Blackrod MC (Helen Fox, Martin Fox), Bolton-le-Moors CC (Guy Wickham),
British Rally Marshals Club (Mike Farnworth), British Racing & Sports CC (Tom Dooley), Bury AC
(Eve Fisher), Civil Service Motoring Association (Steve Johnson), Dayz of Funder MC (John
Francis), Ecurie Royal Oak MC (Kay Skellern), Garstang & Preston MC (Steve Kenyon, Terry May),
Kirkby Lonsdale MC (Bob Milloy, Katy Mashiter), Lancashire & Cheshire CC (David Bailey, Martin
Nield), Liverpool MC (John Harden, Ron Hunt), Morecambe CC (Katy Mashiter), Motor Sport NW
(Richard Pearl), North Wales CC (Dave Thomas), Potteries & Newcastle MC (Eric Cowcill),
Stockport MC (Bob Milloy, Ken Wilkinson, Mark Wilkinson), Wallasey MC (Richard Pearl), Wigan &
DMC (Helen Fox, Martin Fox).
Officials present were:
Bob Milloy (Chairman),
Kay Skellern (General Secretary),
Eric Cowcill (Treasurer),
Dave Thomas (Championships Secretary),
Katy Mashiter (Press Officer) &
Mike Farnworth (Training Officer).
NOTICE
Apologies for absence were recorded from Allan Dean-Lewis
(President), Mike Ashcroft (Aintree Liaison Officer), Sue Sanders-Peppitt (Potteries & Newcastle
MC), Mike Cook (Quinton MC) and Richard Duddell (Westfield Sports CC)
MINUTES
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true record on
a proposal by Katy Mashiter (Morecambe CC), seconded by Steve Johnson (CSMA).
MATTERS ARISING
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Last year the Chairman hoped that 2002 would be better for all,
following the disruption due to Foot & Mouth, and things had generally improved all round. The
Association was buoyant, motorsport on television was buoyant and spectator levels on the
Network Q were rising, although the same could not be said about Grands Prix, which were
becoming very boring!
The Rally Safety Study Group had brought about a series of Marshals
Training Seminars, fronted by Allan Dean-Lewis and Stuart Turner, and it was very pleasing to
see that the biggest turnout was at Chester, where an alternative venue had to be sought to
cater for the 360 attendees. It would be nice to see them out on our events.
Excellent training sessions had been run, thanks to Mike Farnworth
and his team. There had been 200 attend the recent session at Myerscough College. News of
future sessions to follow.
We had been saddened to report the death of Gareth Hall, a very
promising young co-driver, shortly after winning major awards in both the Welsh and ANWCC
Championships in 2002.
The Rally of the Year award had been presented to the organisers
from Motor Sport North-West, taking standards to a new high with their North-West Stages. The
2002 Awards Presentation evening had been held the previous weekend to this AGM, and whilst
numbers were down the evening was well-received. Thanks to Lancashire & Cheshire CC for
hosting the event, and to Stuart Turner for his part in the proceedings and for his
complimentary remarks received since. The raffle had raised £250 which was being donated to
the Motorsport Safety Fund, of which Stuart is a trustee.
Changes were continuing at the MSA, with a strategic review head by
Alan Gow. Rallying was being reviewed under Mike Broad, whilst a separate Road Rally Study
Group was due to report on aspects of that discipline.
“Risk management” was the buzz-phrase that will be seen in all
aspects of motor sport, and organisers are faced with assessing all the risks involved with
their particular events. There are many changes, mainly insurance driven, to ensure a future
for our sport.
During the year we had been visited by both John Symes and Allan
Dean-Lewis of the MSA, who had been open to questions and answered honestly and frankly to the
points raised.
The ANWCC officers have beavered away all year, some behind the
scenes, some at the forefront. Eric Cowcill had ensured the accounts were looked after,
sometimes from afar as his timekeeping duties took him around the globe. Mike Ashcroft
continued with the battle for events at Aintree, Mike Farnworth enthusiastically arranged
training sessions throughout he region. Martin Pratt had occasionally wielded the “big stick”
but ensured all was peaceful as RLO, Katy Mashiter and Kay Skellern had diligently carried out
their roles as Press officer and General Secretary.
Dave Thomas had come up with new initiatives, the
website having been launched at the 2002 AGM and now seen to
be one of the best Association websites on the net. Dave’s latest idea was a Marshals
Championship that has attracted the attention of the National body, so watch this space.
The Chairman finished by hoping that the next year will see
motorsport back together completely after the F&M problems of the previous year and thanked
clubs and their members for their support and involvement throughout the year.
GENERAL SECRETARY
The Secretary had nothing specific to report.
TREASURER
The Treasurer reported another successful year, with an excess
income over expenditure of £1579.71p. 95% of the turnover relates to the Competition Account,
club subscriptions cover the cost of administration for clubs, whilst the competitions side
pays for itself. The accounts include awards costs for the 2002 championships, whilst there is
also an overlap of fees for both 2001 and 2003 within the 2002 accounts (as happens every year).
Sponsorship was down, due to the economic climate. With the use
of the website it was anticipated that post and printing costs will decrease, minutes and
NeWs bulletins being on the web for those with access, posted versions only going to those
who have requested it that way.
The championships appear to be continuing successfully, so the
accounts should remain healthy.
The balance sheet was accepted on a proposal by Steve Johnson
(Civil Service Motoring Association), seconded by Mike Farnworth (BRMC).
CHAMPIONSHIPS SECRETARY
Dave Thomas reported that the number of registered competitors
had reached 347, slightly up on the previous year, with 106 championship qualifying events
having been held.
The awards had been presented the previous weekend, with 180
attendees. The Rally of the Year had been won by Motor Sport NW for their North-West Stages,
the third time in four years, whilst the individual winners were Road Rally – Welsh Border CC’s
Classic Lanes Rally, Forest Rally – Telford AC’s Winter Rally and Ecurie Royal Oak MC’s Sweet
Lamb Stages and the Historic Rally jointly won by Ilkley & DMC’s Jubilee Rally and Morecambe
CC’s Illuminations Rally.
Thanks to all the organisers for running the events, with
virtually no problems for the Championship Secretary.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Following the formality of the necessary procedures the
following officers willing to stand for re-election were unanimously elected en bloc on a
proposal by John Harden (Liverpool MC) seconded by Ken Wilkinson (Stockport MC):