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We had a great 4 days at Autosport in January.  Well done to the Midlands team for organising the stand and cars – it looked great!  Thanks to everyone who visited us and helped out – we took a number of names of people interested in marshalling and also gave out leaflets to prospective new members.  We also were honoured to get a photo opportunity with Sir Jackie Stewart in support of his Race Against Dementia charity.  Great also to get support and invited to speak with Downforce Radio, Motorsport UK and Silverstone Interactive Museum to plug the BMMC and all the positives of volunteering.

By now you will have no doubt started making plans for your volunteering this year.  The volunteering system is populated for Race, Sprint and Karting events and Jon Cordery has produced a calendar of all things Rally related on BRMC.  There’s a few Krazy Races to get involved in and an event in October over a number of days where separate information will follow.  For those itching to get started we always wait until after Autosport in case there are date changes to correct – but now it is … go, go, go!

We would be grateful if you use the volunteering system so that we can obtain some data on how many days our members are attending.  A number of organising clubs are offering deals to join their club and attend their events – as well as ways to volunteer direct – we have no problem with that!  But please ensure that if you do volunteer direct that you just put “volunteered via club” in our system to register your attendance.  And remember some events may require you to volunteer direct but most events won’t give you priority if you do that!  We ensure your details are passed to organisers accordingly and you are treated exactly the same no matter how you volunteer.

Hopefully I will get to see some of you at training events coming up.  Our trainers have worked hard to ensure these events cover the old grading scheme and the new Pathway to gain your signatures accordingly so please put every effort in to attend and support these where you can.

We are running a new series of Sponsor spotlights as they reach certain milestones this year….CSCC up first for their 20th Anniversary Year a rather special event at Anglesey.  We thank them for their continued support for the club and hope you will enjoy their entertaining events!

I was delighted to receive the BWRDC Goldstar Volunteer of the Year award at Motorsport UK last month at the Bicester Scramble.  Note to all female members – you too can join this organisation (free in year one and £10 per year going forward).  I will be attending their lunch and book launch in a couple of weeks to recognise their Diamond Anniversary.

I also was honoured to be invited to the Royal Automobile Club for the Motorsport UK Night of Champions on Saturday.  Congratulations to Steve Tarrant who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award.  A veritable plethora of stars were recognised alongside championship winners.

Sadly we have already said goodbye to three members of the North West community this year – condolences to the families and friends of Brian Hayes, John Watt and Jason Breeze.  All of them long standing supporters of the club and passionate about our hobby.

So time to dust off the overalls and tabards in anticipation of new grading patches coming soon – and look forward to seeing you out and about.

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year – taken time out, had some relaxation time and a little bit of fun!  Time to start thinking about 2023.

Event calendars are coming together and we hope to launch the volunteering system soon – a few dates to iron out but some interesting events to look forward to. Don’t forget to check your details and update any changes by logging on to the website.  Some members have issues with their grading which remains unresolved and will hinder your ability to volunteer through the system so please do get in touch with your regional grading officer who can help this to be resolved.

And can you do us a favour?  Check with your mates they are getting these blog posts please?  We are concerned that some members are not receiving emails as they have unsubscribed from MailChimp.  So if you are reading this then all is ok – if your friends can’t see it we don’t know!!  But do tell them to check their details and then contact your regional committee for support to fix it.  And no – you don’t have to read my blogs – but other important information also comes out via MailChimp and we don’t want you to miss it.

We can confirm we have a stand at Autosport from 12 – 15 January.  We are combining BMMC with BRMC on stand 2580 in Hall 2.  We will have a rally car and race car on the stand too so if you want to pop by please come and say hello.  It’s the first time back since COVID so not sure how busy we will be but hope to sign up a few new recruits too.

Training dates are published now for most regions and disciplines so I hope you are able to attend.  The Pathway comes in to effect this year but previous attendance dates can be attributed to achieving grades under the old scheme.  But remember signatures are only valid for so long – even taking COVID in to account.

I look forward to seeing some of you out and about over the course of the next year.  And for those members who aren’t as actively volunteering as you once were – I hope these blogs keep you entertained and your regional newsletters informed of the club and members antics.

Finally, thanks to Downforce Radio awards sponsored by Clapham Motors who announced myself as Marshal of the Year for 2022 for my podium visit at the British Grand Prix!  Honoured and still humbled to represent all our marshals.

Nadine Lewis
BMMC National Chair

Yesterday was our final National Council of the year and our annual club AGM – thank you to everyone who attended in person and remotely.  We were finally able to get back together face-to-face for some constructive dialogue in the surroundings of our governing body.  Thanks to Motorsport UK for the use of your conference facilities!

December 5 marks International Volunteers Day we celebrate the theme of solidarity through volunteering. “For the future of our planet, we must act together and we must act now. This is not an era to stand alone but together, as one, in solidarity with each other”.  We at Council are in the process of putting together our sustainability aims and goals and will be looking for input and support going forward.  And we thank you for all your volunteering at home and abroad.

I am conscious that everyone is saving their pennies this year but I hope there’s a little left to renew your membership which we have kept at the same price again this year – anyone on direct debit will note their payment will be taken in the first week of January.  

If anyone has any issues renewing please contact your local regional membership secretary and we will ensure we don’t send you reminder messages.  To be in with a chance of winning the Bedford Autodrome experience you will need to rejoin by end of January but we do hold off closing the renewal process to end of March to help out those members whose funds may not stretch that far in the early part of the year.

Our plans for 2023 are already in motion – starting with a return to Autosport in January and Race Retro in February.  The new Pathway is being incorporated into our databases and volunteering dates are being assembled for updating early in January.  Hope you’ve got your diaries ready!

Finally I will take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for a healthy New Year.  Hope you Winter well.

Nadine Lewis

October sees a turning point in the year as championships are decided and rallying in inclement weather becomes more inevitable!

BTCC was concluded early in the month and a scary incident in the Porsche support race saw a car launched on to debris fencing protecting a marshals’ post.  Thankfully no physical injuries for anyone involved but a shocking incident nonetheless which could shake even a well-seasoned marshal!  But a good reminder to always keep your eye on approaching traffic.

As a reminder – if you are ever affected by an incident your first port of call should be the event Chief marshal.  The organising clubs will be able to support you.  Motorsport UK only get involved if the organising club requests input.  Please also note that BMMC are not notified (due to GDPR) and therefore are unaware of who is involved or affected unless advised or people recognised by local members.  Of course our own anonymous counselling service is there to support you if you contact them directly and the BRDC Charity too.  Motorsport UK are currently reviewing their process.

I attended Motorsport UK Council meeting earlier in the month where we discussed the strategy for Motorsport UK (https://www.motorsportuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Motorsport-UK-Strategy-2020-2025-0621-1-1.pdf).  I am pleased to say that Volunteers are part of the focus and further consultation and discussion will follow as to how this can be achieved.  I have already ensured that “Volunteer retention, recruitment and recognition” is part of each Sporting committee’s permanent agenda and this provides a framework to focus this attention going forward.

I also attended Marshals Advisory Group which was my last time as Chair.  I have been part of this group since January 2010 – when I was awarded Marshal of the Year.  As per the Motorsport UK rules I have had to stand down after my time of service.  However we have come a long way and I am happy to be handing over in to safe hands.  Our last meeting had a discussion about marshal retention.  An interesting set of points raised which many of you will relate to …..

• poor communication
• poor grids
• lack of lunch break
• late finishes

…..to be continued and actions suggested!!!

We also agreed the new PRC format which will be launched soon.  It is expected that a new wallet will also be produced and distributed too.  Likely to be sent out as upgrades are processed – so registered marshals can move away from the current paper copy which was an interim solution.  The PRC will be used for attendance, training and assessment signatures across all disciplines.  Anyone who is not looking to upgrade will be encouraged to use the continuation forms to record days only.  And don’t forget you have until June 2023 to upgrade under the current scheme.

To finish our regions are holding AGMs this month so I encourage you to attend and support your local committees where possible – or why not get involved yourself?

September is my favourite time of the year – well it is my birthday month and a big one this year!  A weekend away from Motorsport spent celebrating with my family started the month – with added days to recover.

The Goodwood Revival was a triumph again this year – some of the best racing and a great team on post with Dutch and French visitors to share the experience.  Poignant and reflective contemplation in respect to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was observed impeccably each day around the whole circuit. On the Sunday I was invited to Prize giving at the Start / Finish line to witness the presentation of a cheque to the Goodwood Marshals Club towards the purchase of a new rescue unit.  The funds were raised by a Crowdfunding page set up by Alice Powell following the sad events of last July and the death of Rob Foote.  Rob and his wife Rosemarys names will live on with the Rescue Unit – a fitting tribute to recognise where Rob started marshalling and the close knit community around him.

Last weekend I was at Silverstone for the BTCC – not volunteering for a change!  Saturday was spent with Dan Carter from Motorsport UK reviewing and discussing the Light panels.  I saw them in operation in Race Control as well as on post at Brooklands (thanks for the welcome on post!).  A number of takeaways and discussion points noted and the Formula 4 on board system seen to its full extent.  A few surprises and takeaways for Dan too!  We await the next debriefing meeting which should take place in November and then we hopefully will have some clear steps and updates for everyone.

On Sunday I was at Silverstone for hospitality from Motorsport UK – offered to everyone who sits on a committee or working group.  The marshals who dealt with the track invasion at the GP had also been invited – so able to thank them too.  Plenty of networking opportunities over the weekend and catch ups with Laurence Tomlinson (Ginetta – ongoing sponsorship and potential opportunities with the move to supporting British GTs next year) and Dr Ian Roberts (CMO – before he headed off to Singapore).

The Race with Respect campaign from Motorsport UK is something that shouldn’t be necessary but recent examples and cases indicate that unfortunately the behaviour of some individuals is wholly unacceptable. Please do use their newly created reporting system mentioned in our bulletin last week if you need to raise concerns. Of course please approach committee members and Chief marshals to support you if you have cause for concern.  Abuse of any nature will not be tolerated.

Finally for this month I passed the Motorsport UK Assessor Refresher course so I can renew my registration and be able to continue assessing Race marshals at events.  Phew!  Don’t forget that your marshals registration has to be completed by the end of this calendar year but upgrades are still possible up to June next year.  The BMMC’s own membership renewal process will be opening soon and further details on this will follow by separate message from our Treasurer Steve.