I would like to know the thoughts of the competitors and spectators that went to the event, as I couldn't go.
Just trying to see how the events that have been chosen for the 2013 AORC calendar compare to those that missed out and what the championship will be like next year.
Heavy rain is always a challenge for the organisers of events and at the end of the day the BSCC actually pulled off an interesting event...to a point.
I travelled about 240 km very early on Sunday morning hoping the event was going to go ahead, arriving around 8am. Thankfully the event did go ahead...around 11.15 but by then most of the spectators within earshot were getting a bit cranky. But as a virtually new event was built overnight we have to cut the organisers a large dose of slack.
I'm not sure how much rain the actual track got (the Bureau said not much) but holding an off road event in November in SE Qld is surely a risky proposition. Holding an event on a new track on a very technical (and long) layout may need to be explained by someone better informed by me.
Nevertheless once the event actually started the action was quite spectator friendly and a fairly large (and enthusiastic) crowd formed and were treated to a short but action-packed show. A couple of good viewing areas were set up but i must admit I had a few reservations about the safety of these (between reconnaisance and the event start officials set up bunting moving numerous spectators from the track edge).
Toilets were scarce and the food tent line long, i'm not sure of the quality of either as i didn't want to stand in line for either.
But my biggest disappointment was not the racers, nor the hastily organised event but some of the hangers-on to the race teams. People in the pits who shouldn't have been there, bunting knocked down so that cars could be moved next to the track and some people attached to a competing team deriding other competitors who just don't want to spend a hundred thousand dollars on machinery/transporters etc. Incidently, spending a lot of money and talking big doesn't always get results either.
I, like many others have questioned the wisdom of the make-up of the AORC next year and although I can see what CAMS (and others) are trying to do, am concerned that the aim of 'growing' our sport is going to result in a lot of collateral damage. I for one am seriously considering getting rid of a car under a rebuild because the sport, particularly in Qld, has moved from a grassroots and inclusive pursuit to a rather exclusive club.
