NEW BIG SIX DRIVER AT ASHBY

[NumanR]

On Sunday I was lucky enough to win the big 6 prize at the btcc meeting at Milton Keynes.

Because I have been very lucky already this year I have given it to Belinda Tebbutt, and she will be racing it at Ashby for the last round. Belinda races at the North Norfolk Model Racing Club, and will be showing the boys how its done. If you have a big 6 why not enter the last round of the btcc at Ashby (Sept 28th) See the Ashby web-site for details.

[MarkB]

There were some good discussions at Milton Keynes on how to attract more drivers to race Big 6 (and keep those we've got I guess).

Jason and I "retired" last year to focus on one class (top two in series cannot be wrong) and give others a chance. This doesn't seem to have attracted a flood of entries.

What would make you want to race Big 6...?

Brushless motors?

Team drivers to race against...?

Cheers
MarkB

[Badger_Ben]

I did consider buying one, and what put me off was the few times i would get to race it, but with my mission i can race once a week, sometimes twice, indoors and outdoors.

I still get tempted to having one, but if I come to a venue where there is big six racing i can also race my mission, and have never had much success racing two cars on the same day.

So to make me want to race big 6 more races to go to.

[bob burr]

Mark do you think the BTCC will be running big 6 next year ?.
This year there have only been 5 or 6 drivers and some of them are doing 2 classes, now im not trying to kill it off but with the reserve list Bedworth had this year, i would rather have put on an extra 27t heat with 10 cars in, than 5 big 6 cars ?
Knowing the entries for the BTCC i cant see it droping of next year, as it seems to be the most popular touring car series at the moment.

[MarkB]

Which is why we wanted to start this discussion off now Bob ::)

Unless more racers come on board to race Big 6, then you're right the class is in danger of being dropped. Now there are people who have put a lot of time and money into Big 6 racing this year. They and others planning to race next year deserve to know early if there is enough interest.

Last year we got a full grid of 9-10 cars at most BTCC meetings, and that justified a "heat" as you say Bob.

Personally I stopped racing Big 6 as racing two cars and writing a race report was simply too much in one day. I also hoped others would see the chance to win a BTCC class, but based on conversations at MK realised a "team driver" to race against may be more of an incentive than I thought.

So come on guys (and girls ;)) - lets talk about what you want!

Cheers
MarkB

[Bish]

Bob / Mark,

I'd already decided that I'll be doing some of the BIG6 rounds next year if Schumacher run a series. But that means I won't be doing 1/10th because trying to run 2 cars really is too much effort (tried before).



Bish (MK Club)

[bob burr]

One solution may be to state at least 8 cars entered at each meet for this class to run ?.
Dont forget with the Big6 you now have 4 classes racing at BTCC meets.

[NumanR]

Perhaps clubs could encourage drivers to race them. How many clubs put heats on for the big 6? How many drivers would race them if they could race them at their club meetings? How many clubs have possibly turned potential drivers away because they won't try something new?

[bob burr]

We tried to get them racing at Bedworth last year but no one seemed interested ?

[NumanR]

Well at least you tried Bob, perhaps it just needs another try or some help from Schumacher? How many drivers were interested in trying them out? In my experience once you have had a go with one its hard to let go. Maybe if you didnt mind you could ask again and see what response you get and let us know why people buy them but dont race them?

[NumanR]

Ben, just checked the Schumacher points scores and your not listed, why not enter next year with a big 6, and use it as a second car? I tried to run two cars the first year and couldnt do it, decided to concentrate on big 6, last year and this. I know for a fact a few drivers will be concentrating on the big 6 championship, and leaving their touring cars at home. Why not join us?

[Bish]

Hi,

We ran a BIG6 series this year at MK as there are about 5 of us who have one. In fact the last round is on 21st September - feel free to come along. Unfortunately not everybody could attend every round (holidays etc). I think a couple of times we only had two.

I believe we will continue though and run a series next year - so if anyone is interested check our web site early next year.

Bish

[bob burr]

Unfortunatley thats the problem ? 2 cars, as the Big 6 cannot be run with other cars, at our club meets we will try and accomadate anyone that turns up eg buggies F1s etc and run them in with the tourers, you cant do that with a big 6.
To put a heat on for them on one of our seies we would need a min of 5 doing all the series to make it viable.

[Tim Branigan]

I did post it somewhere else but due to my rubbish year with my tourer I will be dragging the big 6 out of the box for Ashby. But not with new tyres on though. Can remember having 2 heats of big 6 there one year.

[NumanR]

Speaking personally, we now have 4 big 6 drivers from North Norfolk Model Racing Club, and we only race them in the BTCC. We race scale saloons indoors on carpet, and the only time we race outside is at the BTCC meetings. We do the btcc for fun, every round except Snetterton means getting up at three in the morning to drive to the track. We have a brilliant time, enjoy ourselves and meet some great people. this season we have 8 drivers and next season who knows? By the way if anyone wants to come and look at the big 6 or needs help then come over to the Desira van (big silver thing) and say hello.

[NumanR]

Great to hear that Tim I meant to ask at MK, see you at Ashby.

[Garry]

I think to get more people running the car, Schumacher need to heavily push the chassis as a race car, and maybe sponsor me and Mark G for next year? ;D

Seriously, I've taken the Lotus to clubs around where I live, and most people don't have a clue what it is, never mind knowing that they can be raced!

I also think that a new body is needed, something like a 2003 spec Elise, or maybe some TVR's? Must be British though......

Cheers!

[MarkB]

Nice try Garry ;)

Seems to me we're still not sure what thing (or things) would make newcomers race Big 6 in the BTCC. Personally I like the idea of a new shell for example - is the Elise shell stopping people from racing the car, and would a new shell (lets park the cost of licencing and tooling up for now) attract lots more people?

The Big 6 class gets a lot of coverage in the magazines (not just me - thanks also to Luke!), something you'd have to be seriously fast to get in modified and other classes. So it doesn't seem to be lack of column inches?

Could be fewer people are aware of them Garry - so how would we fix that? The first year of Big 6 was demonstration races at BTCC rounds - great fun and people would stop and watch them just for the fun of it...

I'll be at Ashby Saturday pm and Sunday (if I look busy please understand there is a championship to settle :D) - so lets talk, and especially about how to attract new comers.

Cheers
MarkB

[NumanR]

I emailed Joan at Ashby lasty week and they are expecting at least nine drivers in big6 so hopefully we may have a full grid!

[Garry]

Sure, I'll come over and have a chat!

Mark G - Should 9 cars give us enough room to play for the title? Especially after WLRC?

[NumanR]

I would prefer a full grid, but 9 will do. It should be quite good because if all goes to plan the leaders should start lapping cars around the 3 1/2 minute mark. Unfortunately the weather seems like it will be a factor. Best get your wets out Garry.

[tonynearly49]

Hi All
I have just been looking at the posts about raising the profile of Big 6. A lot has been said about seeing them race could increase interest but the only ones who get to see them race are other drivers who are already doing the other classes apart from at Snetterton where they seem to attract a good deal of interest amongst the gen public :). Following this line of thought i realised that on the many occations I have visited our local model shop, here in Newark, that they are selling a fair number of the Nitro Monster Truck and perhaps the main reason for this is that the shop has them on display, in the window and hanging from the rafters (yes its an old shop :D).
Could it not be an idea for the current drivers, following Ashby approach there local shop and suggest that they display/hang their cars (minus electrics) and even have a picture of the driver with trophies, to promote the class or better yet could Schumacher approach shops and offer one for display. By doing this it should raise the profile of the Big6 as a race car and also fun car and lead to improved sales.

see you all at Ashby

Garry's Dad.

[NumanR]

I have been thinking of finding out how much a carbon chassis would cost to get rid of the weight? Any ideas where we could try, sheet would be no good as we must have an angle on the front.

[DA_cookie_monstA]

Only place I know, is hansel composites (Fibre Lyte), and if there is enough of you to make it worth his while, he will knock of a batch for you too, making it a little cheaper probably.

I know down in South Wales, the guy who sells a load of Mardave stuff, when the Cobra came out, got a batch of Carbon chassis made up, including the front kickup,

[MarkB]

I've used Fibre-Lyte products before, and they were good quality. Wuold be quite thick carbon needed for rigidity?

One thing - the Alloy Big 6 chassis seems to be the main heatsink (when the L-shaped heatsink is added anyhow) and I noticed it got warm a fair way up the chassis. Would you lose this motor cooling with a carbon-version?

Cheers
MarkB

[NumanR]

Thanks cookie

[DA_cookie_monstA]

Yes, you would lose that heatsink conductivity with the carbon chassis, and you may have to rethink how the engine is bolted (maybe some rubber anti-vibe sheet under the mounts) otherwise the vibration could cause delamination.

[NumanR]

No problem cookie this is the electric beast

[Garry]

2 ways to do it - either take a load of meat off the purple chassis to lose weight, or get a flat carbon chassis, then ask SChumacher to mould some sort of blocks to to the castor back on.

Who knows, maybe different angle blocks for adjustable castor?

The only time this year I had problems with hgeat was at WLRC the second time, whe the brush unsoldered when I was on for TQ in R2. It was an exceptionally hot day then, but I don't know if Mark/Stuart have heat issues.

[DA_cookie_monstA]

Numan, if it is an electric beast, then get a carbon chassis made, using a brand new chassis as a mould so you get the correct kick up, you could even include a top deck too, to increase stiffness further, without much weight.