A very different day out!
The BSSO races generally share track time with motorcycle clubs, but after the cancellation of a meeting due to be held at Cadwell Park Andy Barnes stepped forward to offer some time at his organisation’s upcoming meeting. Andy runs the popular Petrol & Pistons/Time Attack series which is a time trial format for fast cars coupled with car custom show and trade stalls which is very popular with street racer and cruising cars. Andy is a long time scooterist and actually competed this year in the BSSO series for the first time until breaking bones at his second meeting.
The BSSO committee and Andy worked hard to put together some track time at the Croft event in a limited time. This is actually the third time in the last 10 years that scooters have raced at a car event but surely could be part of the future of bringing scooter racing to new audiences and providing top class racing entertainment. In addition to the circuit racing there was also a custom scooter show and the event attracted a good attendance of road going scooters to join the thousands of spectators the event attracts.
Andy said: “Having the BSSO at our event was a very welcome addition for both the show and for the track racing content. The mix of scooters and cars worked really well and the crowds loved watching the BSSO races, filling the banks and grandstands when they were on.”
Most of those in the audience had probably never seen or even heard of scooter racing before so it was great to bring in a new fresh audience. Certainly I’d say that from the people I spoke to the scooters were amazing, exciting and crazy in equal measure. There were certainly some very positive comments from the tracksuit and baseball hat wearing cruise car crowd… but the words ‘nutters’ and ‘awesome’ did seem to well describe what they were seeing.
The BSSO riders and organisation were certainly appreciative of the help and the pressure that the Petrol & Piston crew put themselves under to deliver such a top class and well organised event for the scooters to be part of.
There was plenty for everyone to see at the event, and as corny as it sounds there was something for all the family. In addition to the very fast cars on track, there were trade shows, club stands and a stunt show to keep people entertained. So whether it was track tuned Fiat 500s, American cars, pick-ups, street racers or a classic Ford Escort Mexico, everything was there and it was a thoroughly good day out for everyone.