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Daffodils and crocuses are showing us that Spring is upon us and the news of the roadmap out of lockdown from the government is giving us optimism for Summer.

Motorsport UK have confirmed that the racing season can start in England from 29 March and tentatively in Scotland by May and the other devolved powers hopefully too will announce start dates soon.  A daily changing picture is making it hard to keep up but we will update you as soon as we have further information.

We will be starting how we finished before entering the last lockdown with the same PPE measures and limitation on numbers.  A reminder of what this means will appear on Motorsport UK website shortly (https://www.motorsportuk.org/covid-19/).  However it is hoped that as government restrictions lift Motorsport UK will also allow us to return to some normality and allow trainees and newbies to join the orange family in full.

Unfortunately a few race events will be cancelled and some postponed and we will update the volunteering database accordingly.  Rally dates have been shuffled around but hopefully we can get to hear some engines burbling along forest roads soon too.

Training too has taken a bit of a knock but the North West region and BRMC are planning some virtual sessions later this month to which anyone can attend as a refresher before the season starts.  So keep your eyes peeled for registration information and log on details.

Our ambassadors are sharing their thoughts on 2020 and looking forward to this year.  We are making these available on all our social media platforms including our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzHb_BsGhaNI4TL5XD2C8Uw) so subscribe and see what they have to say!

I was positively stunned earlier in February to receive the BWRDC Non-competing Gold Star award – what an honour.  Thanks to National Council who sneakily put me forward for this award without my knowledge and thanks to all of you who sent me messages of congratulations.

So now is the time to dig out your overalls and check they fit – those wardrobe fairies have tightened my seams.  And check out your kit – hopefully you don’t find any food you left behind from last season.

But if you do find you are in need of replacement overalls Lille racewear are available to meet your needs.  And of course thanks to all our sponsors who despite the previous 12 months’ difficulties have all confirmed their continued support through 2021 which means despite an increase in costs we are able to fully subsidise the cost of overalls.

Thanks to Ginetta, Polyflor, NGK, CSCC, MGCC, Tiga cars and Cataclean.

See you at an event soon!

So January is over and didn’t that go fast?  Or was that just me as work was crazy busy and I didn’t even know what day of the week it was most of the time.  Hopefully things will calm down a bit – can’t get any worse – right?  

Our regional volunteering coordinators are in the process of updating the database with dates for 2021.  There’s already been some changes so we held off launching until now.  However there’s likely possible changes to come and is therefore still provisional.  

It is as yet unclear what Government restrictions we will be running under when we do start – numbers per post / event to be confirmed etc.  So please bear this in mind when you volunteer.  And obviously we will keep you updated as and when we know ourselves.  What worked last year maybe how we start this year but all subject to change.

Here’s hoping we get a British Grand Prix again this year but as yet we don’t know if it will be behind closed doors again.  Your applications have been reviewed in the last month (a little later than normal process) so those who are successful will hear in due course.

Also as a reminder if you have volunteered direct to the organising club please ONLY volunteer through our database as “Insurance only”.  Remember our insurance covers you from home to event as long as you volunteer through our database – so it is always worth ticking the box to ensure you are covered.

For rally events Jon Cordery is again keeping the calendar up to date (https://www.brmc.org.uk/images/pdfs/Calender/Rally_Dates_in_2021_Combined_Update_3_250121.pdf) and please follow the BRMC Facebook page for updates (https://www.facebook.com/groups/109840512523716/?ref=share) – thanks Jon!

BRMC are working on multiple training events covering the modules outlined in the PRC on various dates in the coming months. These are being prepared now following the survey we carried out over Christmas and New Year. This was conducted to ensure we provide the training required. We aim to make the sessions around 45 minutes to an hour long and each session available on more than one date.  As soon as final details are available, it will be put on to the training page of our website (https://www.brmc.org.uk/training)

Our regions are also planning training days for race / speed marshals but many of these will not be face-to-face.  Zoom is probably the way we will go and regional updates will be forthcoming – we hope to enable some National training sessions so that you don’t just need to attend your local event if other dates are more suitable.

Our 50% renewal offer came to an end in January – you can still renew but it will now be at the full rate.  Thank you to all of you who continue your membership with us.

Looking forward we have our first Marshals Advisory Group and Race Committee meetings this month to make sure marshals are kept at the top of Motorsport UK agenda.

If there’s any topics or issues that you would like me to raise to Motorsport UK or address in a future blog please do not hesitate to get in touch by replying to this MailChimp.

I am not normally one for wishing my life away but I think I am not alone to be glad once this year is finally over.  To all those who have suffered this year: personally, physically, financially, psychologically – my heart goes out to you.  If you need support don’t forget your regional committees but also our Employee Assistance Programme is available.

I think more than ever this year we all recognize what is important to us – and who is important to us!  For me – my family (they don’t live close by), my friends and my orange family have all been missed immeasurably.  Strangely I have seen more of my work colleagues – via TEAMs meetings – than before as some of them are not based in my office location.  But it has still been odd not to actually have a coffee with a colleague or a chat by the photocopier.  

I just hope everyone can enjoy the festivities to some extent.  Let’s follow the rules but let’s hope it allows us to meet with our nearest and dearest even if for a short while.  Then I’m off in to hibernation – eating myself in to a food coma and promising myself that I will diet in 2021!!

The weekend of 28 and 29 November was FIA Volunteers Weekend, celebrating those who dedicate their time to make motor sport possible around the world and Saturday 5 December is International Volunteer Day.  Thank you to each and everyone of you!  Volunteers ARE Motorsport and this year I am so proud of what each and every one of you has achieved – your dedication, professionalism and adaptability has been outstanding!

We have our National Council and AGM next week but this will be my last blog of the year – so I will take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to both Neil Stretton who has retired as SE Chair and Colin Barnes who is stepping down as our National Treasurer (but becoming our Bookkeeper) for their support and dedication to the club over a number of years.  

Every single member of Regional Committees and National Council put in extra volunteering hours to support the running of the club.  This year has been no exception – even if you maybe haven’t seen them as much at events – I can assure you that everyone has continued to dedicate time to the club to ensure its future, our members well-being and  Motorsport future as a whole.  They deserve recognition and thanks from us all – as well as support and will welcome more committee members!  You don’t have to wait until next years’ AGM to step forward either – please contact your local committee Secretary or Chair for details

Renewals are open – and the 50% deduction valid until 31 January 2021.  Direct Debits will be taken in the first week of January.

Don’t forget that we still have Face masks available via our National Regalia Officer Eric Ridler – the requirement to wear one will be with us for some time yet.

I am in the middle of putting up our Christmas decorations – yes I know it’s early but friends and neighbours are well ahead!  And it’s certainly never too early for a mince pie or two.

I sincerely wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year

I started work (from home) on Wednesday morning with a day full of meetings about BREXIT, SAP implementations, graduate mentoring sessions and …..an updated Pandemic Response Team meeting following the announcement of new lockdown measures in North Wales from 6pm on 1 October.

As I live over the border in Cheshire I am as yet unaffected but that could change and rapidly as the Welsh decision showed.  So is everyone keeping up with these changes? And what it means for you at work, at home and out and about?  The new measures are designed to restrict socialising and allow businesses to continue to operate.  As such our company has made the decision to keep people working from home, stop any on site training sessions and continue to keep our social distancing measures in place.

And of course continue to wash your HANDS.

The new rules do mean that travel is not allowed out of these areas without a reasonable excuse.  This is designed to stop the spread from an area suffering with an increasing number of cases.

From the Flintshire County Council advice on local lockdowns…

Can I travel to and from the area to take part in sport?

No, only if you are a professional sportsperson or an elite athlete as designated by Sport Wales. Travelling to and from the area for amateur sport activities is not permissible.

From the latest Motorsport UK Q&A…

The Government are locking down specific areas and this may include a restriction on travel outside their residential area, has Motorsport UK obtained exemptions for licensed officials or competitors?

No.  There are no exemptions which would allow these individuals to travel to an Event and it is their responsibility to ensure that they comply with the Government requirements in this respect.

The onus therefore is upon the competitors and officials to comply with government guidance.

And don’t forget if you are lucky enough to get to travel abroad – ensure you comply with quarantine restrictions on your return.  There’s not many counties on the list that don’t require 14 days isolation.

Motorsport UK recently announced a new supply of PPE to clubs in light of their new guidelines on wearing face coverings etc.  They have also advised that they have not been made aware of anyone who has tested positive as a consequence of attending an event so the measures are working but only if everyone complies and doesn’t get complacent.

Remember your FACE covering – unashamedly plugging our face masks again!  The only one I will wear for any length of time – it’s comfortable, doesn’t move and doesn’t steam my glasses up!  Contact Eric Ridler to get yours nat.regalia@marshals.co.uk

I have been made aware of a few people who have cancelled their volunteering in advance due to symptoms or positive results.  Don’t forget the declaration that you now sign electronically asks you to be symptom free for 14 days before an event.  If anyone develops symptoms at an event then the Club COVID19 Officer will be notified.  But don’t forget if you develop symptoms and ultimately test positive AFTER an event you must inform the Chief marshal of any events you have attended.  This enables track and trace to be instigated and keeps all officials, volunteers and competitors protected.

Life just got a bit more complicated and Motorsport is continuing – just.  Let’s keep it that way and maintain SPACE to distantly socialise.

Having just finished only my second event at Oulton Park over the Bank holiday weekend (HSCC Gold Cup) and catching up on work emails (Europe didn’t have the extra day so I’ve been busy!) I thought I had better scribble my blog otherwise we will be well in to September!

Plenty of events have been taking place around the country throughout August as our National Championships were allowed to get under way and Scotland re-started motorsport.  Unfortunately we are still awaiting decisions reference Wales – two race events rescheduled at Anglesey I was planning to attend have been subsequently cancelled.  The Welsh Assembly are however planning a test day on Sunday 6 September at Trac Mon with 750MC – a limited number of competitors and races but fingers crossed for a successful outcome for Welsh Motorsport that we are waiting for.  I really hope a rally or two can get the green light soon too.

I have had a few updates from marshals about their experiences of the “new normal” and by and large things are working well and you are all coping with the different ways of working.

I am going to try and compile a list of good (and not so good) ideas that we may want to suggest stay in place going forward……

• Online declarations – pdf forms / electronic forms / sign on portals
• Information – sent by email / links to websites 
• Equipment distribution – on post with sanitiser / hand out / collected.  Don’t forget if you feel you are not sure of what process has been used you can always sanitise again (spray a cloth and wipe down) and wash your hands again.
• Headset – in plastic bags / not used
• Grid sheets – paper / in a plastic wallet (wiped) / electronic
• Face coverings – cloth / visors / club design – what works for one discipline may not for another (don’t forget the BMMC branded face mask – great advertising for the Club. Check out the website)
• Venue precautions- signage / enforcement
• COVID 19 officers – on patrol / available and approachable – at a 2 metre distance of course!

Please remember that social distancing is paramount!  Even with a face mask you should try to maintain the distance and if you are less than two meters apart you MUST wear one.  Taking group photos is not a reason to reduce that distance either – even with masks on.  At the British Grand Prix all posts managed socially distanced team photos with some clever use of phone settings and long arms!

Dr Paul Trafford not only looks after BTCC events as Chief medical officer but also writes for the FIA medical journal.  This is a free publication which you can subscribe to – interesting articles and they are looking at writing about marshals too.  Feel free to have a look at the latest issue here: https://www.fia.com/multimedia/publication/auto-medical-20

And here is the link to subscribe to future issues if you would like to: http://bit.ly/automedicalsubs

We have our second Zoom Council meeting of the year on Sunday so a chance to look over a few issues and concerns as a group.  Remember if there’s anything you want to know more about or get involved with please contact your regional committee for advice and information.  Your chance to have a say is also possible at AGMs which we will also be planning – probably electronically for later in the year – actually the next few months.  Are we really that far through this strange year already?