Southport Classic and Speed 15th September

[Richspec]

Anyone doing the promenade sprint on the Saturday or the show on Sunday? either as competitor or spectator?

Any previous experience or comments?

[Pete]

Not competed here before but they’ve doubled the size of the course to about a mile in length now and moved the start line nearer the paddock at Victoria Park. It’s an event that needs supporting as we get so few up north! I’m looking to enter.

[Richspec]

I'm looking to spectate

(but with a view to future entry )

[Pete]

A couple of Minis entered now, come on you lot put an entry in! If we get a few we’ll get our own class!

[Pete]

Looking forward to this on Saturday, a few more Minis entered now. It’s a new event and very much still under the radar as it’s essentially just Mike Ashcroft doing all the work but hopefully will grow in the future. Weather’s looking ok too!

Sprint course runs the length of Marine Drive from Victoria Park and back again.

[Richspec]

entry list

https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?res ... uBZyOU2RUs

[Pete]

Shame it’s been so poorly supported, really needs a much bigger push to promote it next year. Five Minis though plus Ian’s 1380 special saloon Fiat 500 so should be some fun. Weather’s looking good too!

[Pete]

Well despite my initial reservations I have to say this has the making of a great event! Only a modest entry list which saw the paddock based in Victoria Park actually open free to the general public which I’m not too sure is a great idea but seemed to work ok. The start line was just around the corner which went on to the first of three roundabouts along Marine Drive, a chicane was also sited between the first two. The second roundabout was driven only on one side leading to a third which was approached in third gear to loop back round and do it all again the opposite direction. A fast course in effect and the finish line is just after the final bend which I took in second fairly flat but carried on too far on my first practice past the finish line locking up just before demolishing the catch fence!

What a thoroughly enjoyable event that the spectators seemed to really appreciate and that with some minor tweaking and much more promotion and support from competitors could really turn into a fab day out for us northerners especially! Well done to Mike Ashcroft on his organisation and nice to see Phil Short again after so many years who was clerk of the course.

Some pics of the day , having trouble uploading as usual but here goes :

[Richspec]

What the heck, I read the instructions that said 'entry to the paddock by ticket only', spoke to a marshall near the start and he said 'you need a wristband go the central access point' so off we trot to that and theres no wristband, nada, just the access to the spectator area across the track which we got across just before the practice runs.
One burger van and PA at the top end but you only know that by walking up there, no signs, map, programme etc
Once in the spectator area on the prom, thats it until the sessions stop, you're in and thats it... supposedly
Big wink there because the marshalls/ and security were busy stopping people coming in round the barriers at the north end (genuine speccys i think too) and directing them to the access point, which was closed, as the track was live! However after the late, late lunch break the numbers on the prom melted away, and people werent going across the live track... make of that what you will.

Viewing wise, pretty good over most of it but you couldnt really see the start well, and the last corner was a bit sketch in my view, taken as fast as you dare but a sign and barrier on the outside with no straw bale, whereas the rest of the route had plenty.
The start finish roundabout needs spectator viewing round most of it akin to the turnaround point with a controlled access so you can easily get from the paddock / parking to the track / burger van. (for public and participants)
I'd also swap the start and finish to opposite sides of the roads so the speed across the finish was less ie safer / more controlled.
For a motorsport event that was 'no dogs' there sure were a lot in the spectator area, not that i object but it was unusual.

Good range of cars taking part, obvious faves being the minis and Mr Medcalfs fiat that was quickest at a couple of points before being pipped by the V8 Dax and the 911 I think. Medcalf was definitely running sick on timed runs 1 and 2, we could hear it wasn't as crisp as in practice, but better on the final run. The end roundabout was causing fuel surge issues for some, Jim Brindle seemed worst affected.
Only 1 red flag all day, that was an older vintage austin?? maybe ?? that was increasingly sick each time it went out before failing to proceed on the straight back to the chicane.
Took a shit load of pics, album here, was editing and deleting a lot but got sick of that and just fired them up. The album was a bit buggy to view at first but i think its settled down somewhat now, the joys of facebook..
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 057&type=3

Lots of promise but does need some tweaks, I would be looking to compete next year pending getting the spaceframe passported etc etc.

[Pete]

Yes needs a lot of tweaking! The obstacles they have to get round to deliver an effective pop-up speed venue in such a busy public area are pretty emmense and there’s a lot to do before it really works well for spectators in particular but the fact they’ve been allowed to even do it is well worthy of support. Funny you say about the last corner, I agree about the safety issues but that was my favourite bit! They also had to set the whole thing out on the morning of the event which caused the late start.
Needs the paddock sealing off really and general speccy access really needs sorting! First time for this course layout though so a decent enough first attempt. The route from the paddock to the start also needs sorting because it’s on a public road which for some of us was a surprise! Especially the single seaters!

Can only get better though.