Joe Shaw Trophy Weekend 2017

[Phil Thornton]

Hope you guys had a great weekend!  

Yes we did.  The weather was perfect 

[EvilClive]

It was indeed a good weekend and great to see some familiar faces....they are getting more familiar with each year!!!

Malcolm and Beverley joined us on Saturday and we enjoyed the racing including some very noisy Formula 5000's and some quiet refreshments before adjourning to South Bank to present the Joe Shaw Memorial Trophy to a virtual Robert Fleurke.  Although there was nothing virtual about his domination of this years races!!!

Andy came up to my house and we loaded our stuff into my trusty Mondeo, leaving Bristol around midday we arrived first on the Friday ( followed a few hours later by Tim Muttram ) to discover that the camping field was excellent. Although very close to the action it was just outside the gates in the circuit security fencing, which was to prove the only flaw in our plans. Any nocturnal visits to the "facilities" after 23:00 required a 400mtr hike back to the main entrance and a walk through a deserted and ghostly Brands Hatch.........better to plan when to have that last beer and ensure that a last trip was made before the security gate was locked!!
We could not really complain as the camping was free and we had access to the Kentagon Restaurant/Bar for a cooked meal each evening and a Full English Breakfast in the mornings.
Friday evening we dined in the Kentagon and afterwards discovered that the pits and the track were open to anyone....too good a chance to miss!! So we walked around the Brands Hatch Indy circuit before returning to the tents.
Saturday dawned overcast but dry and warm, and a leisurely start at 9 a.m. for some qualifying runs in various classes allowed time to partake of a cooked breakfast in a totally uncrowded Kentagon before the days action got started.
Phil arrived complete with camera and lenses ( although not as big as some other guys were waving about!!)   late morning and we met up at Druids where Malcolm and Beverley found us a little later.

The Racing was good fun in all the classes with some great battles right up until the end of hostilities at 6:30, whereupon we adjourned to the Kentagon ( again) for a meal and a well deserved pint.....well I felt that I deserved it!!
A group decision was made to walk a lap of the Full GP circuit on Saturday night, simply because we could.
So we set off down over Paddock Hill Bend. Don't let anyone tell you that Brands Hatch has undulations...it doesn't, it has ruddy mountains!! the hills that we negotiate on GPL do not give any impression of how steep this track is, or the camber across the track at various points.
We walked a lap in approximately 1:15...that is 1 Hour 15 mins, not 1 minute 15 seconds!!! a distance of 2.4 miles and it was a close finish as we crossed the line.
Back to the tents for a couple of cans of beer and a last dash to the facilities before the quick route gates were locked for the night and our sleeping bags beckoned.
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear and with a 10 a.m. start to the action, yet another leisurely breakfast before we moved out to watch the racing and the arrival of Billy and Vosblod to complete the gathering of UKGPL members.
 A wander through the paddock looking at the various machinery and some photos during the day, intermingled with vicious sunshine and intense racing made for a perfect day, which finished only 3 minutes before the legal deadline for noise at 6:30p.m.

A steady drive back to Bristol, arriving just too late to join in Sunday evening's race ( joining the race might not have gone down to well after being away for the weekend anyway!) from where Andy had to make a long last leg onwards to Tavistock.

[Samb]

Good to hear the weekend went well chaps  . With luck I will be able to join you next year (even if I said this last year?!). Life's being a bit hectic at the moment.

[EvilClive]

 We had several discussions over the weekend about our annual gathering for the JSMT. There were various views about what members of UKGPL expected or wanted from such an event.
Malcolm was even floating the idea of a "hands on" event of some sort where attendees could drive a real car on a track day, or maybe we could arrange a small network of PC's and have a weekend of GPL racing whilst actually being in the same room??!!

The current format where we meet at a suitable real life motor racing event ( usually with an "Historic" element) has evolved from my early trips to the Goodwood Revival. Although perfect in terms of the cars appearing, Goodwood is VERY expensive when compared to the deal we had at Brands Hatch....a difference of around £300 at the Revival, compared to £29 at Brands Hatch when we include camping etc.

Maybe there are many members who just have no desire to meet up and socialise with other sim-racers and prefer to keep their relationship "virtual" and we have to respect that.

All I can say is that for those of us who meet up each year, and manage to stay for the whole weekend , the social element of talking about our hobby and discussing  stuff in general over a beer or two adds a whole new dimension.

As I said above, this annual general meeting has traditionally  been held at Motor Racing Venues, but it does not have to be if someone has a better idea. If you think that there are alternatives that might appeal to a larger number of members then speak up and between us we might be able to make it happen.     
We have 12 months to plan the next JSMT presentation, or even the UKGPL Christmas Party if that is what people want!!!  lol

[Doni Yourth]

As I posted earlier in this thread re Joe revealing my vision problems, I thought it might post again here instead of starting a new thread.  Hope that's OK.

If I could draw you to this thread over at Speedgeezers...

http://forums.speedgeezers.net/index.php?showtopic=39462

...you will see the latest update as of just yesterday.  See post #7.

There were many events with the OAO and the UKGPL this season where I simply DQ'd myself to start at the back to avoid close quarters early on.  I simply didn't trust that my vision could cope.  With any luck, that policy is history.   

[DLogan]

Good to hear it's improving, Doni. :thumbup:

[FullMetalGasket]

Good news Doni, glad there's light at the end of the tunnel for you (and you can see it!)

[EvilClive]

great news Doni ! 

Oh??!!,but does this mean that you will now be even quicker and able to race full distance??     

[Robert Fleurke]

Great news Doni! Should also help to accurately park the car in your pitstall