MINUTES OF
THE DELEGATES’ MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH-WESTERN CAR CLUBS,
HELD AT THE HOLIDAY INN, RUNCORN, ON TUESDAY 14 AUGUST 2007.
WELCOME
The
Chairman, Bob Milloy, welcomed delegates to the meeting with a particular
welcome to the ANWCC President, Allan Dean-Lewis, MSA External Affairs
Executive.
ATTENDANCE
21
member clubs were represented by 26 delegates as follows:
Bolton-le-Moors
CC (Steve Cawley), BRCA (Jim Spencer), BRMC (Mike Farnworth), BRSCC(NW) (Mike
Harris), Caernarvon & Anglesey MC (Jim Jones), Clwyd Vale MC (Peter White),
Garstang & Preston MC (Steve Kenyon, Terry May), HRCR (Stan Appleton), Ilkley
& DMC (Clive Baty, Stan Appleton), Kirkby Lonsdale MC (Katy Mashiter, Bob
Milloy), Lancs & Ches CC (Martin
Nield), Lindholme MSC (Gordon Waddington), Liverpool MC (Ron Hunt, John
Harden), Longton & DMC (Peter Riley, Mike Ashcroft), Motor Sport (NW)(Mark Wilkinson, Martin
Nield), North Wales CC (Dave Thomas), Potteries & Newcastle MC(Sue
Sanders-Peppitt, Eric Cowcill), Stockport 061 MC (Ken Wilkinson, Mark Wilkinson,
Bob Milloy), Wallasey MC (Mike Harris), Warrington & DMC (Ann McCormack), Wigan
MC (Martin Fox, Helen Fox).
Officials
present were Allan Dean-Lewis (President), Bob Milloy (Chairman), Ron Hunt
(Vice-Chairman), Eric Cowcill (Treasurer), Dave Thomas (Championship
Coordinator), Mike Farnworth (Training Officer), Katy Mashiter (Press Officer),
John Harden (Aintree LO), Stan Appleton (General Secretary).
APOLOGIES
Apologies
were recorded from Mike Yates and Frazer Metcalfe (Slaithwaite MC), Tim Hobbs
(Telford AC), Steve Johnson (CSMA, Accrington MSC), Nigel Bayley (ERO), Kevin
Witton (FLO, Wolverhampton & SSCC), Steve Skepper (Knutsford MC), David
Bayley (Lancs & Ches CC), Tom Dooley (BRSCC).
MINUTES
The
minutes of the May 2007 Delegates’ Meeting were agreed as a true record on a
proposal from Ilkley & DMC, seconded by Kirkby Lonsdale MC.
MATTERS ARISING
The
General Secretary apologised for failing to refer to the correct title of the
recently merged Stockport 061 Motor Club.
Plans
for the ANWCC 50th Anniversary were progressing well and would be
based around the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting at August Bank Holiday. The
organisers of the meeting had offered free admission to the driver of any suitable classic vehicle
on Sunday or Monday and were arranging a ‘quiet parade’ during the Sunday
morning curfew period. However it was proposed that ANWCC should focus on a
static display of say 10-12 varied cars on Monday 27 August. Several cars had
been offered from a range of disciplines and periods and tickets would be sent
directly to the drivers. Thanks were given to Jim Spencer for providing four
new ANWCC banners which would be used at the display and would subsequently be
available for loan to clubs. Liverpool MC would be there in their
own right and other clubs were invited to staff their ‘Volunteers in
Motorsport’ stand.
MSA MATTERS
EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS EXECUTIVE
Allan
Dean-Lewis reminded delegates that funds were still available in both the Club
Development Fund (providing 50% of matching funding) and the Rescue Development
Fund (providing up to 70% of costs), subject to individual ceilings. Clubs
should speak to AD-L beforehand to ensure that their proposal is presented in a
way that complies with the criteria.
Nominations for Club of the Year and
Marshal of the Year must be made by October 2008.
A
‘Next Generation’ working group had been set up to consider the development
needs of under-25’s, which category surprisingly includes 167 licensed
officials. The ‘Women in Motorsport’ group was also being refreshed under the
leadership of a female MSA executive. There were clear signs of a ‘
Proof copies of sections of the
rewritten Blue Book were being circulated for quality assurance within MSA. The
2008 Blue Book would be accompanied by a DVD.
MSA’s insurance brokerage would move
from Locktons to JLT from 1.1.08. JLT have already taken over existing claims.
Details of transitional arrangements would be sent to clubs.
The dates and locations of 2008 Club
Officials Seminars would soon be confirmed but were expected to include
Llandrindod Wells on 17.2.08, Brighouse on 23.2.08 and
140 clubs have so far nominated
Child Protection Officers and 30 more have had MSA agreement not to appoint
because of their specific circumstances. CPO’s needed to study the Sports UK
website for information on training courses.
Licensed
officials would be required to have CPB clearance if they had any contact with
juveniles or other vulnerable groups but would not need further training.
Delegates asked whether the
incentives promised under the Marshals’ Registration Scheme would ever
materialise. Allan explained that there had been a massively bigger take-up
than had been envisaged (8000 vs 100’s) and that MSA was grateful to
associations and clubs filling the recognition gap, with marshals’ funds,
draws, etc. The MSA marshals database was being refined and better targeted and
would become accessible to each club’s nominated Chief Marshal.
COUNCIL
Eric
Cowcill reported on the 4.6.08 meeting of Council, now one of four per annum,
previously three. Council would become more active and would break into
sub-group discussions for better progress of some issues.
BMW are pressing for under-16’s to
have a means of getting international racing licences and a response is being
considered. Catalytic converters are to be mandatory for saloon, touring and
sports cars of the appropriate age. The prescribed medical equipment for rescue
units is being updated.
PCT’s were to become ‘Car Trials’
with new definitions in order to ‘widen participation’ ! Transitional
regulations had been agreed for K37 special stage cars. Rally cars would be required to have an
internal cut-off switch, accessible to both crew members; this applied to
historics too.
Clubs would only be able to have
Cadet Marshals on duty if they had appointed a Child Protection Officer,
although the CPO was not required to attend each event.
Pump fuel was to be mandatory,
unless either MSA or the particular championship had given a dispensation.
Under-16’s would have their first competition licence issued free of charge.
MSA fully acknowledges the 2007 licence debacle and has put measures in place
to ensure 2008 renewals are handled properly.
The Rally Elite scheme had been
extended to Race Elite and a Kart scheme is under development.
The
Club Manual is being revised by Stuart Turner.
REGIONAL
COMMITTEE
Bob
Milloy reported on the meeting of 30 May. Richard Nunn had been appointed to
help AD-L on Volunteers in Motorsport, whilst Joe Hickerton had joined the
Technical Department supporting John Symes.
Scottish representatives had been
pressing the argument for the potential of closed road rallying but accepted
that at present neither
The Midlands-based regional
associations had agreed to pilot MSA’s proposed Regional Liaison Officers, for
Volunteers in Motorsport. Gerry Blythe (ANEMMC) who also sits on the Safety
Committee had enquired into the adequacy of Rescue Units and found that whilst
there were enough vehicles available for current events there was a real
shortage of crew members.
ANWCC had no team at the
inter-association PCT nor the inter-association autocross but would definitely
have a team at the inter-association road rally, hosted by Clitheroe/CSMA on
behalf of ANWCC. The Tour of Mull would again be the inter-association stage
rally, hopefully with improved results that could assign crews to their
appropriate team. The 2008 inter-association autotest will be in
ANECCC brought a proposal for road
rallies to have the level of their permit determined by the mileage involved.
Their target is long-distance events run under a ‘closed to club’ permit; some
of these aren’t run under road rally permits though.
RALLIES
COMMITTEE
Sue
Sanders-Peppitt reported on the meeting of 18 July. A scheme for upgrading road
rally licences to International level had been discussed to meet the needs of
those competing abroad.
The consultation on K37 proposals
had drawn a very big response, much of it well-reasoned and demonstrating a
wealth of engineering knowledge. Two active observers had joined Rallies
Committee for this discussion. Original proposals had been moderated to provide
a more realistic and pragmatic outcome. Category 3 cars would remain eligible
until 31.12.11; they would have to comply with the new version of K37 from
1.1.12. There were thought to be around 20 Category 3 cars at present. The
drafting had been much improved around the definitions for ‘modified cars’.
Earlier proposals for wheel widths and vehicle weights were simply wrong,
having been drawn from the wrong FIA specification.
Changes are to be made to harness
regulations so that four-point harnesses can’t be arranged to use just three
mounting points. Standards for protective overalls are to be tightened,
advisory for 2008, mandatory for 2009.
SPEED
COMMITTEE
Peter
Riley reported that much of Section L was now being updated. He was concerned
at how mandatory catalytic converters could be policed but was advised by Mike
Harris that this is currently done in racing by use of a thermal gun, measuring
the temperature before, in the centre of, and after the catalytic converter.
Clarification was needed about definitions of ‘production-based’ vehicles given
the number of kitcars on speed events.
The principle of having front and
rear towing eyes had been agreed but there seemed to be problems in
specification; perhaps a towing point
would be easier to define, permitting the use of the rollcage.
Incidents were related of
scrutineers repeatedly allowing cars to run without logbooks. This was quite
unacceptable.
Mike
Ashcroft asked for clarification about ‘pump fuel’ now that 104 Octane fuel was
available at certain outlets. Mike Harris confirmed that Technical Committee
would be looking again at this later in the year, conscious of evolving
products in both biofuels and petroleum based fuel.
The List 1a of acceptable tyres was
in need of major revision. No race series was thought to comply.
SECRETARY’S REPORT, INCLUDING
CORRESPONDENCE
Stan Appleton reported that the
latest edition of Wheels magazine reiterated the need for clubs to be careful
over access to their websites and other electronic media to avoid inappropriate
comments on a public medium and subsequent liability.
The 2008 forestry allocations letter
had just been received although it seemed we had received that for AWMMC !
A
letter had been received from a lady who was clearing her late father’s estate
and offered to pass on a number of trophies from the 1950’s, from events run by
L&C, MGCC, Mid-Cheshire, BRSCC, and Bolton-l-M. If those clubs are
interested they should contact the General Secretary for details.
John Symes had reported back
following his attendance at the last meeting; the point about consistency of
approach to single-venue stages was taken on board by Ian Davis, Rallies
Executive.
A nomination for appointment to
Rallies Committee (or possibly Autotest Committee) had been endorsed for Steve
Johnson.
Applications for membership had been
received from Alwoodley MC and from Trackrod MC and were approved by the
meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Eric Cowcill expressed concern at
the ever-rising cost of the meeting at the Holiday Inn. It was however
considered to be well-located for the association and to be able to meet
requests for food and drink without prior booking, albeit at a high price.
CHAMPIONSHIP COORDINATOR’S REPORT
Dave Thomas reported that 42 of the
86 clubs have already paid their subscriptions for next year. A very small
number are still outstanding for this year. Competitors’ registrations are 20%
down on last year. It was repeated that for the championship tables to be
responsive, clubs must get accurate results to the coordinator as soon as
possible. Thoughts for 2008 included a possible autosolo championship; there
would not be an endurance road rally championship as only two clubs were now
running them.
The 1400 Rally Club would be joining
with Formula 1000 Rally Club to run a forest rally championship based on the BTRDA
calendar.
Dave Thomas confirmed that he is
generally able to reconstruct sets of results where necessary to enable points
to be awarded on the ANWCC class structures even where the event ran under
different definitions. PCT’s may be a case in point.
The Marshals’ Draw was held with
prizes going to Ed Johnson, Kath Simpson and Steve Johnson.
The
2008 awards presentation is likely to be on either 2.2.08 or 9.2.08 and the use
of gold etching on the glassware is being investigated, for our Jubilee year. How
could more people be encouraged to attend ? Reasons for non-attendance were
various. Again, other venues were proposed and Mike Ashcroft would investigate.
FORESTRY LIAISON OFFICER
No report from Kevin
Witton
AINTREE LIAISON OFFICER
John Harden reported that
three-quarters of the season was now successfully over. He was due to meet the
new Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse next week but day to day
operational relations had been good. The golf course extension is likely to
need part of the paddock during the construction phase.
OTHER VENUES
Unusually, Clitheroe were denied the
use of Weeton Camp due to ‘other activities’ which is always a risk with MOD
venues.
The new Ty Croes circuit looks
extremely good.
PRESS OFFICER
Katy Mashiter had nothing
to report.
TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT
The 2008 budget has been sent to
MSA. Attendance numbers need to be sustained to justify this level of
investment. Events are planned for
Sue Sanders-Peppitt added that the
Buddies scheme was proving successful. In rallying it was often recognising
current good practice.
C&T RALLIES LIAISON OFFICER
No report from Gordon
Pirie
OTHER BUSINESS
John Harden (Liverpool
MC) is involved with a Jaguar/Landrover family day at their Speke plant where
there may be an opportunity for a display of ‘Ford group’ vehicles. He will
send Dave Thomas suitable text for a website newsflash.
Jim Spencer (BRCA) asked why MSA
were very quiet and missing opportunities about Green Issues and in particular
the carbon-offset potential in motorsport. Stan Appleton explained the way that
carbon-offsetting was linked with Ilkley & DMC’s Yorkshire Revival Rally; a
small number of other clubs had taken similar initiatives. A proposal was made
by BRCA, seconded by Liverpool MC, that Regional Committee should consider a
formal proposal to link all motorsport activity with carbon-offsetting, perhaps
via a levy on permits or on licence fees.
Martin Nield (Lancs & Ches CC)
told delegates of an inter-club quiz to be held between Stockport 061,
Wallasey,
Finally it was agreed that ANWCC
would if necessary pay to enable the Championship Coordinator to have an
upgrade to Broadband – to speed up every club’s communications with him !!
NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 13 November 2007
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AGENDA
For
the Delegates’ Meeting of the Association of North Western Car Clubs,
To
be held at Holiday Inn, Runcorn, on Tuesday
13 November 2007.
Apologies
for absence
Minutes
of last meeting (August 2007)
Matters
arising
MSA
Matters
Reports
General Secretary, including
correspondence
Treasurer
Championship Coordinator
Forestry Liaison Officer
Aintree Liaison Officer
Other venues
Press Officer
Training Officer
C&T Rallies Liaison Officer
Any
other business
Date
and place of next meeting
Stan
Appleton
HG3
5PA
01423-712436