Just as a thought on the travelling for Super 1...... and it's only that...
If it was regionalised..... 5/6 rounds in the South, 5/6 rounds in the North, NO DROPPED SCORES (maybe 5/6 rounds for each series, MSA and Rotax), with the top 17 from each class qualifying for the British Championship Grand Final (clearly to be held at PFI as that is the best facility in the UK all round) at which there was an event with Friday practice, Saturday and Sunday racing all day, with timed qualifying, 6 x 8 minute heats, dropping your worst scoring heat, then one 15 minute final from which each Super 1 Champion is determined (a little bit old school as it is similar to how it used to be with a one weekend event..... now the O Plate) and all seeded numbers earned from this grand final race.......
My thoughts..... and these are ONLY my thoughts, nothing official, nothing to get upset or excited about at this stage, just trying to get some feedback on what drivers and teams might think....
Regionalising the "qualifying" in this way, with the top 17 (assuming PFI can handle grids of 34 for each class) going through to the finals, with no dropped scores in these qualifying rounds, would make the cost of travel significantly cheaper through the year, and with 17 maximum (classes with lower numbers may differ, maybe 10 qualifying) to go through and no dropped scores should keep the qualifying places close even for those going into the last qualifier maybe in 25th place.
I am guessing the biggest argument will be that some prefer a "Series" where they can win on consistency at Round 5 of 6.
In order for this to work the Southern rounds would probably be real Southern, including many tracks that are not currently featured but have large grids, such as Forest Edge and others, and the "Northern" circuits including the likes of PFI, maybe Shenington (even though that is really in the south-ish) in order that the entries are balanced as ultra Northern circuits tend to have lower numbers of entries.
From my point of view as the TV producer, the grand final becomes super exciting as an event for EVERY class, in the same way that the Comer final, IAME and KFJ was this year, where the winner between 2/3 drivers won the championship........ with this event, WHOEVER won the race would be champion, so perm any one from 34 and it could attract a large number of potential Spectators, particularly if we heavily promote it on local TV, Radio, newspapers etc (....." come and see the Formula 1 drivers of the future, drivers from 8 years of age"). Dino Lee drove it back from 27th to 2nd after being off in hairpin 1 on lap 1, so even those who are down in P25 at PFI could potentially win.
More clubs can benefit from holding rounds so get more entries at previous club meetings.
Just to clarify, this is only ME thinking aloud at this stage....... There would be a real element of risk for Super 1 in changing what is a working formula, so there would need to be a real groundswell of opinion that the VAST majority really like the idea of regionalising Super 1 with one grand final and would buy in to the idea. If the feedback is only 50/50, I suspect the series route will continue.
As is the case with this site, there will no doubt be the usual naysayers (already on this thread) who think this idea only about making money and this is just another way to do that. I am NOT interested in such nonsense (it's a business in the same way that Kart equipment suppliers are businesses and as such MUST make money to be viable.... if it didn't you wouldn't have a National series), only what you think of the idea of regionalisation. Clearly, some of the regional rounds would be filmed for TV coverage together with the Grand Final.
I would like to end on one thing about money etc.....and I can say this as someone who knows John Hoyle well. John Hoyle cares DEEPLY about putting on a good show, about people having a great time, enjoying their racing and ensuring as far as he can that the racing is fair and even. He hates it when someone is excluded for something silly and is always prepared to talk to any of his Customers (capital C..... because that is exactly what you all are to him first and foremost) when they have an issue. Bear in mind Super 1 is an MSA sanctioned event, and in the same way that Clerks have to apply minimum penalties in circumstances where they might feel another lesser penalty would suffice, John may be the organiser but has limited power to intervene in some decisions. An example where he did make a difference was this season.......At the final Rotax round at Shenington it was him that listened to the complaints about blocking, heard what was being said and went and did something about it that ultimately made the racing on Sunday much better. He constantly listens to what everyone says and where he feels you have a JUSTIFIABLE complaint will try and make a difference if he can. There are times when you may complain, he will not agree and if so he will tell you he doesn't and why. He is constantly trying to think up ways of reducing costs, and the Rotax academy series, tyre changes to TKM in 2014, KFJ pooled engines are just some ways he is trying to do that. And for the record, he has had a massive increase in his costs this year he has not discussed or passed on.....massive.
Again, this is nothing to do with money or anything official, just something I would like some feedback on. To regionalise or not....... one weekend exciting end to the season where school busses in numbers with 50 kids on each one turn up to support their mates..... personally I like it..... but then I would....it's my idea.... and me and Jake are salivating at the thought of the commentary on each race..........
Your thoughts please....... no moaning..... no money comments..... just thoughts on the concept.
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