Donington Park Sunday 7th April 2013
Back to Donington 13 hours after leaving the day before for the annual visit of the MG Car Club. A 10 race card on this day with races for all the clubs championships along with the BARC administered MG Owners Club series. MG's of every description are catered for from the super quick MGB GT V8's and modified Midgets to the humble Metro. Having owned a van version many years ago it was good to see a few Maestros on track and there was even a Montego, British engineering at it's best......
After a really good meeting the previous day it would take a lot to match it and I have to say I was disappointed with this meeting. The dreaded Safety Car made several appearances during the day and I remembered the equivalent meeting last year,quoted below;
"Another pet hate of mine are needless safety cars instead of local yellows. Safety cars have crept into the sport over the last 10 years or so from the top downwards and are purely to spice up the action for televised series in my opinion. At club level there is no need for them but we are in the era of "timed" races so any stoppages in the programme are avoided at all costs."
The biggest grid of the day was the MG Owners Club and their second 15 minute race ended under the safety car after racing for only a few laps. Enormously frustrating as a humble spectator but I'm not a driver who has spent possibly thousands of pounds in preparation, transportation and entry fees.
On the one hand the club has to recoup the cost of hiring a circuit by cramming as much racing into the day as possible, but by not allowing for incidents and stoppages, it will mean that the actual RACING (which is what it's all about) becomes diluted and nonexistent.
After the mild warmth of Saturday it was back to the usual cold weather we've all grown to love.Hazy sunshine and a cold wind all day. Admission was £10 (£5 DPRAC discount) and Programme £3
After a really good meeting the previous day it would take a lot to match it and I have to say I was disappointed with this meeting. The dreaded Safety Car made several appearances during the day and I remembered the equivalent meeting last year,quoted below;
"Another pet hate of mine are needless safety cars instead of local yellows. Safety cars have crept into the sport over the last 10 years or so from the top downwards and are purely to spice up the action for televised series in my opinion. At club level there is no need for them but we are in the era of "timed" races so any stoppages in the programme are avoided at all costs."
The biggest grid of the day was the MG Owners Club and their second 15 minute race ended under the safety car after racing for only a few laps. Enormously frustrating as a humble spectator but I'm not a driver who has spent possibly thousands of pounds in preparation, transportation and entry fees.
On the one hand the club has to recoup the cost of hiring a circuit by cramming as much racing into the day as possible, but by not allowing for incidents and stoppages, it will mean that the actual RACING (which is what it's all about) becomes diluted and nonexistent.
After the mild warmth of Saturday it was back to the usual cold weather we've all grown to love.Hazy sunshine and a cold wind all day. Admission was £10 (£5 DPRAC discount) and Programme £3
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