depends what you are doing; racing or trying to be competitive. Minus bike cost, I worked out c10k for a season all entries, travel, extra test days, tyres, extra few bits like spare wheels, plus 1k for crash damage. But that would have been wobbling around at the back, not competing with the mad men at the front.

Until I sold you that lovely Ohlins ;) .... I should really stop helping you guys go faster!!

ha yep helped a little but the front was the hazard ;)

back in the spirit of DD - I took some advice from Mr 'make it fit' Skids and cut the springs down removing the progressive elemnet of them and the messed with spacers with the help of Chris P at Brands (I think) and its made a world of difference, it almost goes where I point it now! :lol:

I think this is also what would make newbies like me be attracted to the series; lots of helpful advice as hands on help to get you going.

Just not the last bend at Anglesey? ;)

nope, that was EXACTLY where I was pointing it!! :burn: :lol:

Old budget based trick I've been doing it to race bikes since 1997

That on a 696 and I'm back ;)

Trouble is that you could describe such a callendar as "geographically limited"!

For the most part there are no completely right answers on what the best choice of tracks is, the Club has always endevoured to provide access to the best range of tracks that we can negotiate, so the priority has always been to try and get Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Cadwell, Donnington, etc and in particular to give riders the opportunity to ride differing types of track.

Part of the problem is that I think we will find that the majority of tracks are actually south of Manchester, which does tend to favour the Southerners!

Well it's not just the majority of tracks that are south of Manchester, but also the majority of England, perhaps 3/4 is South of Manchester. Throw in economics, demographics and access and it makes sense.

Chris could you let me know if there are any sponsors this year? I remember in 2008 when I did a round there was Shell oil, just wondered if we needed any other decals on the bikes other than the DSC?

Kev (Skidlids) is your man to answer that and supply the stickers!

I'm a southerner

from my house - Brands is the only circuit that I don't have to round the M25 which is easily the worst road in the country, even at 4am I have sat for hours in traffic!. - in fact I don't think I have ever gone round the M25 without hold up's

ask Neal Catlin how long he sat on the M25 on the way to Anglesey.

Brands 20 mins
Mallory 3 hours 45 mins (+ dartford tunnel)
Anglesey 7½ hours
Snetterton 3 hours + (last year it took me 6 hours, 3 hours to get through the dartford tunnel which is quite normal)
Pembrey 5½ hours
Cadwell 4½ hours (+ dartford tunnel)
Castle Combe 3½ hours
Oulton Park 6 hours

It would be interesting to know how long it takes the Northerners (scotts not included!)

Matt,

p.s. I'm about as far South East as you can get without getting wet or speaking French

Why am I not included, I'm Northern? :(

I'm South (nr Greenwich), and the tracks from my house are:

Brands 12miles
Mallory 130miles
Anglesey 309miles
Snetterton 98miles
Pembrey 218miles
Castle Combe 98miles
Oulton 209miles
Cadwell Park 167miles

Total 1241 miles (double that if I want to come home!)
Average distance 155miles/round (again, just to get there)

I would have said that anyone living anywhere between London and Manchester would have similar journeys (on average) over the whole year. Despite living in the South, I would say the worst case (other than the extreme North!) is someone like bradders, who I would expect averages over 200miles.

My point, which I have wandered from, is that I think there is a good geographical mix that doesn't really favour Northerners or Southerners.

Exactly. Apart from Brands GP, is there a decent track within shouting distance of London?

It doesn't matter where you are in the country, you'll still have to travel if you want to ride on more than one decent track.

Having a national championship means that you might be lucky and have a "local" round, but the rest are going to cause you to travel ... and you can be sure that the rest of the entrants have exactly the same problem too!

too true, there is nothing near me. Brands is 100 miles or so and probably closest. Happy with whats there personally (except Catle Doom - may not do that round!)

I am about to start this racing game and I live in Cornwall apart from Castle combe I think Pembrey is closest (about 4 hours), can't wait!!

think yu and Steve Masion will win the 'miles travelled' awards!! Be good to see you out there. You getting to any more rounds this year? Pembrey in July....we can always find something for you to do ;)

Oulton Park 19 mins
Three Sisters 25 mins
Aintree 35 mins
Anglesey 90 mins
Donnington 90 mins
Cadwell 3hrs 30 mins

Not been anywhere else

A wee bit late to this thread, but the flying haggis says it all for me:


Now if someone could unearth a stash of 800 top ends we could have some fun.

Or how about some low-compression big-bore kits*.......:lol:


*only "funny" if you remember 2005

Brands 265
Mallory 140
Anglesey 145
Snett 263
Pemb 275
Cadwe 147
Castle 200
Oulton 55

God I'm feeling so nostalgic, I could do with doing a couple of rounds this year. :eek:

my target is to have my bike ready for Pembrey, I can't make snetterton but will be at Pembury with or without bike, always willing to give a hand if required

For me right in the centre of the country its:-

Brands 125
Mallory 18
Anglesey 200
Snetterton 122
Pembrey 200
Cadwell 103
Castle 80
Oulton 96

With my average at 155miles, Phil's being 118miles, and Neil at 186miles, it shows there is a fairly even spread around central England, resulting in more traveling the further North or South you live. No real bias, with a pretty fair spread.

Lucia and I live in NW London so pretty much the same journey as Ron's journey.... Except I always get there quicker cause Im always in a rent-a-van :roll:

For me from where we live now its:
Brands 84
Mallory 98
Anglesey 272
Snetterton 44
Pembrey 277
Cadwell 93
Castle 184
Oulton 178

Total of 1230 x 2 = 2460mls

So an average of 153.75mls to each circuit!

When we move at the end of June to Alresford nr. Winchester
Brands is similar
Mallory further
Anglesey similar (a bit further)
Snetterton loads further
Pembrey closer
Cadwell loads further
Castle Combe much closer
Oulton similar (a bit further)

Reckon it will be around 1400mls

An average of 175mls to each circuit!

No... I generally get there a day quicker than you! ;)

From Stockport

Brands - 231 miles, 4hrs
Mallory - 105 miles, 2hrs
Anglesey - 112 miles, 2hrs
Snetterton - 222 miles, 4hrs
Pembrey - 250 miles, 4hrs 30mins
Cadwell - 127 miles, 2hrs 30mins
Castle Combe - 180 miles, 3hrs
Oulton - 34 miles, 45mins

Average - 315 miles, 5hrs 40mins (return)

So all in all the spread across our fair land isn't too bad but a better idea is if we all crashed at Ghostie's house for the season. :D

Wouldn't that be fun. :eek:

Yep ;)

Sounds like a blinding idea... I'll bring the Magners!

Now your talking. :D

I'll bring the pole, who's taking care of supplying the dancers? ;)

I can sort that out... They have their own pole!

No Poles, just Latvians & Russians. :D

Craig can do that - after the jig he did at the last chicane at Doom last year!! :lol:

A majority seem to be Brazilian in London (and I'm not talking about their grooming habits!)

This thread needs pictures!! :lol:

I have been thinking of our current race regs and how to increase the field of entries for future proofing our very successful series.

As you know, we have two classes:

Class A – fuel injected 618cc capacity machines 65bhp 150kg
Class B – Carbed 583cc capacity machines 53bhp 154kg

The intent of the series (correct me if wrong), is to provide a race series for Ducati enthusiasts witth Class B for those with limited experience and Class A those with more.

Class B gets around 20-25 entries for rounds with class A 10-12 currently.

The combined grids work ok currently, shorter tracks giving rise to the number of lapped riders. Its mainly A’s doing the lapping along with certain B riders who are quick.

There have been thoughts on introducing a more current machine to the grid to activley increase the entrants in class A. The current combined grid could not continue with a vast increase in entrants from class A, the max field being 35(?) riders. Therefore an increase would nescessitate split races, potentially increasing costs.

The ages status of our current machines as also been brought into queestion. Will DD be a classic bike series in the near future without encouraging newer models into thee fold? Our nearest relations in machine type would be minitwins and in terms of cost CB500 cup. So are those the series we need to target to poach additional entries? Or, as currently, remain a ducati enthusiast series?

There are a number of newer models on the market (SSie, ST2, ST4, 800, 695, 696,796) that can be purchased from £1500 to £6000ish. SV650’s range from £1200 to £4500ish (fully prepped) and CB500’s from £500 to £1800ish.

BHP wise, minitwins are about 75-85bhp and CB500’s 50bhp. Therefore class B is the Cb500 equivalent and minitwins outgunning the class A bikes by 20bhp for a good un.

I would like to leave class B alone, run as it is with healthy grids.

Class A, does it need an injection of modernity? I would like to move upto Class A in the next season or two, just for the craic. But I can’t see Class A entries increasing without more modern machinery being available for the grid. And an increase in Class A would require ( IMHO) a separate grid, not combined, not split starts.

So to see a separate A grid would realistically require 20 plus entrants. On modern(er) machinery , with upto 85bhp, costing upto £4500 prepped. Do any of the previouslmt mentioned machines fit the bill? ST2 80ish bhp but getting long in tooth, st4 100bhp but getting long in tooth, 800ss 75bhp and getting on, 796 80bhp, 695 70bhp.


How about an 85bhp limit Class A evo? And a 53 bhp limit Class B? Two grids, to start racing in 2013 season? Buy em, build em, race em , wreck em?

Thought I would join in on the fun, all need doubled for the return trip

Brands 460 miles
Mallory 340 miles
Anglesey 345 miles
Snetterton 400 miles
Pembrey 418 miles
Castle Combe 410 miles
Oulton 260 miles
Cadwell Park 320 miles

Knockhill 5 miles:D