Author: Oliver Phillips

Apologies to anyone who turned up last night with the hope of racing since the rain had decided to go east, only to find we were missing a gate and had to cancel. The news is that we have tracked the gate down. The council’s contractors have taken it away for repair, that despite assurances that it would be repaired on site! We have been told it will be back tomorrow so as long as this great British Summer allows it, there will be racing next week with the postponed Points Championship.

And whilst I am online, a big thank you to everyone who responded to my email last week for Friday night volunteers. Turned out to be a great night both weather and racing wise. No racing this Friday but we are doing it all again next week (14th). To save us panicking last minute can I ask once again for volunteers, as always email volunteering@scrl.co.uk.

I did mean to send out an email a week or so ago thanking those that responded to our request for volunteers for the circuit racing on the Friday night. In the end we had plenty which was really good as it took the pressure off Tim as organiser and the others of us that are there for most of the events.

So can we do it again this week please. We already have over 50 riders pre-entered so another busy night and some good racing I suspect. We need help across the board with judging and marshalling, in return we will buy you a coffee. Can you let us know by emailing volunteering@scrl.co.uk (and copy me in treasurer@scrl.co.uk) or put a message on our Facebook page if that is easier (someone will see it I am sure). Thanks

Forecast looking a bit iffy for tomorrow by the way, watch out for messages.

Hi – shame about the weather Wednesday night, as well as no racing it meant we missed the chance to ask you all to help out (or race) tonight at the Friday Night Vets and Women’s League. Truth is we desperately need some helpers for this.

Why should you help?

We can only book the track on a Wednesday or Friday evening due to the lease the cricket club has with the council. If we don’t book it on a Friday night and run races then it won’t be long before the cricket club look to take over Fridays as well and with the track in use only one night a week the council will become even more hesitant to look after it. At least that is our fear.

So if you value racing at the track please do come and help us keep it going and please let us know by emailing volunteering@scrl.co.uk

Oh and a few more racers wouldn’t go amiss. Pass it on to your club mates. If they fit the age/gender categories then this is a good opportunity to give track racing a try.

Yes – just over a week now to the start of the 2019 track season at Preston Park. Racing starts on Wednesday 17th. So this Wednesday we have a pre-season warm up plus an opportunity to sort out your registration etc for the season. The track is booked so a chance to make sure you and your bike are ready. There is a small charge to help cover the cost of the track hire.

While you are there why not also sort out your registration so things are not quite so busy on the first evening. You do need to complete a registration form but if you raced last season then we have already printed one for you so all you need to do is check we still have all the right info, complete details about you BC licence (please bring your licence with you if you have one), sign and hand over £5. In exchange we will give you your race number for the season. Deal!

If you didn’t race last year then you can complete the registration form online at https://scrl.co.uk/register/ or you can download the form and bring it along (please note we won’t have printed out any online registrations received after 8pm Tuesday).

Riders do need to be accredited before they can race. There is another accreditation session this Friday then just one more on the 3rd May. A big thank you to the experienced riders that answered my plea for help last Friday, you contributed to a very successful session and apologies if you were charged for the evening, if you were then either claim a free session this Wednesday or I will sort out a refund. Help please this Friday as well!

Big changes this season with just 5 race categories. Check this and the new race program for the season on the website and make sure you know what a Tempo race is. Maybe we can practise some on Wednesday.

We have three accreditation nights planned at the start of the season, all on Friday evenings (5th & 12th April and the 3rd May). As part of the process we could do with some help from experienced riders to help form “friendly” bunches etc. If you are free (1st session is tomorrow evening) then do come along and help, the sessions start from 6 and there will be some free track time you can make use of for warming up for the season as well.

If you can let me know you are coming it helps (treasurer@scrl.co.uk) but will be more than happy if you do just turn up.

Thanks – Dave

Hi forgot to mention in previous emails, we do need all the race numbers back.  Please it you still have yours then bring it along on Saturday or give it to someone to bring along.  Thanks

Dave

Hi

With the season over its time for the committee to get things tidied up and part of that is collecting in the race numbers ready for next season.  If you haven’t managed to return your number (plus any temporary ones you may have had) you can post them back to me at 45 Brittany Road, Hove, BN3 4PA or pass them on to one of the committee or you can drop them off at the track during a PPYCC session on a Saturday morning.  Please try to get them back to us a soon as possible.  Thanks

Hi

Good numbers for the last of our Friday night circuit races at the track.  Plenty pre-entered and hopefully a few more on the night so a chance we might even hit the track limit.  If you are not racing then why not come along to watch and possibly help out.  The committee decided to put on these Friday night race sessions this year in order to ensure the track is used and so hopefully help persuade the council to maintain it and keep it going so it is there for you to race.  So please do come along, grab a hi-viz jacket and support our efforts in this.

Dave