Date	Event		Date	Event
April 13th 14th	Spring Gala	SAM 35	July 12th/13th/14th	Track days/competition	BTCG
May 3rd/4th/5th	Track days/competition	BTCG	Aug 9th/10th/11th	Track days/competition	BTCG
June 7th/8th/9th	Track days/competition	BTCG	Sep 27th/28th/29th	Speed weekend	BTCG
June 14th/15th/16th	Retrofest	SAM 35	Oct 12th 13th	Octoberfest	SAM 35

Competitions: During the season SAM will again be running two competitions at their events, the first for 2.5cc aircars in memory of the late Dick Roberts and the second for the Redfin Trophy for 2.5cc twinshaft cars. Updated information about developments at the track and rules for both these competitions are published on the SAM website.

Buckminster Moves On

Another very successful season with seventeen days of organised running, along with a number of privately supported, free days of activity at the track. Again we have been delighted to welcome a visitor from overseas, Charlie Murphy from the US with three original, vintage cars. Throughout the year, significant developments have been in hand, with more planned for the winter and into next year, so time for another update on what has been happening and some important changes to note. Hugh and Lynn Blowers will again be organising the activities of the group and its scheduled meetings for a second season but will be looking for another team to take over in 2025 so that they can run cars. Updated rules for operation of the track have been agreed with the BMFA and these will be applied at all meetings. The email address buckytcar@btinternet.com and Facebook page are still active and videos of events are available on the OTW www.youtube.com channel. Another very large vote of thanks from us all is due to Oliver who has done so much work on the track to keep it in runnable condition, and to him and the other volunteers who have completed the kickboards and other improvements.

The calendar for the new season is published above, three full weekends organised by SAM and five by the Tether Car Group. All BTCG meetings will now be be three days, with free practice on the Friday, a more formal event on Saturday  and  informal running on the Sunday. Nigel Bathe continues as SAM Tethered Car Secretary, and along with Steve Betney, will be organising and promoting their events. Thoughts about incorporating new electric classes for 2024 are underway with guidelines and rules now published, along with agreed rules for all BTCG meetings. email buckytcar@btinternet.com or otwmedia0@gmail.com for a PDF copy.

At the track, most will have seen the timing hut, opened in July 2022 by Babs Roberts who donated the money to have it built by the Buckminster volunteers in memory of Dick. At the meeting in September 2022 we discussed the possibility of getting electricity plumbed into the hut and thanks to Nigel, in negotiation with Manny Williamson, the hut was fully wired and with lighting as well. This made the second stage of development for the timing system significantly easier. John Goodall kindly donated the funds to have the system built, which thanks to the work and expertise of Jan Huning and Ian Wingfield has been in use for two seasons. Phase two was to be able to connect the system to a laptop and printer, as at all modern tracks, so that runs can be recorded in their entirety and then printed instantly. Right: Portion of printout showing the timed run. All laps before and after are also recorded

Thanks again to Ian who did the programming of the computer and timing system, this was tried for the first time in September 2023, running off batteries. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to connect the hut to the leccy system, so recording is still down to a pen and paper. A work party early next year is planned to complete the sheeting of the safety fence and hopefully, finally connecting the electricity supply. This does have to be signed off by a contractor, so will have to be paid for. Nigel Bathe has kindly provided a 'velo' for test running cars in the proscribed test area to address the danger of tyres bursting if engines are run without load.

This season has again seen a large number of new cars being built, or bought, along with a commensurate rise in the numbers of people intending to run cars, as and when these are complete. We still have to consider the ongoing funding of the track, both for further infrastructure projects and routine maintenance, replacements etc.  Up to this season, virtually the entire track project has been funded by donations of money and equipment and through individuals providing equipment on a loan basis or putting their hands in their pockets, for which we are all exceedingly grateful, but this should not be relied upon in the future. The track needs to generate income, either though further donations or via charges made to those running at each event. Currently, every person using the track has to either be a season ticket holder or pay £10, which goes directly to the BMFA, not the track. The Tether Car Group charges entrants £5 each at their events, which goes to cover the cost of cables, maintenance, brushes and other consumables as well as partially funding larger projects. Track cleaning, safety equipment and other upgrades benefit everyone, so it is imperative that money can be raised on a more regular basis to cover these.

Regulations for Classes, car construction and running at BTCG events now available vie email buckytcar@btinternet.com  or otwmedia0@gmail.com