Greetings Race Fans!

Read this report as it could affect you!!!

That’s right folks it is once again that time of year when we are supposed to be planning our next season at the AGM.

I will preface this report with a form of disclaimer if you like, and I will start by saying that I am not having a personal “pop” at anyone as we all have to shoulder some responsibility for how the series progresses.

I would also say that sometimes the written word may appear to be harsh but that is not how I intend it and again I am not trying/ intending to offend anyone which of course is why you are all free to comment as I readily admit my opinion may not be the views of you all.

All I am hoping to do is to galvanise a few of us to get our heads together to get things moving.

Here we go then.

Firstly may I put on record that I really appreciated it when Dave stepped in last season as co-ordinator sacrificing his own option to race.

I must admit I did think that this would be a temporary measure and that Dave would return to racing once a new co-ordinator had been appointed.

I now understand Dave is actually happy to continue in his role as co-ordinator / chairman, if Dave is willing to continue then that is fine with me but I do feel that we must share out some of the responsibility for the running of the series and Dave you must allow us to do this……as there is a lot of room for improvement!!!

I know having spoken to many of you that there is a general concern that the series is not particularly well organised, we are losing drivers (for several reasons) and there seems to be no sense of direction.

We also seem to have lost a bit of our friendly atmosphere too…there are several reasons for this and I hope to make some suggestions in order to improve matters.

Dave is the current co-ordinator but it has to be said that :

1.      The official website is poorly run and any new / potential driver looking at it would think the series had folded, and I believe unless we make some positive changes NOW that is exactly what will happen.

2.      We also get very little communication from Dave as to what is going on with the MGCC, where we are heading and the series itself is not promoted in any way.

3.      The rules are in parts overly complicated and not enforced.

4.      The Technical Rep is like the will o’ the wisp, and despite his pledge to attend more often has only been seen at one race this year.

5.      We do not have any scrutineer…as I understand it because the MGCC won’t pay for him.

6.      The MGCC do not appear to offer any support to our race series.

7.      We have too many race classes which often have few or no cars in them, which results in drivers having no one to actually compete against, or alternatively picking up a cup, for simply showing up.

8.      We do not react quickly enough to keep classes competitive.

9.      We do little to retain / encourage new drivers to the series.

We all need to step up a bit to save our series and to this end I would like to put forward the following proposals to allow time for reflection/discussion and then I will put them forward for official discussion at the AGM.

I am sure not everyone will like everything about them, but then of course we would like the classes to make us all individual winners I am sure!

In my view the series needs to address the following:

1)      Rules.  These need to be revised to ensure that as many competitors as possible can participate on a level playing field within their respective class, whilst at the same time ensuring there are as few classes as possible.  I think 4 classes are more than adequate.  If we cannot fit a car into one of those 4 classes than in all probability, we simply have to concede that we cannot assist everyone.  At present the sheer number of classes is confusing, the rules are weak and as a result, the series is too complicated, so it puts off newcomers or there is no incentive for some existing competitors to remain. There is little point in having loads of classes with just one or two cars in them, this is not racing.

2)      Identity of the series:  We need to establish what we are trying to offer and encourage our drivers to feel part of our own club; i.e. that we exist for the benefit of the drivers and there are real benefits from being a member of this group.  We also need to establish an identity that does not rely on our sponsor’s name.

3)      Structure of the committee.   I think the current structure is not working in that few people know what they are supposed to be doing and others have too much to address.  I propose a structure as follows:

CHAIRMAN / CO-ORDINATOR/ ADMINISTRATOR: this person is the figure head of the series and is responsible for ensuring that his committee members understand and carry out their roles; he would also be our representative with the MGCC, fighting our corner pursuant to the instructions of the drivers.

TREASURER:  Responsible for finances, ensuring subs are paid, processing all sponsorship money etc.

TECHNICAL  OFFICER:  Advises on all technical issues and assists in ensuring that the rules are fair and understood, that the scrutineers understand and enforces rules, available to provide technical support to driver’s enquiries, guidance on all technical issues to include monitoring success of rules and ongoing revisions as may be required.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Deals with all publicity and communications for the series, to include complete responsibility for website, race reports, commentators notes, programme notes, press releases, publicity, newsletters etc.

COMMERCIAL OFFICER: Responsible for introducing and obtaining as many benefits as possible for the drivers, to include sponsorship, discounts, finding commercial partners.

DRIVERS REP:  Not convinced we need one per class, but if sufficient volunteers then so be it. Duties include getting drivers to enter on time, filtering all driver enquires, assisting novice drivers; probably sensible to nominate one person to have overall responsibility for assisting new drivers, 

SOCIAL SECRETARY; organises and encourages social events, ideally far beyond annual d&d.

I am happy to continue as social secretary and to take on a wider remit if required.

Alan Jones of Miss Daisy fame has offered to take on the role of Communications Officer.

Pete Burchill is happy to continue as treasurer.

Richard Tinkler is currently Club Secretary and although I have not specified this as a role I would see him continuing with his activities in the series but many of his duties currently overlap with those of the treasurer.

Dave Brooke has indicated he wishes to continue as chairman / co-ordinator.

So to close then, the future of our series rests in our own hands and while it would be nice for us to just turn up and race, in the current climate we all need to help in some way to ensure the series goes forward and grows in these hard times.

It was not that long ago when the PBIC was regularly turning out the biggest grids each race meeting and although we never got the recognition by the MGCC we were the strongest series in town.

Times have changed and we need to change with them to get ourselves back from the brink to become bigger and better than before.

We were originally the Phoenix Challenge….maybe there was a good reason for that name, let us rise to that Challenge again!!!!

Jonesey