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BMMC Secure New Sponsors as Ginetta Sign New Deal for 2019

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The British Motorsports Marshals’ Club (BMMC) has announced a new major sponsor for 2019 with the news that Ginetta is the latest brand to support BMMC in a new deal that was revealed at the recent Autosport International show at the NEC in Birmingham.

BMMC National Chair Nadine Lewis welcomed the support of Ginetta and said: “The support of major sponsors underlines our commitment to working with major motorsport brands who value the work of our volunteer marshals and want to help support the club.

“We’re delighted to add Ginetta to that growing list of BMMC sponsors, as a major force in motor racing in the UK and one of the most renowned British heritage race car brands this new deal is an ideal match.

“Their backing will further help BMMC with the financial support that is vital to provide our 2,400 volunteer members with clothing and equipment they constantly need that is suitable for the job they do.”

Ginetta owner Lawrence Tomlinson added: “Motor sport relies on the dedication and professionalism of our marshals, they are respected the world over.  Personally, and on behalf of Ginetta, I’m delighted to sponsor BMMC to show our appreciation.”

2019 volunteering database

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The dates for 2019 are now available on the volunteering database – www.marshals.co.uk/volunteering

We have tried this year to get all dates verified by the relevant Chief marshals and the volunteering coordinators have added accordingly.  We hope they are all correct but please contact the relevant regional coordinator if you spot a potential error (they are human!)

Some Chiefs have requested individual emails every time someone volunteers – others have requested downloads at specific intervals before the event date itself.  For some events you need to contact the Chief marshal direct.

Please therefore ensure that you volunteer only once for an event.

Note:  you may not get a confirmation.  So please presume that your application is accepted.

You will receive your tickets / event information etc. approximately one week in advance.  If nothing heard by this point please contact the relevant volunteering coordinator who may be aware of delayed tickets etc. Or can advise you to contact the Chief marshal or club as necessary.  Don’t forget many of them are volunteers too!

And most importantly if you find you can’t attend then please cancel.  If past the close date then contact the Chief marshal directly – even a text on the day!

Happy volunteering and have a safe and fun 2019

Cataclean Announce Sponsorship of BMMC Annual Awards

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Recognition for the “invaluable” role racing marshals play in the world of motorsport has been driven up with a first-time sponsor of one of the industry’s annual awards.

Cataclean, the fuel and exhaust system cleaner for diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles and sponsors of British Touring Car Championship (BTTC) racing driver Daniel Rowbottom, are now not only providing heavily-discounted overalls to the British Motorsport Marshals Club’s 2,400 plus volunteers as part of a three-year sponsorship deal but have signed up to back its official awards scheme.

Cataclean are sponsoring three national awards, Racing Marshal of the Year, Best Newcomer and Best Cadet Marshal, the final line-up for each made up of winners from seven regional awards ceremonies taking place in March at the BMMC’s end of year events. The volunteer crowned national Racing Marshal of the Year is then put forward for Motorsport UK’s prestigious Volunteer of the Year awards.

With Cataclean’s backing, the winners of the three national awards will win an exclusive British Motorsport Marshals Club (BMMC) racing jacket recognising their achievements, a British Touring Car Championship official merchandise kit as worn by the Rowbottom team, including a racing jacket, shell jacket, fleece, polo short and t-shirt, a prize worth over £400, and a free set of BMMC overalls.

BMMC National Chairman Nadine Lewis said the Cataclean sponsorship would open up new opportunities to raise awareness of and build recognition for marshals, without which the world of motorsport couldn’t happen.

“Without marshals, there simply wouldn’t be motorsport and we are thrilled to have the further support of Cataclean as we grow our awards and recognise the invaluable endeavours of our volunteers,” she said. “We are looking forward to exploring ways to build this partnership further, our marshals already benefitting from heavily-discounted overalls thanks to Cataclean’s support, our ultimate aim being to eventually be able to provide them free of charge.”

This year, the BMMC Racing Marshal of the Year award will honour a prolific racing driver who retired after a 60-year career in 2018 before passing away after a fall. The Barrie Williams Trophy, recognising ‘Whizzo’, will be presented alongside the John Nichol Trophy for best newcomer, named after the popular race director, and the David Leslie Trophy for the best cadet marshal, named after the multi-talented racing driver tragically killed in a plane crash in 2008. The winners of this receives one of Leslie’s racing helmets.

Chairman Nadines January Message

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Happy New Year and time to volunteer…

Happy New Year to you all!  I hope your overalls haven’t shrunk too much (or was that just me and the extra portion(s) of Christmas pudding I ate?)

Hopefully you remembered to renew your membership before the festivities?  You still have time to ensure you continue to receive the benefits of being a member.  We hope to be announcing new benefits this year too – so watch this space.  Direct Debits will be claimed on 4th January and Dave Reed will be sending your membership cards in due course.

Our Brand team is being established and already set up a new Facebook page for anyone to join – our previous page is now closed to members only so do sign up and enter your membership number accordingly.  They have more plans for the year to be announced soon.

We are at Autosport next week – two stands 3711 and 3713 – next to each other.  Pop by to say hello but hopefully we will be busy with new interest to our hobby!  We will be launching our new sponsor on the Thursday so watch Social Media for updates if you can’t be there.

Our volunteering system has been up and running for a while now but I thought I would remind members and newbies (and those who haven’t used it yet!) – of a few pointers.

Firstly all regions have Volunteering coordinators with a ##.volco@marshals.co.uk email.  They are here to help so please direct any queries to them.  A few coordinators are new to this role but rapidly getting up to speed! (## = Regional prefix NW, NE, SE, SW, M, SM, NI)

We have contacted all Chief Marshals to ensure the system enhancements continue to work for them and so that we are ready in time for the 2019 season.  The Volcos will populate the system once the dates are confirmed (probably next week!) and advise local regions when complete.  Then you can fill your diaries, request your days off, complete your household chores and prepare for the season to start!!!

Secondly by logging on to the volunteering system you can change your own details.  Especially email!!  Really important otherwise you stop getting club updates, newsletters and even tickets for some circuits.  You can select to receive newsletters from any region – all of them if you wish.

You can also update your next of kin details, your emergency contact details and your own contact details.  Again really useful for Chief Marshals when your data gets sent to them.  We have secured GDPR agreement from the organising clubs so that we can pass on your details about events you have volunteered for (just tick the consent box when you apply).  So please help them by ensuring your data is up to date.

MSA number – once you have received this from the MSA please contact Steve Malec (National Grading Officer Nat.grading@marshals.co.uk) directly so that he can update your records (particularly important for newbies!).

Grade – if you upgrade through the BMMC your details will be updated so that you can volunteer for duties commensurate with your new grade.  If you upgrade through another club then please again tell Steve Malec so that he can update our system for you.

Also if your grade has been changed by the MSA or yourself on renewal as a consequence of a request to maintain your grade please advise Steve Malec directly.

There is nothing to stop you volunteering directly with the organising club and for non-race events you will need to as we do not automatically send your details to the organisers.  If you do volunteer direct please do not volunteer on our system as well – but please select “volunteered with organising club” button.  This helps us statistically calculate how many of our members are actually volunteering.  And ensures your application is not duplicated!

If you are volunteering for a duty you haven’t done before (or maybe only once or twice) or at a new venue to you we request that you please separately contact the Chief Marshals.  This will ensure they allocate you to an experienced buddy to look after you and show you the ropes.  Particularly important for trainees volunteering for flag or incident duties for the first time.

Please note that the BMMC system advises the Chief Marshals of your current grade whereas other systems may not do this.  It’s really important that you only perform duties you have been trained for or are training for – I would not like to put someone in a position of responsibility without sufficient training having taken place.  So don’t think you are letting someone down if you are not ready for a role!

Also remember that the duty you are applying for is your preference.  However, due to numbers and requirements the Chief Marshals may ask you to perform another duty instead.  Please graciously help them out but only if you feel up to the task!

I am really looking forward to visiting a few new locations this year – and returning to others.  I worked out I visited 10 venues in 2018 – totalling 36 days marshalling.  I also was at 4 training days, 5 social events, 5 AGMs and 4 Council meetings plus 8 days at Motorsport UK (formerly MSA).  And that’s not taking into account the day job!  2019 is looking busy already but looking forward to it – hope you are too!

Chairman Nadine’s December Message

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Ch… ch… ch… changes

So, the calendar year end is rapidly approaching – where did it go? I have been around the country this year and plan to make more visits next year – maybe some return visits too. I have also attended AGMs for SE, NE, EM and NW. A great way to see our regional committees in action and for members to attend and join in.

There are a few changes taking place within the club:

  • Mike Grantham and Jon Cordery have both stood down as Chairs for Midlands region and BRMC respectively. Mike has served the Midland region for nearly 10 years, whilst Jon has served the BRMC at the helm for 25 years in total over two periods. I thank them both for their tremendous length of service and their continued support as they stay on their committees.
  • Steve Woolfe has stood down as National Secretary. As he stands down after his term in office, I wish him all the best in his new adventure and new home. Hopefully he will come back and visit when he can!
  • Paul Sutcliffe has stood down as National PRO. This role will be replaced by the new Brand Manager. We have a team in place under my stewardship for now until we can find a suitable team leader – applications open again. I thank Paul for his contributions and continued arrangement of the Mercedes tours and wish him well.
  • I welcome Jon Jones as the new BRMC Chair and Paul Wiltshire as our new National Secretary. Other positions will be advised in due course – please check your Regional contacts details on Social Media, website and newsletters.

Our governing body has recently rebranded from MSA to Motorsport UK. Changes within the leadership and a few resignations will lead to some uncertainties but the new vision and strategy from David Richards is positive and clear – putting focus on members and the promotion of grassroots motorsport to new audiences.

We will be announcing a new sponsor at Autosport in January 2019 to continue the fantastic discount we can offer. Watch this space! (Stands 3711 and 3713 in Hall 3)

 

Finally, I thank you – our members – your continued support, your professionalism, your positive enthusiasm for our sport proves to me that our vision to “Make Marshals Matter” is a cause we all believe in.

Seasons greetings to you all – stay safe and I look forward to meeting more of you in 2019

Chairman Nadine’s November Message

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MSA – our regulatory body and our work with them

Each year I attend the MSA for a variety of meetings and this year of visits has come to an end.  Nine days this year, in total, for three different groups:

The Marshals Working Group (MWG) of which I am Chair, consists of marshals from various organisations covering all disciplines. The objectives of the Group are to ensure marshals welfare, training and development.  The MWG works closely with the Training Working Group (TWG) to ensure training materials are available and up-to-date in all aspects to cover marshals requirements in all disciplines. We also are the review panel for the PRC checks. Main aims for 2019 will be to:

  • Confirm changes to Race, Speed and Specialist grading schemes.
  • Review Kart grading scheme and determine Drag grading scheme.
  • Update / create training materials accordingly with TWG
  • Update the Pocket Guide to Marshalling

As Chair of MWG I report to Volunteer Officials Advisory Committee (VOAC) which recognises all volunteer groups – Rescue and Recovery, Clerks, Scrutineers and Timekeepers where we report from each of our Sub-Groups.

As Chair of BMMC I also sit on Race Committee with all areas of racing considered from circuit owners, technical regulations as well as marshals.  New regulations are created here as well as reviewed / revised.  Any updates I report back through Council as necessary.  Topics covered this year of interest has included timetables, toilets (!) and flags as well as marshals posts.  Working closely with the circuit owners on all of these.

Unfortunately a few people will be leaving the MSA who have been our help and support (Good luck to Alan Page, Ben Taylor, Simon Blunt and Kate Adamson).  So I will be working closely with their successors once they are appointed.  Further updates and announcements will be reported in due course so do keep an eye on the reports and news coming from the MSA website and social media outlets.

As always don’t forget to see if you are this months Prize draw winner on the website (yes –  the test is to log on and find the right page!)

Talking of Prize draws….

The South East Region bi-monthly newsletter now includes a motorsport based prize quiz as a regular feature. Newsletter editor Bob McEwan has secured support from one of our overalls sponsors ‘Cataclean’ who will generously provide the winner of each quiz with a years supply of their fuel additive products.

Visit the South East region page through the BMMC website, then follow the ‘newsletters’ link, to view their latest ‘interactive’ edition and also for details of how to enter. Entries for the current quiz will close on 12 December 2018. So get those little grey cells working and give it a go… Good luck !!

And why not update your details on the volunteering system – you can select to receive newsletters from any region – then you’ll never miss the SE quiz again!

More info about the volunteering system in the new year – notices will be posted when it’s open etc for 2019.