I am sure most of you have been busy working away getting ready for the new season and I can tell you that behind the scenes your new co-ordinator and committee have been beavering away too.

Without stealing the thunder from the impending news update I can say that unravelling some of the complexities of the rules and how the PBIC Series is run has proved quite time consuming and I can say that this will definitely be a work in progress as we take the series forward over the next few years.

We are all feeling the pinch financially and our primary efforts are concentrated on keeping grid levels up and getting the best value possible for our drivers.

Can I also say on a personal  level, that the committee members and drivers reps, (well most of them anyway), put in a lot of their personal time and effort into running the series for the benefit of us all and it does prove difficult when little or no feedback is received.

Whilst  it will not be possible to please every individual driver if you don’t attend the drivers meeting or do not comment on how the series is shaping up then you cannot really complain if things are not to your liking when they are put in place.

To this end the new website which is nearly ready will hopefully put in place an easy way for you all to make your feelings known.

My own website has done what it could in the past but it does have its limitations, bit like my driving really!

The results of the Caption Competition were very easy as only one driver bothered to enter it, so I will be presenting Driver Hewer with his illustrious Official Jonesey-Racing Memorabilia at the 1^st Race of the Season. Well done Kev!

This is a good example of the silent majority come to think of it, and as the lack of interest speaks volumes I will not run the competition next year as it no longer seems that popular.

The next update will appear shortly before the first race unless some really juicy scandal emerges in between times.

Now get back to your garages and get fettling!

Jonesey

Greetings Race Fans!

Read this report as it could affect you!!!

That’s right folks it is once again that time of year when we are supposed to be planning our next season at the AGM.

I will preface this report with a form of disclaimer if you like, and I will start by saying that I am not having a personal “pop” at anyone as we all have to shoulder some responsibility for how the series progresses.

I would also say that sometimes the written word may appear to be harsh but that is not how I intend it and again I am not trying/ intending to offend anyone which of course is why you are all free to comment as I readily admit my opinion may not be the views of you all.

All I am hoping to do is to galvanise a few of us to get our heads together to get things moving.

Here we go then.

Firstly may I put on record that I really appreciated it when Dave stepped in last season as co-ordinator sacrificing his own option to race.

I must admit I did think that this would be a temporary measure and that Dave would return to racing once a new co-ordinator had been appointed.

I now understand Dave is actually happy to continue in his role as co-ordinator / chairman, if Dave is willing to continue then that is fine with me but I do feel that we must share out some of the responsibility for the running of the series and Dave you must allow us to do this……as there is a lot of room for improvement!!!

I know having spoken to many of you that there is a general concern that the series is not particularly well organised, we are losing drivers (for several reasons) and there seems to be no sense of direction.

We also seem to have lost a bit of our friendly atmosphere too…there are several reasons for this and I hope to make some suggestions in order to improve matters.

Dave is the current co-ordinator but it has to be said that :

1.      The official website is poorly run and any new / potential driver looking at it would think the series had folded, and I believe unless we make some positive changes NOW that is exactly what will happen.

2.      We also get very little communication from Dave as to what is going on with the MGCC, where we are heading and the series itself is not promoted in any way.

3.      The rules are in parts overly complicated and not enforced.

4.      The Technical Rep is like the will o’ the wisp, and despite his pledge to attend more often has only been seen at one race this year.

5.      We do not have any scrutineer…as I understand it because the MGCC won’t pay for him.

6.      The MGCC do not appear to offer any support to our race series.

7.      We have too many race classes which often have few or no cars in them, which results in drivers having no one to actually compete against, or alternatively picking up a cup, for simply showing up.

8.      We do not react quickly enough to keep classes competitive.

9.      We do little to retain / encourage new drivers to the series.

We all need to step up a bit to save our series and to this end I would like to put forward the following proposals to allow time for reflection/discussion and then I will put them forward for official discussion at the AGM.

I am sure not everyone will like everything about them, but then of course we would like the classes to make us all individual winners I am sure!

In my view the series needs to address the following:

1)      Rules.  These need to be revised to ensure that as many competitors as possible can participate on a level playing field within their respective class, whilst at the same time ensuring there are as few classes as possible.  I think 4 classes are more than adequate.  If we cannot fit a car into one of those 4 classes than in all probability, we simply have to concede that we cannot assist everyone.  At present the sheer number of classes is confusing, the rules are weak and as a result, the series is too complicated, so it puts off newcomers or there is no incentive for some existing competitors to remain. There is little point in having loads of classes with just one or two cars in them, this is not racing.

2)      Identity of the series:  We need to establish what we are trying to offer and encourage our drivers to feel part of our own club; i.e. that we exist for the benefit of the drivers and there are real benefits from being a member of this group.  We also need to establish an identity that does not rely on our sponsor’s name.

3)      Structure of the committee.   I think the current structure is not working in that few people know what they are supposed to be doing and others have too much to address.  I propose a structure as follows:

CHAIRMAN / CO-ORDINATOR/ ADMINISTRATOR: this person is the figure head of the series and is responsible for ensuring that his committee members understand and carry out their roles; he would also be our representative with the MGCC, fighting our corner pursuant to the instructions of the drivers.

TREASURER:  Responsible for finances, ensuring subs are paid, processing all sponsorship money etc.

TECHNICAL  OFFICER:  Advises on all technical issues and assists in ensuring that the rules are fair and understood, that the scrutineers understand and enforces rules, available to provide technical support to driver’s enquiries, guidance on all technical issues to include monitoring success of rules and ongoing revisions as may be required.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Deals with all publicity and communications for the series, to include complete responsibility for website, race reports, commentators notes, programme notes, press releases, publicity, newsletters etc.

COMMERCIAL OFFICER: Responsible for introducing and obtaining as many benefits as possible for the drivers, to include sponsorship, discounts, finding commercial partners.

DRIVERS REP:  Not convinced we need one per class, but if sufficient volunteers then so be it. Duties include getting drivers to enter on time, filtering all driver enquires, assisting novice drivers; probably sensible to nominate one person to have overall responsibility for assisting new drivers, 

SOCIAL SECRETARY; organises and encourages social events, ideally far beyond annual d&d.

I am happy to continue as social secretary and to take on a wider remit if required.

Alan Jones of Miss Daisy fame has offered to take on the role of Communications Officer.

Pete Burchill is happy to continue as treasurer.

Richard Tinkler is currently Club Secretary and although I have not specified this as a role I would see him continuing with his activities in the series but many of his duties currently overlap with those of the treasurer.

Dave Brooke has indicated he wishes to continue as chairman / co-ordinator.

So to close then, the future of our series rests in our own hands and while it would be nice for us to just turn up and race, in the current climate we all need to help in some way to ensure the series goes forward and grows in these hard times.

It was not that long ago when the PBIC was regularly turning out the biggest grids each race meeting and although we never got the recognition by the MGCC we were the strongest series in town.

Times have changed and we need to change with them to get ourselves back from the brink to become bigger and better than before.

We were originally the Phoenix Challenge….maybe there was a good reason for that name, let us rise to that Challenge again!!!!

Jonesey

Greetings one and all!

As the dust finally settles on another year it is once again time to have the annual bust up which is the Drivers Bun Fight where each and every one of us attempts to further their vested interests in  (certainly my case) futile attempts to move towards the front of the points table.

I have been in close contact with the powers that be and have managed to ascertain the main points that have been put forward for consideration by the Drivers regarding rule changes etc.

So in order to give us time to digest what’s on the table, and in no particular order I list them below.

No names no pack drill but I am sure that it will be obvious to most who is driving which proposal.

Topics for Consideration:
 
1. Class A is too fast.
2. Seed the top 20, 30 or 40 race numbers.
3. Incorporate PBIC logo on race numerals.
4. Registered drivers to do minimum of 3 races before qualifying for championship points.
5. Make Silverstone a non-championship round.
6. Allow TF 4-pot front brakes in class F (as per Trophy regs)
7. Allow standard MG ZR160 in class A or F.
8. Allow K series engine in Midgets for class C.
9. Ban K series altogether or only permit to use carbs & no mapping.
10. Team Trophy for teams or 3 cars ( no surprise who suggested that one)
11. Car weights to include driver.
12. Clarification of regs regarding tyres sizes / flywheels etc.
13. Driver’s meeting limited to 2 hours (beer permitted during meeting)
14. Create a completely standard class.
15. Re-classify the rules regarding V8’s.

Right then…..let’s have a heated debate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And don’t forget this is supposed to be the season of goodwill to all men…does that include competitors?

Jonesey           

Hopefully you will all have received the proposed rule change info which LHD sent out last week.

If not I have copied it below for easy reference.

I don’t know if there are any other proposals on the Agenda for consideration and perhaps Dave could clarify this, but in the meantime I will use this new posting to allow any comment….for those of us who are willing to stick their head above the parapet.

If it goes some way to give a flavour for the general feeling of the drivers and also reduce the length of the drivers meeting…all well and good!!

Naturally I am happy to start the ball rolling and will place the first comment, which will deal with mainly the class A regs as that is the one I attempt to participate in.

Proposed regulation changes for 2010 season.

Generally the championship seems to be working well with ten rounds and a number or those as double header events.
The RAC MSA has indicated that the championship will be granted a permit for 2010 and a set of ‘Draft’ regulations will have to be submitted very shortly. This does not mean that the items below will or will not be adopted as default.

The drivers still have the chance to vote on amendments at the drivers meeting.

There are undoubtedly some changes that will appear to the MSA driven part of the regs, for instance the safety car amendment will be rolled into the main document.

All classes (sporting, not technical)
Clarification of grid times used to set two grids from a single qualifying session
Use of first and second fastest times. Trying to avoid inconsistency if championship
has some classes running in another race.

Points scoring to only use official posted race results. No more point for entry on in time. Easier for those that want to keep score for themselves. Also with many completing the season entry form it has become irrelevant to its original purpose of encouraging people to enter before the closing date.

However, it is still felt by MGCC that this is an incentive worth keeping so perhaps we put the season entry list up on the website or push for closing date entry lists from the club.

Class A
Clarification of Shock absorber mounting regs.
Make it very clear that the shockers can only mount on existing mounting holes, no
extra holes or alternate mountings like turrets.

Fibreglass panels may only replace bolted panels.

No fibreglass rear wings or rear valences etc. However no replacement of doors
whether cage has door bars or not.

 Restriction on cylinder head mods.
As well as valve size restrictions we could specify inlet/exhaust port/gasket
dimensions.

 Allow MGC to run a non standard cam.

Currently the MGC is restricted to a standard cam and it has been asked if a
sportier option could be allowed. If the engine is built to the limit of the current
regulations will it be slower than an MGB?

Class B
Restrict MGB V8 models in Class B.
3.5 litre engines only? Do we continue to allow 3.9 engines? Several people are
looking at building/buying cars and have 3.9 engines. Do we set the 3.9 weight
higher as per the MGR V8?

Move MGB V8 models to Class C.

Same comments as above.

Restrict MGC models.
Two main areas where MGC is possibly ahead, induction and tyre size
Reduce tyres back to same as B variants on 6inch rims.
Restrict carbs to production SU HS or HIF 6.

Restrict class B current popular cars to encourage Midgets.
How do Midget times compare? Similar to MGC above we could restrict the carbs
or tyres on MGBs. This would be at odds with the Cockshoot regs and would not
allow a progression from class A

Should any form of differential other than original be allowed?
Currently the MGB and V8 are allowed limited slip but not locking differentials,
should this continue, should it extend to other models?

Class C
V8 to be 3.5 litre only
See class B point above. Currently class B allows 3.9 litre engines and if we put all
V8’s in class C what engine maximum is allowed.
Further clarification of K series regulations.
Clarify the spec of the K series engine.