31/05/2020 11:50:03 NigelS Hi All, The results of our membership poll indicate that we had 15 unique replies supporting coming to Blyton and not needing overnight accomodation. In the interim, hotels are showing that they are open for bookings on and after July 4th so if this holds out (maybe subject to change on Gov advice of course), then we are potentially able to attract members from further afield (including me!). Dave P is checking with the Lotus 7 club to see if they want to take a session of 6 cars to further reduce our financial liability, so will update you when we have an answer from them. TRR have indicated that they will still take their 2 place allocation. If all falls into place, my suggestion is that we open for booking. Dave has confirmed with the circuit that if things change and we have to postpone, then our booking fee should be either refunded or carried forward as a credit against next year, so low financial risk IMHO. Feel free to post any views or discussion points.

31/05/2020 12:24:08 Steve Hill I suggest that we get people to pay up as early as we can and before we commit to the contract. Then we will know exactly how serious they are about comimg.

31/05/2020 12:24:08 mgbjohn Good news. Get the engines revving..... Well done Nigel and Dave.

31/05/2020 13:41:26 SlapHeadDiver I've checked a number of hotel groups and looked at their T&C's re cancellation and generally they are all offering either a voucher and/or a full refund even if you opt for a 'non refundable' booking such as Travelodge which is applicable up to 30th Dec 2020. Up to July 3rd it's key workers only, open to the public from July 4th as things stand today Steve's suggestion sounds sensible but how late can we leave it before we have to let Blyton circuit know one way or the other?

01/06/2020 09:53:32 Duncan Wood That sounds like a fairly positive result from the poll, so could we put a message on the "are you coming to Blyton" thread saying that the event opens on a particular day and asking for a swift response in the form of actual bookings? We could hint that early uptake will ensure that the event proceeds. Am I right in thinking that the event is limited to just 18 places anyway so we may not even need Lotus support? Part of me thinks this will be purely academic as we'll probably be back in full lockdown be then! Cheers, Duncan.

01/06/2020 10:02:47 NigelS [QUOTE="Duncan Wood, post: 18886, member: 1221"]That sounds like a fairly positive result from the poll, so could we put a message on the "are you coming to Blyton" thread saying that the event opens on a particular day and asking for a swift response in the form of actual bookings? We could hint that early uptake will ensure that the event proceeds. Am I right in thinking that the event is limited to just 18 places anyway so we may not even need Lotus support? Part of me thinks this will be purely academic as we'll probably be back in full lockdown be then! Cheers, Duncan.[/QUOTE] Hi Duncan, Yes 18 places minus two for the Triumph TR register boys so 16 to sell or 10 if the L7C come on board. Just waiting on a response from L7C before we open. I suspect you may be right on lockdown - it will probably at the very least affect hotel openings though.

01/06/2020 10:31:41 Martin Holmes Hi Nigel & Duncan and All, I agree that we have to probably give this a go as the risk now seems to be acceptable if we can use Duncan's suggestion to book quickly to ensure the event proceeds. I also agree your thoughts about a second lockdown but fear the Country literally cannot afford a further period of economic paralysis. If God forbid that were to happen I think it''s goodbye to MGoT and goodbye to most of the circuits too.... Now the great British public have "escaped" and are like sardines on the beach (ugh! ) we will soon know if Covid is on the way back with a vengeance or, if just maybe, it will die out and life can return to the new normal. I think we are right to make an attempt to run a track day ( and the low numbers for Blyton greatly help to reduce the risk ) when other TDO's are now back operating.

01/06/2020 18:06:20 SlapHeadDiver [QUOTE="Martin Holmes, post: 18888, member: 1405"]Hi Nigel & Duncan and All, I agree that we have to probably give this a go as the risk now seems to be acceptable if we can use Duncan's suggestion to book quickly to ensure the event proceeds. I also agree your thoughts about a second lockdown but fear the Country literally cannot afford a further period of economic paralysis. If God forbid that were to happen I think it''s goodbye to MGoT and goodbye to most of the circuits too.... Now the great British public have "escaped" and are like sardines on the beach (ugh! ) we will soon know if Covid is on the way back with a vengeance or, if just maybe, it will die out and life can return to the new normal. I think we are right to make an attempt to run a track day ( and the low numbers for Blyton greatly help to reduce the risk ) when other TDO's are now back operating.[/QUOTE] I think you are right Martin re "the Country literally cannot afford a further period of economic paralysis". In this modern World of "it must never happen again...." we have to be seen to be doing everything possible, however whilst we are busy saving people by 'lock down' we are possibly assigning others to an early grave as they can't get treatment, cancer et al. How did they manage it after WWI and Spanish Flu? My understanding and I'll stand corrected was basically it was allowed to run it's course

02/06/2020 11:45:06 NigelS [B]UPDATE:[/B] L7C have declined our offer to take a session at Blyton, so we will have 16 places. It seems the committee view from those who have responded is that we should proceed and try and get as many sales and hence money in the bank before we sign anything - Dave is well aware of this. So, we are going to open for booking on Monday 8th June - I will get a newsflash out probably Thursday and put it on the website and FB pages. Anyone on the committee intending to come should book early as I have a feeling there is a lot of pent up demand, but I may well be wrong!

02/06/2020 12:17:48 Martin Holmes May I ask please what is the view now regarding accommodation if those of us brave enough to venture outdoors feel inclined to trek north? i.e. is it some dodgy dive in Gainsborough and not our usual Scotter hotel??

02/06/2020 13:36:03 NigelS [QUOTE="Martin Holmes, post: 18893, member: 1405"]May I ask please what is the view now regarding accommodation if those of us brave enough to venture outdoors feel inclined to trek north? i.e. is it some dodgy dive in Gainsborough and not our usual Scotter hotel??[/QUOTE] Yes, well a Travelodge anyway, but food from takeaway. I guess if your usual hotel is open then you can stay there or anywhere else that is open from July 4th.

02/06/2020 21:25:42 Martin Holmes Thanks Nigel, I guess we should be thankful that we are potentially now back on track and the hotel is incidental albeit a requirement for some.

05/06/2020 08:41:59 SlapHeadDiver Just posted the 'night before .............' thread. Persoanlly I'd opt for the travelodge if I needed somewhere to stay, it's in the town centre. The White Swan is showing availability but I've not rung to see if they will be doing food or not. If not then most likely drive to Gainsborough

05/06/2020 14:25:38 NigelS Cheers Mark, top job. I am going to see how bookings go and if they are a bit slow I will book and come. if they fly off the shelf - then great!

08/06/2020 07:28:08 SlapHeadDiver Good start by 8:30 12 sold, 4 left. looking hopeful. Finger crossed

08/06/2020 11:33:51 Julian Hepburn Good News! I'm really pleased to hear that and glad our members are willing and able to get back to some kind of 'normality', whatever that is going to mean! Without throwing caution to the wind, I feel it is important as a club we help to facilitate a return to normality as best we can. It helps that Blyton is smaller/lower risk than most events.

09/06/2020 08:05:49 SlapHeadDiver Then there was 2 places left. Some of members would appear to be of a similar mind to you Julian. I know one is travelling up from Southampton Fingers crossed it all goes well and also for Angelsey

09/06/2020 09:22:52 Dave Looking good :) Still can't travel more than 5 miles here in Wales :(

09/06/2020 14:17:35 SlapHeadDiver Ah the joys of living in Wales :rolleyes: A shame as we have accommodation, parking and takeaways in Gainsborough available. 15mins from the track

10/06/2020 07:58:24 Duncan Wood Five miles...is that two or three laps of Anglesey?

10/06/2020 14:26:50 Dave [QUOTE="Duncan Wood, post: 18924, member: 1221"]Five miles...is that two or three laps of Anglesey?[/QUOTE] :rolleyes::)

10/06/2020 14:47:30 NigelS [QUOTE="Dave, post: 18916, member: 2"]Looking good :) Still can't travel more than 5 miles here in Wales :([/QUOTE] There is a serious question here though. At the moment none of us could get to Anglesey as it is illegal to travel into Wales from England and for those in Wales to travel more than 5 miles. Let's hope this changes by August!!

10/06/2020 16:55:11 Steve Hill We're in danger of getting off topic here. I have a question, can we consider our actions re Blyton before we sign the contract with the circuit? At the present moment we have sold 12 places to members and 2 places to Committee members, we have 2 places unsold. If they don't sell then we will run at a financial loss on the event. Given the overall financial risk that MGoT is under for 2020 I feel that it would be unwise to let our enthusiasm get the better of us. I am not at all sure that it would be wise to consciously run an event at loss in these circumstances. Discuss.

11/06/2020 07:15:18 SlapHeadDiver Then there was just 1 place left. I wonder if TRR have sold their 2? So that is 17 out of 18 places sold

11/06/2020 07:53:55 Dave P Doesn't matter if TTR have sold their places, they pay regardless (eventually!) Having said that Kev is definately coming and he seemed to think the other place would go easily.

11/06/2020 09:28:25 NigelS [QUOTE="Steve Hill, post: 18929, member: 8"]We're in danger of getting off topic here. I have a question, can we consider our actions re Blyton before we sign the contract with the circuit? At the present moment we have sold 12 places to members and 2 places to Committee members, we have 2 places unsold. If they don't sell then we will run at a financial loss on the event. Given the overall financial risk that MGoT is under for 2020 I feel that it would be unwise to let our enthusiasm get the better of us. I am not at all sure that it would be wise to consciously run an event at loss in these circumstances. Discuss.[/QUOTE] Looking at sales for Blyton, we have sold 17 of the 18 places, as TRR have bought two and pay for them irrespective of whether they sell them or not. So £145 (assuming everyone is an MGCC member, which they are not) = £2,465 plus 3 second drivers at £17 = £2,516 grand total. The circuit hire is £1,700 plus VAT and overheads were calculated as £335 plus VAT so total costs are £2,442. We are thus into positive margin even with one place unsold. Blyton has always been a quite hard sell and we have never sold out previously - I think we may well do so this year. Hope everyone on the committee is happy that we proceeded with your agreement on the basis of rapid sale of places to cover the costs (which we have done) and no financial risk to the club.

11/06/2020 12:54:41 Steve Hill Thank you Nigel for this update. I agree that Blyton is always a tricky event from a sales point of view and that the current sales performance is probably as good as it gets. If we are indeed in positive territory including covering our overheads that is also very good. On that basis I support the running of this event. Best wishes Steve

12/06/2020 07:28:38 SlapHeadDiver and then there were none. SOLD OUT :D