MINUTES OF THE DELEGATES MEETING OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF NORTH-WESTERN CAR CLUBS
HELD AT THE HOLIDAY INN, RUNCORN, ON TUESDAY 8 MAY
2007
WELCOME
The Chairman, Bob Milloy,
welcomed delegates to the meeting and introduced John Symes,
MSA Technical and Risk Manager.
ATTENDANCE
20 member clubs were represented by 19 delegates as
follows:
BRMC (Mike Farnworth),
BRSCC NW (Mike Harris), Bury AC (Richard Murtha), Caernarvon
& Anglesey MC (Jim Jones), Formula 1000 Rally Club (Dave Thomas), Garstang & Preston MC (Steve Kenyon, Terry May), High
Moor MC (Gary Heslop), HRCR (Stan Appleton), Ilkley & DMC
(Stan Appleton), Kirkby Lonsdale MC (Bob Milloy, Katy Mashiter), Knutsford & DMC (Steve Skepper), Lancs & Ches CC (Martin Nield), Liverpool
MC (Ron Hunt), Motor Sport NW Ltd (Martin Nield), North
Wales CC (Dave Thomas), Phoenix Rescue Services (Tony McGuire), Potteries &
Newcastle MC (Eric Cowcill), Stockport MC (Bob Milloy), Wallasey MC (Bill
Turner, Mike Harris), Wigan & DMC (Martin Fox, Helen Fox).
Officials present were: Bob Milloy
(Chairman), Eric Cowcill (Treasurer), Katy Mashiter (Press Officer), Dave Thomas (Championships
Coordinator), Mike Farnworth (Training Officer), Stan
Appleton (General Secretary).
APOLOGIES
Apologies were recorded from Mike Ashcroft (Longton & DMC), Nigel Bayley
(ERO), Mike Yates (Slaithwaite MC), Steve Johnson
(CSMA, Accrington MSC), Jim Spencer (BRCA), Stephen Cawley (Bolton le Moors MC), Mark, Ken and Steph Wilkinson (Stockport MC), Ian Price (Accrington MSC), Peter Riley (Longton
& DMC), Gordon Waddington (Lindholme MC), John
Harden (Liverpool MC/Aintree LO), Tom Dooley, David
Bailey, Sue Sanders-Peppitt (Potteries &
Newcastle MC.
MINUTES
The minutes of the February 2007 Delegates’ Meeting
were agreed as a true record on a proposal from Wallasey
MC, seconded by Kirkby Lonsdale MC.
MATTERS
ARISING
VAT on MOD land fees – MSA has confirmed that this
is not recoverable. MSA negotiates a direct contract with Forestry Commission
but individual clubs negotiate with MOD.
50th Anniversary – Oulton
Park for the Gold Cup meeting seems the preferred option. Costs will be
obtained. A variety of cars are needed representing the range of disciplines
and ages covered. A link with Motorsport Week should
be achievable.
MSA
MATTERS
TECHNICAL
AND RISK
John Symes explained his
role as Technical and Risk Manager and some of his key tasks. He is responsible
for the text of the monthly Scrutineers News and has
a rolling programme to inspect the 140 venues holding
track licences. He deals with claims against MSA’s insurance policies and whilst acknowledging the
occasional ‘big hit’ he is able to successfully defend 30-40 potential claims
each year. This is broadened to include claims for non-MSA events run at
MSA-licensed venues as well as non-permit events such as parades, galas and
open days. Clubs need to pay close attention to the detail of their paperwork
and their decision-making processes.
On technical matters it often seems that the same
question and issue recurs, with many competitors ignorant of the Blue Book
paragraphs that could answer their question. Regulations are there for the
purpose of either maintaining a fairly level playing-field or else are for managing risk to reasonable levels. Many get
misinformed by rumours from internet forums rather
than going back to the printed regulations.
A new round of seminars for Environmental Scrutineers is to be announced. Virtually all venues have
some degree of noise sensitivity now with differing controls and measures in
place, in some cases permitting a trade-off to enable an element of ‘full-on’
vehicles to be balanced by other more modest cars, as with drag racing. The ACU
have improved the compliance of motorbikes with sound levels monitoring.
COUNCIL
Eric Cowcill reported
that marshals were to be directly represented on the Marshalling Advisory
Panel. Cadet Marshals had been approved from 1.1.08; the organizing club needed
to have its own Child Protection Officer.
The controversial K37 proposals had gone back out
for consultation with some minor tweeks. It was
planned to implement this from 1.1.09 for newly built cars and from 1.1.10 for
existing cars.
Plans for Junior Rally Drivers had been approved.
A paper on fuel sampling had been discussed,
focusing on where it might be done on rallies. John Symes
reminded delegates that it had been normal practice in racing for many years.
Delegates discussed octane levels with John Symes
reporting that the British Standard only specifies a minimum but fuel companies
had confirmed that 4* fuel would not exceed 100 octane and that it was the
highest standard universally available in the UK. The FIA’s
limit of 102 octane reflects the ready availability of
the higher figure at pumps in some other parts of the world. Eric Cowcill confirmed that for the remainder of 2007 clubs
should discuss with Ian Davis how to frame their regulations to overcome problems.
Whilst the vocal argument had come from competitors the views of marshals were
overlooked, with some now unwilling to staff arrival controls because of the noxious
air.
REGIONAL
COMMITTEE
Bob Milloy reported a
discussion led by Nicky Moffitt about the role of regional associations and of
Regional Committee aimed at giving them more influence.
National Motorsport Week was to be
actively promoted.
Nominations were encouraged for the Prince Michael
Award.
The Club Development Fund is now accompanied by a
Rescue and Recovery Fund.
Regional liaison officers are required for
Volunteers in Motorsport – Katy Mashiter
felt she may be willing to take this on.
ANWCC came 3rd in the Inter-Association Autotest (thanks to Duncan Wild for coordinating). The I-a PCT will be at Kidderminster on 3 June, the I-a Road
Rally is to be run by Clitheroe and CSMA on 28
October and the I-a Stage Rally will again be the Tour of Mull.
The structure of fees for forest rallying has now
gone to Rallies Committee, whether per capita or a flat rate per mile.
RALLIES
COMMITTEE
Bob Milloy reported that
100 comments had been received about the K37 proposals, many in favour of the changes. There were still issues about weight
and rim widths that needed to be resolved. The figures quoted are those of the
FIA but give Darrians a particular problem.
Clarification was still needed of the current proposals for Category 3 cars.
Consultation had been extended to June 2007 which meant that it would not reach
Council until September.
SPEED
COMMITTEE
Dave Thomas reported that Peter Riley had commented
about an ‘adult seat’ being specified for two/four seater
cars.
TIMING
COMMITTEE
Eric Cowcill announced the
introduction of a ‘Cadet Timekeeper’ category to help with the present shortage
of timekeepers, giving basic training.
CORRESPONDENCE
AND SECRETARY’S REPORT
Stan Appleton warned delegates of the risks of
taking issues such as K37 or fuel-sampling beyond the realm of MSA jurisdiction
and involving government departments or agencies with their grievances. This
would be quite counter-productive and could jeopardise
many of our current freedoms.
Correspondence from MSA had included a very useful
5 in 1 DVD covering a range of marshalling, fire-fighting and first aid
matters. It was recommended for clubnight viewing.
Delegates discussed association support for
potential nominations for MSA Committees.
TREASURER’S
REPORT
Eric Cowcill had nothing
to report, except that affiliation fees hadn’t been paid by BARC, Lancs & Ches Rover Owners,
and Rally Support NW.
CHAMPIONSHIP
COORDINATOR’S REPORT
325 competitors had registered to date, compared
with 395 at this point in 2006. This has financial implications as championship
fees are a major part of the association’s income. For example only £860 is
available for the marshals’ fund compared with £1200 in 2006.
34 events have run so far with a variable results
service. The coordinator relies on prompt accurate information with changes
made to entry lists where substitutes have been involved.
Support for stage and forest events is good. Some
road rallies have still been oversubscribed and historic road rallies are
healthy. As only two association clubs were still running endurance road
rallies this championship had been cancelled.
Sprints were healthy despite Ty
Croes not being ready. The hillclimb
series had not yet started.
Caernarvon & Anglesey was the leading club from Clwyd
Vale.
The Marshals Draw was made, rewarding P Davies, S Cawley, S Matthews, E Fisher, P Buckle, I
Mather.
AINTREE
LIAISON OFFICER’S REPORT
John Harden had sent a written report confirming
that a full season of events had been agreed with the Racecourse Company and
that relations were good. Aintree is to have a new
Managing Director whose attitude to motorsport will
be critical.
FORESTRY
LIAISON OFFICERS’ REPORT
No report.
OTHER
VENUES
Work was still being done at Weeton.
Swinderby would be unavailable after Bury’s event. Rufforth is now
extremely noise-sensitive and can have limited use only. A completion date for Ty Croes was awaited; it looked
very good if rather quick !
TRAINING
OFFICER’S REPORT
Mike Farnworth reported
that it was likely that he would be sitting on the MSA Training Steering Group.
It looked as though some dates for 2008 training events would clash with competition
events but we would stick with our plans. Katy Mashiter
was now an accredited instructor.
PRESS
OFFICER’S REPORT
Katy Mashiter had nothing
to report.
RALLY
LIAISON OFFICERS’ REPORT
No report.
OTHER
BUSINESS
Common sense needs to be used by over-zealous lay scrutineers on road rallies – a ‘Volunteers in Motorsport’ sticker recently had to be covered as it was
perceived as advertising !
Jim Jones (C&A MC)
asked whether ANWCC could give financial support to a multi-club consortium to
take over the available North Wales forest allocation. Eric Cowcill
reported that whilst association operating costs have come down, largely
because of electronic media, funds were OK but were generally spent within the
year. Stan Appleton suggested that clubs such as Lindholme,
Telford and Amman who already take a financial risk in running their own forest
rally would be unlikely to support another event however minimally. Bob Milloy felt that whilst Motor Sport NW has worked well
there could be difficulties with the inter-club politics of such a venture.
Gary Heslop (High Moor
MC) asked for improved liaison between Ian Davis and John Symes
of MSA and the appointed MSA Steward about the layout of single-venue tests, to
get some consistency in planning and interpretation for safety reasons. John Symes confirmed that whilst Ian Davis vets the diagrams,
it’s is up to the steward on the day to use his experience and judgement. This was one of the most testing types of event
for a steward and may be appropriate for the next stewards’ seminar.
NEXT
MEETING
Tuesday 14 August 2007
AGENDA
For the Delegates’ Meeting of the Association of
North Western Car Clubs,
which will be held at Holiday Inn, Runcorn, on Tuesday 14 August 2007 at 2000hrs.
We
shall be joined by Allan Dean-Lewis, MSA External Affairs Executive.
Apologies for absence
Minutes of last meeting (May 2007)
Matters arising
MSA Matters
Reports
General
Secretary, including correspondence
Treasurer
Championship
Coordinator
Forestry/Facilites Liaison Officer
Aintree Laison Officer
Other
Venue Liaison
Press
Officer
Training
Officer
C&T
Rallies Liaison Officer
Any other business
Date and place of next meeting
Stan
Appleton
ANWCC
General Secretary
18
Springfield Way
Pateley Bridge
North Yorks
HG3 5PA
(NB Change of address)