Spa Classic 2016: May 13, 14 and 15

[Sylv1]

Surely you can find a starter motor - will your 280ZX one fit?

Perhaps you can repair your's - it may just be something simple.

Hit the solenoid with a hammer - not joking.

You're right and its starter is brand new and sourced from a local company not eBay.com like the 240z ... But my Zx is 500km far for body restoration

I have already tried the hammer backup with no success

I could have a solenoid in 48h... But I don't have time for the labour in the mean time

This car is stopped since 2.5 years... I can wait 1 or 2 additional weeks

 

[s2k_adz]

I am hoping to attend this but I think I will be in my 350Z. Are tickets etc still available?

Where has everyone booked to stay?

 

[Sylv1]

I am hoping to attend this but I think I will be in my 350Z. Are tickets etc still available?

Where has everyone booked to stay?

If you don't already have them,
I can provide on site a club area pass for the car.
For passengers, you will have to buy on site.

 

[s2k_adz]

If you don't already have them,
I can provide on site a club area pass for the car.
For passengers, you will have to buy on site.

That would be awesome! Let me speak to the other half tonight and Ill sort out PMing you and organising this! Can anyone recommend a decently priced hotel?

 

[Sylv1]

i am in Domaine Long Pre, route de trois ponts 175 in Stavelot

i have found it through booking.com... and have not experienced it yet.

 

[SeanDezart]

Have fun lads !

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Any pics, videos, stories etc?

We are lacking in a bit of feedback.

I was thinking about you guys over the weekend, weather good?

 

[STEVE BURNS]

Rather than speculate with second or third hand information will leave it for people in the know to comment may be they need a orange light to stop moving forward and not a blue one!!

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Mmmm

I was wondering after the hint from MaximG re 'Spar'.

 

[SeanDezart]

'Unfortunate' incidents with serious repercussions for our club over here as that responsable for the bookings/invitations that weren't understood/accepted at the moment despite repeated notifications and warnings.

Compounded by frustration perhaps but a marshall's word is law on a track for all the best reasons and at least one of those invloved knows this only too well.
This led to (imho and although I wasn't there, as Club President, I have been made aware with eye-witness reports and already been contacted by the organisers....thanks !) an irresponsable disregard for the security of everyone with no thought for the longterm implications for any future participation of Datsuns in Peter's events............summed up, it was completely selfish behaviour.

I realise that I won't make any mates by what I have stated but it needs saying because even now, I don't believe that there is any remorse for the 'damage' left behind built up over several years of spirited participation.

I would invite those responsable to draft a letter of apology that I might pass on to Peter to go some way to smooth the way forward.

 

[racer]

'Unfortunate' incidents with serious repercussions for our club over here as that responsable for the bookings/invitations that weren't understood/accepted at the moment despite repeated notifications and warnings.

Compounded by frustration perhaps but a marshall's word is law on a track for all the best reasons and at least one of those invloved knows this only too well.
This led to (imho and although I wasn't there, as Club President, I have been made aware with eye-witness reports and already been contacted by the organisers....thanks !) an irresponsable disregard for the security of everyone with no thought for the longterm implications for any future participation of Datsuns in Peter's events............summed up, it was completely selfish behaviour.

I realise that I won't make any mates by what I have stated but it needs saying because even now, I don't believe that there is any remorse for the 'damage' left behind built up over several years of spirited participation.

I would invite those responsable to draft a letter of apology that I might pass on to Peter to go some way to smooth the way forward.

Sean
Let me start by saying there were several disagreements between marshals and drivers over the weekend NOT just Datsun Drivers.

The issues started with a new track director who changed policy from previous years and did not inform Peter Auto until the event had begun.

Complaints were made after the first track session by many drivers from several clubs about the speed of the pace car.
The 2nd session (different pace car driver) with us in went much better with everyone happy with the pace.

The next session changed again to the pedestrian pace of the first with no apparent reason from the director. This left many drivers frustrated and bunched up unsafely imo behind the pace car.
I was subsequently told off for driving too close to the pace car.
I then made the necessary apologies to the Marshalls and the club representatives and adjusted my driving immediately.
No further comments were made to me thereafter.

After this there were other disagreements that perhaps could have been avoided by better communications and consistencies from the relevant people.

At no time do I believe there was any outlandish reckless behaviour by my myself or other Datsun Drivers.

I have apologised to Hubert and Sylvain in person and do so again now for any problems caused to your club.

Matt

 

[SeanDezart]

Hi Matt and thanks for your apologies.

Evidently (as in most cases) there was more than meets the eye and poor communication and conflicting instructions compounded the frustation (as I previously stated) of the reality not meeting the expectations of certain particpants obviously not limited to Datsun drivers.

Nevertheless and irrespective if other clubs are treated similarly or not), those that be will be looking seriously at our future participation and if so under what conditions.....call it 'fair' or not - the judges decision is final as always and not subject to appeal.

As they say here 'on verra' - we will see.....

I have already instructed those participating in the track session at Le Mans Classic to curtail their enthuisasm and follow to the letter any and all instructions.

 

[Sylv1]

I am very sorry of all that

Policy has changed and all were informed on site. That is not fair because with such info, some probably should not have come.

That was very hard to swallow for many drivers. I would also if I were in my z.

After that, Marshalls had to be very strict with all frustrated people behind their rear bumper & the anger of the new big boss.

Problem is that Matt and John, you were spotted for a behaviour on track that should have probably been OK in the previous years or others conditions.
That is obvious that you are too fast & driving strongly for such an event.

With 2 warnings for both, probably the Sunday's blue light story was the overfilling drop that should have been avoided and especially the discussion with the marchals.

Both of you are now banned from Peter auto events & I feel very sorry of that because you are my friends!


As a club, we will have to manage the crisis with Peter auto... That has probably to manage its own with track direction.
Both have to take engagements for future.

We will have to meet on pure track events now

 

[Sylv1]

anyway race direction's decision cannot be ignored

For most of drivers, there is still way to drive at their speed but not for pure racers like you both

Let's think positive, an accident would be more serious problem & spectacle of paddocks was great!

 

[Rob Gaskin]

To be honest I could see this coming and said so last year ('Spa Road Trip' thread post 89) - extract:

------------------------------------------------------

Just watched your first video John.

Whilst I am in total admiration of your driving and car I think you are just too quick for those Club sessions......................................

You are at race pace (I'm sure many of the cars racing would be slower) but you are having to negotiate very slow cars and that is risky (that Porsche on the brow comes to mind)..............................

You need to book some trackdays - you and your car deserve them.

I know these sessions are great fun and I don't want to be a kill-joy John but it's so obvious to anyone watching the video that you are too quick. I bet the marshals have opinions too.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Sylvain has said things could have been worse.

I think Peter Auto have let these sessions at Spa run 'freely' for too long so people expect it. The Spa Classic is really all about the racing and these sessions were an added attraction.

ANYWAY DO WE HAVE AN PICS?

 

[johnymd]

Sometimes in life we make bad decisions that we regret. No matter how much we would like to turn back the clock, that is just not possible and we have to live with the consequences. I do hope that my actions only have consequences on me and will be truly sorry if they affect the Z club of France. I made my apologies on the day and the reason why at the time I made those choices so am not going to explain them now.

At all times during the track sessions I was never accused of or took part in any aggressive or bad driving and at no time was driving unsafe. What I did was overtake the pace car which I should not have done.

I will write to Peter Auto, as Sean has suggested, to apologise for my conduct and explain that I was purely a guest of the Z club of France and not part of their club. I will not try to explain my reasons as this is irrelevant but apologise for my actions.

 

[SeanDezart]

Sometimes in life we make bad decisions that we regret. No matter how much we would like to turn back the clock, that is just not possible and we have to live with the consequences. I do hope that my actions only have consequences on me and will be truly sorry if they affect the Z club of France. I made my apologies on the day and the reason why at the time I made those choices so am not going to explain them now.

At all times during the track sessions I was never accused of or took part in any aggressive or bad driving and at no time was driving unsafe. What I did was overtake the pace car which I should not have done.

I will write to Peter Auto, as Sean has suggested, to apologise for my conduct and explain that I was purely a guest of the Z club of France and not part of their club. I will not try to explain my reasons as this is irrelevant but apologise for my actions.

Thankyou John - if you care to email it to me, I shall forward it to them, copying you on that mail.

I can (and will) propose track-day action events here in France that you'd enjoy, ones that I'm looking at myself if ever the bitch gets finished

I think there is space enough in our annual calender and sufficient drivers to warrant both types of events (the events I speak of are NOT managed by Peter ).

 

[SeanDezart]

To be honest I could see this coming and said so last year ('Spa Road Trip' thread post 89)

And how fast did you drive at Le Mans Classic on video during the rather busier parade laps ?

 

[racer]

I can (and will) propose track-day action events here in France that you'd enjoy, ones that I'm looking at myself if ever the bitch gets finished

I think there is space enough in our annual calender and sufficient drivers to warrant both types of events (the events I speak of are NOT managed by Peter ).

That would be great Sean. I'm def up for a proper track day at Spa.
I know it will be expensive but worth it imo.

I know it's a long way for you mate, but it would be great to see You there.

 

[SeanDezart]

That would be great Sean. I'm def up for a proper track day at Spa.
I know it will be expensive but worth it imo.

I know it's a long way for you mate, but it would be great to see You there.

Thanks.....have to have a Z finished first before thinking about that.

But I mentioned France and not Belgium. Sunnier, drier, less expensive and (debateable) better food and wine although the jury's out on the beer (even if we do drink it cold and not warm like you).