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Tut the Hillclimber also on SE1

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 7:51 pm
by Lawrence
As most of us know tut was so fast last year that the championship commitee banned him, well his car actually :)

Ali did us all proud in the Sprints but this year we have no Elises at all, there was a VX220 at Fintray tho'

So when I was asked if I had any friends that might like to drive at Doune this weekend I responded with the facts of the situation as it is now.

Here is the reply I received from Alistair Naismith Lotus Elan owner and one of the Doune Committee

"Lawrence,

Alistair here. Don't start me on the Championship classes. I would be a long time banging on about it.
However, on the other things:

The National A licence - only four signatures are required to upgrade from B. That is easily achieved between April and June Dounes. It's not something we can do anything about, either, and the dual-permit experiment was a fiasco, believe me.

Tut's Elise - If you can get a good squad of Loti out, you can have your own class, with your own rules. I might even join you next year. This goes for the SHCC as well, although I am now out of that after 15 years of banging my head on the committee table. How about a Lotus Challenge, like Paul Matty, but in Scotland? Run 3 Dounes, a couple of Kames?

Not to be rude, but over the years many clubs and single-make interest groups have told us they can field a dozen or more cars - and no-one ever has since the days of the Morgan and TR Register Classes in the mid eighties. I would love to see it, though, and LCC would be happy to make them welcome in any way possible. Many drivers are, I think, finally intimidated by Doune's reputation and back out. But you and I both know it's safe as houses, don't we?

The best bet is to get them to Doune in April, when they get plenty of low-pressure runs, we take them up the hill on Saturday AM to calm nerves and give advice, and then get the signatures at Kames and Forrestburn. From then on we can have a regular Lotus class.
We could even arrange a parade-run at September Doune for prospective 2007 competitors - how about that?

There. You don't have a monopoly on OTT! See you Saturday.

Alistair"


Well then? anyone fancy a parade run up the Doune Hillclimb in September?
or our very own championship with tut of course :)
BTW if this is a goer I hope to be double driving in Robin's Shed

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:25 pm
by Andy G
I'm up for it, if i can find a car that runs by then :wink: :D :D

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:49 pm
by Stephen
Xposted
Lawrence,
Please excuse my ignorance but possibly by asking it may provide an answer for other members.

Would this be the kind of event that we could participate in using our / my day to day elise?
What are the chances of bending it and would we need deep pockets for pit costs?

If it would be no more intimidating than a good road run or a track day then our own class sounds great.

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:37 pm
by Lawrence
here I am in September 1997 :)

Image

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:46 pm
by Lawrence
this is where I'll be on Saturday and Sunday
Image

and we can all sample it in September :)

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:50 pm
by Stephen
If I can convince Gillian I may see you there as I have been offered some tickets.

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:33 am
by Rich H
I'm an absolute beginner but desperatly trying to learn, is this a good idea?
This is my road legal and only means of transport we are talking about here... (I have AA cover though :D)

If so I'll be interested, w:x rk permitting!

Rich

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 6:11 am
by tenkfeet
I could be very tempted though I do not have a clue about Hill Climbs. Would depend on costs .

I may take a drive up on Saturday and see what it is all about .

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 6:16 am
by Victor Meldrew
The thing is.. you mention national licences? B licence?

How do we sort that out?

Also do you need the "approved" helmet/suit/harnesses/gloves/cut out etc?

And would this be covered under the normal track day insurance?

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:09 am
by Lawrence
John Reid wrote:The thing is.. you mention national licences? B licence?

How do we sort that out?

Also do you need the "approved" helmet/suit/harnesses/gloves/cut out etc?

And would this be covered under the normal track day insurance?
A NAt B licence is just a bit of paper issued by the MSA, a Nat A requires 4 competency signatures on a NAt B. The June and Sept Doune events are part of the British Championship and so are Nat A events.
Drivers do require a fireproof suit, these start at £70 and go all the way up to the Schumacher type at £1000 or more,
Helmet too must have a BS sticker or similar, Bike helmets are currently not approved.

Gloves, underwear, shoes etc are all optional.

A road taxed car only requires a flat black 2 inch x 10 inch lightbeam interrupter to start and end the timing clock.

I have no knowledge of insurance cover, this you need to investigate your self.

There will also be a fun night at Forrestburn next Thursday and I can give anyone who is there a pax run up the hill in the Green Caterham :)

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:26 am
by Stephen
SHOES are now a requirement. This has proved difficult for some!!
Lawrence I take it motorbike helmets are ok?

Uldis you mentioned a bulk buy on mexican suits complete with flame proof sumbrero??

Rich
I think we have the oppertunity to start our own class here so if it's just us with our road cars then that's the class.

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:11 am
by Shug
Helmet too must have a BS sticker or similar, Bike helmets are currently not approved.

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:16 am
by Shug
Lawrence - as you know, this is something I desparately want to do. As always, my only caveat is money and time. If I have both then I'm there.

I've got an MOT sat AM, but I will try and get over after that. Will hopefully have the chance to chat to a few folks and see what it's about.

Gladly, I have no qualms about beaning it up the hill, so a parade run isn't that essential from my POV - but it'd be nice to see which way it goes. At least I now know what to ask for for my birthday (goes to flick through Demon Theives & GPR catalogues)

8)

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:24 am
by alicrozier
I´ll be there later in the year. :D

Still waiting on my licence though, MSA were shirty about my signatures for the upgrade and I had to send all the result sheets. That was a couple of months ago...

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:29 am
by Sanjøy
shooomer wrote:I might even have a Lotus by then :)
Pray tell...