Update following August 7th meeting with clubs
Following a very positive meeting conducted with affiliated clubs on Saturday August 7th Motorsport Ireland wish to inform readers of the topics discussed along with items that are to be actioned by affiliated clubs.
- A presentation was given clearly outlining the distribution of the Club Resilience Fund. Motorsport Ireland requested submissions from clubs with suggestions of how the residual monies from the Club Resilience Fund may be distributed.
- A presentation was given on the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and detailed the support that is given to young drivers and navigators which is paid for by the Team Ireland Foundation. Clubs were encouraged to promote the efforts of their own academy members and others. The clear pathway from J1000, Class 16, Rally4 to Rally 2 was explained and clubs were asked to encourage their younger members to engage. There was also a short discussion on a proposed process for club involvement and engagement in the 2021 selection process.
- The budgets circulated in April are now advisory and clubs running stage rallies in 2021 are free to set their own costs however trackers remain mandatory for safety and stage management. The clubs with rally events on the calendar met later last Saturday evening to discuss the logistics of running rallies this year.
- Non-gated events are now permitted.
- Motorsport Ireland confirmed it is working on an online entry system for clubs to assist with their running of events and to reduce on paperwork. It is not finalised at this moment so clubs should continue to use whatever on-line system they are comfortable with. Once finalised the system will be presented to the clubs.
- What was formally known as the CAC will return in the form of club meetings. The club delegates for these meetings must be club directors however in certain, specific circumstances, non-directors may be required to attend. There will probably be 4 such meetings per year with commission reports and club agenda items.
- A Women’s Commission will be created to give a voice specifically to females involved in our sport.
- A Competitors Commission chaired by rally driver Donagh Kelly will be created to give a voice to competitors across ALL disciplines. The criteria for membership is:
• One nomination per club.
• Nominee must be a current Motorsport Ireland licence holder.
• Nominee must have competed in at least two events per year in the previous three years but for now we will use 2017, 2018 and 2019.
- A competitors consultation panel will be created across ALL disciplines. This panel is being created as a specialist commissions requires such a panel and they will primarily be consulted on upcoming rule changes. The criteria for membership is:
• Self-nomination by a competitor.
• They must be a current Motorsport Ireland licence holder.
• Have competed in at least two events per year of the discipline that the competitor is nominating themselves for in the previous three years but for now we will use 2017, 2018 and 2019.
• The names for the panel will be drawn randomly at a clubs meeting.
- Clubs are requested to submit proposals for the position of Chair of the Volunteers and Officials Commission. The successful person must have an extensive knowledge of the yearbook, officiating at events, along with the creation and presentation of training programs.
- An annual congress will take place each year at which club nominations to commissions, MSC regional seats and calendar formation will take place, along with annual reports form all commissions and club agenda items.
- A support group will be formed to assist clubs with compliance to the affiliation agreement.
- All vacancies on commissions other than club seats may be nominated by any member of an affiliated club. The criteria for nomination is:
• Proposed by another individual, acceptance of the proposal.
• Motorsport CV attached.
• Be a member of an affiliated club for the previous three years.
• A nominations committee will be formed to check the compliance of the nominations.
- A comprehensive report on claims history over the previous number of years was relayed to clubs and insurance negotiations for 2022 are ongoing.
- Motorsport Ireland welcomes suggestions from clubs as to how the 2021 Billy Coleman Award may be awarded as a reduced calendar of events has made the usual selection criteria unworkable. It is envisioned the Sexton Award will be awarded as normal.
- Motorsport Ireland has secured a competitive quote for non-event insurance. This cover would include club PR activities, event set up, attendance at shows etc. Clubs are requested to put forward non-event scenarios where such coverage would be desired so that Motorsport Ireland can take this back to the insurers.
- A revised 2021 calendar until the end of the year was agreed. This revised calendar can be viewed here.
The meetings started at 10am and then went into a dates meeting with the final meeting finishing at 7.52pm. Motorsport Ireland would like to thank all delegates, MSC members, commission chairs and commission members who attended and contributed to an extremely constructive series of meetings.
Action Points for Clubs
- Submissions with suggestions of how the residual monies from the Club Resilience Fund may be distributed.
- Submit delegates for Clubs Meetings and Congress (forms to follow).
- Submit nomination to the Competitors Commission.
- Notify members about the competitors consultation panel.
- Submit proposals for the position of Chair of the Volunteers and Officials Commission.
- Notify members about the opportunity to nominate for all commissions.
- Submit suggestions regarding the 2021 Billy Coleman Award.
- Submit non-event scenarios for insurance coverage.
- Confirm intention to run events for the remainder of 2021 by Monday, August 16th.