone – after all that I suppose I ought to remind drivers that the track runs clockwise and we must be careful not to become a drinking club with a motor racing addiction!

Whilst posting,  I see there is a bit of confusion regarding the final regulations (Ash thank you for raising this).  I thought it would be useful to clarify that the race will be governed by the club regulations for the year as published on the BARC website together with the specific SR's for the race itself.  These are attached to the final detailed entry form and are as published and approved by BARC specifically for this event.  They are available on the club website.

In terms of membership I can confirm that all drivers must be racing members of the club.  Payment for membership cannot be taken at the event so please complete a membership form and make your payment by electronic transfer.  BARC have confirmed that only competitors in the championship need to be BARC members.

Bon chance!

Following posting of the entries for the Croft Enduro I have had quite a number of people ask if we can add/change drivers ect.  No problem but if you wish to change your entry please submit a race application form so I that I can correlate everything rather than just try to work off emails which can be confusing!

Also remember all drivers have to be club members and so I will need a membership application form if your driver(s) are not 2015 members already. I'm sorry to say that there is no day membership any more and I won't be able to accept cash at the track.    You can however make a direct payment to the club bank - details are on the application forms.

Race application and membership forms are on the web site.  You can email or post them to me.  Then I will  have all the details which BARC need to amend the entry.

Thanks

I know there has been some frustration over not formally announcing the 24 hour race fees for this year and for that I would like to apologise to everyone for the delay.  However we have been in a rather tough negotiation to secure the best terms possible for the race which has upset our normal timings. 
Anyway, negotiations are over and the cost will be £2300.00 entry fee with the early bird at £2200.00.  This has been calculated on a similar number of cars to last year although if we could improve significantly on the number of entrants there might (might!) be the possibility of a rebate once final costs are in.  So try to encourage more entrants if you can! 
As there has been a delay, early birds have until the end of May to send in their entry form with deposit payment of £500.00.  Katy will upload the entry form shortly. 
The format of the event will be much the same as last year - open pit lane for most of Friday with qualifying and night qualifying later on.  Detailed timings will be published later.
It occurs to me, though, in writing this post that we shall have all of Saturday and Sunday to ourselves.  (We have investigated allocating the time to another class to keep the costs down but this hasn't proved possible). So with this in mind what time would members like to start?  An earlier start than normal would allow anyone who wished to leave the circuit in good time on the Sunday of course.  Or we could have more open pit lane testing on Saturday morning instead.  Perhaps you could email Katy with your thoughts?
One way or another I am sure its going to be a great event and let us hope that the weather holds good this year.

Its amazing how another season has gone by! Goodbye 2014 and on and up for 2015! As you will have seen by my earlier posting the season and tracks are looking good and we are optimistic of a good grid.  However just for your info the race dates are:

March 28th - Oulton Park

April 11/12 - Brands Hatch

May 16/17 - Cadwell

July 11/12 - Croft (including 2 hour enduro)

Aug 22/23 Anglesey - 24 hour

Once again we have tried to offer the tracks that members feedback they like and to spread these across the year. It is a shame that Oulton and Brands are so close together but we had no real choice I am afraid. The 24 hour date is now fixed as far as we are aware although negotiations are ongoing regarding the detail. More information will  be published as soon as we can together with detailed timings for each
sprint race.

Your board, well advised by Aubrey, have given careful consideration to the fees for the year. Again we face the annual dilemma of  agreeing a fixed fee per race with BARC and then having to estimate  how many cars will enter so as to fix a cost per car. Obviously we want to make your racing as low cost as possible but at the same time to try to ensure that the season as a whole to breaks even. For those of you who didn't attend the AGM the overwhelming feeling was that the season should include a 2 hour enduro at Croft. That has put the cost up but not unreasonbly so. Some members at the AGM also expressed the wish that we try to provide incentives to new or returning drivers to increase the grid (only if taking the early bird though) and to offer the Croft enduro as shakedown for 24 hour drivers. Accordingly you will see that there is the normal "early bird" discount for all races (except the 24 hour) for regular club members, there is an incentive for new drivers or those who haven't raced for 3 years and a discount off the 24 hour race entry for those non sprint cars who enter the Croft enduro. We try to please..................but remember early bird closing date is 1st March.

The membership form is now up on the site but to avoid you in needless duplication we have created an integrated membership and race  application form which you can use instead of the individual membership and race entry form. 

If you pay by BACS or fast pay please provide your name and initials as a reference otherwise we cannot tally your fee with your  membership

Voila! Bon chance in 2015

Mervyn Rundle

[provisional]

With 2014 drawing to a conclusion in such dramatic style there have been a few moments to draw breath before 2015.

However I can now give you the provisional dates and tracks for next year:

March 28th - Oulton Park
April 11/12 - Brands Hatch
May 16/17 -  Cadwell
July 11/12 -  Croft
Aug 22/23 -  Anglesey 24 hour

The Croft meeting is likely to include a 2 hour endurance race similar to that at Pembrey this year.  Unfortunately Anglesey is not available to us for the bank holiday weekend in 2015.

Please, please, PLEASE bear in mind that the above are PROVISIONAL until confirmed by the BARC.

You should NOT BOOK HOLIDAYS yet on the basis of the above!

In terms of pricing, negotiations are ongoing.  We anticipate some increase although we will try to keep this to an absolute minimum.  We will announce full details together with any incentives and discounts as soon as we can.  Obviously the more cars and drivers who confirm they will be racing the better.  So if you want to email me to let me know that you will be entering please do.  [email protected] just in case you don't have it.

Regulations will be published shortly when they have been approved by BARC and the MSA.  

I hope that the proposed programme meets with everyones approval and that we will get a full grid for what promises to be a great year.  

Mervyn Rundle

So! We are into the last hours before the 2014 Race and what a race it promises to be.  A very demanding track, mixed weather and some fierce competition. 

I'm sure all of you are too busy to read a long Chairmans posting detailing all the nif naff and trivia that has gone into organising the event so all I will say to everyone racing is good luck, have a great race and remember "To finish first, first you have to finish!"

M

I am sure that many people think I only post when the sun comes out.  Well, it certainly did last weekend!  Pembrey was a wonderful event with very close and competitive racing throughout.  An easy track to underestimate as some people discovered but I hope everyone will agree that it was worth the trip.  The endurance race was undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend and if the 3rd place train was anything to go by then we ought to be applying for a rail franchise!  Anglesey will be seriously exciting if this was just the prelude. 

Having our paddock immediately beside the pit lane made for a great atmosphere and easy maintenance although I was just a touch worried what would happen if one of those noisy smoking trucks oversteered a bit and headed our way!  All in all though a wonderful weekend - well done and thank you to everyone who took part especially the MSA/BARC officials and Marshals.

I would just mention that the next board meeting is scheduled for the 24th June when we will be finalising arrangements for the 24 hour.  If you have any ideas as to how we can make it an even better event then please email your thoughts in.  Just in case there is any doubt my email is [email protected] or if you want to be boring [email protected]

Also just a reminder – the closing date for submitting proposals for amending the technical regulations is July.

Cadwell is the next track to host great 2cv racing and I look forward to seeing you all there.

We are now approaching round one of the season in just over a weeks time and I am pleased to say that the entries are in and posted up.  Its a good grid and there will be some exciting racing 

In the meantime whilst you all devour the entry list to see who is driving with who I wanted to answer some rumblings of discontent from the east which I have noticed on the forum.  Questions have been asked about pricing and website in particular.

In terms of pricing the racing your board faces a dilemma each year.  On the one hand we have to agree a fixed price but without knowing how many competitors will enter.  We are playing with quite large sums of our money – in rough terms the sprints this year will be in the region of £29000.00 and the 24hr could be as much as £50000.00.  It doesn't take the brains of a rocking horse to work out that if the club gets its numbers wrong we could easily be in big financial trouble very quickly or we could price our entries out of the market.  In view of this your board's approach is rightly cautious -  each race should wash its face financially and that over a season the club should aim to make a small surplus.  It seems to us a dangerous strategy to automatically subsidise a season as some have suggested just because we have some reserves.  Our view is that the club's reserves, built up over a number of years, are there to advance the club and to protect it in times of unforeseen difficulty.  I myself have always been worried by the comments made at the AGM some years ago (before I became chairman) when it was acknowledged that the 24 hour race was subsidising the sprint season but that in order to make the 24 hour race viable we would need to invite another class to swell our numbers.  Just  think that through for a moment.  How long would the club last if that was our financial strategy year on year?
This year the board, under Aubrey's guidance as treasurer, looked at the figures and came up with the initial pricing, announced after Christmas.  In essence it was based on the known costs divided by the likely number of entrants.  The "all in" early bird discount was offered to get people to commit to the season and to assist with cashflow.  It was without doubt the board's hope to offer the Pembrey endurance for free and to be able to reduce the price of the 24 hour however detailed negotiations with BARC indicated that this would not be possible.  In response to a Gadget posting in February the board looked again at the costs of the Pembrey weekend for those not taking the early bird and the decision was taken to reduce it.  At the same time the prospect of an additional race at Oulton came along priced at £50.00.  It was decided that the early bird price would stay just same because it was for all the races but a note to illustrate this would be put on the form.  The effect though would be that the bonus extra race at Oulton for early birders would be free. Your board didn't think than anyone on the early bird would turn down an extra 20 min race and associated qualifying within the same price but perhaps free isn't cheap enough?
The issue of discounts and loyalty rewards is a difficult choice if we want to be fair to everyone.  We want to reward those who race regularly but on the other hand loyalty discounts often appear to penalise new drivers who are just getting started.   Double discounting in the past has also impacted on the seasons costs.  This year your board decided that the fairest way to deal with this was to offer the early bird incentive for those who do the whole season but not to weight the pricing in any other way. 

Let's move on to the website.  Yes, there will be some changes because for some time now it has been clear that a few people use the forums to make unfounded comments, some of which are defamatory.  Worse still such postings can be made anonymously so that even the moderators don't know who is posting.  There have been totally unfounded allegations against specific people of cheating, lying and theft.  I don't think that's fair to anyone whether on the board or an individual member and if the club were sued it wouldn't have much of a defence.  Indeed its quite possible that your club reserves would be squandered on either damages or legal costs.  Moreover its possible to have have multiple aliases so some people can just raise mischief when it suits.  In light of this your board has decided that if you wish to be a "keyboard warrior" then you will have to reveal who you are.  In other words, if you genuinely hold your opinions however controversial then be big enough to take responsibility and put your name to them.  .  Members will still be able to keep their "tag" but your real name and email address will be available in the underlying field information.  That seems fair to all of us and if we meet up at the track in person then at least we all know where we stand. 
There is also the issue of non-members and your boards decision regarding this is really a follow on from what I have said above.  We are sticking our neck out as a club if we permit anonymous non-members to make what could be defamatory postings on our website or to try to involve themselves in the decision making of the club.  I may be missing something here but would you let a total stranger knock on your door and tell you he didn't like what you were having for tea or worse still that he didn't like your choice of  wife or girlfriend?  I wouldn't and I doubt if Gadget would either!  So, whilst we all want to encourage new members the decision of your board is that in general terms only members (whether it be full, racing or social and perhaps former members) will be able to post on the forums.  Non-members will be able to view all forums (so they will not be closed out as suggested) and there will be a section where prospective members can raise sensible questions about the club, the racing and the cars. 

I'm going to close this off now but I hope I have explained to you the board's reasoning behind the pricing for 2014 and why we will be making changes to the website.  I realise our decisions won't please everyone but I can only say to you all as members that you elect your board to run the club and to make decisions on your behalf.  We do so in good faith and after carefully considering all the factors involved but if it's not satisfactory then it's your right to make changes at the AGM. 
I would also alert you to the fact that there are two vacancies on the board so please contact me if you would like to join.  In fact I would like to specifically to invite "Gadget" to join - if you feel strongly then help put your thoughts into action.


Finally I took it as a compliment that your club is run like the House of Commons.  British democracy isn't perfect but it's a lot better than many others.  If you prefer though we can always look east for an operating model or to the continent where there are plenty of regimes who talk about democracy but behave more like Stalin when it comes down to things!

Mervyn Rundle
Chairman

Now that the season is rolling out and we are only 6 weeks away from the first race I wanted to take a few moments just to update everyone.  Its all good news so please read on!

Firstly Pembrey. Following some of the postings on the forum,  Aubrey and the Board have had a look to see if we can reduce the price of the endurance race without it adversely affecting the Clubs finances.  Given that this is the 25th anniversary of the club and that a mid season endurance race doesn't happen very often I am pleased to be able to confirm a price revision.

The endurance race if booked as part of the weekend races will now be priced at £150.00.  On the other hand if you wish to just do the endurance on its own then it will cost £350.00. 

In addition though there is even more good news.  The club has been able to negotiate an extra race at Oulton Park.  This will be a 20 minute nonchampionship race and for those competing in the other races that day will cost only an extra £50.00. 

If you are booking the early bird for all races for the season (except the 24 hour) then the all up price will remain the same - the Oulton cost being compensated for by the Pembrey reduction.  So its a win win situation.

I look forward to seeing your delighted postings on the forum!

A new race entry form will be posted up shortly.

I have had a couple of people email in asking when the 2014 regs will be ready.  Sammie and Richard are just finalising these now and I would hope that we shall be able to post up drafts (subject to MSA approval) very shortly.  There are a few matters arising from the AGM and of course we need some extra regs for the endurance race at Pembrey.

I am pleased to confirm that the 2014 season is now finalised - membership and entry forms can be found on the website.  Whilst nothing in life is perfect, your board has spent a lot of time to ensure that the overall package of cost, tracks and dates is the best possible and have worked hard to ensure that 2CV racing continues to offer full on racing excitement but also great value for money. 

The Club is now in its 25th year and whilst it is important to preserve the traditions of 2CV racing it is also equally important to reassess and refresh the package on offer to members.  Our survival and prosperity depend on continually attracting new drivers and teams whilst at the same time retaining those drivers who race with us year after year.  The introduction of a mid season endurance race this year is part of that process as is change of 24 hour venue to Anglesey.  At the end of the year we will be canvassing members to find out how well these changes have worked.   The economy class and holding the 24-hour race in conjunction with 2CV GB are both intended to attract new members to give 2CV racing a try.  So please be as welcoming as possible to 2CVGB members and their questions when they appear at your pit garage door! 

We will be releasing more news on the Anglesey event as it unfolds but in the meantime please do encourage as many drivers and teams as possible to enter this year.

I can now put everyone out of their misery and confirm the dates and venues for 2014.  The circuits and dates have been arrived at after careful consultation with BARC our championship organiser to give a good range of challenging tracks spread both geographically across Britain and over the calendar.  The sprint season will start on the 29th March at Oulton followed by Croft on the 26/27th April.  Pembrey (which will include a 2 hour endurance race) in addition to the two sprints will be on the 17th/18th May.  The final sprint will be at Cadwell on the 26/27th July.  The 24 hour is scheduled for the 30/31st August at Angelsey.  Negotiations for that event should be finalised in the next week or two at which time we will make a further announcement with more details including pricing.   

Another great 24 hour and congratulations to Stinky for a well deserved win!  It just goes to show that there is always another day (or year) in 2cv racing! 

Also congratulations to Sammie Fritchley for a great championship drive and being our overall champion this year.  Well done!

Your board is already at work on next season and have some innovative ideas to make our racing better and even more fun.  It will be a few weeks before full details are available but we will announce them as soon as we can.  In the meantime if you have any thoughts or ideas of you own please send them in for consideration. Technical proposals are now closed but general suggestions are always welcome.

Don't forget to book for the dinner dance on the 16th November.

Finally many thanks to all those who have worked behind the scenes this year to make the season run so smoothly, for making my job as your chairman so straightforward and so much fun, to our sponsors for their support and to BARC for providing the race organisation and officials.

I look forward to seeing you at the AGM or next year at the first race meeting.

Mervyn Rundle

Chairman

As many of you will be aware there was a scrutineering issue regarding car weight in race one at Silverstone last week.  It would seem that some cars were found to be underweight but no action was taken by the Clerk of the Course, something which, without a very good reason, is not acceptable.  As a result, in the interests of fairness, your board decided to refer to the matter to the Championship Stewards to investigate, report and take such action as they considered appropriate.  Part of that request was to determine why the scrutineering process failed.

The decision of the Championship Stewards (who are appointed by BARC and not the club) is attached for you to read.  It is detailed, well reasoned and identifies the problem which occurred with the scrutineering process.  It should not happen again.

Your board of directors accept the Championship Stewards decision and consider that it should now bring the matter to a close.  However your board has decided that scrutineering needs to be tightened up as it has, to say the least, been poor at every race this year.  This is being taken up with BARC and the MSA.  

Whilst emailing and because there is clearly some confusion as to how the regulations work I thought it might help to quote a few extracts from a letter which I have recently written to one competitor who was genuinely concerned about this issue and which I hope explains the way in which the regulation process operates.  

"The club drafts the regulations after consultation with its members and BARC then approve them.  The regulations are handed over to the MSA for independent implementation and enforcement.  I maintain a "watching brief" but I do not intervene in any way unless I have reason to think that something is procedurally amiss......................... I do not believe in HALOing down from 25000 feet, turning into the Incredible Hulk and then "waterboarding" a scrutineer or competitor...............................In more general terms, a distinct, perceivable, separation of powers between Club Officials and the judicial process is highly desirable because it means that the people who drafted the rules have no input into their enforcement against an individual competitor.  

I hope this clarifies your board's stance on the regulations and their enforcement and that this will reassure you that such matters as occurred at Silverstone are not and will not be left hanging nor swept under the carpet but will be dealt with in the proper way laid down by the rules.

See you all at Brands


Mervyn Rundle

Chairman