Proposal: Excel club series

[Glenn]

Everyone,

I want your help to refine a proposal we discussed and decided to move forward with at the national meeting on the weekend.

The proposal is to run an "Excel club series" that consists of events that can be run in a standard road car (Motorkhanas, Khanacrosses, Austocrosses, supersprints...and maybe: introductory rallies, navigational rallies).

We all realise that our sport is a really a continuum from motorkhana upwards and that we need to think of it as such if we want it to grow.

Thinking of it from the NSW/Sydney perspective, we have many of these types of events throughout the year within the Sydney basin. There are many people interested in the Excel series, but the time and financial commitment required to go rallying is too much to start with. We should have something to get these people out and competing and enjoying the sport.

We would pick 6-8 of these events throughout the year and these would comprise the series. The pointscore and results would be tracked through the web site as per the rally series.

Additionally, we would like to have a car available for people to use to try these events (especially juniors). This car would be made available at a nominal cost and all they would need to do is turn up to the event and drive.

So, does anyone have any good refinements they could suggest for this concept?

Does anyone want to help get it running?

Regards

Glenn
0411 107 314

[ernysp76]

Might be something worth looking at through the clubs.

[Glenn]

Absolutely. We would not be running the actual events. We would be picking a set of already existing events.

....or did you mean something like: Have the clubs have their own Excel and organise their own competitors?

[shake]

Sounds like a good idea.
I'd be really interested, though Newcastle is not exactly Sydney.


As i've purchased an excel and at this stage will only be competing in club hill climbs etc with the MG car club Newcaslte.

[ernysp76]

I was talking about the clubs looking at getting an Excel or two. JC was very involved in developing the Junior Development program (not sure of the actual name) but it has been extremely well received by the clubs that use it. We have a new club in East Gippsland that are using paddocks up around Swifts Creek to run this program, they picked up a few cars through the local wreckers and are running regular events.

I really like the idea and believe it has merit.

[Mooa42]

In Victoria CAMS currently runs a junior pentathalon series where competitors get points for competing in multi club events in each of the following five disciplines; motorkhana, khanacross, autocross, hillclimb and sprint. Competitors get points for their highest finishing position in each discipline during the year. The highest possible score is 100 with 20 points given for first in each discipline. This means that competitors don't have to compete in the same events or at the same venues to score points and can compete in multiple events of the same discipline during the year to improve their highest score for that discipline.

I think a system along similar lines could work for the Excels except maybe only 3 disciplines and the 2 highest scores counted from each discipline, (max 120 points with motorkhana, khanacross and autocross). I don't see any reason why there couldn't be a junior and senior division with exisiting rally cars also able to compete. This would make it easier for the series to get off the ground while numbers build up. I think vehicle regs should be "up to" Excel rally regs; that is cages, seats, harnesses are not required, but can be used, and modifications are restricted to the same constraints as the series around engine, exhausts, diffs etc.

At the Bendigo club we currently have 5 junior cars that are available to use at no extra cost, juniors just need to have a club member sitting beside them during competition, (we believe that it is a minor investment for the club to get juniors involved) I think an Excel would be a perfect junior car from a clubs perspective, firstly because they are so reliable and cheap to get parts for and secondly because they are a great pathway into rallying.

I am happy to help to get this off the ground in Vic and draft some initial national regs if this is of any help and people believe it has merit.
Tony

[Rallymel85]

I remember when i was doing Motorkhanas a few years ago and PAC had a couple of cars that were available for the juniors to use?
I thought that was one of the best ideas as it got them involved, they were having fun, but they were learning things as well like car control.
Dad got me into Motorkhanas when I got my L's coz i kept hitting kerbs. After a few events that stopped, i had better control and was able to handle a car and judge things.
I think if we can get say 1 excel in vic and have it as a group car to encourage an interest in the series it would be a great idea!!!
The more people the stronger the series and the better chance it has at survival.

[superwoman]

II think if we can get say 1 excel in vic and have it as a group car to encourage an interest in the series it would be a great idea!!!
The more people the stronger the series and the better chance it has at survival.

Mel, that was pure poetry and a very clear solution to the issue!! Great initiative and excellent suggestion. I would be in for sure on any level to encourage the growth of the team an the development of the drivers- I'm one of the people who needs to do these activities and would benefit immediately from a programme and a team commitment.

Good on you Mel.
Kat:)

[Whitey]

I think a penthalon concept is the way to go as people can compete in their local events and submit results for scoring in each disipline.
Possibly have "The Bay" Intro rally as a compulsory double points round to bring everyone competing together at least once.


Where can we find a copy of the VIC pentathlon regs?

[Mooa42]

Regs available here or attached.

http://www.cams.com.au/downloads/VIC/2106.pdf

[Glenn]

That's great input everyone! Keep the ideas flowing.

I like the idea of the pentathlon, but one of the aims of something like this would be to foster the series as well as encourage people to enter.

I think we'd lose something if people were competing individually and not being assisted, supported and encouraged by others.

.....hmmmm more to think about.

[Mooa42]

That's great input everyone! Keep the ideas flowing.


I think we'd lose something if people were competing individually and not being assisted, supported and encouraged by others.

.....hmmmm more to think about.

Maybe all we need to do is nominate which events will carry potential points for the series and either ensure that an Excel competitor or representative attends each one, or ensure that they are held at clubs with current Excel competitors as members?

[Glenn]

Yep. I think that makes sense. Maybe we can make it a best 6 out of 10 results count type deal.

[Rallymel85]

In vic there are Group 5 series in Motorkhana, Autocross and sprints which are very friendly and helpful atmosphere, maybe we could look at tagging along to those as part of the Excel series.

[wagonist]

I think it's a great idea.
As much as I've enjoyed working on the car to build it, I'm doing it to USE it.
And a few more events per year would help with learning to drive the car, etc.
But not everyone is able to make every event, so allowing people to skip events if necessary will help keeping involvement up.