Spring Drive 2008

[Wireless]

Hi all,

With the news that Chris is taking more of a back seat with regards to TC due to his work commitments, I wondered if there were any plans to hold a Spring Drive this year...? I am not sure if Chris has looked into this himself or has perhaps passed the opportunity to organise it onto someone else on behalf of the club.

Reason I ask is that I really like the TC events - possibly the highlight of my r/c yearbook, so if there's going to be one, I'd love to attend. The logistics of getting time booked off work plus myself and whatever models I want to run or trade to the event means I have to have a date fixed well in advance to be able to attend.

Spring Drive is just that to me, first TC event of the year and an opportunity to catch up with everyone after hibernation. Kidderminster is a good central location, and personally, I don't really care where it is nor whether it's on or off-road or even indoors if we can find a big enough venue as each type of surface has it's good and bad points.

Kidderminster is an obvious choice, but we've been there a lot and it's useless for on-roaders and no nitro on track. Being unfamiliar with the racing scene in the UK, I do not know of many other tracks. The ones I do know are listed below. Can we perhaps get a list together of potential locations at least if not for Spring Drive, they can be used to organise another bash later in the year...? I have listed them with Name / Location / Type / Restrictions / Facilities. I'd like to help in any way I can but being 1,000 miles away somewhat restricts my ability to benefit the organisation...

Cheers,

Roop

- Kidderminster / Worcestershire / Variable Outdoor off-road / No nitro on track / Camping, covered rostrum.

- Halifax / West Yorkshire / 280m Outdoor on-road / No off-roaders on track / Camping (50 places), covered pits, mains power, AMB xponder, covered rostrum (possibly floodlit).

- Snetterton / Norfolk / Outdoor on-road plus outdoor off-road / None / Camping, mains power (limited), covered rostrum, on-site r/c shop .

[volksrod68]

Id be up for it this year, Halifax would be a good venue.

More local for the people that havnt attended Spring Drives before due to them living too far north.

On Road is probably the best surface, at least off-roaders can be easily converted to run on the tarmac.

[terry.sc]

Id be up for it this year, Halifax would be a good venue.

Not for a while though. Apart from no off roaders there it's been a bit damp there last week.

Halifax flood

[jozza]

Hi Wireless, there's another thread about the possibility of a Kidderminster based Spring Drive in this forum, and I would love to see it happen. I don't know the situation with Netsmith, so I'm not sure if he would want, or be able, to arrange it this year. I'll try to get in touch and see what the score is, and then perhaps we can get the wheels in motion. The Spring Drive is a brilliant weekend, and marks the start of the R/C bashing season for me, so I really hope it can happen this year.

As for other venues, I know of a southern venue in North Essex, but it's grass track so definitely only for offroaders. It has got camping and (basic) facilities, and I was able to organise hiring it for a weekend at a very reasonable rate a couple of years ago. I don't think it would be Spring Drive material, but for a Summer offroad meet it would be fine.

[tamiya monkey]

I would be up for any meets arranged, travelling not a problem.

[Wireless]

Hi all,

I have spoken to Chris and he is actively investigating a Spring Drive type event. Nothing has been confirmed yet with discusssions ongoing, so I will leave it to him to announce whether he has managed to secure a location. I guess we will just have to wait and see, but I for one am pleased that he's trying to get one sorted for us. Thanks Chris...!

Regards the other locations, Halifax was my local track and (as Terry mentioned) until it got flooded out, a superb location (perhaps we should take boats...? ). The circuit is very popular and is used for local, national and international events. The last time I was there there was last Summer and there was a European 1/10 EP Touring Car race on there with guys running top-of-the-line chassis and 5-cell brushless power. This popularity causes problem because you have to book the circuit around a year in advance...! The other problem is not being able to run off-roaders (incl trucks, crawlers, XC, buggy etc) - even in the camping area (like at Kidderminster) . They just don't want them there. Unless you can get slick or tread patterened tyres on your buggy, forget it. No knobblies, pin spikes, micro spikes, block allowed. I have no idea why, them's the rules. Anyways, because you have to book so far in advance, Spring Drive *definitely* won't be there this year, but it's certainly a venue we should think of in the future. It's perhaps good enough to tempt members North of the border to make a journey down. I am not sure how many Scotland-based members we have, but pretty much any journey that requires travel to England is horriffic for those guys as it's so far...!

Similarly, a Southern event would be welcome too, perhaps at the circuit Jozza mentioned. I'm as much of a complaining Northerner as the rest for driving to Kidderminster but let's not forget that the Southern guys have a pretty horrendous drive as well, especially if they are on the South coast like Dazmeister. In that respect, Kidderminster is ideal as it's the same nightmare regardless of where you live (unless you are Evoman or Synchrocnc and could practically fall out of your bed onto the track at Kidderminster because they live so near...!!!)

Thanks for pointing out the other thread Jozza. I guess I should have tacked this one onto there. Is there a Wiki facility in the forum where we can make a small listing of venues so that anyone looking into organising an event has details etc...?

I guess in terms of outright flexibilty, Snetterton was still the best location that I have visited in that there was a very good on-road track, a separate grasss track for off-roaders and a massive shop for spares, consumables etc. The guys that ran it (although one or two were a PITA) were good in that we had the run of the place so long as we didn't wreck it or leave rubbish everywhere. No restrictions on what could be run on the track etc. It's in the middle of nowhere though. I guess it's locations like that we should look for...?

It's a crying shame (and frankly a disgrace) that Tibshelf was closed down. Although as someone who has experienced such opressive behavior from councils and developers in both the general aviation and motorsports industries, it comes as no surprise. I understand that a fund has been set up to start a new track somewhere.

Anyways, back on topic - We might yet have a Spring Drive, so let's sit tight and see what happens. In the meantime, Post your track details here and I will compile a basic reference DB to post up somewhere so we have something to refer to for future events.

[ChrisB]

I know Chris is looking into this, but I just wondered if the Easter weekend had been ruled out as a possibility? I'm guessing its looking less likely as its only a few weeks away now....

Only reason I am asking is I will need to book a car/van, so the sooner I can find out the better as especially over the Easter weekend you need to book a few weeks ahead minimum (i.e. about now!!!!) to guarantee availability.

So anyone heard anything (even if its confirmation that it won't be the Easter weekend)?

Cheers,

Chris

[mr_pushrod]

Good to hear that there are plans for another drive. They're always such massive fun, let's hope there's at least one this year

[igbandy]

How about using the Wrexham track over the August bank holiday or for that matter the Kidderminster track?

It`s just an idea, and it all depends on what is happening with the club`s over that weekend.

[BiggusDitchus]

How about using the Wrexham track over the August bank holiday or for that matter the Kidderminster track?

It`s just an idea, and it all depends on what is happening with the club`s over that weekend.

The Nutters will be holding meets at Wrexham as long as BigAde agrees and as usual everyone is welcome, but im holding out hope that Chris can sort an Official TC drive at Kidd

[igbandy]

Thats fair enough chief . Like I said it was just an idea.

We are having a get together all being well on Easter Monday at Clumber.

[caddy shack]

Hi if you are stuck or fancy a change you could contact sproggy on here as hes got an offroad track at junction 12 off the M40 near gaydon motor museum.

its got pit lane / transponders handouts & computer lap timing / toilet / camping area ....... hotels -pub - garage etc a few mins drive away.

part of the track can be turned into an oval for racing cars that are lower so can use 1/10th cars with rallyblocks etc.

its mainly used for nitro rallycross racing etc but electric should be no probs as hes got tamiyas he run round it.

theres a gotnitro meet there twice a year and its a great turn out with people coming from all over the uk.

just an idea for all to consider.

c.h

[Wrc action]

I think that is a very possible idea.

Be interested to hear more about it, does the track have a website?

Cheers Ryck

[caddy shack]

I think that is a very possible idea.

Be interested to hear more about it, does the track have a website?

Cheers Ryck

Hi ryck yes its j12 radio race club . you should see pics etc of the track on there. im not sure if theres any new picks of the new layout .

c.h

[BiggusDitchus]

Can we just remember at start of thread what Wireless posted

I have spoken to Chris and he is actively investigating a Spring Drive type event. Nothing has been confirmed yet with discusssions ongoing, so I will leave it to him to announce whether he has managed to secure a location. I guess we will just have to wait and see, but I for one am pleased that he's trying to get one sorted for us. Thanks Chris...!

[Live Steam Mad]

Hi all,

I have spoken to Chris and he is actively investigating a Spring Drive type event. Nothing has been confirmed yet with discusssions ongoing, so I will leave it to him to announce whether he has managed to secure a location. I guess we will just have to wait and see, but I for one am pleased that he's trying to get one sorted for us. Thanks Chris...!

Well it's gone a week and I don't see any progress or any explanation.

Any news from anyone? It's frustrating.

After seeing soooooooo many RC meetings and races in the South (every time I open an issue of any RC car magazine) I for one would like to see (for a refreshing change) a meeting further North than

Kidderminster. How about Southport (state of the art off road track) .

Alistair G.

[TWINSET]

Well it's gone a week and I don't see any progress or any explanation.

Any news from anyone? It's frustrating.

After seeing soooooooo many RC meetings and races in the South (every time I open an issue of any RC car magazine) I for one would like to see (for a refreshing change) a meeting further North than

Kidderminster. How about Southport (state of the art off road track) .

Alistair G.

Everything's still being looked at so no announcements yet - sorry if that's too frustrating for you.

As for meets further north, there's nothing to stop you organising your own too

[BiggusDitchus]

Well it's gone a week and I don't see any progress or any explanation.

Any news from anyone? It's frustrating.

After seeing soooooooo many RC meetings and races in the South (every time I open an issue of any RC car magazine) I for one would like to see (for a refreshing change) a meeting further North than

Kidderminster. How about Southport (state of the art off road track) .

Alistair G.

Alistair we have numerous meets around the North West not many a mile from you and your more than welcome to join in, all for fun at likes of Moel Famau, Ainsdale beach, Delamere Forest, plus the occasional bash at Wrexham model car club which has an excellent on road track an indoor track plus large amount of land for running offroad cars. Join the nutters next bash is on Ainsdale Beach on Sunday. As far as a meet for TC further north we have to look at it with a view to members around the country, Kidderminster isnt that far from the North West, its further for some of guys on south coast or further north, when you look at it Kidderminster is fairly central. Give Chris a chance, he is obviously busy with work too and is doing his best.. there is still 9 months of 2008 left for a meet whats the rush.