NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2003
CONTACT WEEKEND
The recent contact w/e, and the points made, has meant it has taken a lot longer to get this newsletter out. Longer in fact than I would have liked.
It has taken some time to work through the points and questions raised. My answers to some these will be found a little further on.
There are also apparently a number of moves taking place, behind the Twin Shock scene, that could affect us sooner, rather than later.
As yet nothing clear cut has come to light, and it may prove to be “ smoke and mirrors”, yet again.
Also my expectations of what could be gained from the contact w/e, were perhaps aimed a little too high.
In fact it could also be, that the expectations of all of us together are on the high side.
Yet nothing ventured, nothing gained.
The response has shown that, in a lot of minds there should be another Southern series in 2004.
So finally after a lot of thought, and the weighing up of the pro’s and con’s, I am going to try and put one together.
To carry it out properly will need a lot more help.
Membership numbers will have to be brought back to their earlier levels. I think also we shall have to operate more along the lines that Clubs used to.
I don’t mean weekly club nights, that could not work as we have such a widely dispersed membership.
As a start perhaps two general meetings a year, with a small committee to help run things the remaining time.
Could be the way to go!
With that in mind I am arranging a fairly central venue to kick-start things off.
A w/e date midway in January would seem appropriate.
It will also give a chance for outstanding awards to be presented.
What is envisaged is a general meeting in the afternoon, followed by a finger buffet and presentation.
With an early finish to the official side, allowing more time for those having the furthest to travel.
Such a meeting will allow us to tidy up loose ends, and put in place the necessary rules and regulations for the onward progress of the club and the series.
We did it this way in the first year, and it got us started. This time it should get us restarted on the right road again.
Though I don’t want to get away from the original concept, of keeping things simple, and making it fun.
But outside authorities etc., have a big effect on what we can or cannot do.
The next few paragraphs may seem to be a digression, but it is all part and parcel of the sports future.
One other factor affecting when and where we can operate next season, is that the Ford track is being rested and repaired during 2004.
So a fresh home venue needs to be found.
One possibility is the chance of a revamp of the Foxhill track.
Some work to that end has already been done, but unless the lease can be saved that will have been wasted.
My own opinion is that it would be a shame for that to happen.
The facility and infrastructure is probably the best in the country, if not in Europe.
But it has been mismanaged in the past.
Roger Haskel, who took the lease on at short notice has been fighting a loosing battle.
He has lost heart and quite a lot of cash too, and is surrendering his lease at the end of this year.
Due to the landowners interest it can be saved as a venue, and because of all of Rogers’ hard work and expense, it should be saved.
He has also put in a big effort to keep, on side, the local population and business’s. To waste that effort and lose all that goodwill would be a pity.
The sport has lost far too many tracks already.
To lose by default another as good as this, together with its ongoing potential, would be a disaster.
There is a lot of interest from individual clubs to run events there, but not enough cash to swing a leasing deal by any single one on its own.
We are working to form in combination with all interested parties, a suitable management company that will ensure the future of Foxhill Moto Park as an off-road facility.
The ground is there, the kit is there, the need is there, I believe we must go for it.
Any one who wants to know more, or would like to help in some way, please get in touch.
S.T.S.S.C. PROGRAMME OF EVENTS 2004
Other dates and venues yet to be confirmed
Mid January AGM & Awards
Mid February Vintage Off Road Show & Autojumble
Easter w/e Matchams Park
May Foxhill Moto Park
July 3rd/4th Farleigh Castle, “Kings of the Castle” &
The PES “CCM International Challenge”
*** NB. Send for Farleigh Regs NOW ***
BRISTOL MOTOR CYCLE CLUB
A limited number of events to be based on Foxhill, including a three round MX evening series for MODERN bikes.
To be interspersed with the Rhayader Clubs evening events in Mid-Wales.
POINTS FROM THE TALK IN DROP IN W/E.
The number one point at issue would seem to be with costs, one that has concerned us from the start.
So much of the cost stems from the insurance and first –aid payments needed to cover the meetings.
Neither of which, we can do without.
As an example first aid costs over £400, per day with an extra £200 for a paramedic.
Insurance costs currently run at £697 per day
The cost of the hire of land, or tracks to run on varies from venue to venue.
The cheapest being at around £500.
With landowners or track owners squeezing as much as they can out of hiring them to us.
Again there is little we can do about it.
Toilets too now have to be hired, £45 per unit, no more just digging holes in the ground.
Rubbish also has to be disposed of according to the law,
£79 even for a mini skip.
Or we face very stiff penalties for any DIY effort we might try.
Fines starting at £5000, or 6 months in the nick being the order of the day, when caught.
Add the cost of a PA system, payment to marshals etc., and there is not much change from £2,250 to put on even a club meeting.
Making a start on keeping the costs of entering to a reasonable level is now possible due to an offer by a club member to take care of the rubbish disposal. An offer we are more than pleased to accept.
A change to the registration/membership fee should also be of benefit. Please see form foe details
Small changes in themselves, but hopefully a step in the right direction. Every little helps as the monkey said.
On larger savings it was asked if we needed to have insurance! Whilst there is nothing in law to say we have to have any, it would be foolhardy not to . Firstly we would not be able to obtain a permit, without some indemnity to the authorising body. You only have to read the article in this weeks T&MX to see how long it has taken to resolve a claim when there is insurance in place.
We can only imagine the costs and trouble for any one without cover.
It is also highly probable that no landowner would give permission without it.
Although the premium is high it gives me peace of mind, that we have a sufficient level of cover for our activities, if things go wrong.
Still to do with costs, it would be nice to have a major sponsor to help us out. It should then be possible to bring entry fees down for almost all events.
Travel costs have a big bearing on what is paid out to compete, and by using the tracks as outlined earlier, time and money can be saved.
There have been concerns over the lack of publicity about the club and who we are and what we do.
That has also been a problem from the start, but once more thanks to the generosity of some of the members who dropped in we have a fund to pay for advertising in the weekly comic.
We shall also try for more reports on what we get up to appearing in print. Not as easy as it may first seem, due to a bit of bias in some quarters.
And we have not given up on our own expanded type newsletter.
Mark Cook and his web site can also help, now its up and running.
For information on the Twin Shock scene countrywide, other contact numbers, or for regs entry forms etc., access www. performance-engineering-services.co.uk
TWIN SHOCKING IN THE SUN
For any body interested or tempted by the thought, a new series is proposed for Northern Spain during 2004.
To be called The Joel Robert Classic series, it has attracted interest from Sweden, Belgium, Austria and Germany.
The first running with a trial and scramble takes place over the w/e of the 17th/18th of January, near GIRONA.
The venue is the Circuit Can Mariano, Santa Coloma De Farners, with toilets showers a café and camping on site.
Other hotel and apartment accommodation is available close by.
Entries and further info from Steve Humphrey 0137 347 2927. E-mail sumphrey@freeuk.com
To make an extended holiday with Trail Riding, enduro Training Mountain biking, Safaris ,Quads & Jetski trips.
Contact Ronny Renders, 14 times a competitor in the Paris Dakar. On 00 34 676 533 602, or by e-mail RonnyRenders@hotmail.com
As you can see there is a lot happening, and there will be changes and adjustments to make at the AGM.
That will also be the place to cover all of the other points not dealt with in this newsletter.
For ideas or comment, further information or items to consider for the agenda at the AGM, or even just a chat in general, please contact me by, tel/fax/answer machine on 0117 957 0997 or e-mail philip.steadman@tesco.net
If telephoning I am generally available during the day should that be convenient, but it would be appreciated if the call could be made prior to, 9 o’clock in the evening, thank you.
Phil