As i have stated in other threads, i have only been to 2 SIDC trackdays, and enjoyed both days. Stef and the SIDC do a great job, and would like to pass my thanks on to you all.

That was my first time i have ever stopped a session (although Dingy did breakdown at top of McCleans, so session would have been stopped anyway.), and apologise for doing so, i have now done about 7 trackdays without any problems, and would say this is not my normal style.

No excuses though.

I hope i will be invited to a few more trackdays this year but its a shame it has come to this. From the reation of the passengers in general people prefer a little variety.

At the end of the day if they are rules, fair enough.

I will still try to come and spectate, and try to help with accommodation etc.

Thanks once again

Matt

 

People, please remember that Donington also run track days on there own!

The cost is a little more, about £120ish I think.

But I have to agree that there seems to be a HARDCORE of track drivers that attend every meeting. Maybe priority should be split a little more for the individuals that don't get the chance to go very often.

Dan

 

Is this policy to try and get me to buy a Scooby rather than an EVO

To stop people just joining SIDC and getting cheap track days, how about a simple rule.

You can only be entitled to attend SIDC track with the same priority as Scooby owners if you have been an SIDC member for two years ?

That way people such as Blowdog who continue to support SIDC and myself (who has the odd time without a Scooby can continue to attend). Other new members with non scoobies can go on the reserve list.

Its always fun to see other car on the circuit. Look at the recent Skyline and Honda debates after the last day. It does add another dimension.

Jonathan

 

I have been thinking about this since my last post.

First off, a track filled 100% with Subaru's gives me one thought, BORING!!!

Where is the fun in that for all the spectators who want a ride in a variety of diferent cars.

From the comments i recieve from everyone i meet at a track day, one of the things both drivers, spectators and passengers say is that they love seeing something a bit ballistic catch and pass them like they are going backwards, it gives an extra dimension to the 4 and 5 car trains that can develop when you have similar cars on track.

I do not want any special treatment because of my past involvement in this BBS or the assistence i freely give to novices on track days as that would make me very uncomfortable. We need clearcut rules that are stuck to 100%. I will not have people talking behind my back that i get preferential treatment because i happen to know stef or pete more than some others do.

As for changing the rules mid subscription year, this simply is not acceptable to me. I paid money on good faith that i would recieve 100% of the benefits of the club, that includes an equal shot at track day places. To be quite frank, the SIDC gives me nothing i cannot get from the BBS or my own knowledge, if this policy does become enforced you will have lost one member come renewal time.

You also MUST change the information given out to prospective members before you accept their membership. It must be stated clearly that if you intend to enjoy track day benefits you must use a subaru.

I run an Impreza daily, i choose not to use it on track, i invested in a vehicle that is more suitable to that arena.

The SIDC is the Subaru Impreza Drivers Club, of which i am one. It is NOT the SITDC (Subaru Impreza Track Drivers Club).

You have opened up a huge can of worms with this one and it hasnt been thought through properly.

A fair system from my viewpoint is to reserve so many places for Subaru Impreza's (no legacy's or Justies this is the SIDC remember) and so many for non-impreza's from the outset. No reserve lists for the 2nd class members just in case you dont fill the track, as quite frankly i aint that desperate to come play with you lot, i can take my knowledge and money elsewhere if i must.

I dunno, i leave the country for 2 weeks, miss one track day and all hell breaks loose.

 

a bit of a snotty attitude to take John similar to your first post on this thread quote "i dont have the time or inclination to wonder whether i am wanted or not."

I wasn't going to bother posting on this thread as it seems very opinionated rather than a sensible discussion but your comment about "100% subaru being boring" made me think of something I said at the last SIDC meeting :

When I first got my impreza and joined the SIDC the thing that sold it for me to do a trackday was the fact that is WAS 100% Subaru. Having seen some trackday footage I didn't fancy the idea of someone whizzing past me, or me being pressured into doing something to let people by cos I felt I was really slowing them up.

Rather than develop an elite-ist's club where only hardened drivers/modded cars need apply we want to give everyone the chance (cheaply as possible) to take their car onto the track.

As things grow there has to be change and the SIDC is no exception. If you owned a subaru and joined the SIDC and could not get a place on a SUBARU IMPREZA trackday, but saw elises/westies/fords/evo's whizzing by you might feel a little hard done by and with good reason.

So come on, lets stop the usual "mountain out of a molehill" saga.

 

I'm just joining the SIDC..checques in the post guys...it's been interesting to read the various points, as it is the SIDC and NOT the any car trach day club, there definately should be a preference to Scooby' owners and drivers, when I go on track, I go to drive MY car not watch other peoples, (but I'm sure opinions will vary . Also owning a Kit car (Tiger Super six) which I take on track days, I take it on that particular models' or open track days.
My perception is people who take non-scoobys on SIDC track days, do it to compare their car to scoobs or becuase it's cheaper. Im preparing for a good flaming here, but thats my perception.
So on the whole I think Stef and the SIDC have got it exactly right and well balanced
Paul M

 

Shame you see my attitude as "Snotty" because that is 100% not what i am about.

Maybe my comment about me not getting much out of the SIDC clouded your view on me Lee.

You should know by now, i am not one for bull**** or two faced attitudes, i say it as i see it. If you dont like that then tuff, at least you know where you stand with me.

I think my comments are honest and straight to the point, they are my opinions, i am entitled to them.

 

Big sorry john felsted,
Im only a ****tty little type r driver and enjoy the sidc club,i drive a transit during the day, but dont join the tranny owners club, you are just using the club track days to take your caterham or whatever out...if i changed from a scoob i would cancel my membership, you and Your lot are just getting a cheap do out of our membership,but a scoobs a mere plaything to you as you are an top driver and everybody licks your **** , not me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ouch buddy, everybody licks my ****???

What planet are you living on mate?

I contribute a fair amount to the scooby comunity i think, but even if i didnt, i am entitled to my opinions.

It isn't your club, it's our club, my opinion is a valid as anyone elses. You shouldnt have a problem with that.

 

I,do not think i own the sidc i am just a mere member ,this club does not run solely on track days.....ie dono in january.. no scoobs hardly just a bunch of elises, exiges, and caterhams,and porches.
just because thier clubs are limited why should ours suffer.

 

My cheque will also be heading your way soon, the WRX arriving on Thursday.

I popped in to Donnington on Sunday just to see what an SIDC track day was like ( All mine have been Japanese Supercar club in the good old days!! ), and I must agree that seeing a track full of Impreza's might just result in me losing my will to live. Personally, I think variety is important, I want to see if I can keep up with/be faster than a car that it is potentially better than mine.

I agree that people who join the club just for cheap track days should be monitored, but the people who are 'contributing' to the club all have the same ability to subscribe to a track day as it is announced, on the traditional first come, first served basis.

My car will be used on track as much as possible, as was my last. If my lethargy results in a long time member and supporter of the club having a place on track because he/she subscribed to the event timeously, this is fine. It is only if a club newbie with a specific track day car was to take a preference I would be annoyed. Reading between the lines, I think this is all that is trying to be achieved.

Did anyone see my fine machine parked by the fence on Sunday? It is totally standard, the spec including;

1) 2 litre 16v turbocharged engine
2) Full Recaro interior
3) Sports suspension
4) Anthacrite ( or however you spell it ) wheels.
5) Metallic Silver paintwork
6) Air Conditioning

Yes, Astra vans are coming along now!!!

 

Could we all please get back on the subject! I understand John's point, but we also need to start limiting the amount of 'OTHER' cars on circuit.

John you pointed out that if a circuit only had scoob's on it, that it would be boring. I do not agree with this statement, due to the different models that people drive, and the different modifications that they run.

It concerns me that the higher powered cars that visit the SIDC days, tend to have the faults. (i.e. dropping oil, exhausts dropping off, melting pipes, etc.) For some of the novices that visit these track days, it is normally the first time that they have been on track with their scoobs. So they want to try and limit the danger. Thankfully our days have a very good record for that sort of problem, and I can see what Pete/Stef/Rob Mc. are trying to achieve.

As I posted before, if you want to go up against different cars, then visit the trackdays run by that circuit.

No-body here is trying to upset you John, and most of us thank you for your help/contributions, but at the end of the day it is a Subaru club.

I hope this does not offend anybody, if it does please mail me offline.

Dan

 

Buddy,

That's bull and you don't know what you're talking about.


Are the owners that complain about the lack of spaces and different vehicles in the minority or majority?

Perhaps a vote as to what the club members want, not the commitee would be in order?

 

CraigH,

I think you have got it spot on, why not let the members decide.
I enjoy the variety of SIDC days in the current format and it would be a great shame to loose some of the vastly experienced drivers from our club/community/track days.

I'm sure a compromise with a percentage non-Impreza or priority for next event etc. could be found if the SIDC track events were being abused.

Lee

 

Ooh! This is getting out of hand

There has to be a compromise somewhere. Prehaps events which are pure scoobs & others which have a percentage of "guest" machinery. These are for SIDC events only.

There are also joint SIDC/LTR (MLR whatever ) events in the calendar (such as Oulton in Jan) for which unless there is a joint policy agreed by both clubs for the event, "interlopers" will get in

There are pure LTR events at which all-comers are welcome (or appear to be ).

There are Trackzone/Track Attack & various other offerings to which all-comers are welcome.

Whilst I personally don't want to see people/friends pre-cluded 'cos of their car, I can see loads of opportunity for everyone (who wants to) to mix it up on track & also for 1 marque days.

Chill pills all round & keep the banter up

(I went to RS day & I paid extra for the privelege (& it was ) and didn't get club membership. I'll be going again this year )

 

I'll stsrt by saying I'm not a member of the SIDC, never been interested in driving on UK trackdays, rather save up for trips to the Ring

But this policy seems short sighted, at the moment the club is faced with an increase in the demand for trackdays, and an influx of non-Imprezas, and something needs to be done to address that.

The wrong "something" is being done

Under the new policy what happens when there are 70 places on a track day and 70 Imprezas sign up? Yep NO ONE from the reserve list gets a place.

There should be a set number of places for non-Imprezas allocated on a first come first served basis, I also believe there should be a set number of places guaranteed for first timers. The actual percentages would need looking at, as I don't know how much demand there is for 1st timers, but how does this sound?


70% - Imprezas that have been before

15-20% - first timers

10-15% - non-Imprezas

Everyone will then know where they stand, any extra demand from first timers could "spill over" into the 70% for the imprezas that have been before.

I can't see anyone being offended by this.

I have no wish to offend Stef, but the way he has handled this (understanding that he is in a difficult position) has been terrible. Coming out and saying "this is the policy" without open discussion before hand

 

at buddy!

I actually respect John felstead for what he knows but more importantly because he is a thoroughly top bloke, the same as I respect people have an opinion.

John does not cut both ways, he he straight down the line in all that he does.

Except for the fact that he comes to Man United with me and he is a City fan

 

Don't forget little ol me Blow Dog. Thanks for the edit

Matt
Civic Type R


[This message has been edited by Type R (edited 24 February 2001).]

 

Not getting involved in the should we or should we not allow non Imprezas on SIDC track days, because I'm not a member of the SIDC.

What I would add, though, is that the issue has been raised on this PUBLIC bbs. Bear in mind that this is Scoobynet, NOT the SIDC board.

As a result, you cannot complain when a non member posts their views.

Personally I suggest that SIDC members are canvassed for opinions by letter or email, not on here.

D

 

Cem,

Good idea!

You forgot Matt (TypeR)

Lee

 

I think that the attitude of some of the people within the track day threads has been extremely unhelpful. People should try to confine themselves to constructive comments or setting out their views without getting personal.

I'm disappointed that Stef was forced into issuing a quick statement due to rumours circulating on this BBS. I for one have many ideas on how we can accomodate non-Subaru supporters of the club. However, I do firmly believe that there will be a shortage of reasonably-priced track day space in the UK following BHLG's new policy. There are moves within the industry to challenge this but there will be an enormous demand for reasonably-priced track days during the next 2 or 3 years at least. The SIDC is one of the few organisations that can offer this at present. It remains to be seen whether this will continue to be the case in future years. Consequently, steps were under consideration to prevent the SIDC being overwhelmed by non-Subaru track day enthusiasts and to ensure that we were not barred from BHLG circuits due to having marques other than Subaru in attendence.

There are no egos involved, no-one is sitting round a table crying we must ban people because Johnny Bollox is turning up to Subaru days in his 2,000bhp go-kart and passing me. So PLEASE get over this will you.

Personally, I don't believe that anything is ever cast in stone and that things can be done to accomodate everyone. I even hold out hopes that BHLG will allow a quota of non-Subarus on track if we approach thme correctly. So can we please cut down on the hysterics, rattle-throwing and personal insults? All valuable contributions and ideas are always welcome. There have been a few, some of which were already under consideration. We just need to be able to get the buy-in from the circuit owners which won't happen overnight, unlike things on this BBS. I and the rest of the committee will continue to monitor this and other related threads but you can e-mail either myself or the other committee members directly (see

 

P.S. I'm not sure what the talk is of having a vote. I'm quite sure that the majority of members don't want other marques entirely excluded and I'm not aware that anyone on the committee wants this either. So I think that the result is a foregone conclusion, we do love you and your Evo-brethren, Cem. There are no anti-Evo or anti-Ford factions on the committe. I believe that Stef's expectation is that other marques won't be excluded due to the additional days that he has planned this year. So the hope is that things will remain pretty much unchanged for the rest of the year, other than at BHLG circuits where we have been asked to exclude non-Subarus.

None of this would help with the BHLG situation anyway. Somehow I don't think that they would respond too kindly to the "We've had a vote and we're going to do this" approach.

 

I think we should all spare a moment and think why we joined the club i for one joined because i am passionate about scoobies and i think it is sad to see some of the posts on this BBS bringing the way the club is being run into question.

i enjoy the friendliness of the club and i know most of us are good mates who share common interests and i personally think most of us would struggle to do a job as good as the commitee at running the club so think about that next time you sound off or type a new post

and i would imagine if this banter continues at the next meet nobody will be talking to each other which would be pretty sad.

so lets get back to enjoying the club and the benefits it brings to all of us i for one cant wait till Croft on the 2 nd where i feel sure track behaviour and the SIDC friendly spirit will be as evident as ever

May the force be with you.

Tim

 

Yup, it sounds like we should suck it and see a bit.

The official SIDC suggestion, coupled with the BHLG regulation sounds like it should suit everyone. There are SIDC trackdays that our kindered spirits should be able to join (I love seeing/hearing the other marques as a spectator and passenger) and the SIDC events at BHLG cicuits where people like me may consider driving on the track without fear of being harrassed by someone out to claim another "scalp" or driving beyond my limits trying to ensure that they don't!

R

p.s. I personally enjoy the convoys to the events (for the last few miles to Dono it was me, Cem's EVO, the Skyline and (I think) an STi which was a great sight), talking to owners and ogling at beautifully turned out cars of *all* makes in the pits just as much as I do the track action.

 

I originally owned a Scoob, then had an Evo, which I did plenty of trackdays in (SIDC/Trackzone/LTR) and even took to Catalunya in the company of 10 Scoobs. Now am getting a more pure trackcar (Westfield). I'd still like to be able to mix it with the Scoobs. I've kept up my SIDC membership - why should I be restricted in the trackdays? I think if that is the suggestion, it should be SIDC membership restriction, not purely a trackday restriction. But while I still have SIDC membership, changing trackday policy mid-membership is unfair. Change the policy at year-end after proper discussion at the AGM. This is too big a step to take without the membership having a say.

I agree - a track full of Scoobs would be very boring indeed.

Andrew

 

How many times do we have to say, this step was taken IN ADVANCE of the situation becoming a problem. It is a temporary measure which I don't actually see becoming an issue a) because Donno is the main circuit affected by this move and b) there are no more events booked at Donno for some time!!!
It will be discussed fully at the next agm, and hopefully the club and it's members will reach a decision acceptable to all.

John.
I think it's fair to point out that whilst you may have 'contributed substantially to the Scooby community', you only actually joined the SIDC five weeks ago and then only so you could bring your Westfield to Oulton Park.

I think people are getting SIDC events and Donno's own Trakzone dates confused.
Just becasue there is a large contingent of Scoobs at Donno, does not mean it's an SIDC event. Most events where John has been present on track have NOT been SIDC events.
There are enough of Donno's own events where there is a large variety of cars present to keep everyone happy, and I will also be attending these myself.

Paul.
Seeing as you're not a member and this therefore doesn't affect you perhaps you should keep your criticisms to yourself?

Stef.

[This message has been edited by Stef (edited 23 February 2001).]

 

Lets count any <B>REGULAR TRACKDAY NON IMPREZA DRIVING SIDC MEMBERS</B> shall we?

Matt (Civic Type R)
Me (Evo Mak)
John Felstead (Westfield)
Mike Rainbird (RS Cossie)
Dingy (Mrk 2 Escort)
David Brown (Lotus Exige)

Note, I am counting trackday regulars here, and if I have missed anyone out, then please let me know.

I make 5.

<B>FIVE</B> cars and people are having babies.



Now, I would like to see who is making the fuss in the first place. I don't seem to have heard from any of these people that have apparently made a point about this. Don't be cowards guys, please make your comments public.

I am also a bit concerned about the decision making of the club. It is a club, run and financed by its members, so surely the members should be entitled to vote on this, not a committee of biased (no-offence intended) individuals who all own Imprezas.

I think the best way forward at this stage is to make 2 posts (perhaps a new temporary forum, webby?). One for banning non subaru cars on track and one against the idea. Next to each post/vote, you should put your SIDC club number then we know who has legitimate voting rights.

We then count the votes (which are public) and decide based on the result.

Cem

p.s. I think John deserves a <I>little</I> bit more respect than that.

[This message has been edited by Blow Dog (edited 23 February 2001).]

 

Diablo.
I am fully aware that this is a public bbs and as such I can respond accordingly when someone criticises me personally, thanks very much.
Some people seem to forget that Scoobynet was originally the official club board, and it has always been/will be a useful way of communicating with other members.
This whole isue should now be dropped as nobody's going to be affected in the near future anyway, especially those that aren't SIDC members.

Stef.




[This message has been edited by Stef (edited 24 February 2001).]

 

Stef,

Chill m8!

It was just getting all too personal!

After all, its just about cars

Life's too short and all that!

D

 

Who cares if the Non Scoobs are on track or what? I don't so go book onto Easy or Ontrack will ya

Im taking the RS on other track days so not doing SIDC won't hurt me one bit!

Some people think Track days is their life, get a life will ya .