BRCA AGM Attendance

[Yardeeee]

Hey guys and girls,

Ok... I understand I am not a BRCA official in any shape or form, but what I am is a racer who is concerned about his sport/hobby as I am sure many of you are too. We all have the right to voice our opinions on matters, potential rule changes, things we are unhappy about, heck, we can even choose who the officials are, but the vast majority of us don't take this opportunity to contribute to the level of success and enjoyment we all have at national and regional events.

As those who attend nationals will be aware, we have a majorly popular section in 1/10 off road, nationals are over subscribed, the level of organisation at these events is great... and yet despite all this, when reading in the latest BRCA circuit chatter, I noticed something which I knew myself as I attended the AGM last year, but when seen in black and white it's pretty shocking and dissapointing. Only 1/12 circuit had a lower turnout of people attend their section AGM in 06. Here are some figures taken from the circuit chatter:

Number of members in attendance per section AGM-
1/10 TC: 69
1/8 RallyX: 53
1/10 IC circuit: 34
1/12 Oval: 24 (!)
1/10 off road: 15

The full list can be found in circuit chatter page 6 so I won't bother copying it all, but it's depressing reading isn't it? I'm proud to be a member of our section, we have a great standard of racing every national, well organised, good tracks. But what that list says is that, people who race 1/12 round an OVAL are more interested in their section success than us!

I've attended the AGM for the past 4 years and yes it can be pretty boring but there is a definite need for more racers to attend, when rule change issues come up, attention turns to the drivers, you don't just have to sit there listening, you can take part in the discussion (it gets heated sometime and gets really entertaining!) and make a difference. Like I say, I know I have no official right to tell you all to come, but I just think that us racers should take more interest in what is happening, plenty of people complain about the rules in public forums but they're never there to support a rule change or make their feelings official. Come along to the AGM next time, heck even if it's just to give me someone extra to talk to, its no fun sitting with all the oldies you know!

If you work, or have commitments, fine, don't force yourself, but if you're free on the date of the next one come along:

Thistley High School,
Stoke on Trent,
Sunday Oct 28th 2007.

Cheers,
Yardy

[ashleyb4]

I agree tom i was thinking about this and i intend on going to the AGM this year as i have a few rules and things i want to have my say about.

A

[_sleigh_]

Originally Posted by ashleyb4

I agree tom i was thinking about this and i intend on going to the AGM this year as i have a few rules and things i want to have my say about.

A

Ash, only rules changes that have been proposed by the deadline date will be discussed at the AGM. It's not a free for all on any rules you don't like.

(I dont know the deadline date off hand as it used to be 6 weeks before the AGM, then it changed I think)

[ashleyb4]

Im not sure if its actually a rule but i would like to see another heat at nationals.

A

[Wraggy]

Originally Posted by ashleyb4

Im not sure if its actually a rule but i would like to see another heat at nationals.

A

thats all down to the amount of time in the day ....
to add an extra heat will be an extra 40 min in the day roughly.

[ashleyb4]

That is one of the down sides. But i think it would help if we had another heat in nationals as there are getting more and more people coming to nationals and at the moment where getting to the stage where there are loads of people coming into nationals but only a few leaving so we need to acomidate these people. Because look at the researve list this year its been over 30 people at some meetings if we where to add another heat we reduce the number of people on researve list and also increase the chances of the people on the researve list getting in. Maybe on the sunday we could ajust it so we have 2 rounds of practice but make them only 3 minutes long. As i find at practise after 5 minutes i find it a bit pointless. I tend to pull the car off after about 4 minutes as it saves my tyres and saves me breaking it.

A

[_sleigh_]

Originally Posted by Yardeeee

its no fun sitting with all the oldies you know!

Less of the old you...

Totally agree with what Tom has said.... Especially goes out to all those people who have ever proposed a rule and then not bothered to turn up to support their own proposal.

[Bathy]

Originally Posted by Yardeeee

Thistley High School,
Stoke on Trent,
Sunday Oct 28th 2007.

Cheers,
Yardy

Do you know the postcode, please?

Tomtom will get me there!

[_sleigh_]

Originally Posted by Bathy

Do you know the postcode, please?

Tomtom will get me there!

Here we goes Mr Bathy

Newcastle Lane
Penkhull
Stoke on Trent
ST4 5JJ

[Kopite]

How does the AGM go then? Is it very formal?

Perhaps we could do something that'd make it more fun or interesting to make more people want to come along? Perhaps a free brushless system for everyone who attends, donated by our drivers rep?

Seriously though, there must be something that the oval guys are doing right, or something we're missing? Because 15 attendees is bloody awful really!

[_sleigh_]

Originally Posted by Kopite

Perhaps we could do something that'd make it more fun or interesting to make more people want to come along? Perhaps a free brushless system for everyone who attends, donated by our drivers rep?

[super__dan]

I'm going to try to make this year, but I think the low turnout is because if you have no particular reason to want to change a rule it is along way for many people (though I agree Stoke is fairly central). Also my misses can't understand why I travel to far to race, telling her I'm going just to talk about it and she'll do her nut!

For what it's worth, I think adding an extra heat to the nationals is completely wrong. The days are plenty long enough as it is (for everyone), if anything I'd like to see a heat less so I'm not quite so ruined on a monday morning in work. I won't be going so far as submitting this though!

[4_cell_racer]

Originally Posted by Kopite

Seriously though, there must be something that the oval guys are doing right, or something we're missing? Because 15 attendees is bloody awful really!

I think the reason there's more peeps attending the AGM for 12th Oval, is cos the stock car peeps don't want to be in the 21st centery still using there mech speedos

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Yardeeee

Hey guys and girls,

Only 1/12 circuit had a lower turnout of people attend their section AGM in 06. Here are some figures taken from the circuit chatter:
Cheers,
Yardy

I agree with your points. But just a note the figures for the 1/12 circuit are not technically correct, 1/12 is a winter series and therefore have their own AGM in April different to everyone else and there were quite a lot there.

[CharlieF]

Phil.
You are right to say that the closing date for rule change proposals is the closing date for circuit chatter (normally six weeks before the AGM date). I sent those that I have received todate today. Having said that proposals can still be offerred as even if received after the cut-off date they will still be discussed by the committee.
Dan
Thanks for making the point that the committee hope is relevant. If every thing with our National series was awful we would expect you all to turn up to tell us. We live in hope that low attendance is a sign that the majority are satisfied.
Regards.

[Stu]

I think that's spot on Charlie.

The committee has the thing stitched up tight enough already to make the AGM at best a formality and at worst almost an anachronism (almost - as it'll be needed when the comitee all get senile we vote them off).

[MattW]

Thing is, if people see the proposals and don't mind either way (or there is nothing "major") then they don't go - and go racing instead. Maybe clubs should be asked not to hold meetings on the day - or at least not major meetings?? you can't really forse them though i guess

[David Church]

Ashley, It seems as if you are wanting to change the rules just to suit your situation. I think things are about as good as they could be, on race day that is, I have been to the Euro's 3 times now, and we DEF!!!!! have a superb run series here!!!!!

As far as going to the AGM, I would like to go, but..... it means another 400 mile round trip, minimum, from down here. I am all for supporting our section, but is there any other way to participate without another long distance drive, maybe via internet or something??????

[_sleigh_]

Originally Posted by MattW

Thing is, if people see the proposals and don't mind either way (or there is nothing "major") then they don't go - and go racing instead. Maybe clubs should be asked not to hold meetings on the day - or at least not major meetings?? you can't really forse them though i guess

It does say in the Constitution section of the Handbook that NO BRCA sanctioned meeting are to be run on the date of the AGM.