I haven't submitted the final rules and calendar to the MSA yet so there are some opportunities for last minute changes. Of course all final decisions rest with the organiser (i.e. me
) but I wouldn't want you to think I don't listen!I want to keep the basic principle - restricting to the major Japanese marques should keep the competition fairly close and interesting - and I want to keep the number of classes to a sensible, small figure (around 3 or 4 at most).
For 2008, the most likely changes are to be:
More events with the ability to drop events - say best 8 scores of 10 rounds. This way if there is a clash, or someone can't make every date, you can still compete and be in with a chance of winning.
Closer alignment of class structure with the regional association. This really applies to the standard car class, in which last year the standard class had very different rules to the regional sprint champs. As a result, the "ideal" competitive car in the JISC standard car class would be uncompetitive in the regional associations. The simplest solution would be to add an A0 equivalent class, giving 4 classes. The question is - has anybody set their sights on J-276 for 2008? If not, it may be easiest just to drop this class for now. If enough people can persuade me to keep it then I will! Speak now....
For those who aren't familiar with the regional championships - A0 is for standard cars up to 2000cc capacity.
The calendar is largely sorted out now, I need to finalise the invitations before setting it in stone. My biggest gap in the calendar at the moment is in June; there are several options but they are going to be long journeys! The options include going to Curborough, a dedicated sprint course just north of Birmingham, or heading down South towards Dover and Lydden Hill. Lydden is a nice little circuit, but does include a number of earth banks as run off areas. These are perhaps a little outside our main catchment area, but the only options around this time.
Any thoughts on these topics gratefully received!
