Motor Racing Suspended At Kirkistown.

Cooper

Site Manager
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Competitors come from all over Ireland and beyond to race their cars at Kirkistown Race Circuit in County Down. Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 emergency, all racing has been suspended until the 30th April 2020, at the earliest.

During the closed season, the owners of the facility, the Five Hundred Motor Racing Club of Ireland, built a new pit wall to improve safety. This cost in the region of £120,000 and the club got a generous grant of £30,000 from Sport NI. The club was also embarking on a new online entry system for competitors, in an effort to simplify and streamline the processes. Competitors will now have to wait a bit longer to avail of both.

Further updates on the situation will be posted on the club website www.kirkistown.com.
 

michelinman

RMS Regular
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I just got this email from Donal about the next trackskills day for those not on the email distribution list @V8

From: Donal O'Neill <donal@mulsanne.co.uk>
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2020 1:27:25 PM
Subject:We are on! Sunday 29th March. Trackskills.


Greetings!

What a strange world we live in. It is certainly a different one from the one we ran our last event in, on 2nd February!

Everyone is being asked to self distance. Wash your hands (didn’t you do that before?🤔). Accumulate more toilet roll than you can ever use!

The stress is crazy! The pubs, restaurants and entertainment centres are closed.

People who can, are working from home, with their kids, who can’t go to school.

The average Petrol Head is going stir crazy!

So what can you do?

Well, we are going ahead with our track day on Sunday 29th March 2020, at Kirkistown. Call it therapy!

We are making a few changes, designed to help those who are practicing self distancing, yet need to get their adrenalin fix to maintain their sanity!

The drivers’ briefing, for those who have been before, will consist of a written leaflet. The new drivers’ briefing will be held outside, with everyone properly spaced out in the elements (bring a coat!).

We are asking as many as possible to book and pay online at www.trackskills.com, to reduce to a minimum close contact and the handling of money.

We are recommending that you don’t bring a large entourage with you. A mechanic or close friend is fine but let the fan club give this one a miss, please.

There may be some other changes that we will communicate to you.

To date we have already a good selection of cars. These include the usual Civics, some tasty Clios, an Atom, a Sierra, a Golf R, a Megane 225 and some Locaterfields.

We really do need to know that you are coming, if you are. Please either book online or email me back.

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The timings will be the same as normal but we ask that you get there a little earlier, as processes may be slower. We will not have a queue at the sign on. You might queue in your car and then sign on one at a time.

First run will be at Midday or slightly before. Marshal’s break around 2:15pm. Restart at 2:45pm and run until 6:00pm.

It is massively important that we don’t have a big accident, as we cannot justify sending anyone to hospital and adding to the strain on the NHS. So we will be totally intolerant of any silly antics on track.

I have spoken to Mark who runs the Café. It will be open for a carry-out service. You can grab your food and return to your car. If there is a queue, stand 6 feet apart.

Of course, all of this is subject to any further restrictions that may come from London, where the virus is having a field day! If there are any changes, we will let you know.

Keep safe and sane!



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Donal
info@trackskills.com


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15, Belfast Road, Nutt’s Corner, Crumlin, Co. Antrim, BT29 4TQ
Tel: 028 90825235
 

michelinman

RMS Regular
Messages
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Belfast(ish)
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e46
Email from Donal as promised for info:

From: Donal O'Neill <donal@mulsanne.co.uk>
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 4:00:52 PM
Subject:A hard decision has been made.


Greetings!
When we decided to run our track day this upcoming Sunday, it was with the best interests of our participants in mind. And, of course, we would make some money. That’s a given.
The idea was that so many of you would be self distancing, no longer at your normal workplaces and working from home. And probably going mad!
If we could modify our event so that you could come along to Kirkistown and not have to be near anybody, while still being able to release your energy on track, that could only do you good.
However, many good ideas have flaws and ours was no exception. Not everyone prepares his/her own car. I know of at least one man who, with his mechanics, prepares three or four machines. These people will have to be in close contact. Our staff will still have to hand out numbers, armbands and answer normal, sensible questions.
Given a bit more time, these issues could be circumnavigated and may well be in the future. We still believe that we are providing a release for our clients. Ironically, I think our premise is correct, as we have had as big a pre-booked entry at this stage, for Sunday’s trackday, as we have had in a long time.
The other big point is what has been going on elsewhere. People have been reported and indeed, filmed, ignoring the social distancing recommendations. This is irresponsible and we do not want to be in any way lumped into the same category as them.
It is for these reasons that we are cancelling this Sunday’s (29th March) event and suspending Trackskills’ activities until further notice. Hopefully, this will not be for too long.
To those who have booked already, I will be contacting you individually to see what you want us to do with your entry.
We are disappointed and we guess you are as well.
Until we can run again, best wishes from the Trackskills Team and stay safe.



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Donal
info@trackskills.com


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15, Belfast Road, Nutt’s Corner, Crumlin, Co. Antrim, BT29 4TQ
Tel: 028 90825235
 
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