Keith Barletts letter on ED

[Turn7]

From my POV as a spectator, I can fully appreciate the points he is making.

Would I feel the same if I had invested ££££ into a racecar ? Probably not.

To me, the Easter meet has always been a "shakedown" type event anyway, so I dont expect big numbers of track records.

Regardless of how you view KB, there can no doubt SPR looks waaay better than it ever did, and that takes money. Lots of it.

[Turbobird1]

it was like racing at the euro finals with the amount of people on the bank Saturday, all of those people paid to get in and as the boss says the security of the facility for the year is on a good footing, It is a business and what was needed was done,

[double trouble]

I agree with the above statements just don,t make it a points round for the sportsman. Give them the choice to test just like the pro,s

[Largeeng]

It's difficult to disagree with Keith's letter and I would say his reasoning is spot on.
Case in point; I have a friend who has been wanting to come to the pod to see us race for a while now, but having 5 kids means it is difficult to get away. He saw the promotion for the Easter meet, saw all the 'extra' attractions and that kids get in free, decided to come along. Talking to him after he was very happy with his day at the Pod, all those non racing bits, circus, monster trucks, fairground, jet cars etc kept his kids entertained for the day and obviously bode well for a future visit.
For me the reducing the event by one day is a good thing, it leaves bank holiday Monday free to spend with family etc. It is just unfortunate that the rains came on Sunday spoiling eliminations.

[37chevy]

Completely agree, yeh it sucks for the sportsmen racers, but without the other attractions the event probably wouldn't exist. I don't know of any 'club' racing in the uk that can boast the same levels of spectator attendence. Look at circuit racing and it's only the btcc, bsb and British gt in the uk that gets a decent crowd. The rest of the race series attract very small crowds with competitors having to pay nearly 400 quid for a 15 minute race. Eventually the circuit has to recoup it's costs from somewhere, if it's not from fans then it would have to come from increasing entry fees....racers wouldn't like that (I know I wouldn't anyway!)

Personally I think santa pod does a fantastic job in promoting and running and 'event'...all the side shows add a massive amount to the weekend

[firewalker]

Although I can (and do) grumble about a few changes over the years from a spectating viewpoint (as in it's an ever diminishing one!), the vast majority of improvements are not overlooked.
On the whole over the last decade I've never doubted that SPR and drag racing in the UK is in good and devoted hands, worthy of any support and long may it continue.
Many points well spelt out by KB.

[Mark13]

Everything I am involved with in sport faces the same issues. Decisions will always split opinions and anyone with the task of taking a sport/team/league forward will meet resistance.
The decisions are all about the future and when you make those decisions you fix your mind on what you are ultimately trying to create and not the short term issues that might stop you or generate some short term inconvenience. Resistance to change is like a disease and some peoples brains are hard wired that way lol