Spring Drive / Kidderminster?

[Live Steam Mad]

OK so that's 3 people so far who are good to go for Kidderminster re: insurance.

Any more?

Cheers,

A.G.

[Live Steam Mad]

I think it's as important, if not more so, to find out who wouldn't be prepared to cough up 15 for BRCA membership - Personally, I would have no use for it outside that meet, and for some dads that bring their kids along to participate, it could be significantlly more than 15, especially if the wife wants to race too.

Some people have, in the past, commented that the 15 to join TC is prohibitive (for them) for a year's membership, even though it includes discounts etc, so spending 15 insurance to pay another 5 or whatever to go to a 2-3 day meet may be asking a bit much.

Chris can be contacted thru his front page, http://www.tamiyaclub.com/member.asp?id=1

Thanks for the info. Andy, I've just contacted Chris about this and asked him several questions about it so I'll wait and see what he says.

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[TWINSET]

OK so that's 3 people so far who are good to go for Kidderminster re: insurance.

Any more?

Cheers,

A.G.

And three people that are not.

TO ALL MEMBERS;

Do not be put off by anything 'decided' here by someone trying to steamroller proceedings forward.

If you can't or simply don't want to pay 15 to attend a 2-3 day meet this will be the deciding factor.

Alistair - I suggest you discuss this with Chris before trying to rally any more numbers - You are not speaking on behalf of TC and are not in a position to organise anything on behalf of TC but if you want to hire out Kidderminster track and advertise the meet here, carry on.

[Live Steam Mad]

And three people that are not.

TO ALL MEMBERS;

Do not be put off by anything 'decided' here by someone trying to steamroller proceedings forward.

If you can't or simply don't want to pay 15 to attend a 2-3 day meet this will be the deciding factor.

Alistair - I suggest you discuss this with Chris before trying to rally any more numbers - You are not speaking on behalf of TC and are not in a position to organise anything on behalf of TC but if you want to hire out Kidderminster track and advertise the meet here, carry on.

I feel that these are heavy handed words in my personal opinion, I am not trying to be aggresive.

I am not speaking on behalf of TC, I'm just interested to see how many members are willing to join the BRCA to be able to fun race at Kidderminster or other tracks for a main TC meet.

I'm not able to organise anything myself.

Wow do I ever get some grief over the things I ask about on TC (in my personal opinion).

Anyone would think that I am trying to take over TC itself, which is rediculous.

I only wanted to be able to come to a main TC meet with like minded people. I asked, and I saw (to me as an outsider, now I know it wasn't anyone's fault but I didn't know this when I asked and I got frustrated) nothing done. So I ask some more questions. Do you blame me?!

I have nothing but good intentions.

Don't try and make out like I am something I am not.

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[Live Steam Mad]

Alistair - I suggest you discuss this with Chris

I just did do.

A.G.

[Live Steam Mad]

I feel in my personal opinion that it is a sad day when I get such words, simply because I asked a few questions. What is TC coming to?

A.G.

[TWINSET]

I feel in my personal opinion that it is a sad day when I get such words, simply because I asked a few questions. What is TC coming to?

A.G.

It would be a sad day, in my opinion, if even a couple of people couldn't come to a TC meet because of the cost of a membership fee they have no use for.

Regardless of how many people say yes, I have a very strong feeling that the number that say no will speak louder.

People have already offered here to organise something, it doesn't have to be TC 'sanctioned' to happen, nor do I see why you can't personally organise something if it's that important to you that it happens.

[Live Steam Mad]

It would be a sad day, in my opinion, if even a couple of people couldn't come to a TC meet because of the cost of a membership fee they have no use for.

Of course, understood.

It's a real shame that we might require the BRCA insurance for everyone. I would much rather we all didn't need it. Maybe we can find a place where we can have a large TC meeting and no insurance needed. I sure hope so. I have asked Chris about the need or not for insurance and what our options are for where we can meet up this year for a main meeting.

Regardless of how many people say yes, I have a very strong feeling that the number that say no will speak louder.

Understood but we would only need say 50 - 60 people to say yes and then that's nearly the same size meeting as we had in 2007?

People have already offered here to organise something, it doesn't have to be TC 'sanctioned' to happen, nor do I see why you can't personally organise something if it's that important to you that it happens.

Would love it if anyone at all could think of some suggestions or get together with Chris to help make it happen

I have no hidden personal agenda, I'm NOT looking to be in charge on anything, in fact quite the opposite, I would rather that I never occupy any position of power and resposibility. I am trying to be only sincere. If I have offended anyone then I am truly sorry.

I have only the best of intentions at heart.

I simply love the vintage models so much and feel an enormous urge to fun run them.

"Unfortunately" for me, it more or less HAS to involve a track of some kind, and even an improvised track on a car park with a hose pipe as boundaries and some traffic cones would be more than welcome In fact a track just like that regularly attracted 40 - 50 or so people for several years when I used to go racing that was organised by my local hobby shop, we had great fun. I know that there is not nearly such a competetive element at the TC main meet but there has to be a "just a little" competitiveness (i.e. must have a track of even some vague description) for me to be interested!

Best Regards to everyone,

Alistair G.

[TWINSET]

we would only need say 50 - 60 people to say yes and then that's nearly the same size meeting as we had in 2007?

It's not the numbers that do attend that's the issue, it's the people that can't that would be the main loss - TC meets have never been about numbers attending, they're about the crack

As Lemming's already said, the significant increase would make it a more considered decision for his family, and I'm sure many other people feel the same way, especially at the moment.

If you have someone with a couiple of kids, you're looking at 45 immediately, on top of whatever it cost them last year.

I would far prefer to have it somewhere that didn't require that sort of financial commitment for anyone, and have a good crack, than have it at Kidd and miss any of the people that made the last few meets so good.

[Live Steam Mad]

>'TWINSET' date='Nov 19 2008, 08:02 PM' post='298280'

>It's not the numbers that do attend that's the issue, it's the people that can't that would be the main loss

Understood, yes I too do not want any kind of any extra financial barrier that will stop anyone attending. Especially as I am merely a peasant. LOL.

> - TC meets have never been about numbers attending, they're about the crack

Well yes but we need about 40 minimum or then it's just a small local meeting and not a TC main event, surely?! Just my personal opinion.

>As Lemming's already said, the significant increase would make it a more considered decision for his family, and I'm sure many other people feel the same >way, especially at the moment.

Good point. Especially me as I am permanently skint it seems. Comes of being from the "lower classes" 8-)

>If you have someone with a couiple of kids, you're looking at 45 immediately, on top of whatever it cost them last year.

Yep good point, that would be a horrible shame if families can't attend.

>I would far prefer to have it somewhere that didn't require that sort of financial commitment for anyone, and have a good crack, than have it at Kidd and >miss any of the people that made the last few meets so good.

Yes, accepted, I am the same, I want no kind of insurance and no kind of commitment from anyone if possible. However I personally feel that one of the strong reasons why I attended in 2007 in the first place was my burning desire to "fun race" on a track, however vague and improvised that track would have to be. Like I said, a hose pipe and a couple of traffic cones in a car park would do me just fine! And it did our club just fine for years and we had great fun!

Here's hoping that Chris comes up with someway around this problem!

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[jozza]

I've got BRCA membership and insurance, but I thought that it was only required for a BRCA sanctioned meet? Also, I don't know if the rules have changed in the past couple of years, but previously my local club was allowed to have "guests" race at the track for 2-3 weeks before getting the BRCA membership, and the insurance applied to them temporarily for those couple of weeks, even though they weren't in the BRCA. If there was a way to do that at Kidd it might work, as it would only put a quid or 2 on top of the ticket price for those without BRCA and would therefore be more attainable.

It's a difficult issue, because arranging any such event these days needs some sort of insurance cover. I investigated renting some local council owned land for a weekend do, and getting Portaloo units is no problem, but the council require public indemnity insurance, a full risk assessment, including paying for any required police presence etc etc. Sheesh, all I wanted was to get together a few like minded people for a play with cars for the weekend, but in these days of suing and claiming for everything, the requirement for paperwork and form filling is a neccessity.

I do know of a grass track in Essex, the club chairman was happy for me to rent it out a couple of years ago and gave me a very reasonable quote - maybe if Kidd isn't a runner then I could investigate it as be a viable alternative? (I prefer Kidd as a venue though, although it's a lot further for me to travel, it's good that it's fairly central in the country).

Please let's not let this get into arguments over who should organise an event and so on; surely it would be best to concentrate on where and when we can all get together for a weekend of driving? Hopefully Chris will get back to Alastair with some answers, and then we can work together to help organise something for next year - I missed not having a Spring or Summer Drive last year; meeting up with some of the TC regulars and having a stress-free weekend with other like minded people is one of the highlights of my year..

John

[BiggusDitchus]

I still have a sneaking suspision that they are using BRCA as an excuse.. The North West Nutters held several meets at the Wrexhams (sadly missed) excellent facility and there was no problem of insurance.

[Live Steam Mad]

I still have a sneaking suspision that they are using BRCA as an excuse.. The North West Nutters held several meets at the Wrexhams (sadly missed) excellent facility and there was no problem of insurance.

Interesting info. Rich, gives us all hope that there may be a meeting place found that doesn't need any insurance . Great stuff. Anyone else know of anywhere that doesn't need insurance to have a main TC meet?

Still waiting for a reply from Chris but I'm sure he'll get around to it. I contacted him through the link that Andy gave me.

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[terry.sc]

Please can you make sure that Chris gets in there with the request WAY ahead of time, preferably in the next few days, as last time I seem to remember that it turned out that the problem with Kidderminster 2008 was that Kidd. track was already booked and hence why that meant there was no event at all in 2008 !

As has been pointed out Chiris is just like the rest of us, he has a day job and does r/c in his spare time. The difference is Chris and some of us around here devote a chunk of our spare time to keep this site going.

The problem with Kidderminster last year was lack of contact with the track. The club had toilet problems (not much use having a toilet bloack if you can't flush it) but the biggest problems were down to not being able to get it organised with the track. Nothing to do with Chris if he can't get replies from the club. IIRC when Chris could have been arranging a TC meet last year I think he was working in the middle east at the time, makes it more difficult to chase people up over here.

I have no hidden personal agenda, I'm NOT looking to be in charge on anything, in fact quite the opposite, I would rather that I never occupy any position of power and resposibility.

If we hire a track TC (in other words, Chris) is personally responsible for anything that happens, such as if someone is injured at the track. In the same way I am personally responsible for anything that happens at the club I run every week and thankfully as the building is council owned I can get a good deal on insurance cover. In my case I also have to have risk assessments in place and a CRB check.

A BRCA affiliated club uses the BRCA insurance to cover it's members at every meeting, to qualify for the insurance each driver has to join the BRCA. If someone is hit by a car and it breaks their leg or ankle (it does happen!) then the BRCA insurance will cover any costs incurred. If there is no insurance the organiser of the event is then responsible instead. If a club insists everyone running there has to have BRCA membership it is to make sure they are insured, say for example at Kidderminster you fell off the banked corners and injured yourself, with BRCA membership you are covered, without BRCA membership you are on your own as the club will insist that you shouldn't be running there. Most clubs will insist only club members are allowed to run on their track to protect themselves.

I have now let my BRCA membership lapse, it's been a while since I raced and can't see me racing in the near future. I wouldn't pay out 15 to join the BRCA just to run at one TC meet, after all I get out with my cars at regular TC meets all year round.

One advantage of Kidderminster is that they don't have regular club meetings like just about every other track. I know of one central club that might be a good venue, except they race every weekend so no chance of using it unless we stop one of their race meetings. I also know of another club that is likely to be available being privately owned, except it is in Berkshire so if it was there I would probably be giving it a miss. That's the problem, finding an available track that's central to our members.

[Live Steam Mad]

OK understood. Is there any indoors hall that we could hire for the main TC meet, like the way that your club is run Terry? Say a 3 or 4 quid charge for the insurance cover, maximum, per member. That would sort it out surely, would avoid clashing with other clubs' tracks, and would mean we could simply lay out a nice sized track indoors (we could even set up a carpet track).

Anyone know of a hall that we could hire?

Come to think of it, I know that in addition to where I used to race, kinda on the boundary of St.Helens, there used to be a venue, around the same time, about 15 years ago, that was used by the " St.Helens Model Car Racing Club " that used to race indoors (on carpet?) every week (midweek I think) at a hall in Milk Street (in the Sea Scouts hall). Apparently they stopped racing there because of problems with the roof (from memory). Toilet facilities are available nearby (and also on the premises I assume). I wonder would they hire the hall out to us for a main TC meet. Hey, desparate times call for desparate measures! Would this be an idea or would there be a problem with it? St.Helens is not that central in the country, being in Merseyside, but it isn't that bad I suppose.

Thoughts?

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[TWINSET]

Ok, I've just spoken with Chris about this, and it's unlikely Kidd will be used for an 'official' TC meet for the foreseeable future

He does intend to arrange a meet, but one that costs around 5 ea, not 5 ea plus 15 ea

I will organise something for next year.

It is highly likely to not be kidderminster because of the BRCA condition and the toilets. Both will push the price too high.

We will never have an event where the price is over 5.00 and we would ideally aim for lower than that.

Obviously there is nothing stopping anyone approaching Kidd track for a non-TC meet, and you're welcome to advertise it on the forums.

As for potential venues for an 'official' TC meet, if you know of anywhere 'central' please PM/EMail me the details and I'll forward them on.

[Lemming]

Ok, I've just spoken with Chris about this, and it's unlikely Kidd will be used for an 'official' TC meet for the foreseeable future

He does intend to arrange a meet, but one that costs around 5 ea, not 5 ea plus 15 ea

Obviously there is nothing stopping anyone approaching Kidd track for a non-TC meet, and you're welcome to advertise it on the forums.

As for potential venues for an 'official' TC meet, if you know of anywhere 'central' please PM/EMail me the details and I'll forward them on.

Thanks Andy. We now know the full facts and what to expect / not expect.

Keeping it below 5 per person makes a huge difference for people like me with families. We used to camp (before toddles came along) but now we end up staying at a hotel, so the added costs would have been very hard at present.

Will keep an ear to the ground in the hopes of coming up with something suitable.

All the best everyone

Steve

p.s. Pass my best onto Chris when you speak to him next. Don't want to disturb him pointlessly, but would like him to know that we still think of him, and look forward to a point in the future when he might be more active on TC again. God, I sound soppy...

[Live Steam Mad]

BUMP (yet again LOL).

WHEN IS THERE GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE?

Seriously, has anything been done this year about a TC main meeting? I would like to know please what progress has been made on this?!

Kidderminster would be nice. Heck Southport would be nice LOL. OK larger track but at least I could get to it easy LOL.

Or does another depressing year go by without a meet with a track and some fun racing?!

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[Blacque Jacque]

Alistair, did you not see this thread ?

Snetterton Park Tamiya Club Meet, August 2009!, August Bank Holiday Monday - Everyone's Invited

[TWINSET]

Kidderminster would be nice.

For the hard of understanding;

Ok, I've just spoken with Chris about this, and it's unlikely Kidd will be used for an 'official' TC meet for the foreseeable future

Alistair, did you not see this thread ?

Snetterton Park Tamiya Club Meet, August 2009!, August Bank Holiday Monday - Everyone's Invited

Obviously going after an event that's not going to happen is more theraputic

[terry.sc]

Seriously, has anything been done this year about a TC main meeting? I would like to know please what progress has been made on this?!

Work is being done on this and if it works out you'll know the same time everyone else does. Pestering isn't going to sort it nay faster.

Kidderminster would be nice. Heck Southport would be nice LOL.

Kidderminster will only ever happen again if you bought the track off the club. Neither is Southport.

Or does another depressing year go by without a meet with a track and some fun racing?!

As well as the Snetterton meet if you want to race rather than bash there's this http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=48757

or there's the Tamiyaclub Off Road Championship http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=48427,

or please feel free to organise a meet.

[Live Steam Mad]

For the hard of understanding;

"I would remind you that" would have sufficed.

ARG.

[Live Steam Mad]

Alistair, did you not see this thread ?

Snetterton Park Tamiya Club Meet, August 2009!, August Bank Holiday Monday - Everyone's Invited

Many Thanks for the heads up .

I got quite excited about that until I found out where Snetterton is LOL. For me it is as far as London and a 5+ hour drive (no way, I'd fall asleep and need to stay overnight which I'd rather not do), 10 hour coach trip (impractical but cheap), 5 hour train journey (expensive and pointless and I might miss a connection or might not able to get home late at night).

If I could share the driving with someone then it would become a lot more practical (2 1/2 hours drive).

Pity that is being held in the very East of the Country. Not exactly central is it!

It kinda rains on my parade

Kidderminster, though not ideal for everyone, was a lot fairer to everyone as it was very central to England.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[Live Steam Mad]

Obviously going after an event that's not going to happen is more theraputic

I don't understand that comment.

ARG.

[Blacque Jacque]

Sorry, only trying to help