RESULTS - GSRA MEMBER QUESTIONNAIRE  RE 25 LAP RACE WITH CO-DRIVER AT EASTERN CREEK SCRATCH OR HANDICAP?

GSRA MEMBER QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS - Races at MG Racing Meetings

Eligibility

RESULTS - GSRA MEMBER QUESTIONNAIRE  RE 25 LAP RACE WITH CO-DRIVER AT EASTERN CREEK SCRATCH OR HANDICAP?

The HSRCA Eastern Creek meeting for 28/29th April planned to have two Group S sprint races and a 25 lap Group Sa/Sb/Sc race with mandatory co-driver change. The Sup Regs list the rules for the 25 lap race with co-driver and they indicate that the 25 lap race will be a handicap race. 

The GSRA email questionnaire was designed to solicit GSRA member feedback about the HSRCA meeting, especially the proposal that the 25 lap race with co-driver be handicap. 

The questionnaire instructions required members to email a response by midnight Friday 16th March, and indicate either Response A, B, C, D or E their preference. 

39 member responses to the questionnaire were received. The results are as follows: 

5 Response A – I prefer the 25 lap race with co-driver to be a handicap event. 

15 Response B – I prefer the 25 lap race with co-driver to be a scratch event. 

11 Response C – I prefer the 25 lap race with co-driver to be a scratch start, but with handicaps applied after the event. 

1 Response D – I have no preference as to how the 25 lap race with co-driver is to be run. 

7 Response E – I prefer not to run in the 25 lap event with co-driver but I wish to run in a substitute Group S sprint race as a solo drive to give me three Group S starts at the meeting. This may mean staging a second Group S grid behind some other race grouping.

The GSRA has discussed the questionnaire results with the HSRCA and the HSRCA has now decided to conduct the 25 lap race as a scratch event with category prizes and one Special Achievement Award. Those members not wishing to drive in the 25 lap event will likely be offered a third solo sprint race.

Many thanks to those who responded,

Brian Weston

President GSRA

GSRA MEMBER QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS - Races at MG Racing Meetings

MG Racing has run four race meetings. All meetings have comprised five races, but only two races are dedicated two Group S events. The remaining three races are various combinations of mix-and-match. The mix-and-match races have been subject to considerable comment by members about the appropriateness of the groupings. 

In an attempt to gauge members’ views on this, the GSRA Member Questionnaire of February 2006 asked the following question - at a typical five race MG Racing meeting, how many Group S races do you prefer? 30 members answered as follows:

Two Group S races                   4

Three Group S races                16

Four Group S races                   5

Five Group S races                    1

Don’t care                                 4 

At Eastern Creek on 1st December 2006, I conducted another survey to update member views on the topic. I asked the question - if it boiled down to the following choice, which would you prefer?

Four races total - comprising three Group S races and one mix-and-match; or

Five races total - comprising two Group S races and three mix-and-match. 

I surveyed 30 members randomly and the following answers were provided:

4 races total but 3 Group S                                         16 members 

5 races total but only 2 Group S                                 5 members

(mainly Sa, who find being overrun by front running Sc after a few laps just as daunting as racing with anyone else) 

Don’t care                                                                   6 members

(some said do not mix 5th category with others, some said no slicks with Group S) 

5 races total but 3 Group S                                         3 members

(this was not a questionnaire option, but three members were adamant that they wanted 5 races total, but 3 must be Group S)

A subcommittee of David Withers, Geoff Williams and Colin Wilson-Brown is using this data and is now liaising with MGRacing over the Group S race program for the February FoSC.

Brian Weston

President GSRA

Eligibility

Greg expressed some disappointment that he had found so many eligibility discrepancies in Group S. Perhaps this reflects that some time has passed since the last series of Group S eligibility checks and owners are not being as rigorous as required.

Some GSRA members have asked me what is the GSRA committee’s policy regarding eligibility matters. The committee will discuss this issue at the forthcoming 12th April GSRA Committee meeting, and as a basis for discussion, the committee will consider the following proposal. 

“The GSRA notes that the issue of a Group S logbook by CAMS to the owner of a Group S car entails a continuing obligation on the owner to keep the car in conformance with Group S regulations. 

This is primarily a matter between CAMS and the owner which generally will not involve the GSRA committee.

However in eligibility matters that may impact substantial numbers or groups of GSRA members, and in instances where safety may be involved; the GSRA may take up an eligibility issue with CAMS on behalf of members.

 Otherwise, the GSRA fully supports the CAMS appointed officers in oversighting the continued conformity of Group S cars.” 

Otherwise we may as well throw away the rule book and let anything go. What do you reckon? 

Brian Weston

President - GSRA