It isn't all together at this point (the program).
Basically, you have to register in advance. So that is why you are seeing my name there.
Why did I register ?
I wanted to do some events as abroad (as I did last year) because unless I do, (i.e. unless ANY north americans do) we will always, always be behind everyone else because we DO NOT have enough events with notes (3 a year between canada and the US aint gonna make any difference at all). Organizer supplied notes is a start, but a North American champion (not saying anything here) it does not make. 3 events a year is not the way to be competitive with the same guys who are beating us all. Not that I ever think I could be (i.e. David is one of 5 'B' drivers from the UK including Burns, McCrae, etc.). But I would like to at least get the best from myself, whatever that may be.
In the UK I do not expect to do well (lets be serious) but I dont care, I am doing this to learn the notes. I also have to learn FWD and RHD (I can't use LHD because I am doing a one-make series, the 206 Peugeot Cup www.peugeotsportuk.com). So it wont be easy. And I am basically screwed for most of the time, in terms of results. But the learning experience in one year will equal 3 seasons of doing CNAR (Canada/US). And like I said, the mission is to learn notes because I know how much of a difference it can make after Australia (Cherokee, at least for me, wasn't about notes I had other issues). Plus the guys in the one-make series seem to run it for like 3 years straight before they win. So it insn't about the series itself, but the experience.
The reason to switch to the one-make series is because of cost, and money. I can't afford to run a Grp N car, (well I almost could justify it for maybe one event, but what would be the point). For the same cost of one event I can do the whole season in the 206 one-make (it is subsidised). but even then, I still do not currenly have plans to do the whole thing. As well, running in a 'fast car' would be a waste of time since I would be so far behind anyhow. I also have ZERO tarmac experience except Brockway which means that is another negative
I know people might not understand what I am doing here, but I think it is the only way to develop. I hate to say it, but here at home, unless you have unlimited pockets (and I truly mean unlimited), and then are still willing to get beat with no hope of improving yourself, (and are happy about it) what are you suposed to do ? I guess I could sign up for a zillion days at rally schools, (outside of North Aemerica) but I want to move as fast as I can. Time flies you know !
No one can honestly expect to even be relatively competitive (it isn't just that you get beat, but it is more like 3s per mile) on noted events. Even 'our top guys' i.e. Ramana/Seamus/Rhys were all an order of magnitude behind (in my opinion, please dont flame me on this I can provide evidence from a zillion other rallies). When I was in Australia I drove as good as I could with the notes and still was sitting in 8th. And still getting beaten by 1.5-2s/km by the top guys. At a level which would easily net a top 3 in the US (people dont beleive me but rarely are you going flat out - it was proven I crashed and how many times have you seen me crash at home). Go figure. I want to improve. It isn't to say that I won't at home, but the fact of the matter is, I will not be in a position to learn how to make my own notes at home, even if I spend 10 times more than what I am spending here. SPending the 10x would only get me one or 2 off-quotes on a rarely shown TV show and maybe discourage me enough to quite alltogether. Never mind the problem about finding the $$. And never mind the problem about not learning how to anything except a 'club-level' thing everywhere else (Organizer supplied notes).
Don't get me wrong, I am not criticizing anything, I still enter the events and I am happy to do that. I am just being blatant about the fact that there is no 'ladder', well, maybe a 'ladder' for one, but no real ladder even for the one who has a chance.
I tried to keep it quiet because I know I am gonna get my ass spanked ! Oh well... the sponsor/media announcements aren't going out for another 2 weeks. I also wanted to low key it because I thought maybe some people wouldn't understand my motivations (until I explained it all in the PR etc.)
At this point I am only commited for one event, to see how it goes. You can unload the Cup seats very easily (sometimes more than you paid for them) - the limited 30 cars were oversubsribed ! Oh and did I mention the engines are sealed, cages built all by the same guy, VERY TIGHTLY controlled spec, limited number of tires at each rally (all supplied at random to everyone) etc. etc. You can't really outspend the other guy except in testing, and since the cars aren't ready.. that makes it kinda hard ! So it is a 'level playing field', something you saw me screaming for on this forum last year (restrictors), something that doesn't exist in the US (it kinda does in Canada, with the 34). That's my $0.02 and sorry for the long letter, I am offline most of the time now but someone's email (thanks Brian) alerted me to this.
-Pat
Basically, you have to register in advance. So that is why you are seeing my name there.
Why did I register ?
I wanted to do some events as abroad (as I did last year) because unless I do, (i.e. unless ANY north americans do) we will always, always be behind everyone else because we DO NOT have enough events with notes (3 a year between canada and the US aint gonna make any difference at all). Organizer supplied notes is a start, but a North American champion (not saying anything here) it does not make. 3 events a year is not the way to be competitive with the same guys who are beating us all. Not that I ever think I could be (i.e. David is one of 5 'B' drivers from the UK including Burns, McCrae, etc.). But I would like to at least get the best from myself, whatever that may be.
In the UK I do not expect to do well (lets be serious) but I dont care, I am doing this to learn the notes. I also have to learn FWD and RHD (I can't use LHD because I am doing a one-make series, the 206 Peugeot Cup www.peugeotsportuk.com). So it wont be easy. And I am basically screwed for most of the time, in terms of results. But the learning experience in one year will equal 3 seasons of doing CNAR (Canada/US). And like I said, the mission is to learn notes because I know how much of a difference it can make after Australia (Cherokee, at least for me, wasn't about notes I had other issues). Plus the guys in the one-make series seem to run it for like 3 years straight before they win. So it insn't about the series itself, but the experience.
The reason to switch to the one-make series is because of cost, and money. I can't afford to run a Grp N car, (well I almost could justify it for maybe one event, but what would be the point). For the same cost of one event I can do the whole season in the 206 one-make (it is subsidised). but even then, I still do not currenly have plans to do the whole thing. As well, running in a 'fast car' would be a waste of time since I would be so far behind anyhow. I also have ZERO tarmac experience except Brockway which means that is another negative
I know people might not understand what I am doing here, but I think it is the only way to develop. I hate to say it, but here at home, unless you have unlimited pockets (and I truly mean unlimited), and then are still willing to get beat with no hope of improving yourself, (and are happy about it) what are you suposed to do ? I guess I could sign up for a zillion days at rally schools, (outside of North Aemerica) but I want to move as fast as I can. Time flies you know !
No one can honestly expect to even be relatively competitive (it isn't just that you get beat, but it is more like 3s per mile) on noted events. Even 'our top guys' i.e. Ramana/Seamus/Rhys were all an order of magnitude behind (in my opinion, please dont flame me on this I can provide evidence from a zillion other rallies). When I was in Australia I drove as good as I could with the notes and still was sitting in 8th. And still getting beaten by 1.5-2s/km by the top guys. At a level which would easily net a top 3 in the US (people dont beleive me but rarely are you going flat out - it was proven I crashed and how many times have you seen me crash at home). Go figure. I want to improve. It isn't to say that I won't at home, but the fact of the matter is, I will not be in a position to learn how to make my own notes at home, even if I spend 10 times more than what I am spending here. SPending the 10x would only get me one or 2 off-quotes on a rarely shown TV show and maybe discourage me enough to quite alltogether. Never mind the problem about finding the $$. And never mind the problem about not learning how to anything except a 'club-level' thing everywhere else (Organizer supplied notes).
Don't get me wrong, I am not criticizing anything, I still enter the events and I am happy to do that. I am just being blatant about the fact that there is no 'ladder', well, maybe a 'ladder' for one, but no real ladder even for the one who has a chance.
I tried to keep it quiet because I know I am gonna get my ass spanked ! Oh well... the sponsor/media announcements aren't going out for another 2 weeks. I also wanted to low key it because I thought maybe some people wouldn't understand my motivations (until I explained it all in the PR etc.)
At this point I am only commited for one event, to see how it goes. You can unload the Cup seats very easily (sometimes more than you paid for them) - the limited 30 cars were oversubsribed ! Oh and did I mention the engines are sealed, cages built all by the same guy, VERY TIGHTLY controlled spec, limited number of tires at each rally (all supplied at random to everyone) etc. etc. You can't really outspend the other guy except in testing, and since the cars aren't ready.. that makes it kinda hard ! So it is a 'level playing field', something you saw me screaming for on this forum last year (restrictors), something that doesn't exist in the US (it kinda does in Canada, with the 34). That's my $0.02 and sorry for the long letter, I am offline most of the time now but someone's email (thanks Brian) alerted me to this.
-Pat
