Ten of the Best (TOTB) 2007 - Elvington, 29th July - MR2s needed...

[michael]

Hello Michael,

Have we any news on when the dvd's are gonna be here.

Nothing as yet

I'll give them a nudge.

[royashmr2]

Hello Michael,

Have we any news on when the dvd's are gonna be here.

Nothing as yet

I'll give them a nudge.

Thanx Mate.

[michael]

A slight delay on the earlier date unfortunately, the chemo and radiotherapy has had more of an impact on things than anticipated. His brother has continued editing the DVD and they currently hope to get it out for mid Jan.

He's been doing what he can between treatments but I'm sure we can all appreciate that it can't be easy.

I'll keep you updated if I hear anything else.

[royashmr2]

Hey Michael,


Please send my wishes on. I had no idea it was cancer. I was only thinking i was forgotten for my poor driving skills.

When eva is good for my dvd

[EarL]

Mitch,

I've moved house since competing in the summer. How do I get them to send my DVD to my new address?

I'm sure I speak for everyone when I wish a speedy recovery, and we certainly apreciate the amount of work done to date.

EarL.

[michael]

Drop and email to [email protected] and they should be able to sort you out.

[tonigmr2]

You may or may not be able to answer this Michael, but from a sponsorship POV, how many people attend TOTB?
T

[michael]

You may or may not be able to answer this Michael, but from a sponsorship POV, how many people attend TOTB?
T

I've managed to get this info in the past but sadly it's dropped out of my head, I'll ask again as it's handy to know when trying to tempt people

In the meantime "TOTB is the most photographed and filmed modified car event in Europe. TOTB receives more press than all other UK modified car events combined"

I'll be back...

[michael]

You may or may not be able to answer this Michael, but from a sponsorship POV, how many people attend TOTB?
T

~8000 last year apparently Toni, obviously the number of people who actually see it rises a fair bit with the TV coverage that follows

2008 seems to be following the basic success of 2007 but there are also some nice things happening to enhance the event this year, it's sounding quite promising for entrants and spectators, I'll post more as soon as I'm allowed to.

One thing I will say is that there is the potential for 4 or 5 sprint days at Elvington before the event, timed laps - potentially the solution we've been looking for to help choose good cars for handling even if the location isn't ideal for the more southern folks.

[tonigmr2]

Excellent ta, sounds great.
T

[Tiamat]

One thing I will say is that there is the potential for 4 or 5 sprint days at Elvington before the event, timed laps - potentially the solution we've been looking for to help choose good cars for handling even if the location isn't ideal for the more southern folks.

Are there likely to be any Southern locations considered also?
Given for me it would be a 650 odd mile round trip to go to Elvington a Southern day would be better.
I only ask as there is a small chance my car may have the engine conversion done by the summertime and woul dlvoe to try for TOTB.

[michael]

I probably won't have time to organise anything in the south to be honest but I'd be happy to lend my support to anything anyone else wanted to put together

[tonigmr2]

I probably won't have time to organise anything in the south to be honest but I'd be happy to lend my support to anything anyone else wanted to put together

Probably the best we could do Malcolm is try and arrange something at Santa Pod - on a RWYB day. Alternative is to have a go in the Toyota sprint series. This year I am mostly entering the MR2 Championship to get a bit of practice in. But would be interested in running up to York - sometimes you've gotta travel to get in these things.
T

[michael]

I'll start a new 2008 thread when I get chance but in the meantime here's some very hot off the press info from the TOTB people about the event this year...

In addition we have some information and proposals for you reps to put to your team members and groups which may be of interest:

For Spectators-

Introduction of raised viewing terraces in addition to grandstands for spectators which should help alleviate the problems with crowded viewing experienced in previous years. Further improvements to the results displays and PA system including a full Redline results service from the Redline marquee. The trade display area and show car section will also use the same larger hard standing area as last year which worked very well.


For car club members

Group buy discount as usual on bulk orders of 10 or more advance spectator tickets, along with a dedicated show area for the top 5 show cars from each club within the trade area. Competing clubs will also be given room for a club marquee if required alongside the show cars.


For competitors- specific proposals- please give feedback on:


Handling circuit- Straightliners Ltd have a new TAG Huer multi-car timing system for this season, which will allow 2 cars out on track (with suitable safety gap) to be individually timed and recorded. This should obviously reduce waiting times considerably. We also propose that the untimed sighting lap for each car is dropped as it is one of the main delays to the handling circuit. One other possibility is that all drivers are allowed to walk the circuit on Sunday morning prior to the event starting, to give them an initial sight of the circuit layout. These changes combined with the new timing system would massively reduce the queues on the handling and will ensure more competitors get all their 5 timed runs in (should they wish to do so).

Top Speed- we are proposing a standing kilometre top speed trap for 2008, which will give us a couple of improvements, one being safety related as the standing mile is already massively quick with many cars pushing 200+mph, plus it’s also very hard on the actual cars in terms of engine damage and retirements. If a standing kilometre is adopted we can also hard-wire the speed trap back to the main timing system, giving instant results rather than waiting for a print out to be sent back or radioed in. The reduced top speeds achieved would still be circa 160-180mph (est.) for the top cars so still very much a viewing spectacle. We are also looking at re-introducing the top speed viewing area for spectators. (Subject to insurer approval.)

Classes/tyres- last years class structure and tyre rules worked very well. Suggestions on other allowed tyres should be made before 1st March, similarly for any suggestions on rules/regs. Other than that we aim to maintain the class and rule structure from last season.
(Cont.)

Test days- Straightliners will be running some timed sprint events at Elvington using the new timing system in the run up to TOTB. These events are open to anyone, and will provide suitable qualifying/practise days for handling cars. Confirmed dates will be announced shortly but the first two are pencilled in for April and May at Elvington. (Info to follow.)

Toyo Tyres-we can supply Toyo 888s or T1Rs to competitors at special discount prices direct from Toyo- please email us for a quotation. Tyre fitting at the event may be made available if demand exists.

Please note some of the above points for competitors are proposals only at this stage.

Any feedback on the above would be most appreciated, I think the changes to the handling circuit could be a huge improvement, better spectator areas are obviously a good thing and the move to a 1km top speed run could be a good thing for the MR2... a shame for those with a longer final drive now though, will that be an issue?

What do you think?

More to come from them but if you have suggestions on things they have missed or anything mentioned above please let me know.

[tonigmr2]

I still wonder why they can't lay out two identical handling circuits - they have the room. Perhaps they are worried they won't be exactly the same. But the timing thing sounds an improvement - until you think of that Fiat two years ago that lost a wheel on the circuit. How will they account for people spinning out and the guy behind catching up?
T

[Century Motorsport]

The proposals are great bar 1 - the top speed.

Have they had any cars spin or become dangerous in previous years?

I think the mile is fine, its a test of the car at the end of the day - if they have safety regs / reasons then fair enough but if not, why change something that runs perfectly fine as it is?

OR maybe have a 1k straight but alow the big boys to do the mile if they wish?

Nathan

[michael]

There have been a couple of issues on the top speed but I'm not aware of any major incidents - a bonnet flipping up and the CRD Supra having it's side windows pop out a bit. The only spins I've seen up there have been in the extreme wet when there is a bit of a stream flowing across the 1/4.

It would be nice to still give people the opportunity to go flat out up there to see the big numbers - I'd still like to see each car have a GPS unit assigned to them for the day so all movement can be tracked and logged for things like the top speed and the track stuff but that's an expensive option and I guess the masses that pay to go in probably won't car that car A is faster than car B on the first 3 corners - I'd love it though!

I'll feed your comments back though - anyone else?

(BTW: I presume you are interested in playing out again )

[Century Motorsport]

Ofcousre i'll be there - have a look in my projects thread for updates.

I think its a bit of a shame, but i would as i have got a cage for the car and am in the middle of doing a flat floor for it too! Even to the extent that the exhaust is being re located - most of this was in aid of the top speed run!

For sure it would be a nice option to do the run if you liked but i guess safety comes first.

Nathan

[greeny]

I think its a bit of a shame, but i would as i have got a cage for the car and am in the middle of doing a flat floor for it too! Even to the extent that the exhaust is being re located - most of this was in aid of the top speed run!

Nathan

Nath,

Ive been looking at a flat bottom aswell, have you managed to get the cnc program from the states?

[Century Motorsport]

I think its a bit of a shame, but i would as i have got a cage for the car and am in the middle of doing a flat floor for it too! Even to the extent that the exhaust is being re located - most of this was in aid of the top speed run!

Nathan

Nath,

Ive been looking at a flat bottom aswell, have you managed to get the cnc program from the states?

Nope, just off what i know + have been advised