SHORT CIRCUIT ACTION NEEDED
Short circuit action needed
TOP level short circuit racing in Ulster desperately needs the kiss of life!
Following a season of dwindling attendances and declining grids, most administrators realise that some swift action is needed.
In particular the premier division of racing, the National Championships, is teetering on the brink of total collapse.
' Conversely, the Clubmans version of racing is flourishing.
For the past five years these two categories of racing have been kept apart and held on separate days.
Now there's a quick fix solution, or so it would seem - combine the two groups but still have graded races on the same day.
That's the view expressed by Jim Cray, who is the chairman of the Ulster Centre.
"There's no doubt that the national meetings just couldn't survive under the present format," said Cray. "I'll admit that there is no easy solution to satisfy everybody. But it makes sense to combine both strands of racing although I doubt if it will be practical for each class to have two races as was the case in the past."
This idea received little support when it was put to a riders' meeting last month.
A radical re-think is required and in that respect the Coleraine Club has come up with some interesting proposals.
Firstly, the upper limit for a solo machine to be increased to l000cc, secondly the Irish Clubmans Championship to continue without change, thirdly the national championships to be reshaped and fourthly that in each month from April through to September there should be one championship national road race, one championship national short circuit and one championship clubmans short circuit.
There is now a plethora of road races, all with championship status, within the Southern Centre throughout July and August.
Looking at the third proposal in relation to the national championship, the Coleraine Club suggest six classes - 125, 250, 600, Pre-90, Open (250-l000cc) and Sidecars.
Prize money would be �120 a win apart from the senior class where the winner would pick up �500. Should he be on board either a 250 or standard 600 bike there would be an additional �200.
According to Antrim rider, Raymond Beers, these proposals from the Coleraine Club have not been given a proper airing.
"In fact, they've been swept under the carpet," said Beers. "But I go along with them and I've been urging other riders to encourage their clubs to do likewise. Whatever happens, we must not combine the clubmen and the national meetings."
And to compound the present problem more Ulster riders are likely to miss the national races in favour of the British championship where there will be free entries for 125 and 250cc competitors next year. And the insurance charges are likely to be waived as well.
The Ulster Centre certainly have a dearth of dilemmas on their hands to such an extent that next month's AGM should produce some lively debate.
Incidentally, Beers and his fellow Dundrod Club officials have donated �2,500, the proceeds of their Irish Championship meeting at the end of September, to the Omagh Bomb Victims Fund.
TOP level short circuit racing in Ulster desperately needs the kiss of life!
Following a season of dwindling attendances and declining grids, most administrators realise that some swift action is needed.
In particular the premier division of racing, the National Championships, is teetering on the brink of total collapse.
' Conversely, the Clubmans version of racing is flourishing.
For the past five years these two categories of racing have been kept apart and held on separate days.
Now there's a quick fix solution, or so it would seem - combine the two groups but still have graded races on the same day.
That's the view expressed by Jim Cray, who is the chairman of the Ulster Centre.
"There's no doubt that the national meetings just couldn't survive under the present format," said Cray. "I'll admit that there is no easy solution to satisfy everybody. But it makes sense to combine both strands of racing although I doubt if it will be practical for each class to have two races as was the case in the past."
This idea received little support when it was put to a riders' meeting last month.
A radical re-think is required and in that respect the Coleraine Club has come up with some interesting proposals.
Firstly, the upper limit for a solo machine to be increased to l000cc, secondly the Irish Clubmans Championship to continue without change, thirdly the national championships to be reshaped and fourthly that in each month from April through to September there should be one championship national road race, one championship national short circuit and one championship clubmans short circuit.
There is now a plethora of road races, all with championship status, within the Southern Centre throughout July and August.
Looking at the third proposal in relation to the national championship, the Coleraine Club suggest six classes - 125, 250, 600, Pre-90, Open (250-l000cc) and Sidecars.
Prize money would be �120 a win apart from the senior class where the winner would pick up �500. Should he be on board either a 250 or standard 600 bike there would be an additional �200.
According to Antrim rider, Raymond Beers, these proposals from the Coleraine Club have not been given a proper airing.
"In fact, they've been swept under the carpet," said Beers. "But I go along with them and I've been urging other riders to encourage their clubs to do likewise. Whatever happens, we must not combine the clubmen and the national meetings."
And to compound the present problem more Ulster riders are likely to miss the national races in favour of the British championship where there will be free entries for 125 and 250cc competitors next year. And the insurance charges are likely to be waived as well.
The Ulster Centre certainly have a dearth of dilemmas on their hands to such an extent that next month's AGM should produce some lively debate.
Incidentally, Beers and his fellow Dundrod Club officials have donated �2,500, the proceeds of their Irish Championship meeting at the end of September, to the Omagh Bomb Victims Fund.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/369
Published Date: 16-Nov-98
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