Meeting at RML 20

CLASSIC CLUBMANS – ANNUAL DRIVERS MEETING

Meeting at RML 20.10.2007

The meeting opened at 10.30hours

Those present: Cliff Robertson, Ian Mitchell, DavidChilds, Reg Powell, Gavin Childs, Steve Clamp, Ray Harper, Pete Harper, Dave Facer, Ash Seymour, Steve Campbell, Steve Chaplin, Peter Carter, John Wood, John Deane-Bowers, Mike Sales, Bob Yarwood, Ann Childs, Pat Powell, SF

No known absences were notified

DC welcomed all present.

Minutes of the last meeting were read and agreed

1. Standing Committee

Vacancies on standing committee. Mark Charteris to stand down

Steve Campbell proposed and seconded duly voted in as A sport rep to replace Mark.

Dave Facer discussed nominations for B sport. Whole standing committee should be up for election, not just specific replacements. Dave explained his reasoning for nominating John Deane-Bowers. Mentioned that there had not been many meetings this year and Ray Harper said the Charter of the Committee needed to develop terms of reference for this end. Ian Mitchell argued against this as too time consuming. JD- B said he felt he did have skills he could bring to the proceedings, but felt he wanted to achieve without upsetting things. David Childs noted we as a formula did not take ourselves too seriously, J DB said he was serious about his intentions, but could be done in a non-serious way. David Childs said could use John’s skills in a different way e.g. Mike Wright. DC continued, could use his marketing skills on an as and when needed basis. John stressed the need to formalise the set up and way of running of the committee. Ian said that if John felt so strongly he should be on the committee to help change things. DC questioned, was change really needed. John said the formula needed challenges to drive it forward, and success of the formula that it was still here at all was due to DC efforts. Mike Sales said there had been a change in clubmans over the last few years for the better. DC noted there had been no long term plans at the outset of the formula 10 years ago, and it was not appropriate to change things for the sake of change. Mike Sales said it would not be good to change our core values. Ray Harper said it was the committee’s duty to be aware of changes in motor racing as a whole and to react accordingly. Ian said that from his experience you have to accept you may not always win an argument in a committee format. DC asked what do we want? Reg said he felt he was not contributing as much now as he had done in the beginning, and was prepared to stand down in favour of John.

NEW committee should be DavidChilds, Gavin Childs Ian Mitchell, Dave Facer, Cliff Robertson, Ray Harper John Deane-Bowers, Steve Campbell. This will be taken forward to the AGM and rubber stamped

John proposed thanks to Reg Powell, for his sterling efforts over the last ten years.

2. 2007 Season

DC read out a review of the season by Mike Hickson, copy attached.

DC commented on the report that the year had been reasonably good, and thanked everyone who had raced. He mentioned the Press Day at Mallory last Wednesday, with Marcus Pye driving five cars. John suggested that we consider advertising to capitalise on the report which will be a two page spread in Autosport (date to be finalised).. DC argued against this, others were in favour. Ray Harper said the ad should include car for sale and hire. An ad would cost £800. This ad should have endorsements from e.g. Ray Mallock, Max Mosely, Derek Bell. It was discussed whether we should have an inclusion for sponsorship, and it was decided against. Ian Mitchell to take the matter forward for board approval.

DC took the opportunity to thank those who had provided trophies and champage for awards during the year. Also thanked Cliff for all his efforts.

3. 2008 Season

Ian Mitchell has been negotiating with the BARC, Mike Hickson with the HSCC and David Childs with the MSVR. The results of the survey gave a slight majority to 9 meetings, 12 rounds, three dropped scores. However, as the MSA are about the raise the bar for yellow cards, the standing committee decided that 9 meetings, 11 races, two dropped scores, was the better way of keeping the average grid number as high as possible (The MSA will issue a yellow card for any championship with an average grid size of below 16. For 2008, this rises to 18. If a championship still fails to achieve the average, then it will lose it’s championship status). Of the 11 races planned, 8 will be BARC organised. The season starts with a big anniversary meeting at Thruxton on March 23rd. or 24th. with the BARC. This is followed by an MSVR round on the Donnington Grand Prix circuit on April 12th. or 13th. For the other two ‘away ‘ rounds, we are in negotiations with the HSCC to repeat Castle Combe at the beginning of August and the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting at the end of August. However, the HSCC cannot give us a firm commitment. MSVR have offered two alternatives. These are an end of season meeting on the Silverstone International circuit and a Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit meeting in Mid August.

Reg Powell said that we should consider how we are treated by the HSCC. They seem to treat us as second class citizens. Ian commented that Mike Hickson had copied an email to him which said that we as a formula are a very good formula to go with, which suggests that we had misinterpreted the attitude of the HSCC. Of the remaining 7 BARC rounds, 2 will be double headers. DC suggested that Croft be considered as a possibility. Ian stated. that as part of his discussions with the BARC, one of the two double headers one should be at a popular accessible circuit such as Snetterton and the other double header should be at a further flung circuit e.g. Croft or Anglesey. Ian also said it would be good to finish with a double header, as this tends to leave the championship undecided until the final meeting. Mike Sales said a double header should be over two days, not two races in one day, which was very hard work. This was generally agreed. The 18 cars average was discussed and it was felt that overall we should be able to achieve this number. However we should not be complacent and need to get numbers up, particularly B sport, which is what the Marcus Pye report will concentrate on.

4. Tyres

DC read out a report from Mike Wright of his comments on the points he had picked up on appertaining to all aspects of scrutineering, copy attached. This last season 2.5 tyres per person was allowed. Pete Harper commented he had managed with no problems and this was reflected in other comments. Steve Campbell said he was having problems with his particular set up and this was commented on and agreed by Gavin who has a similar set up. Various solutions were offered during a general discussion on this specific problem for some people, but no answer was agreed, other than using three full sets. Generally most people didn’t need this option. DC said that three sets might be justified with 11 races next year instead of 10, which was a very pertinent point. Dave Facer asked if all tyres would be counted, including previously used ones It was confirmed that this would be the case. Mike Wright would mark up any used tyres. The statistics showed a few people had replaced damaged/destroyed tyres. It was agreed to continue with controlled tyres, and to find some way to accommodate Steve Campbell’s specific problems. On a quick concensus quite a few people said they would object to increasing to 3 sets. Ray Harper said it should be put to a vote. Mike Sales asked if anyone else was in Steve Campbell’s position. It was thought Steve was unique. DC expressed the need to find a solution. Gavin said Steve should have a dispensation on this point until it was shown whether the Dunlops worked, which Steve said he objected to on the basis that he wanted to maintain a level playing field, he was prepared to find another solution. DC threw it open to the meeting for ideas. Dave Facer said that there wasn’t enough data to make an informed decision, but we did need to bear in mind 1 more race on the calendar for next year and some of the races might be longer than usual. DC said keep an eye on Steve next year and then the committee should decide at the time if or when Steve had problem and came to the committee asking for assistance. A vote was called for and it was agreed that the status quo should be maintained, that is 2.5 sets of tyres.

5. A Sport Power

Dave Facer raised the point that A sport engines were becoming more powerful and this was causing diffs to break and there were issues of power differentials between classes. He suggested that a working party could be set up to work on this point, aiming for conclusions for 2009. A further thought was to maintain A sport power and increase B sport power (an idea from Phil Price of Connaught). All aspects were discussed at length with the majority of A sport drivers firmly against the idea of depowering their engines. A vote was taken on instigating a committee as above. It was carried as a majority against the idea, and should not be brought up again. DC suggested Dave should get some investigation under way by talking to Phil Price for thoughts on increasing B sport power. It was decided is a route Dave should take for recommendations for 2009.

6. Any Other Business

A discussion was started about sponsorship for the formula. A minimum sponsorship of £5000 would be needed. Mike Sales asked if there was a marketing package to offer to a potential sponsor. DC referred the point to John for his expertise in marketing to take up this point. It was mentioned that Hazel Ford may have put something together in the past, but this would need to be checked. The original Startline article was available and Marcus’s piece for Autosport will prove very useful. Dave Facer brought up the point of organising ourselves at meetings, e.g. policing the paddock – this would be difficult because the BARC for instance, refuse to enforce paddock parking.

Mike Sales has a possible contact to test out for sponsorship. Steve Campbell also has a contact he is pursuing. If we did get sponsorship it would be imperative that we selected a meeting that was going to give the best show. It was suggested that sponsorship stickers should go on the racing cars, and not on transporters because these are not always aesthetically beautiful, and it would cut down on the price of decals/stickers etc.

The subject of drivers sorting out on track problems themselves was discussed and DC said that it was within the remit of the club to deal with ‘bad attitude’. Peer pressure was however decided to be the best method. DC will bring the subject up at the next board meeting to discuss the implementation of a system for disciplining errant competitors, such as used by Sports 2000.

DC gave out driver profiles for updating the website, and asked that everyone fills them in and returns them as quickly as possible to Hazel Ford. Also to contact Hazel with anything that could go on the website. Dave Facer offered to take over the points compilation table.

DC asked if a track day was wanted, bearing in mind the proximity of Thruxton to this event. The general consensus was no.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 13.20 hours.