Posts by: National Social Media

National AGM 
The 67th Annual General Meeting of the British Motorsports Marshals Club will take place this year on Sunday 1st December 2024 commencing at 14.00 at Motorsport UK, Bicester Heritage Museum OX27 8FY, and, also as a virtual event.
 
Anyone wishing to attend should email nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk, no later than Friday 24th November 2024, advising in person or virtually in your response.
 
Upcoming Regional AGMs 

• South East 31^st October 2024 at Hailwoods restaurant Brands Hatch and Zoom.
• North East 6^th November by Zoom 
• South Midlands 28^th October venue Zoom 
• Northern Ireland 7th November 
• Rally 29^th October Zoom 

Please contact your regional secretary for further information. 

The NW AGM was a success, being held at the Speedworks site, the current home of Toyota Gazoo Racing UK which runs the works Toyotas in BTCC. A very pleasant evening with guided tours of the site and workshop as well. Our thanks go to Mike Newton BMMC VP for facilitating the event and to Speedworks for their hospitality. At the NW AGM Oz Philips was voted in as new NW Regional Chair. 

The SW AGM took place at The Almondsbury Interchange Hotel, Almondsbury on 23rd October 2024, with Rob Hambly being ratified as SW Chair. Thank to Chris Hobson, Vice President for attending.

The Midlands AGM also took place on 23^rd October at the Donington Park Media suite, with Steve Hill being ratified as Midlands Chair. Both events were well attended with some positive and lively debate. Minutes of the regional AGMs will be posted on the websites soon. 

On Saturday 26th October immediately following the Birkett six hour relay South Mids region held an end of season get together at the Butchers Arms in Greens Norton. This event replaced our annual AGM dinner because we could not find a suitable venue; the White Horse PH in Silverstone was closed while a new landlord completed their occupancy. The Butchers Arms provided a very tasty buffet and being a community pub it had an interesting selection of cask ales. 

A number of members have volunteered for new committee roles at the North West , Midlands and South West AGMs . For details, please contact your regional secretary for further information. 

Financial and Insurance
The club financial position as at September 2024 is an overall surplus of £416, which is an improvement on the position at August.

As advised in last month’s Club News we have agreed not to increase the membership subscriptions, as we continue to maintain a surplus for the year and a healthy bank balance.

At the moment, we can continue to fully subsidise marshals’ overalls, however this will depend on retaining and increasing our sponsorship.

Our National Treasurer Steve Woolfe will be contacting our current sponsors over the coming weeks with a view to their continued support.

If anyone has any good ideas/contacts for new sponsorship, then please let Steve know at nat.treasurer@marshals.co.uk.

Around the regions.
As the race season comes to a close, focus turns to rallying , with the following planned for November 

• Saturday 2nd Kingdom Stages Crail Airfield, Fife
• Sunday 3rd Malton Forest Rally Dalby Forest Complex North
• Thursday 7th–Sunday 10th RAC Rally of the Tests County Durham and Lake District
• Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th Powys Lanes Road Rally WAMC Road Rally
• Saturday 9th Saltire Classic Blair Atholl NESCRO Challenge
• Friday 15th –Sunday 17th Scottish Borders Hill Rally Forrest Estate Dumfries and Galloway
• Saturday 16th Wyedean Rally Forest of Dean
• Saturday 16^th Autosave Components Winter Stages Kinloss Army Barracks, North 
• Saturday 16th & Sunday 17^th Steve Gornall Memorial Road Rally
• Saturday 16th & Sunday 17^th James Trenholme Memorial Rally Llyn Peninsula
• Sunday 17^th Reserve Walters Arena, South Wales
• Sunday 17^th NHMC Cadwell Stages Rally Cadwell Park
• Stage Rally Championship, EMAMC Stage Rally Championship, EMAMC Asphalt Cup
• Sunday 17^th Knutsford Targa Rally Bradford
• Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24^th Anglo Caledonian Rally Forests of Southwest Scotland and the 
• Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24^th Pentraeth Glyn Memorial Stages Ty Croes
• Sunday 24^th Swift Signs & Shirts Christmas Stages Rally Croft Racing Circuit
• Saturday 30^th John Bloxham Memorial Historic Road Rally Bridgnorth Area
• Saturday 30^th Killarney Historic Stages Rally Ireland
• Saturday 30th & Sunday 1st December Exmouth Memorial Exmouth, Devon

For more information please see https://brmc.org.uk/contacts  In addition see below the dates for the Protyre Circuit Rally Championship. the information Is also on the championship website. Each event has its own website which should have details on how to contact the chief marshal for volunteering:

• Saturday 2nd November 2024 Round 1 – Salford Van Hire Neil Howard Stages
• Sunday 17th November 2024 Round 2 – NHMC Cadwell Stages Rally
• Sunday 1st December 2024 Round 3 – TEGIWA Donington Rally

Please see the website for further dates in December and beyond.
 
A team of 3 SE members supported Mahindra Formula E testing on 28th Oct at Abingdon airfield. Marshals were catered for on the day with free food and vouchers for attending. Further details of some exciting links with Mahindra will be announced in 2025.
 
The NW region is looking forward to the Race of Remembrance at Trac Mon in November, the traditional season closer. It promises to be a great event again, in its tenth year.  The committee had met five times this year and with the AGM completed, we are now looking to plan for 2025.
 
Membership and Grading 
Welcome to our 37 new members (to date) in October by region :
Midlands 12, North East 13, North West 17, South East 12, S Mids 7, South West 12
 
Congratulations to the following members who have upgraded:
 
·       Richard Alton                             Race Grade 1
·       John Tyers                                 Race Grade 1
·       Caroline McLeish                       Race Grade 1
·       Stuart Brunton                            Race Grade 2 (Incident)
·       Annette Benson                         Race Grade 2 (Flag)
·       Al Clarke                                    Race Grade 2 (Flag)
 
Motorsport UK re-Registration 
If you haven’t recently logged into your account please use https://www.motorsportuk.org/login/ go to MEMBERS LOGIN and then put your email address and click on Forgot Password? to be sent a reset password link. However if you do not receive it please check your Spam Folder first before emailing marshals@motosportuk.org and they will forward your request to Membership.
 
Once logged into the Motorsport Management platform, please go to Edit Profile and upload a headshot which will be used for your Marshal Registration card only and held on your record. 
Then go to Marshal Registrations. For each discipline held, please click on the green Current and then work through the questions. Once you have renewed, you will see that the date has changed from Valid To 31/12/2024 to Valid To 31/12/2025.
 
You will also receive an email with your digital card showing the Marshal Registration; this can also be requested by clicking on the three dots to the righthand side of the Registration Type and then use Resend Marshal Registration Email for each of the grades held.
 
Your 2025 Motorsport UK Marshal Registration card will be sent out to you later this month, however please remember that your 2024 cards are valid until 31/12/2024.
 
If you are marshalling with a colleague who does not have access to emails, and they would like a renewal form posted to them, with their permission do please  email  marshals@motorsportuk.org  and MUK will put a form in the post to them
 
Regalia
NOTE FOR DIAIRIES:  week commencing 25th November: Orange becomes the new Black! Watch this space. 

Do you need a new set of probans – now is the ideal time to order these Lille always get a large influx of orders early in the year and to assist managing that demand  get your orders in early? Please contact https://www.marshals.co.uk/regalia/regalia-how-to-order
 
National Regalia is still open for all your regalia orders during the off-season, so if you would like any new badges, patches, stickers, or a shiny keyring, please send an email with your request to nat.regalia@marshals.co.uk.

Additionally, we always look for ideas for new items and would love to hear your suggestions. Feel free to email us at nat.regalia@marshals.co.uk with your ideas.

Training 
The annual British Motorsport Trust training grant application process closed at the end of September, and we are now awaiting the outcome of the funding decision from the BMT.  As said before, keep a look out for the dates that training is being undertaken in your area, but if you are unsure when it is happening or what is being delivered please contact your Regional Training Coordinator in the first instance.

The grading scheme offered by Motorsport UK gives you the opportunity to advance/ specialise in your given disciplines over a defined period.  It also allows you to try out other disciplines by completing the ‘General’ or common modules so why not try something different in what is commonly known as the closed season (although the Rally / Cross Country disciplines do keep going throughout the winter and early spring months).  Both the BMMC and the BRMC websites are linked to each other, so go take a look and see what is happening in the next few months.
 
IT and Correspondence
We want to make sure that you are kept informed about everything BMMC.  As a member we automatically subscribe you to our emailing system, however you may have unsubscribed and now want to resubscribe yourself. 

Only YOU  can do this. We cannot resubscribe you, as we naturally respect your privacy.
Just click on the ‘resubscribe’ button, fill in the form https://www.marshals.co.uk/bmmc-emails
 
Also now is the perfect time to check your newsletter preferences , particularly if you volunteer across a number of regions as it’s always good to find out what’s going on. You can do this by clicking on the person icon in the volunteer portal and updating your newsletter preferences.
 
 
 
Please provide any feedback on the BMMC club news to nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk

BMMC Chair Advert Goes Live 

Are you a passionate leader with a love for motorsport and a commitment to supporting the dedicated community of marshals? The British Motorsports Marshals Club (BMMC) is seeking an inspiring and strategic individual to take on the prestigious role of National Chair.

As National Chair, you will be the figurehead of the BMMC, providing strategic leadership and direction to the club. You will work closely with other Directors, National Council, regional chairs, and key external stakeholders to ensure the continued growth and success of the club. This role is vital in shaping the future of marshalling in the UK and enhancing the club’s profile within the motorsport community.

If you are ready to lead the BMMC into the future and ensure the continued success and recognition of motorsport marshals, we want to hear from you. For an informal discussion please contact John Edwards  nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk Applications close  5 pm 11th October 2024

National AGM 
The 67th Annual General Meeting of the British Motorsports Marshals Club will take place this year on Sunday 1st December 2024 commencing at 14.00 at Motorsport UK, Bicester Heritage Museum OX27 8FY, and, also as a virtual event.

Anyone wishing to attend should email nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk, no later than Friday 22nd November 2024, advising in person or virtually in your response.

Regional AGMs 

• South East 31^st October 2024 at Hailwoods restaurant Brands Hatch and Zoom .
• North West 9th October 2024 Speedworks Northwich and Zoom 
• South West 23^rd October 2024 Almondsbury Interchange Hotel, Bristol and Zoom
• North East 6^th November by Zoom 
• South Midlands 26^th October venue tba 
• Midlands 23^rd October Donnington media suite 
• Northern Ireland – 1^st November Zoom
• Rally 29^th October Zoom 

Please contact your regional teams for further information. 

Membership Fees Remain Unchanged 
We are pleased to advise that membership fees for 2025 will remain unchanged at the current levels. In addition, upon issue of the digital membership cards for 2025, we will issue all members with an electronic voucher to the sum of £5 for online regalia purchases. 

To assist in the administration burden on the Club Bookkeeper and Membership Coordinator, we would encourage existing members to pay renewal subscriptions by Direct Debit. To switch to paying by Direct Debit, please download the form https://www.marshals.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/new-member-application-dd-2024.pdf and return it by email to nat.bookkeeper@marshals.co.uk by 15th December to be included in the annual renewal run. DDIs will be processed on 6th January 2025. Please ensure you have funds in your bank account to cover this payment. If you are unable to return it by email please post to the address on the form.

You can check whether you have already signed up for DDI by logging onto the BMMC Volunteering System and accessing “Account Details”.

British Grand Prix BMMC survey 
At the Council meeting on 10th September, Motorsport UK joined BMMC at the BMMC National Council meeting. During the discussions, Motorsport UK advised they have collated feedback on the Grand Prix provision for volunteers from a number of sources, including the BMMC Grand Prix feedback survey, and have presented this to Silverstone for consideration. 

Once a response is received from Silverstone advising plans for the 2025 Grand Prix, Motorsport UK will incorporate these changes in plans for the 2025 event.

Motorsport UK will provide updates through our regular Directors meetings.

Financial and Insurance
A draft Profit and Loss account for the 8 months to Aug 2024 is now in the Repository. The accounts show a small loss to date, which reflects the loss made on the two Sprints (£1,662 loss). Entries for both Sprints were low in numbers.

The annual accounts for 2023 have been reviewed by the auditors and found to be in good order . The National Treasurer will now file these at Companies house and upload to the website 

Around the regions.
South East region hosted 3 girls on track during a recent 750mc meeting. All 3 girls received goodie bags with hats, water bottles and more. Mark Manley has secured for our taster day marshals a tour of the Jota factory to see their new Cadillac car. More on this in the SE newsletter soon.

With the 2024 season starting to wind down, Oulton Park is looking forward to welcoming CSCC, MSV, BARC NW and BRSCC NW clubs for their season closers including the excellent CNC Heads North West Sports & Saloons Series, Fun Cup and Superkarts and let’s not forget the Race of Remembrance at Anglesey circuit where motorsport connects with the services to pay respects to the fallen.The season closer at Oulton Park will be the Neil Howard Stages (and fireworks) on the 2^nd November. 

The club would like to thank the following Regional Directors who are standing down at their Regional AGMs, and look forward to welcoming their replacements:
North West – Mike Broadbent 
South Mids – Chris  Whitlock 
Northern Ireland – Robert Coursey 

We would also like to thank all regional committee members who are standing down, and again look forward to working with the members  who have  volunteered to take on these important club roles 

Membership and Grading 
Welcome to our 37 new members (to date) in September, by region :
Midlands 8 , North East 7 , North West 8, South East 8 , S Mids 2 , South West 4 

Upgrades in the period as follows, congratulations to you all:

Neil Mansell Race Grade 1
Ben Mansell Race Grade 1
Lauren Shaw Race Grade 1
Andrew French Race Grade 1
Daley Wilson Race Grade 1
Neil West Race Assessor
Michael Morris Race Grade 1
Philip Webb Race Grade 1
Ian Briggs Race Assessor
Shannon Cooper Race Grade 1
Darren Hindle Race Grade 2 (Flag) 
Elaine Comerford Kart Grade 2
Nigel Kendall Race Grade 1
Liam Robbins Off Track Grade 1

Regalia
As this season is coming to a close, we just wanted to say a big thank you for all your support this year. We hope you’ve enjoyed the new regalia items we’ve introduced. If you haven’t had a chance to check them out yet, be sure to visit the Regalia webpage. And if you see something you like, don’t forget to drop some hints with your loved ones – we’ve got a direct line to Father Christmas this year !

If you have any ideas for new items, we’d love to hear about them. Feel free to drop us an email at nat.regalia@marshals.co.uk with your suggestions.

Training 
The annual British Motorsport Trust training grant application process opened in early September and closes at the end.  Your Regional Training Coordinators will by now have submitted their 2025 training plans and requested the appropriate funding support, which will be announced in November.  Keep a look out for the dates that training is being undertaken in your area, but if you are unsure when it is happening or what is being delivered please contact your Regional Training Coordinator in the first instance.

If you have any special requirements when attending training sessions, please let the organisers know well in advance so that they can make any reasonable adjustments to facilitate your attendance.  We are an inclusive club and welcome all comers to both our events and training sessions alike.

IT 
The new online application form has gone live, linking automatically to the BMMC membership database, giving new members a seamless experience when joining the club. 

And finally
A new Marshal taster day promotional video will “Premier” on Sunday 6^th October at 6pm on You Tube and our website, keep your eyes peeled for teasers for this over the next few days!

Please provide any feedback on the BMMC club news to nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk

John Edwards 
National Secretary 
07800 587391

A word from our Vice Presidents (VP)

It seems we are going through some changing times; we are looking for a new National Chair, we have three Regional Chairs standing down in December and we have two new Regional Chairs early in their roles.  It is at times like this that the club’s two Vice Presidents can bring help and support to all those involved in the running of the club. Whilst the President’s role is that of a figurehead, the VP’s are rather different.  They are similar to “non-executives” who are there to give the club’s Board and Regional Committees help, advice and guidance from a more independent and ‘stand back’ perspective.Mike Newton is a highly experienced racing driver who started in motor racing as an ex-marshal and BMMC member in the late 70’s who runs a very successful business empire.  Mike is seeking to build upon the Club Ambassadors scheme to strengthen the relationship between drivers and the marshalling community at both local as well as international level.Chris Hobson is a MSUK Steward, long standing (58 years) member of the BMMC and past National Chairman (12 years) and was the first marshal to be appointed to Motor Sports Council. Although not members of Council, the VPs often sit in on the meetings where they can join the debates but are not eligible to vote on any resolutions.  They are also available to all Council and committee members whenever required.With many contacts in the motorsport world and a wealth of experience working with the organising clubs and the governing body our VPs assist those running the club on a daily basis to steer us through to a successful 2025 and beyond. The VPs are also there for any member to contact with questions, comments, concerns or requests for help on any marshalling matter so please feel free to contact them. 

Around the regions.

SE region in conjunction with 750mc, is hosting the Girls on track (GoT) initiative with around 8 girls attending supported by their mentors. They will attend on 24th August and get the full taster day experience, tour and lap around the circuit. Host for the day will be Mark Manley SE recruitment and SE Chair Andy Bumstead. 

The Northwest continues to grow membership currently standing at 693 at the end of July. Thanks go to Duncan Fitzgibbons and the recruitment team for the excellent work they do, especially with our brand-new shiny recruitment tent which looks superb. We are also recruiting more cadets so that they can enjoy the experience of an event in a safe and protected environment. The HSCC Gold Cup at the end of July 2024 certainly put a smile on our faces as Oulton Park hosted a plethora of F5000 cars which were fast and noisy. At the other end of the spectrum the F500 cars put on a great show with close racing. It was one of those events which helped keep the passion alive for motorsport.Tracmon Anglesey hosted the 24hr KA race which was an eventful meeting, and our thanks go to the marshals, circuit staff and the club for looking after us. 

The North East regions welcomes Gerogieleigh Ward as the new social media coordinator. Our regional committees  took a break in August but remain focused on issues raised by our members and will be “back to business” these in September   

Financial and Insurance

Income. We received £1,090 in membership subscriptions from circa 50 new members and a very generous donation from Four Paw Racing. We raised invoices on our overall sponsors, of which all but one have been paid. We are chasing the outstanding one! 

Expenditure. Expenditure was higher than usual as we processed invoices for the SE Region’s Taster Day Video – which has been very well received by the Directors and will be available for wider use in September. Also in July, we received a large number of overall subsidies which were paid out and will be reclaimed, in part, from our sponsors in December. Other expenses were very much in line with budget. 

Summary. The overall position for July was a loss of £1,717, although year to date we have a surplus of £3,636.At the moment there is no reason why our position should deteriorate.

Recruitment  

SE taster days continue to be booked to the end of the year with around 10 per day attending. So far the success of SE recruitment has seen a retention of at least 73% with WhatsApp groups set up prior to attending to ask those stupid questions about the day.  Oulton Park has held a number of taster days, including specific days to encourage cadets plus recruitment tents events, with 69 new marshals joining this year. Social media seems to be a key attraction, as well as the recruitment teams at events around the country.  

Membership and Grading 

The membership recruitment teams continue to attract new members, with our  figures showing an interest from adults to students and cadets. Huge thanks to Mike Mulder for his hard work 

In addition congratulations to the latest members that have upgraded and have been confirmed by Motorsport UK

EM9138                        Phil Broom                                 Race Grade 1

SE9307                         Oscar Lock                                 Race Grade 1

SE9556                         Andrew Banthorp                                   Race Grade 1

NW9237                        Ian Samuel                                 Race Grade 1

NE7565                         Darren Hindle                             Race Grade 2 (Flag)

NE4081                         Andrew Palmer                          Race Grade 3

SM9092                         Catherine Smart                         Off Track Grade 1

SM9014                         Stephanie Alexander                 Off Track Grade 1

NE7871                         Catriona McCann                       Off Track Assessor

Regalia

Over the past few weeks, it’s been advisable to “KEEP YOUR HAT ON.” If your trusty old hat is showing signs of wear, why not explore the club’s merchandise eShop? Discover a diverse collection of headwear, from stylish baseball caps and bucket hats to cosy beanies and even the trendy BMMC Urban Army Cap. Enjoy a 10% summer discount by using the code BMMCSUMMER-10 at the checkout before the end of August https://shops.fabryx.co.uk/collections/british-motorsports-marshals-club. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with your Regional Regalia Coordinators, who an array of regalia items. Alternatively, simply email the National Regalia Coordinator with your requirements and have the complete range of club badges and stickers conveniently delivered to your door. 

Training 

Our National Training Coordinator Al Page has encouraged all the Regional Training Coordinators to consult with you, our members, to identify your training needs to help ensure the grant money very generously provided by the British Motorsport Trust (BMT) is best spent.  Therefore, please let your local Regional Training Coordinators know what you need to progress through the grading scheme or even just be refreshed upon. The BMT have already advised that Motorsport UK will be identifying their training priorities which will influence the training funding available, so let’s ensure we have a watertight case for our training bid submissions.We also intend to make the regional training events more accessible to our membership by publishing what modules are being delivered regionally and on what dates.  This should help with cross-region training availability for those who are willing to travel to satisfy their training needs, especially if their home region is not offering their required modules.Finally, some of you are already aware that we have stopped the use of non-environmentally friendly foam extinguishers being used for training.  This is because of concerns raised by the Environment Agency regarding the long-term effects of their use on the environment.  To make it clear, we may continue to use non-environmentally friendly foam extinguishers when dealing with incidents.  Motorsport UK are aware of this decision and are working to fine tune their guidance to trainers.If you have any questions or training concerns please contact your Regional Training Coordinators in the first instance.

Other news 

Thank you to everyone who  completed the British GP feedback survey,  the results have been shared with Motorsport UK and we await their feedback. 

There is a Krazy Races event to be held in Lincoln on 15^th September https://www.krazyraces.co.uk/lincoln-krazy-races/.  If you fancy doing something different and are available to help out, please contact nadinelewis5@yahoo.co.uk 

And finally, our Annual General Meeting will be held on 1st December at Motorsport UK Bicester.The meeting will be hybrid format, however if you are available, please come along in person and share your views on the future of the club. Please provide any feedback on the BMMC monthly blog to nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk

John Edwards National Secretary 07800 587391

Steve Woolfe will stand down from his role as National Treasurer at the 2024 AGM.

Should any member wish to stand for election for this role of National Treasurer please submit the following information by email to nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk by 5pm 22nd July 2024:

(a) Confirmation that they are eligible under Article 29, including that they are a Full or Life Member, their Grade (being above that of Registered Marshal), and list any other BMMC roles currently held.

(b) Confirmation of their understanding that on election to the role, they will take on responsibilities as a company director under the Companies Act, and their willingness and legal eligibility to do so.

(c) A statement of no more than 500 words which will be circulated to the membership, setting out their experience and plans should they be successful in the election.

(d) Details of a proposer and seconder for their nomination.

(e) Candidates must provide evidence of their experience in financial matters, through a recognised qualification or substantial experience.

The role description is attached.

https://www.marshals.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/National-Treasurer-Role-Description.pdf

In accordance with Club Rule J.2. Election of Officers,  John Edwards,  National Secretary will stand down at the 2024 AGM as a result of completing a 3 year term of office.

Should any member  wish to stand for election to the role of National Secretary please submit the following information by email to nat.treasurer@marshals.co.uk by 21st June 2024 at 5pm:

 (a)       Confirmation that they are eligible under Article 29, including that they are a Full or Life Member, their Grade (being above that of Registered Marshal), and list any other BMMC roles currently held.

(b)       Confirmation of their understanding that on election to the role, they will take on responsibilities as a company director under the Companies Act, and their willingness and legal eligibility to do so.

(c)       A statement of no more than 500 words which will be circulated to the membership, setting out their experience and plans should they be successful in the election.

(d)       Details of a proposer and seconder for their nomination.

A copy of the role profile can be found here 

Steve Woolfe

Nat Treasurer

Further to the application process for the BMMC Chair position we are pleased to confirm that Alex Hodgkinson, current South West Chair, will  take up the role of Interim Chair of BMMC  until ratification at the AGM in December. 

Alex was the only candidate who fulfilled the requirements of the role, and as per club rule J.2.6 “In the event that there is only one candidate for the vacancy, provided that candidate is eligible under the Companies Act and under the Articles, they will be deemed to have been elected, and will take up their role at the AGM of that year.“

Alex has been the South West Regional Chairman since 2020, and the South West RegionalTraining Officer since 2017. Alex has been a member of BMMC since 2012, during which time he has  obtained a Grade 2 Flag and holds a Motorsport UK Trainers Licence.

I am sure you will join the Directors  in wishing Alex well in his new role in the club. 

. 

BMMC Chair – FINAL REMINDER 
Further to the Club update dated 11th March 2024, we are looking to appoint a new Chair to lead the club into the 2024 season and beyond.  The National Chair is a key role within the club, working with the Board of Directors to set the strategy for growth and development of the Club. The Chair represents BMMC in a number of stakeholder forums, including working closely with Motorsport UK and the organising clubs.  This is a great opportunity for a member to get involved with how our club is run.
 
The role description for the National Chair role can be found here https://bit.ly/3IAImP6.
 
Should any member wish to stand for election to the role of National Chair please submit the above information by email to nat.secretary@marshals.co.ukby 30th April at 5 pm. 
 
North East Chair 
We are also looking to recruit a new Chair to lead the North East region, to support the development and growth of marshalling in the North East and Scotland. A Zoom meeting was held with representatives of the North East and some of the Directors on 16^th April – thank you to all those who attended.  
 
Should any member be interested in this role please contact nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk  
 
Personal Details 
We have had a number of membership packs returned due to incorrect addresses, and a number of emails that have returned as undelivered. Just a reminder that you can update your personal details in the volunteering portal, after logging in, click on the person icon to bring up your account details, to ensure we can communicate key information to you. 
 
You can also update your subscriptions to receive newsletters etc . If you have unsubscribed from Mailchimp and wish to resubscribe please use the link below https://bit.ly/3JweMuA
 
Around the regions.
Despite typically British weather, Howards Day welcomed participants back to Castle Combe. The event featured healthy grids across all the championships and thrilling racing, including two 500 Owners Club races showcasing these historic and rare cars at impressive speeds.
 
At the Goodwood Members Meeting attendees fondly remembered Barry Yeatman, a revered figure at Goodwood who sadly passed away just before Christmas. Marshals paid tribute to him with a traditional afternoon tea during the weekend, where he was fondly remembered by all who knew him.
 
Castle Combe bid farewell to Mike Devine, who concluded over 60 years of marshalling by attending his final meeting. He received a commemorative trophy and winner’s champagne from Marcus Pye and Castle Combe Marshals Coordinator Richard Beard. Mike, although having retired multiple times before, emphasises that this time, he’s truly stepping away though you may still spot him in the paddocks and spectator areas of Thruxton, Castle Combe, and Gurston Down. 
 
The first event of 2024 at Oulton Park was the season opener for the British GT championship along with the support races at Easter. Full grids, changeable weather conditions and numerous incidents led to all the marshals being tested and allowed them to put their training to good use. A good way to blow away the winter cobwebs, followed by the Fun Cup two weeks later.
 
In addition, some members ventured out on to various rally stages in the North West to get their motorsport fix, with excellent feedback in terms of organisation, driving and marshal activities. 
 
Recruitment
Taster days for Brands Hatch have taken place for the last 2 meetings with 13 participants having taken part. Well done to Mark and the team and for the marshals for supporting these days.
 
The British GT meeting at Oulton Park saw the recruitment tent out for the first time this year, with 53 potential new recruits signed up – a great weekend considering the poor weather on Easter Monday.
 
Membership and Grading 
We are pleased to welcome 72 new members to date in April, including 3 cadets and 6 student members.
 
We are pleased to advise that we have passed our 10,000^th member since BMMC’s inception. Congratulations to Patricia Banks from Widnes who holds this very important membership number.  
 
Bedford Auto drome Marshal Prize Every year we carry out a draw for those marshals who have renewed their membership before 31st January Congratulations to Terry Defrond who has won this year’s prize for a day out at Bedford Autodrome.
 
Regalia
Get them whilst you can!
 
Our new limited edition BMMC Shield 3D Cast Metal Keyrings are now available from your Regional Regalia or from National Regalia by post. Choose from either Antique Copper or Antique Silver. At only £3.75 each why not get one for your car key and one for the house keys. Get them quick as they won’t be around for long.
 
Great to see so many supporting our chosen charity this year. The Mission Motorsport patches are selling out fast. Have you got yours yet! Remember, all proceeds go directly to Mission Motorsport.
 
A full range of club badges, sticker and headwear as well as the new regional patches are available from your Regional Regalia Coordinators or you can drop an email to the National Regalia Coordinator with your requirements and he will be happy to pop in the post to you.  
 
Finally, have you visited the club merchandise eShop yet https://shops.fabryx.co.uk/collections/british-motorsports-marshals-club  with over 40 items of merchandise to choose from.  As we immerse ourselves into the peak of the season why not treat yourself to a new tee-shirt or fashionable hat? 
Just in case you needed more incentive from now until the June you can get a 10% by just use code BMMCSUMMER-10 at the checkout.  
 
Training 
Electric vehicles
Planning for EV webinar in June is underway and if you wish to register please contact se.training@marshals.co.uk This handy webinar uses material used to train the rescue teams in safely operating around Electric vehicles and dispel some myths as well!
 
Other news 
On 27^th April we are supporting the first ever Darlington Motorsport Day, a showcase of all things motorsport! The Darlington Motorsport Day is a family day where you can pop down, look at / interact with the displays watch some live demonstrations, talk to our officials and learn more about what our region has to offer for the lover of everything motorsport, some of you may be surprised to find out what’s just around the corner. If you have a few hours spare to help volunteer at this event please contact craig.hope@btopenworld.com
 
Similarly, we have been asked to support the Krazy Races team in 2024 – some new venues included this year too. Each event is looking for a minimum of 3 volunteers per event. Lunch voucher and drinks will be available to the volunteers – timings are roughly 9am – 4pm.

Full details will be provided closer to each event to those who have volunteered. For more info visit www.krazyraces.co.uk . Contact Nadine Lewis to volunteer at nadinelewis5@yahoo.co.uk
Events are:
26 May – Shrewsbury SY1 1JA
16 June – Warrington WA1 2QW – NEW this year
14 July – Crewe CW1 3LH
28 July – Stockport SK1 1SP
1 September – Wolverhampton WV1 1TX
15 September – Lincoln LN2 1HY – NEW this year

Charity news
A few members from  the South East region are taking part in the Race! Ride! Run! Brands Hatch Charity Day, Bank Holiday Monday 27^th May. www.chartwellcancertrust.co.uk If you fancy taking part, please visit the website and support these cancer charities.

BRDC Charity.
The Charity exists to help those in the motorsport industry (drivers, mechanics, marshals, officials etc) who are experiencing financial difficulties. Potential claimants are visited by the Charity’s facilitator to discuss needs which may be financial or emotional. We make either financial grants or signpost to other organisations that may help the individual. This is a very confidential service and recipients are known only to the 3 Trustees, myself and the facilitator.
If anyone wishes to discuss this further, then call Steve Woolfe National Treasurer on 07739332217. 

Financial and Insurance
Finances to March 2024.
The Club has made a small surplus to March 2024 and cash balances remain positive.
There has been a slightly disappointing response to the club’s Sprint in May, although we are hoping for a late surge in entries!
We are yet to receive all our training income from the British Motorsport Trust but we am not expecting a huge shortfall of income ( NOTE – we are only granted 75% of our requested training costs.)
Volunteering Abroad.
We are getting a few requests to marshal abroad, it is appropriate to let you know the basic insurance requirements. A more detailed narrative can be found on our web site at https://www.marshals.co.uk/volunteering-information/volunteering-abroad/
This blog deals with Insurance cover and Emergency Repatriation only.
Insurances.
The BMMC policy provides 100% cover for members marshalling/officiating at “approved” non-Motorsport UK events. This is taken to mean events at properly licensed circuits or venues and includes overseas. As most of the applications are to GP/Le Mans etc then these venues will obviously be regarded as approved.
Details of the benefits in the unfortunate case of a claim needing to be made are at https://www.marshals.co.uk/marshalling/bmmc-personal-accident-insurance/
NOTE: It is very important to ensure that you take out your own travel insurance as our policy does not cover such as delays, lost luggage, cancellations etc.
Emergency Repatriation.
Our insurance covers repatriation should there be a need, however we  need the following information so that we can issue your certificate of insurance.

1. Name and address as per your passport.
2. Payment of £20 to our account at Lloyds Bank – Sort Code  40-39-11 Account No – 71061968
3. Our account name is British Motorsports Marshals Club.
4. Your BMMC Membership number.

 
 
Please provide any feedback on the BMMC monthly blog to nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk
John Edwards 
National Secretary 
07800 587391

BMMC Chair 
As per the club update issued on 11^th March 2024 Nadine Lewis has resigned as National Chair due to personal reasons.
 
As such the club is recruiting for a new National Chair. The role description for the National Chair role can be found here https://bit.ly/3IAImP6 . The Directors would like to thank Nadine for all the hard work she has done on behalf of our members in raising the profile of marshalling, and wish her every success in the future.
 
Should any member wish to stand for election to the role of National Chair please contact  nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk by 30th April at 5 pm.
 
 
National Training Officer 
Alan Page has been appointed as the new BMMC National Training Coordinator (NTC) and will assume his post as a member of the National Council with immediate effect.
 
Alan brings a wealth of experience to the role as a professional educator running his own training consultancy and delivery company. He has been involved in the design and delivery of training courses since 2002. 
 
Alan has been delivering motorsport training since 2007 when he first gained his Training Instructor licence, then following that became an International Trainer, delivering both Marshals and Trainer courses in several different countries under the FIA’s direction.
 
Please contact Alan at nat.training@marshals.co.uk
 
Around the regions / Rally 
As we are at the beginning of the season, little to report from the regions re circuit racing. Motorsport UK have amended the regulations re signals. Please refer to the Marshals Bulletin March 2024 for further information , with a video for review https://bit.ly/49hUorq
 
NOTE: Cadwell Park will become the latest venue to install the light panels this year.
 
In Rally, the Jimmy McRae Award was presented at Autosport International to Pheebe Fletcher. BRMC are currently working on three recruitment events, the Historic Rally Festival, Rali Ceredigion (ERC) and Castle Combe Rally Day. 
 
A practical training day is planned for the 21st April at The Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. This event will be funded by the British Motorsport Trust and run with the cooperation of the Welsh Association. On-line training continues to be available for rally training 
 
Recruitment 
Autosport show 2024 -Our show exhibition stand was attended on all four days with club members from track and rally disciplines. Their help in setting up and manning the stand is to be commended. 
 
We had a lot of interest and have some great opportunities to recruit new members from other motorsport related clubs. The Autosport show also provided a great networking opportunity too. 
 
Marshal recruitment – Donington We are pleased to announce that to support recruitment at Donington, MSV have confirmed that we will have a permanent base exclusively for BMMC recruitment and taster day activities. We hope to have occupation in early April with a plan to host our first taster day of the season and recruitment event the following weekend.
 
Membership and Grading 
2024 membership packs are currently being issued in batches and should be with everyone within the next week.

The new online application form is working well, with all applicants having completed the Motorsports UK training before joining the club. 
 
We have 94 new adult members, 14 Students and 3 cadets who have joined since December 
The new updated BMMC membership database has gone live, providing additional security for membership data. 
 
Congratulations to the following members who have upgraded recently:
 
Nigel McCutcheon, Michael Plant, Emily Mansfield, Rebecca Kennedy , Will Brindley, Patrick Lambe, Matt Froud, Dan Lynn, Malcom Thompson, Bryony Sherlow, John Scott and Christopher Trace. 
 
Regalia
The club merchandise eShop was launched at the end of November 2023 and has been received well by the members. Visit here https://bit.ly/3xnjc40 
 
New regional patches and patches supporting our chosen charity Mission Motorsport are now available through your Regional Regalia Officers 
 
Formula E 
The London E-Prix is a unique event which sees the pioneering all-electric single seaters tackle a tight circuit with an indoor/outdoor layout around the Docklands conference centre. Applications for volunteer marshals for the 2024 race are now open – if you’re interested in joining the team, please click on the link to register: https://www.msvr.co.uk/car/formula-e-london-marshal

Insurance and Marshalling Abroad 
As it is the start of the racing season, a quick reminder of our insurances.
Marshalling in the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

1. You need to be a member of BMMC to be eligible for cover.
2. You need to volunteer either through the BMMC volunteering site or, if that deadline has passed, directly with the organising Club or Chief Marshal. 
3. Our brokers have advised us that as long as you are a member of BMMC, then you are covered and therefore no need to tick the “For Insurance Purposes Only” button.
4. Your cover will start when you leave your house to attend and finish when you have returned home. If you are staying overnight then cover extends to this period as well.
5. You need to sign on as proof of your attendance (although with electronic sign on prior to a meeting, proof of attendance will be the post allocation sheets etc)
6. If the meeting is mixed 2 wheel and 4 wheel ( ie Goodwood), then you need to check if the meeting is being held under two Permits – MSUK for 4 wheel and ACU (Auto Cycle Union) for 2 wheel – as Goodwood is. 
7. In that case you need to sign on with both MSUK and ACU, therefore the overall Organising Club should have two sheets for you to sign (or two electronic ones).

Marshalling Overseas.

1. It is advisable for overseas marshalling to take out Emergency Repatriation Insurance (EMR) to cover your repatriation should the need arise. The cost of this is £20 and covers as many trips in the calendar year. 
2. You will need to email me (nat.treasurer@marshals.co.uk) with your name and address as per your passport, your BMMC membership number, the date of your first trip overseas and proof of payment (Our bookkeeper will do this part).
3. Our account is held at HSBC –Account 71061968: Sort Code 40-39-11: Name: British Motorsport Marshals Club.

There is a fuller explanation on our web site athttps://www.marshals.co.uk/marshalling/bmmc-personal-accident-insurance/and https://www.marshals.co.uk/marshalling/repatriation-insurance/

BMMC Annual Accounts to 31^st December 2023.
The following is a brief precis of our results and a fuller narrative can be found on our web site here https://bit.ly/3ITKZfb

Income –

• Membership further increased in 2023 from £46,620 to £50,950. 

• Contributions from BMT – the organisation that funds our training costs – matched our expenditure on training.
• Although we retained all of our marshals’ clothing sponsors, the Club still contributed £3,720 to ensure that the standard overalls/wet weather clothing was fully subsidised. 
• Our income from Sprints was much lower in 2023 probably due to the economic climate.

Expenditure –

• Although many costs increased substantially in 2023 (Insurance costs rose by 10% despite going out to the market), we did make savings on Postage, Stationery, and Council expenses.  
• Regional Expenses increased significantly due to the Fun Cup challenge, which cost the Club over £1,800.

The net result of the above was a surplus of £6,160 for the year.

This surplus will be used in 2024 to ensure that we can still fully subsidise your clothing ( we have lost a couple of sponsors for 2024 but Prodrive have agreed to contribute to our clothing costs) and to offer marshals with over 40 years’ service  life membership.
 
Please provide any feedback on the BMMC monthly blog to nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk
 
John Edwards 
National Secretary 
07800 587391 
 

Alan Page has been appointed as the new BMMC National Training Coordinator (NTC) and will assume his post as a member of the National Council with immediate effect.

Responsible for providing members with appropriate training in line with Motorsport UK and BMMC requirements, in a timely manner, the NTC is the single point of contact for all training related matters for the club. 

Alan brings a wealth of experience to the role as a professional educator running his own training consultancy and delivery company. He has been involved in the design and delivery of training courses since 2002.

Alan has also been delivering motorsport training since 2007 when he first gained his Training Instructor licence, then following that became an International Trainer, delivering both Marshals and Trainer courses in several different countries under the FIA’s direction.

He was the Training Officer, then Training Executive for the MSA, then Motorsport UK, from 2014 to 2018, preceding that with 3 years as their Training Consultant.

Alan first started marshalling at the Lombard RAC Rally in 1982 and motorsport has been a huge part of his life since then, having marshalled at Race, Speed, Trials, Hill Climbs and Rally events and continues to deliver Marshals and Officials training in all these disciplines.  

Speaking after his appointment Alan said: “I am honoured to be granted the position of NTC and look forward to engaging with the regional training officers to build upon the great work of my predecessors.  I honestly believe that the UK marshals are the best in the world and by the delivery of high-quality training we are continuing to maintain the highest standards our sport deserves.”  

Alan can be contacted via email at: nat.training@marshals.co.uk

Further to the Club update dated 11th March 2024, BMMC are looking to appoint a new Chair to lead the club into the 2024 season and beyond.    

Candidates for the Chair vacancy will need to submit:
(a) Confirmation that they are eligible under Article 29, including that they are a Full or Life Member, their Grade (being above that of Registered Marshal), and list any other BMMC roles currently held.
 (b) Confirmation of their understanding that on election to the role, they will take on responsibilities as a company director under the Companies Act 2006 , and their willingness and legal eligibility to do so. 
(c) A statement of no more than 500 words which will be circulated to the membership, setting out their experience and plans should they be successful in the election supported by a relevant CV.
(d) Details of a proposer and seconder for their nomination. 

The role description for the National Chair role can be found here https://bit.ly/3IAImP6

Should any member wish to stand for election to the role of National Chair please submit the above information by email to nat.secretary@marshals.co.uk by 30th April at 5 pm. 

Once applications have been received, discussions will be held between the applicant and an appropriate Director or Vice president to ensure the applicant has a full understanding of the role.

Once these discussions have concluded, in accordance with J.2.8 an electronic ballot will be held by a simple majority, with the candidate with the most votes being declared elected. 

If any member does not have an email registered on the database postal forms will be issued to these members only. Polling will be open for a 2-week period.

It is the aim of the club to have a new Chair in place for the Board meeting in June 2024.