Nationals 2023/ American Speed fest/ same dates

[buzbee]

I do agree sadly now the Nationals date has been agreed with Sywell and arrangments made then it would indeed be to late to change them . MSV will of course not change the Speedfest dates , so there we have it .,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Members who normally go to both or either event need to make their own choice .
Attend Speedfest , be surrounded by all sorts of American Cars including Corvettes in the Club paddock and all around , 50 plus trade stands and food outlets , Monster Trucks and family events , UK plus Euro NASCARS thundering around the INDI circuit , American Truck racing etc ..........THEN FOR ONE YEAR ONLY..............
70th CORVETTE ANNIVERSARY DEDICATED CORVETTE RACING !!!!!! Yes folks Corvetts racing wheel to wheel on our doorstep at Brands Hatch UK , no need for expensive trips to the USA they are here , all the noise and smells of hot Chevy motors flying past right in front of you , Saturday.... Sunday or all weekend ...chat with your friends and other American car fanatics......... eat American Burgers or hot food and drink or indeed salad of your choice .
OR
Polish yr Corvette and sit by it in a field for one or two days , take a 30min stroll round the cars in silence , none running , have a sit down meal on the Saturday night and a chat with your mates , if you went on the Saturday , same walk round on Sunday then make yr way home knowing you have missed one off Corvette Races at Brands Hatch.
Yes like many members im sure I am totally undecided , mmmmmm

 

[monty]

Each to their own and I am sure each will decide what suits them best, I will stick with and support our club at the nationals but I can see the very big attraction with the speedfest event especially if you are geographically in that area.
There is no winner in this situation however I still think that to cancel our nationals because of another event on the same day would be admitting there is something that is more important than our own planned nationals.
As I have previously mentioned I have been in the same situation and it’s not easy for those committee members who put their own time into planning events, I take my hat off to all of you.

 

[Chuffer]

Lest we forget , there is Silverstone Classic ( Branded `Festival` for 2023 ) over August 25th to 27th . Ok , so no Nascar but always some Yanks and stonking V8 powered cars racing and it`s the biggest event of its kind in the world . The car club turn outs are massive as is the public footfall . Every other club always makes a big effort to promote their marques significant anniversaries so why not CCCUK ?? On track displays laps included . Pit lane action and access to all areas too to soke up the fuel filled atmosphere . In my opinion there appears to be a general lack of interest by many members to display our cars to the wider public , enhance the clubs credibility and garner more interest in one of the worlds most iconic sports cars . Other clubs turn out in droves for Silverstone each year , why can`t we ? Is it a case of ` Apathy Rules - Who Cares `
Silverstone is in the heart of the BBNC region and we have circa 120 members , where are they all ?? If only half that number turned out imagine what a display that would be . Not to mention the members that travel fron further afield . It would look better than rows and rows of Porche or Ferrari`s .

 

[Mr. Cricket]

I do agree sadly now the Nationals date has been agreed with Sywell and arrangments made then it would indeed be to late to change them . MSV will of course not change the Speedfest dates , so there we have it .,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Members who normally go to both or either event need to make their own choice .
Attend Speedfest , be surrounded by all sorts of American Cars including Corvettes in the Club paddock and all around , 50 plus trade stands and food outlets , Monster Trucks and family events , UK plus Euro NASCARS thundering around the INDI circuit , American Truck racing etc ..........THEN FOR ONE YEAR ONLY..............
70th CORVETTE ANNIVERSARY DEDICATED CORVETTE RACING !!!!!! Yes folks Corvetts racing wheel to wheel on our doorstep at Brands Hatch UK , no need for expensive trips to the USA they are here , all the noise and smells of hot Chevy motors flying past right in front of you , Saturday.... Sunday or all weekend ...chat with your friends and other American car fanatics......... eat American Burgers or hot food and drink or indeed salad of your choice .
OR
Polish yr Corvette and sit by it in a field for one or two days , take a 30min stroll round the cars in silence , none running , have a sit down meal on the Saturday night and a chat with your mates , if you went on the Saturday , same walk round on Sunday then make yr way home knowing you have missed one off Corvette Races at Brands Hatch.
Yes like many members im sure I am totally undecided , mmmmmm

The Corvette Nationals are not for everyone and clearly that includes you and that's fine. You omitted a few highlights at this years Nationals - Oliver Gavin, BBC Stig, 1st convertible C8, C3 rolling chassis display, live music, run what you brung at Santa Pod, flights in a Tiger Moth, Spitfire and P51 fly overs, youngest ever CCCUK member (one year old) presentation etc, etc..

I with many others attended the American racing at Oulton Park this year that featured Bernies Racing proving that there are alternative racing events if you look for them.. and yes you could get a hot dog, walk the pits, listen to live music etc..

Anyway, a quick search today shows that the date for Speedfest was released late October well after we had secured a date at Sywell that avoided Corvette Fame, Le Mans, Silverstone, Stars & Stripes etc.. So it was very unfortunate when the Speedfest date was released and clashed with our Nationals date.

However, it will be a great event at Speedfest so if something can be done to avoid this clash it will be (no doubt any rearranged date will clash with something else!) but that's along way off at this point and a lot of work to make changes if it's even possible?

Thank you to all above that understand the difficulties in arranging events like the Corvette Nationals, Corvettes at the Lakes, NEC, London Motor Show etc and the logistics that are involved that keep all the Committee members very busy.

Monty, Eddy, Chuffers I agree with the point you make and thank you but there may be an alternative option.

Stuart

 

[buzbee]

Absolutely Right Monti , my first Nationals was in 1983 and i was a committee member before there were even regions and have helped mould decisions , also would have attended The Nationals this year but i think the clash of dates in this instance for me at least being a tune and go person rather than a show and shine is a little to strong towards Speed Fest, as i think it will be for many other people , watering down the appeal of the nationals , which is a sad situation ..........

 

[monty]

The Corvette Nationals are not for everyone and clearly that includes you and that's fine. You omitted a few highlights at this years Nationals - Oliver Gavin, BBC Stig, 1st convertible C8, C3 rolling chassis display, live music, run what you brung at Santa Pod, flights in a Tiger Moth, Spitfire and P51 fly overs, youngest ever CCCUK member (one year old) presentation etc, etc..

I with many others attended the American racing at Oulton Park this year that featured Bernies Racing proving that there are alternative racing events if you look for them.. and yes you could get a hot dog, walk the pits, listen to live music etc..

Anyway, a quick search today shows that the date for Speedfest was released late October well after we had secured a date at Sywell that avoided Corvette Fame, Le Mans, Silverstone, Stars & Stripes etc.. So it was very unfortunate when the Speedfest date was released and clashed with our Nationals date.

However, it will be a great event at Speedfest so if something can be done to avoid this clash it will be (no doubt any rearranged date will clash with something else!) but that's along way off at this point and a lot of work to make changes if it's even possible?

Thank you to all above that understand the difficulties in arranging events like the Corvette Nationals, Corvettes at the Lakes, NEC, London Motor Show etc and the logistics that are involved that keep all the Committee members very busy.

Monty, Eddy, Chuffers I agree with the point you make and thank you but there may be an alternative option.

Stuart

Stuart I would be thinking very hard before I would change our nationals date (if I was the one deciding) as although it’s only been announced a short while members will have already made plans to accommodate the date in their planned activities, therefore moving it will almost certainly upset those I have mentioned above, as I have already said there are no winners in this.

 

[buzbee]

Really appreciate all your hard work Stuart and all on the committee ......... just an unfortunate situation ......

 

[buzbee]

The club used to hire Goodwood Motor circuit for the day , members could pay a fee and use the full circuit trying out their beloved machinery going as slow or as fast as they liked . Also Shoreham Airport runway , side by side drag racing in the evening , all great fun , At the Nationals last year Saturday was ment to be Santa Pod race day , Santa Pod put aside a whole area for CCCUK to park in and run up the strip if they wished......... just 3 of us turned up to run up against the clock and none to show .
So i feel upon reflection that Speedfest probably wont have any effect on The Nationals at all , it will just be the members who would have attended both events like myself who will need to make their choice.....

 

[Roscobbc]

As I mentioned earlier there is no need to even consider changing the Nationals dates, undoing the work etc already put in to choosing Sywell.
Yes, there will certainly be a number of members who will choose to go to Speedfest rather than Sywell - and no doubt a number will prefer Sywell.
If we accept there is a choice of 'events' that members can go to what is wrong with the club accepting the fact and promoting both events, effectively doubling-up on CCCUK and Corvette exposure in the UK.
I am sure that our CCCUK regional reps covering Essex, Kent, Surrey etc can deal with the Speedfest event (as they have for several years). We are not going to stop members making a choice as to which event to attend.......so why not support both?

 

[Mr. Cricket]

I have to back-up Andy's comments, but am also very 'mindful' of Chuffer thoughts.
Speedfest will be holding a number of specific Corvette only races and 'celebrating' the Corvettes 70's birthday so it is reasonable to expect that visitors and general public attending would expect to see a large contingent of Vettes on display.
I fully understand the difficulty of selecting a suitable event date a year or so 'in front' and the fear of potentially loosing the 'perfect' Nationals location by delaying our selection........however perhaps with a little logic as a club and the UK ambassadors for the marque perhaps we can use this to our advantage.
It's obvious that CCCUK members (and especially those who are located in the south east) will have a preference for Speedfest.
Same logic says that members further 'up country' will perhaps prefer Sywell.
I'm guessing not too many will try to cover both venues as things stand........but perhaps we should consider thinking 'out of the box' and look to fully and officially support the Speedfest event giving members the choice of either (or even both) events...........'two events for the price of one' ?

And that is the case Ross. It was at sometime pointed out to me that no shows that clash with the Nationals could be promoted. When SF dates came out we (the committee) agreed that both events should be promoted for the good of the club and that is the case.

 

[Mr. Cricket]

I do agree sadly now the Nationals date has been agreed with Sywell and arrangments made then it would indeed be to late to change them . MSV will of course not change the Speedfest dates , so there we have it .,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Members who normally go to both or either event need to make their own choice .
Attend Speedfest , be surrounded by all sorts of American Cars including Corvettes in the Club paddock and all around , 50 plus trade stands and food outlets , Monster Trucks and family events , UK plus Euro NASCARS thundering around the INDI circuit , American Truck racing etc ..........THEN FOR ONE YEAR ONLY..............
70th CORVETTE ANNIVERSARY DEDICATED CORVETTE RACING !!!!!! Yes folks Corvetts racing wheel to wheel on our doorstep at Brands Hatch UK , no need for expensive trips to the USA they are here , all the noise and smells of hot Chevy motors flying past right in front of you , Saturday.... Sunday or all weekend ...chat with your friends and other American car fanatics......... eat American Burgers or hot food and drink or indeed salad of your choice .
OR
Polish yr Corvette and sit by it in a field for one or two days , take a 30min stroll round the cars in silence , none running , have a sit down meal on the Saturday night and a chat with your mates , if you went on the Saturday , same walk round on Sunday then make yr way home knowing you have missed one off Corvette Races at Brands Hatch.
Yes like many members im sure I am totally undecided , mmmmmm

I should have also mentioned the Nationals also included the CCCUK AGM. A platform to air your views, ideas, or put yourself forward for a place on the committee to help make our club even better?

 

[Forrest Gump]

And that is the case Ross. It was at sometime pointed out to me that no shows that clash with the Nationals could be promoted. When SF dates came out we (the committee) agreed that both events should be promoted for the good of the club and that is the case.

Stuart, thank you for this clarification from the committee.
It is an unfortunate situation but we’ll make a success of it I’m sure.
I need another Corvette and a helicopter with pilot

 

[Chuffer]

Stuart, thank you for this clarification from the committee.
It is an unfortunate situation but we’ll make a success of it I’m sure.
I need another Corvette and a helicopter with pilot

You get the Vette and I am sure Sywell can provide a chopper and pilot . Pity my old Jaguar club mate doesn`t have pilots license and Cesna there any more . I quick flip down to Brands would have been fun !!

 

[Chuffer]

The club used to hire Goodwood Motor circuit for the day , members could pay a fee and use the full circuit trying out their beloved machinery going as slow or as fast as they liked . Also Shoreham Airport runway , side by side drag racing in the evening , all great fun , At the Nationals last year Saturday was ment to be Santa Pod race day , Santa Pod put aside a whole area for CCCUK to park in and run up the strip if they wished......... just 3 of us turned up to run up against the clock and none to show .
So i feel upon reflection that Speedfest probably wont have any effect on The Nationals at all , it will just be the members who would have attended both events like myself who will need to make their choice.....

That was a very disappointing turn out after the efforts made to accommodate the club at The Pod . Must make you wonder why we bother . Unfortunately I missed last years Nats as it clashed with our holiday .

 

[buzbee]

It certainly was Chuffer , great weather for it to , i got in a few passes , The marshalls asked when were the rest arriving , the year before when i took my ZO6 up there was quite a good turn out , I think the hotel owner promoted it along with the club , I am of the opinion in most cases now members are not really interested in testing how their cars actually go , might spoil the dream ,,,,,,

 

[Chuffer]

It certainly was Chuffer , great weather for it to , i got in a few passes , The marshalls asked when were the rest arriving , the year before when i took my ZO6 up there was quite a good turn out , I think the hotel owner promoted it along with the club , I am of the opinion in most cases now members are not really interested in testing how their cars actually go , might spoil the dream ,,,,,,

I get so exasperated at times that I wonder if most members like driving their cars at all !!!

 

[Oneball]

I’m up for RWYB at the Pod if it doesn’t clash with a race meet.

 

[buzbee]

Next year i will have been a club member for 40 years , over that time the membership has drifted toward a drive to a show and shine , talk about how fast their car is and drive back again , which can be ok , even done that myself , but i still like a bit of action in between which a lot of members are just not up for nowadays sadly , ,,,,

 

[Oneball]

Next year i will have been a club member for 40 years , over that time the membership has drifted toward a drive to a show and shine , talk about how fast their car is and drive back again , which can be ok , even done that myself , but i still like a bit of action in between which a lot of members are just not up for nowadays sadly , ,,,,View attachment 20220View attachment 20221View attachment 20222View attachment 20223

Is the top photo Brighton?

 

[buzbee]

Indeed , i used to pit crew in 1966 one mile side by side up Madeira drive , bought my orange C3 in 1983 and entered into Speed Trials one half mile , photo is 1989 and three engine and gearbox combos later winning the BHMC class....... Then my ZO6 at Brighton....... my Escort Thunder saloon , fasted Ford at Brighton four years running , Camaro SS at pod this year and also ran at Brighton.........