A MessageBoard dedicated all aspects Triumph Motorsport, including TRR/TSSC Racing, Trials, Hillclimb and Rallying

Apart from the early exit on my part I thought it was a good weekend however with one observation; not enough cars. Also notable that half of the TR cars were ex-TSSC racers. Also worth pointing that on Sunday was a Thoroughbread Sports Car race run by the 750MC and that had loads of TR regulars in it...and also an HSCC race at Donington with loads of 32 car grids including several Triumphs.

Why do so many Triumph racers choose to race outside the TR/TSSC championship?

It's a good question isn't it?

Before my early exit due to a punctured radiator I was having a terriffic slipstreaming race with Simon and Richy also sound like Dave and Steve were doing well too.

I spoke at length with Mike about it yesterday, he seems un-flustered at the moment but we'll have to wait and see what happens at Donington (grid wise)...

Some suggestions...
Amalgamated classes (?)
Some longer races (?)
Double headers (?)

The only known reason I know of with the TR racers is that many TR2-6 racers don't want to race against TR7s...

Well my car is now running again so assuming it survives the track day tomorrow, I'll be entered for Donington.

Does anyone know if the guy who had the heavy smash in the XJS (last race), was okay? Looked pretty bad when they finally got him out the car but can't find any mention of it on the websites?
Michael.

Yeah... the driver was released from Hospital with a stiff neck!
Didn't see it myself but glasd to hear he is okay.

Check the marshals forum on http://www.ten-tenths.com

I'd be tempted to come play sometime, but its all far too much hassle I think, a whole weekend for 40minutes? track time. Must be frustrating. Unless you just do it for something to do at weekends and enjoy the scene etc.

You can do a seasons running at a normal open pitlane track day etc.

Simple answer to why do racing for just 40mins tracktime - you can't win a trackday.

Without that results sheet at the end of the day, you are just another driver bimbling round a private road waiting for a straight bit to overtake. And there is no feeling like the start of a race with a bunch of cars (13 or 30) all vying for the best line into the first corner - adrenalin overload.

As for the question of only 13 cars at silverstone, I agree we need more but race championships tend to ebb and flow as people build/break/develop cars and this will continue ad-infinitun to us, the HSCC, CSCC, NSPBCC etc as each falls in and out of favour.

Though as a side thought, if many well developed TSSC cars go to the CSCC then they may have to change the rules a bit as our laptimes tend to be quicker so we could dominate the class. (I think Kev does very well)

Andy

just wanted to add..

I found out the difference between a track day and race at Oulton last year..

after passing that TR2 out of the hairpin.. I was all pleased with myself.. until I noticed him coming up the inside of me into the next corner..

Having done a few trackdays I'd forgot that I was allowed to defend my line,.. and also forgot that he would be trying his hardest to come back past me. I should have been making him go the long way round.. and then I'd have been away.. long gone.. but as it was he managed to finish in front of me by knowing where I could pass him and constantly defending his line.
Driving and racing are two very very different things.

plus...

You only have to sit on a grid once.. holding the engine at 5000 rpm, dropping the clutch as the red lights go out.. and then experience the total concentration on whats happening to you and the cars around you.. and suddenly you realise the difference.

I actually got the shakes from the adrenaline rush of my first race.

I've only raced about 8 times now.. but hope to be back for many many more...

Not logged in for a while due to work on house.. and when not working on house.. too busy playing with car.

on the only 13 cars out topic...

I should be back for Donington.. so thats one to add to the list !

I keep sitting in the car making broom broom noises.. the new bonnet should be all painted this Wednesday and ready to drop on.

haven't made any go faster mods.. except for a new set of tyres (48R's)

Glad he's okay - he managed to get pushed onto the grass at the beginning of the pit straight, looked like he might go into the armco down at Copse, but managed to get it back on track - only the sudden grip back on the track sent him into the wall at the end of the pits, (just before the scruteneering area). Not sure if he ever braked! There wasn't much left of the left hand side of the car when he eventually stopped so a stiff neck sounds like a lucky escape!
Michael.

Jon,

In response to your question;

"Why do so many Triumph racers choose to race outside the TR/TSSC championship?"

I believe there are numerous reasons dependent upon the car that you run and what you want from your sport. The following comments are partly derived from talking to various TR racers that no longer race with the TR Register and partly my own thoughts/conclusions.

1. There are now numerous other championships available for Triumphs.
2. Other races allow you to compete against a more diverse and interesting range of cars rather than the usual suspects.
3. Not everyone is interested in single marque racing - it is a bit of a false world.
4. If you have an FIA TR you probably want to race against other FIA spec cars as it's a more level playing field.
5. There is a perception that the TR register is a thinly disguised mod-sports championship due to lax rules.
6. If you have an HSCC car it would probably be relatively uncompetitive in the TR/TSSC because of the diverse rules.
7. Some of the other races offer more track time and other advantages such as garages and hospitality in with the price.
8. Why travel hundreds of miles for 15 mins practice and 15 mins race?
9. If you're not interested in chasing a championship, there are sufficient alternatives to allow you to pick and choose which circuits and races you enter.
10. There has been a move in the last few years toward historic race series. A lot of the TRs fit more readily into these than the TR/TSSC.
11. There was the perception that there are a lot of accidents and contact in the TR/TSSC. This particularly put off the FIA guys.
12. If you have spent &163;25k plus on an FIA TR you make be nervous about pitching it against a &194;&163;5k TSSC car on the assumption that the "cheap" car isn't fussed about damage - this doesn't take into account people's differing budgets - but it is a perception.
13. Some of the old timers may just be looking for a change - the grass is greener etc.

I agree with most of those.

When I started four or five years ago now there was really the choice of our championship or building a car to HSCC standards (but my MKIV wasn't eligible as it was too modern).

That was pretty much it - I think I was eligible for the 750MC but would have been pretty outclassed (even in my fire wheezing beast). Now there's more choice. Meh! What're you going to do?

*fills in CSCC membership form*

Section : Silverstone

Only 13 cars at Silverstone

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Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.

Only 13 cars at Silverstone.