Its nearly that time of year again the annual November meeting at Hednesford, which will no doubt attract ooh about 25 cars.......

I have often wondered what it is about hednesford that makes it struggle so badly for cars, its is fairly close to the motorway and has big pits. And for the November meeting the crowd is simply HUGE the place will be bursting as usual, a great oppurtunity to showcase our product to all those people within easy distance of Birmingham and Coventry that dont usually go to meetings. I live about 5 mins from hednesford and this meeting is the biggest fireworks event in the area by far so generates huge local intrest.
The last two meetings i have been to they have used an all in format and it really worked as 25-26 cars in a race is a great spectacle around there, with lots of action.

Nearing the end of my ramble, i am just wondering if anyone knows why it has such a low turnout campared to all the other tarmac tracks in the same kind of area Birmingham, Northampton, Buxton???

This meeting would be a great oppurtunity for the old rolling lap waving at the crown routine, with Dave g getting the crown to do the same to build the atmoshere i think aswell

Sorry this was so long lol

think the fact that its such a big track a lot of the drivers who can keep up at brum and northampton have no chance of doing so round the big oval against the guys with top engines which do take some stick at hednesford . also added to the fact that in reality this is a out of season meeting with no points awarded and it comes after cov all adds up to why so few cars turn up . shame really cause the spectacle of a big field of F1s flying round there takes your breath away .

Must admit I really wanted to do Hednesford again this year (I think there's a piece of fence about 1ft square I didn't hit last time, and I wanted to go for the full house!). Unfortunatley, damage to the car and potential engine damage (as yet uncheckeded after Skeg) means my car's being taken to bits ready for winter now.

Personally I loved the place, it's bl00dy hard work but it certainly focuses the mind

There has always been a natural slow down after the WF (helped now by the addition of the '088wqcr late season) but many drivers (me included) do start to struggle with the committment and finding the finance needed by this time of year. It's not a moan you understand, just the way it is unfortunatley.[url][/url]

I would'nt really put it down to competative engines - it's like all the tracks, if you have sufficient reliable power then engine wise you should be cool, but it is a tad unforgiving on set up. The track is faster (we change gear ratio for Hednesford and Knockhill) and any set up issues really slow you down relative to the big boys. I've said before, I was asked in the Hednesford pits by a driver how Si were faster than him using a 454 Small Block with 700+ bhp and mega torque (we have 540 bhp) - believe me everything does not come down to bhp!

Thanks for the replies and i can certainly understand both the finance and comiment issues for many drivers at this time of year. I imagine it is tough for many drivers to make it o track for all the qualifiers and big event let alone all the other meetings.

Still in April i believe about 50 cars raced at Birmingham on the Saturday and on Sunday at hednesford there were only around 26 cars if i remeber correctly, and both were WQR.

Please dont think this is a moan of any kind, i am just intrested to find out the resons for the low turn out.

And i believe i have already found some thanks to your replys

I went to HEDNESFORD for the first time earlier in the yearand i think its definately the best tar track,and as for a spectator the viewing is fantastic!!!It really is a shame that it suffers with car numbers.I suppose its a case of the Sheffield and Belle Vue syndrome(low numbers).To me these are my favourite 3 tracks.

Ive been to the last 4 Hednesford F1 meetings and they have all been well worth going to. The November meeting is one I look forward to and even if we get enough for all in races it will still be good racing I'm sure. I can still picture in my mind how fast Lundy's old tarmac warhorse was hurtling round Hedno last year I reckon he finished 2nd in the final behind Willie Peeters.

[quote="stockfan501"]

Still in April i believe about 50 cars raced at Birmingham on the Saturday and on Sunday at hednesford there were only around 26 cars if i remeber correctly, and both were WQR.

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No the last Hednesford (when 515 rolled) there were about 40 cars in the pits which is about right for a sunday meeting after a meeting the night before. I think April 2006 there were pushing 50 cars.
You look at most Sunday meetings and I would say 30-40 cars is about average. Fact is that for this Sundays meeting all the titles have been raced alredy and like mike said to find the funds expecially when the meeting dont count for anything at the end of the season etc.

I think the main reasons for the lack of cars at the November meeting, is number 1, its after Coventry its not good planning to run tarmac after shale, and the other main reason, number2, is that its a non point scoring meeting, so drivers dont bother.

Its usually a good meeting the november one even if it was a little cold last year.

is there a drivers list yet

The booking list is usually on the icarace site thursday night or friday morning.

make sure you bring your woolies, it will be mighty cold here on Sunday i expect!!