New
BCV8 regulations for 2012 will ban wide slick tyred MGV8s
For
V8 enthusiasts slick shod Class D fully modified 450bhp plus MGBV8s in action
on the track are clearly a crowd pleasing sight and sound they enjoy a great deal,
but the economic realities of running Club race meetings these days are a sobering
prospect. The reality is there are a few fast front running fully modified V8s
but insufficient in number to fill a grid of their own, they are difficult to
amalgamate with other cars on other grids and there are signs they are discouraging
a broader range of MGBs from entering our Club motor racing events. Putting on
motor race meetings involves a considerable financial outlay for our Club, in
fact over half the Club's annual expenditure, so you have to fill the grids. The
economics are it’s a volume sensitive business – getting the revenue
from entrance fees from the last few places on each grid can mean the difference
between a race meeting covering its costs or making a loss.
See the V8BB thread on this topic. More
Encouraging
new entrants with standard cars is vital
As the co-founder of the BCV8
Championship in 1974, I hope the BCV8 Championship continues to thrive as one
of the original aims was to provide a way for Club members with standard or near
standard cars to be new entrants as they are the lifeblood of future Club motorsport.
For my part I am not sure I would feel comfortable being back on the track in
a standard car with the speed differentials we have seen in recent years!
Victor Smith
Early years of the BCV8 Championship from its formation in 1974. More
MG
Car Club race meeting dates for 2012. More
Updated: 090112
Posted: 070112
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 | The
BCV8 Championship organisers have announced regulation changes for 2012 which
will limit the currently slick shod Class D fully modified 450bhp plus MGBV8s
to 7" rims and 225 profile treaded tyres. The reduction from 10" rims
allows the standard body | shape
to be reinstated. So the real change relates to the wheels and tyres since the
engines are to remain basically the same. Inevitably there has been an outcry
from a few who do not want the spectacle of very rapid V8s to end. But many more
MGB and V8 enthusiasts will appreciate the real need for change to ensure BCV8
racing can continue as a sustainable form of Club motor racing which is affordable
for both the Club and entrants, improves safety by reducing dangerous speed differentials
and encourages more standard specification cars. So what is behind these changes
and what are the underlying aims?
Over recent years the BCV8 Championship
has run five classes with Class D featuring some heavily modified V8 powered cars
on slick tyres which are far faster than the other standard or modestly modified
cars running on treaded rubber. Whilst they are without doubt spectacular to watch
with their astonishing speed approaching and through corners with the grip from
the very wide slick tyres, there are only a few Class D cars. There has been growing
concern that the number of cars within the overall Championship has fallen with
the result small BCV8 grids have had to be amalgamated with other events. It's
felt likely potential entrants with more standard cars and FIA historic spec cars
are put off joining by the prospect of running on the same piece of circuit tarmac
as the powerful V8s. The performance spread is also a safety concern for the team
responsible for race control. So the Championship committee's view was the lack
of success in attracting some of the many MGBs entering other race events was
due in some measure to this performance differential. |
 | The
Championship committee's way forward is to reduce the extent of permitted modifications
to those seen on the well-known yellow MGBGTV8 prepared and entered by the late
Roy McCarthy running on treaded tyres with a standard body silhouette. In that
form | the
car would also be acceptable outside the Championship due in part to the lack
of visible body modifications. Most importantly the performance differential will
be significantly reduced when compared with the other lower classes in the Championship.
So in its revised form the Club's BCV8 Championship will have four classes:
Class A for standard cars, Class AB for FIA and semi standard cars,
Class B for road modified MGBs, MGCs and standard V8s and Class C
for fully modified cars with the rim size and tyre profile constraints. All cars
will run on treaded tyres. The hope is these revisions will enable the BCV8 Championship
to attract better entrant numbers, achieve full grids so race meetings will continue
to be economically viable and encourage more owners of standard cars to enter
events either as former competitors or as owners taking up Club motor racing,
and continue to provide interesting and close motor racing for spectators. |
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