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24hr press article

Started by Maisie, August 17, 2016, 14:11:27

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Maisie

Edit to add: seems to be from today's Motorsport News (17th August) from the header on the Anglesey Circuit original post.

I would like to express my dismay at what seems to me to be an ill-thought out, incredibly premature/presumptive and potentially extremely damaging press release (see attached).

"The C1 has been introduced as a trial for this weekend's event at Anglesey as a cheaper alternative to thje ageing and increasingly rare 2CV machines" (my italics)

1) I can fully understand why a couple of C1s were mooted as a quick boost to numbers for the 24hr race when entries were looking pretty dire earlier in the year, but AN ALTERNATIVE?? News to me... and probably news to 99.9% of the rest of the (may I remind you) CLASSIC 2CV RACING CLUB (The clue is in the title!). Ageing they may be, but no more so than an equivalent Mini. Getting rarer and more expensive to buy, sure, but there are literally dozens of unused racing cars sitting in garages and we need to know why and to encourage them out so that rarity is not a factor.

"..The problem is racing 2CVs is quite an expenswive business..."

Is it?? Chris and I manage on a shoestring budget around a not-inconsiderable mortgage and other outgoings. We were lucky to find out car relatively cheaply, but it needed some work. No-one's forcing you to hire a Pete Sparrow to drive, or to get a specialist restoration company to do your bodywork, or pay an engine builder to put a dozen engines together and rolling road them. With a bit of mechanical know-how, a willingness to get stuck in and learn and some canny shopping around, a 2CV is, again, no more difficult or expensive to maintain than the equivalent racing Mini.

".. they are easier to police..." Don't know about that since there aren't any regulations for C1s. BUT I do know that the 2CV racing club regs could be a lot clearer (although this has improved of late) and as for policing, the lack thereof should have been noted and rectified a very long time ago. This is being worked on by the tech committee, but it's been lax for an awfully long time. It doesn't have to be difficult, we just need to make sure someone actually DOES it, has the power to enforce their findings and that the membership are encouraged to understand and conform to the regs.

"... they will be cheaper to run too..." How cheap? Who's running them? What resources do they have? Are they tinkering in their own garages or farming the work out to the nearest engine tuner? It's not black and white. Our car gets a quick checkoever between races, a fill-up of fuel, maybe a tyre if needed between races then it's ready to hit the track again. What's so expensive about that?? It's what you make it.

"We will try to maintain at least 50 per cent 2CVs" Is this an official club line? If so, since when? To me it smacks of "We acknowledge the 2CV is dying on its bum and we've all but given up, but will try to keep a few knocking about for the die-hards while we go and play with our easy new shiny things". This statement is effectively killing off the 2CV 24hr race as a race FOR 2CVs without a chance to put a year's effort, increased publicity and communication into building the race back up again. If you give the impression that the 2CV is slowly dying off, you run the risk of it becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. No-one's going to want to join if they think they're going to be spending serious amounts of cash to join a dying championship.

We have a GREAT racing club, for GREAT cars, which DO NOT need to be expensive or difficult to run if you're willing to put in a bit of time and effort. The whole unique selling point of the CLASSIC 2CV RACING CLUB is... THE CITROEN 2CV. The cars look unlike anything else. They are built unlike anything else. They are THE best car for a 24hr race because of their reliability and repairability (imagine half a grid of C1s have an engine issue or suspension damage in the first hour of a race - the track would be virtually empty for hours!).

Let's all be POSITIVE for a change and ALL put the effort to keeping the 2CV RACING CLUB RACING 2CVs.
To the committee: don't forget the club's title and ethos. Involve and consult the membership and don't ride rough-shod over it for your own aims. Make timely decisions and communicate so that people have time to make plans early. Don't just focus on £££, think of the bigger picture (sacrificing the chance to get together which is so much a part of the 24hr for the chance to save a bit of cash being a prime example).
To the members: support the club. Bring those old cars out. Show up to races. If you don't like where the club is going, join the board or speak up. Put your memberships and race entries in early. Let's make this a collaborative, smooth-running club and keep it going in a positive upwards direction. A few months of serious effort to promote the club and race have paid dividends. Don't write the whole thing off without giving the momentum a chance to continue.

We're far from dead and buried but if people keep giving out the impression that we're doomed, we soon will be!
Blueberry Tart ;)

Roy Eastwood


Martin Harrold

Maisie:
Where was that published?
It's got my name all over it, but I did not send anything like it to any journal nor do I recall speaking to any journo on the subject of the C1. I would not do it deliberately, as I am not aware that any board decision about C1's has been made apart from agreeing to a trial in the race this weekend. I guess that any further decision would be for the next AGM.
I would have thought that my personal commitment to 602's is very well known.
Martin
2CV Team LION
2CVParts.com Champions 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022
CITROEN 2CV 24 Hour race winners, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 & 2022
m: 07973 303982

Trevor Williams

Well said Maisie!! Wholeheartedly agree with everything you have written there!!

Martin, if someone is using my name and "quoting" me without your permission, I would be mad beyond belief!

Someone needs to answer for that piece of sh1te......
Some days, it's REALLY difficult being me!

Roy Eastwood

It did seem odd.

Quote from: Martin Harrold on August 17, 2016, 15:43:38
Maisie:
Where was that published?
It's got my name all over it, but I did not send anything like it to any journal nor do I recall speaking to any journo on the subject of the C1. I would not do it deliberately, as I am not aware that any board decision about C1's has been made apart from agreeing to a trial in the race this weekend. I guess that any further decision would be for the next AGM.
I would have thought that my personal commitment to 602's is very well known.
Martin


Simon Crook

As an article this is very damaging to the club - and very disappointing to read, whomever wrote this article should explain to the club members why such an article was written.

The opening statement on 'our clubs website' The club has been racing the iconic French 2CV for over 25 years now, and has always been recognised as providing close, exciting racing and a friendly atmosphere, while keeping costs to a minimum.   
Simon Crook - Back Racing in 2013
LUMACA RACING

Paul

A 31 car grid and we need two C1's ?

I was at Blyton sprint circuit yesterday and the manager there knew about it !

I didn't realise the club was in such financial difficulty that the board were willing to ruin the club and it's 28 year history.
An 18 car grid at Mondello ,a year with no 24hr race at all and we survived both of those,the first sign of trouble the new board capitulates to something we have turned down once.
Supposedly there were plenty of people who said they were going to enter,it would appear the board didn't wait for. Did they make any effort to find out why the entries were PENDING,maybe the early bird incentive was too little too late and the expense of new helmets and hans device delayed some people.
Will we ever know?
I'm glad the membership get their vote at the agm.

I propose: No C1 class at the 24hr race any seconders?

gadget

I wonder who wrote that?????
hmmmmmmmmmmm
I should think someone will own up over the weekend!

Katy Storey


Marc Fenner

Im hoping to finally get out and race next year with the 2CV's after God knows how many years on the spanners
If the C1's get agreed I won't be doing any races. I will go find another single car championship.
Why would you want to race in a race you have no chance of getting a decent result in.

Also I very much doubt I would continue sponsoring as Liqui Moly as the 2CV's would lose the marketing appeal and nothing would get published about them. The C1's would always be dominating the races as I'm sure they will for this years 24hr.
It's going to be a real shame if the 2 C1's go out this year to try and win the race as that will just kill the club

Bart van Wijngaarden

I am only an outsider but must say I find it quite a shame that modern cars join the 2CV 24hrs.

What I don't understand is that Rent boys had 2 red 2cv's out last year(s). Assuming they still have those, why do they bring out 2 C1's and the 43 Gulf colored 2CV instead?? Why not race the red 2CVs they already have in the garage (+ Gulf 2CV)?? Meyrick Cox writes elsewhere they have spares etc enough.

Anyway, everybody have good time this weekend!!

Scooterman

Cheap and simple racing where the driver can make the difference..... You could be an average driver in the championship nowadays and still be at the sharp end if you are a good engineer/mechanic, or you are prepared to spend paying someone to do it for you.

My point is ( and 90% of you completely disagree) that the championship has evolved to be a battle of engineers.
People complain about the DNA being lost, but surely the DNA changed with the evolution of the championship?

As soon as you allow variations of suspension, shock absorbers, brake pads and introduce a carb that constantly needs fiddling with (and visits to a rolling road) you lose the low cost element. Those who want to argue the point probably have access to, or work in a garage.

The proposed running specification for the C1 is very simple, if those regulations were strictly followed and policed it would be the modern day equivalent of the 2cv championship in 1989.

Keep it simple, keep it cheap and let the driver make the difference. I have nothing but respect for the level of engineering that is going in to the front running cars, but really is it what the championship should be about? If it is the regulation point about driver skill needs to be re-written.


Simon Crook

Adam I totally agree with what you are saying, but in all forms of Motorsport you get front runners, those that occasionally get near the top five cars, mid pack runners and those that run around at the back - I've been one of those - I think the point here is that if you want to race a C1, 107, Aygo or what ever variant, this is the Classic 2cv Racing Club (as per the tag at the top) - All of the club members (well most of them) did not know about the C1 being entered into the 24hr race, then we find out, not one but two are entered into the race - this was not just a 'lets put these cars into the 24hr race moment' it was planned which is the issue.

And I know before I get told well you don't race often enough Simon, your not racing at the 24hr blah blah - If I was in the UK I would be - If I could offer the club more time I would, I've tried to help out where I can and race whenever I can, and support the club where I can (Autosport show, Citroen's 90th Celebration and the fuel bungs from America). As most of you know I sold my car recently and we are building a new car for next season. In my short time here at the club, I've seen the clubs ups and downs 'four or five chairmen' - Firestones too Michelins, Michelins too Toyo's - the Weber '2 seconds a lap' All of us including our title sponsor, supporters are here because of one thing the Citroen 2cv.     
Simon Crook - Back Racing in 2013
LUMACA RACING

Trevor Williams

#13
Adam
There is no such thing as cheap motorsport.... I know for a fact (because he has told me) how much one ex champion spent one year in winning the championship. And as another well-known northern race car preparer once said "if you can't afford to take £1,000 out of your pocket and burn it right now, you can't afford to go racing". When we were doing 10 to 12 sprint races plus a couple of endures as the championship, entry fees were around £3,000 per year. Add in travel etc and you were looking at close to £5,000 just to put a car on the grid....

The Engineering-minded will always come up with something that may or may not give them and their teams an advantage. There have been angled barrels and other such things in the previous years. When I raced there was the ever present spectre of "they're racing a dodgy cam" plus the "if you don't have the right solex, you are going nowhere fast" and the good old definition of the word "or" in relation to cylinder heads. In all instances, where an advantage has been gained / found the club endeavoured to re-level the playing field (Club cam, Weber carb) or changed the regs to allow an illegality to become legal. there is a saying "You cannot un-invent the atomic bomb".....

And as for driver skill, for the entire 10 years that I raced, a certain multiple champion would regularly jump in other racer's cars, stick them on pole and win the race, when in the hands of the owner / regular driver the car would be mid-field at best. It takes at least two years to get to grips with the quirks of the 2CV if you are a complete novice to racing.

This is the Classic 2CV Racing Club (I never understood the need for the word Classic), which are raced by enthusiasts for that car. It is NOT the Citroen C1 Racing Club. If you want to race C1s, go start your own club, get a race organiser get the regs approved by the MSA and run your series for three years, and then after that, if you have enough entries, become a MSA Championship. If anyone wants to do that, good luck, crack on, but do NOT use THIS club's money, resources and membership to do this
Some days, it's REALLY difficult being me!

Katy Storey

#14
Just a reminder to everyone - the AGM is on the 19th November in Birmingham. Don't forget you must be a member of the club to vote on anything so please come along.