Making an economic impact
As club members or event organizers, have you ever considered what the economic impact of your Club or event is on your local area? Around 10 years ago, the MSA undertook an economic impact survey on the British Grand Prix and the (now) Wales Rally GB, which revealed that these events brought £28m and £11m respectively to the local economies.

Local authorities increasingly use this factor as a measure of an event’s eligibility for grant aid funding and other resource support. To say that your Club's major rally brought, say, £100,000 to the local economy would certainly help the profile of the Club in the local area – and assist with positive publicity too.

In liaison with Cumbria County Council, the MSA is researching simple guidelines to assist Clubs and event organizers to measure the economic impact, so that a comparison between events may be possible. Watch out for further announcements.

Best club and marshal
Details of the nomination process for the JLT Sport MSA Club of the Year and Marshal of the Year Awards annual awards have recently been circulated to Regional Associations (and are obtainable from the MSA’s Allan Dean-Lewis Hadean-lewis@msauk.orgH or Richard Nunn Hrnunn@msauk.orgH upon request). If you wish to nominate a club or an individual marshal for these awards, please make contact with your Regional Association so that they can have the opportunity to consider your submission. The closing date for submissions (with Regional Association endorsement) to the MSA is 1 October 2008.

Speed and kart marshals
After a lengthy delay due to software difficulties outside the MSA's control, the MSA Marshals Register now extends further across the sport, with speed and kart marshals having been added to the previous race and rally marshal databases.

New marshals seeking speed and kart registration can download forms from the MSA website (MSA Forms>Marshals), which need to be countersigned by an official of their club.

Forms received by the MSA, which were held pending resolution of the software problems, have now been processed and the registration cards issued.

h2cu @ wknd
Some clubs tell us they have successfully used text messages to remind their members of approaching marshalling commitments in the few days immediately before an event. This has resulted in a positive response, especially from younger members, so may be an idea other clubs wish to try. You need mobile phone numbers and the permission of individuals to contact them in this way.

Award now open to all
The HRH Prince Michael Award of Merit is a prestigious personal award made by the Motor Sports Council in recognition of meritorious service to British motor sport. 'Meritorious' encompasses distinguished service, a significant contribution to British motor sport or an outstanding achievement in British motor sport.

To increase the number of people who can be nominated, the ineligibility categories have been removed.

Nomination papers are available from the MSA’s General Secretary and should be submitted before the end of October each year.

Motorsport Ireland and head restraints
Motorsport Ireland has asked the MSA to bring to the attention of competitors planning to take part in stage rallies which take place wholly or partly in The Republic of Ireland (including cross-border events with Northern Ireland) information concerning head restraints. The wearing of a head restraint approved by the FIA (such as the HANS device) will be mandatory for drivers and co-drivers on all Motorsport Ireland National and International Stage Rally events from 1 January 2009.

This extract from Motorsport Ireland's 5 August 2008 Bulletin gives more information:

The wearing of a head restraint approved by the FIA (e.g. HANS) will be mandatory for all drivers and co-drivers in events as follows:

*All Motorsport Ireland (MI) National and International Stage Rally events: from 01.01.09

*All FIA championships, trophies, cups and challenges: from 01.01.08

*All events entered on the FIA International Sporting Calendar: from 01.01.09

A number of Head and Neck Support Devices have been submitted to the FIA to assess their compliance with FIA Standard 8858-2002. Unfortunately, a number of these devices have not yet complied with this standard and therefore cannot be approved. When purchasing your head restraint, please ensure it is approved by the FIA and has the appropriate label.

The Guide for the use of the HANS device in motor sport can be found using this link:

www.fiainstitute.com/documents/HANS_guide.pdf

NB: the above requirements do not apply to events run solely within the jurisdiction of the MSA – which are governed by the regulations in the Competitors' and Officials' Yearbook, published annually.

Marshals profit
Marshals at the Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire will be safer and drier in future, thanks to a unique £20,000 donation from the organising Castle Combe Racing Club. As part of its strategy to return all of its profits to the sport, the Club’s donation has enabled weather protection shelters to be provided at each marshals post, and complete an overall marshals protection scheme including safety debris fencing provided and installed by the circuit owners. In addition, the Club’s ground breaking competitor cash back scheme has returned well over £100,000 to drivers taking part in the Club’s organized events, after just 23 meetings since the Club was formed in 2006.

Tips for rally organisers
Two suggestions came from a recent meeting of the MSA Rallies Committee and were circulated in the MSA Stewards & Clerks Bulletin issue 08/04 August.

To help Radio Crews identify competing vehicles correctly, the use of high visibility numbers and an entry list which includes the make, model and colour of car is recommended to clubs.

Clubs should be encouraged to make scrutineering cards available on their websites before an event, so that competitors can download the form and complete it before arriving at scrutineering. This will save time and minimise mistakes resulting from hurriedly filled out forms.


Back To News
Images
Ypres 2008 Finland 2008 Finland 2008 Finland 2008