Hospitality - what would you like?

[Emma Cliffe]

So, we've had some feedback from some of you at the AGM and dinner, but it would be useful to get more ideas.

What I've heard so far is that it would be nice to have somewhere to congregate in the evenings and socialise with each other. The plan I have so far is come to the hospitality awning once you're ready, bringing seats, drinks, snacks etc and we'll have a natter.

Don't forget that Sarah and I also want ideas of things to do whilst at the circuit. Karaoke has already been suggested along with gravity racing (wrong way down Eau Rouge anyone?) but we want to give you want you want, so please keep the suggestions coming.

We will, of course, need to observe circuit guidelines on noise times etc so the hospitality area will run between certain times so we don't disturb others in the paddock (or so you don't stop me getting to sleep either for that matter!).

Let us know what you'd like to see and we'll try and sort it.

Emma

[andrewcliffe]

I've had an idea for something to do on a Saturday evening. Rather than a quiz, karaoke or jenga tournament how about first aid training?

Emma is a qualified first aid trainer, and I asked her if she could run a first aid course on Saturday evenings after racing has finished - say 5 to 7 or 6 to 8pm. She says she could do a 4 hour course over two weekends, this would be certificated and would be run to the guidelines issued by the H&SE (before they made it an unregulated industry).

She could train up to 12 people at a time, and has mannequins for CPR etc.,

She could tailor the course to include some of the common injuries you may get in a racing paddock - burns / scratches and how to wash a wound and what not to put on a burn, crush injuries from using tools wrongly etc.,

Whilst those on track are covered by excellent medical care, the medical centre often shuts up and goes home after racing, leaving a lot of people with little in the way of first aid experience - and we all know that people like to tinker with their cars in the evening, and accidents do happen...

Thoughts?

[petebee]

Sounds like a really good idea. How about a class on "how to drive this damn thing around a circuit in a better time?"

[stevengriffin]

What a good idea. Sorry I won't be around to help with the course. I have always believed that the safest place at a race circuit is the track. During my racing times I have been present at one racing fatality and it was a sobering and horrible day but I have come across so many more injuries in the paddock.
At the Nurburgring one of my co-drivers managed to chop the tip of his finger off on the truck tail lift, I remember a fellow Monoposti wearing a very big bandage at Spa last year care of a pit accident, I heard another story of someone falling from their truck and sustaining a head injury that was later fatal. The tales of woe go on. The paddock is a dangerous place as we use tools away from home without all the usual safety precautions.
I still think that motor racing is safer than gardening though. I recall talking to a Porsche 911 club racer who was in a wheelchair. He explained that he had raced for many years but broke his back whilst lopping a tree. So it is official, gardening is more dangerous than motorsport.

[Emma Cliffe]

Sarah has made another suggestion which we need some help with. We could arrange for a takeaway night (fish and chips for example) with the awning acting as a point for you to collect your food and eat and chat. For that to work, we could do with any of you who have had food delivered to a circuit in that way to let us have contact details of any places you'd recommend. We can then see what we can arrange. I would propose taking the money from you prior to placing the order so you only get fed if you've paid in advance to ensure the deliverer gets paid, but think something like that could work well with a little advance planning....

[Alan Morgan]

Hi - First post. I organise the HSCC Historic FF2000 Championship and we've done the Fish and Chips thing at Snetterton for the last 3 years. We've used the Sea Star Fish Bar in Attleborough. They need a few days notice but will deliver to the circuit. I think we ordered about 40 cod & chips last time and they coped ok.

[Emma Cliffe]

Thanks Alan. I will add them to a list of possibilities.