johnfelstead

banshi you misunderstood the point i was making m8.

are we going to just talk on here till we expire from boredom, or are we going to try and get a group of people together to work this out?

DavidLewis

One last point. Why does the SIDC's dirty washing always get aired on Scoobynet. Since this is an SIDC issue and nothing to do with Scoobynet, why is this topic here and not on SIDC's BBS?

johnfelstead

because no bugger reads the SIDC BBS (in relative terms). Simple really.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

I'm sure Mellow can put some time to it

It needn't be a Scoobynet club, nor a SIDC club. It_should_be a club organised by and for like minded enthusiasts, using Scoobynet, MLR, RSOC, GTR etc as a medium since surely thats where the enthusiasts are.

IF it can be done via SIDC then great. however, I doubt it will. In my ex-member opinion.

Justin

dingy

Mellow, i need to get my skip going first

And shaggy

Mellow Yellow !

iTrader: (1)

Lol @ Steve.....

I think a "Scoobynet/SIDC/MLR/ etc...." is a very real and practical idea Jay !

Top of the class for you my boy

Just a pointer.....MLR posted only 2 weeks (ish) ago there 18th November trackday at Donnington.....they themselves had to open most of their days up to other marques.....they have sold out as of last night I'll be chatting with Darin in an hour or so.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Chris, just note that Dave thought of it first

Justin

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Type faster Mr Lewis!

Plagerism got me my Degree don't you know correct, it wasn't in English

Fat Boy

Craig

That's Mr Fatty to you, sonny :P

OK I agree with everyone , now can we wait for the vote

FB

PS Craig get the wide seats fitted I'm going to **** your power to weight ratio to the point where even DTS would overtake us

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Deisel,

I totally agree I we were all newby once The security and respect to the learner drivers shown at SIDC events made me feel safe

importsti

I don't think we need different Scooby organisations. Its obvious that there are problems and my take on it is that the various factions should band together, pool their resources, have 1 portal for all their websites and organise events together.

For the record SIDC have been brilliant and so has this website.

Opening the track days to similar cars makes sense.

Phil

Dave T-S

FatBoy
LOL - I seem to remember I managed to hold you off for a while at Donington in my crappy old 240bhp WRX, you wouldn't stand a chance in that museum piece of yours now with the STi PPP

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Mellow,
Now thats better more positive

Tony

CraigH

Diesel,

Maybe you are.

It's down to the driver. And his/her commonsense.

There will always be someone faster - if you are in your car and someone is completely inept drving in front in the same car, they will be 100 times worse to be with on track than an experienced driver in a faster car.

ARRON BIRD

God.....
I couldnt be bothered to read this entire post. Much too heavy for me.
I think that Chris is bang on.
Dont think you need to resign tho unless you want to that is.
I would really hope it isnt my doing anyway.
Oh and thanks to Evilbevel for letting me off the hook
I was only saying it like it is!!!
I`m very "Matter of fact" you know.
Cant help it. I blame it on the lights and the noises. Especially at night............if you think you can help.......

Diesel

Craig: >>There will always be someone faster - if you are in your car and someone is completely inept drving in front in the same car, they will be 100 times worse to be with on track than an experienced driver in a faster car<<

Mate, I know this - the Mountain Road at IOM was very frustrating for me (being very held back after a allowwing a l-o-n-g 40" gap...), but, I tell you what, I would rather be held back by a Scooby mate I know, than sideswiped by A N Other in something much more clever/madder.

It would seem common sense to now 'back off' this issue and go with the moderates/conservatives? If that still sounds dull, then again I say stick a roll cage in, slap yer slicks on, chuck the radio and air con out, and DO IT FOR REAL...

There is a balance between recreation and racing...

Off for me Horlicks now...

PS (edit) Chris, please re-consider, and lay the law down - this is EASILY fixable. Dont waste that research and effort, and my chance to Scooby smiley sideswipe you

[Edited by Diesel - 11/1/2002 10:41:59 PM]

[Edited by Diesel - 11/1/2002 10:43:03 PM]

Trout...

I haven't read all the bits in the middle - as for mixed open pitlane, RMA take 70 very mixed cars to Bedford and in reality the quickest are those with the best drivers and the slowest the worst - and the differential is enormous.

However they manage to run very safe, very fun days out.

Even more so the MLR days, having the Norris car bang around at the same time as standard Scoobs has a huge speed differential - but they are still fun.

Mmmm - must get back on track soon.

Trout

Mellow Yellow !

iTrader: (1)

ARRON, sleep sondly mate, nowt to do with anything you've said

Diesel....bring it on....bring it on....

Fat Boy

Aahh, it lives , it lives. See you at Bedford then, old boy, or are you busy that weekend

Hoppy

Sorry I'm late to this thread. I've not read it all so apolgies if I'm repeating what has already been said.

1) I was at the SIDC AGM last week and things seems to have changed a bit since then Just a lot!

2) To Chris (Mellow Yellow) - please hang on in there, mate And BTW, very many thanks to Stef who gave heart and soul. Top dude

3) This issue is now about the very existence of the SIDC as much as it is about track days. So sorting this out is MAJORLY IMPORTANT for all of us.

4) Circumstances have changed dramatically in the last year, not just with Scoobs or the SIDC. What was right then, is probably not right now. Let's learn from it and move forward. And please, don't allow outdated priorities, personalities and politics to get in the way.

5) On track days, I have no problem with faster and well-driven cars. Actually, I enjoy chasing them for a couple of corners often followed by a friendly chat in the pits. I have trouble with slow and inconsiderate drivers. FIRM briefings and more use of the BLACK flag, please. Track discipline is the issue and the SIDC's reputation gives us an Ace card to play here.

6) Widening the issue somewhat, there could be a mutually benefical relationship between the SIDC and ScoobyNet. But in reality, there is an artifical divison forced between the two. The combined forces of ScoobyNet (which has no money but a huge audience) and the SIDC (which has a fraction of the ScoobyNet audience but well over £60,000pa in membership fees to play with) could be a very potent combination.

7) The SIDC runs track days for a relatively small proportion of its 2-to-3,000 members. In reality, all that the others get is, sorry to say this, but, a second-rate quarterly magazine that contains very little that most ScoobyNetters don't already know. If True Grip contained a digest of the best stuff that is on here (particularly the ScoobyNet technical forums) and, one way or another, the SIDC was seen to arrange the best track days and other social events for 'kindred spirits' (Scoobs, Evos, Skylines, Caterhams, Lotus etc) then we would be on to a winner.

8) We are at a cross-roads and some brave decisions are needed. I find it hard to believe that talented and passionate people cannot find a great solution for all of us.

Let's get the Bedford track day on 30th Nov out of the way, then call an Extraordinary AGM and thrash it out. And may common sense and mutual interests prevail

Best regards,

Richard.

Adam M

great summary as ever richard.

agree 100%.

a collaboration might be the order of the day.

But then Simon is on the brink of making a profitable business, and by suggesting this we would be almost insisting on him turn his sole proprietorship into a partnership.

Dont think that is fair on him.

Lee

I find it interesting that an onlooker would think that scoobynet has no money and the SIDC has lots when I would say the reverse is true.

The SIDC is non profit making. This means that membership fees are set in order to pay for the years stationery, true grips etc etc. There is no stockpile of cash, if there were it would mean we were overcharging. Adam points out that Simon is running a Ltd company, surely the expectation of which is to make money ?

I'm all for a collaberation however it would be full circle..scoobynet started off as the SIDC BBS....it was split away for some very good reasons. Laughably its so long ago I cannot remember the exact ins and outs, but I can remember two
a) The BBS was open with regards to grey imports, at the time the SIDC was trying to secure IM approval..so had to lose this.
b) It was felt that posting comments on a public BBS could damage the SIDC with regards to RACMSA status, or in fact just damage the appearance of the club. Posts such as "Whats the max speed you've done" etc etc.

No doubt historians will also point out that Phil took it away and had to make it commercial in order for it to survive..well if you read the minutes you'll see the SIDC were prepared to fund the BBS..oh I digress..history was boring at school and boring now

Not sure any of this reasons are particularly valid any more. I'll have a chat to simon/committee off list...

ptholt

just a thought/comment type thing based on what i was told at brands recently. Basically brands were suggesting they would only allow car track days through car clubs and only have days with that one marque/club.

This was also to be the same through other circuits owned by the company that owns brands.

I think the only exception was track days through one certain car club (can't remember who that was tbh).

Does this pose a problem if lancer register/sidc and others share track days?

CT9A

Just thought I would share my thoughts on the which vehicles should be mixed on a track day ?
The reality of it is, it doesn't matter about the Bhp, open top, ex race cars ( with the exception of open wheeled )etc, but the right people participating.
The secret of a good track day is sensible drivers, it does not matter how quick the cars are, or how quick they are. Driver couresy is what makes the difference.
The other important area to cover is a very thorough briefing, and the accesability of instructors to advice drivers as required.
I also believe that as instructrs attend the days anyway instruction should be free of charge, the more they are used the safer track days become for all of us.
What do you think Chris ? (Mellow)

Hoppy

Adam, I don't see why Simon would necessarily have to give up anything. It's the SIDC that is in trouble. Simon merely has to cooperate and if this was mutually beneficial, as I think it could be, then we are all winners.

But the SIDC still has a lot of equity with which to trade. 2-3,000 subscription-paying members - that is a very solid base to build on. Hard-core Impreza enthusiasts, willing to pay money.

The SIDC also has a committee of dedicated volunteers, an invaluable resource. They can and do make things happen whereas Simon only has one pair of hands and they're already full.

And the SIDC has True Grip which, with the combined strengths of ScoobyNet and the SIDC, could be a fantastic magazine worth the subscription on it's own. But it needs a full-time salaried editor and some editorial budget.

Cheers,

Richard.

Markus

Interesting read, not read all of it, mainly as slightly jet lagged.

Thanks to Chris for explaining why he resigned, at least we all know now.

The ol' trackday issue eh? Tis never easy this one. I've never driven on track, yes, I know that at every meet/trackday I'm spectating at I'll say I'll be on track, but not yet done it.

I've been to a few trackdays, both purley scoob and mixed. Which do I prefer? well, to be honest, the mixed ones, why? well, always nice to see porkers and evo's humbled by a scoob or two plus offers a chance of laps in these other cars as well. I can understand the problems of faster cars, and 'pure' trackday cars vs scoobs, but if everyone is sensible and most of us are, there should not be a problem. But, if I recall correctly, some tracks will (or used to) only allow single marque trackdays, BHLG I think stipulated this at some point last year (though I could be wrong) and I thought this was one of the reasons behind SIDC having to do the single marque thing (again, could be wrong) mainly at BHLG tracks (correct?).

I can say I have noticed a drop off in the trackday scene, dunno why, cost? probably, jumps to other marques? again possibly. I think I've only been to 2 trackdays this year (Donno in Feb and Bedford in, umm, whenever it was!) will prob go to brands, if there is one, mainly as it's local.

Dunno what else to say, as most of it's been said.

Phil

The fact is now that Tracks are not earning enough money and I believe they were challanged legally re sole marques

So They are willing to be more open minded

Phil

Lee

> And the SIDC has True Grip which, with the combined strengths
> of ScoobyNet and the SIDC, could be a fantastic magazine worth
> the subscription on it's own.

what do you mean could be ????????????????????????

it already is !!!

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

But Richard, you do motor caravan monthly. How can you use say that is relevant to these areas?

Oh, sorry that's not you, it's me 'old man', you're so alike!

BTW some good points and you've just sparked a thought for a True grip article, which many will need to read.

F