2014 ASCC AGM 9-Dec-14
Called to order by Debbie M, 7:30pm
President’s report, read by Debbie M:
My thanks to the event directors for their hard work and determination to hold safe, fast, fun events all year long, many at the sacrifice of their own competition and usually helping out at events other then their own. Thanks too to the executive, most of whom also compete and help out at our many competitions as well as those of other clubs, and to all our members for their enthusiasm and good sportsmanship on the track or course and off.
We also thank our sponsors … O’Regans has been helping us out for many years now, and in the past few years Ralf Gietzen of PBM construction and Kraftwerks Auto has provided funds to help us improve our solo events equipment, enabling us to provide a more professional experience.
The use of a local parking lot has increased the attendance of our solo events in the last two years. We have an ASCC clock ready to present to the Stoneridge Fellowship Church to show our appreciation for the use of their lot.
The ASCC President’s award for 2014 was presented to our solo director Joel Nelson. Joel exemplifies the type of member that every club wants. Keen, hard working, , knowledgeable, polite , always offering a hand at any event he attends all while competing and being damned fast at the same time. Thanks Joel for all your efforts .. Congratulations.
It sounds like all the executive and discipline directors are ready to stand for another year and that is great news. We always are looking for help though so if anyone has an ambition to be on the executive then please let us know and job sharing can be arranged.
2015 is our 60th birthday and we are hosting the AGM so if anyone wants to help us organize the event or to help sponsor it please let me know.
Membership Report, Alan G: 170 members as of start of meeting. 12 are carryover memberships into 2015.
Treasurer’s Report, Brian J: Revenue down 15% because time attack is now run by the region. HPDS attendance and revenue was up. Solo was up by 25%, sponsorship increased, expenses were up 2%. Tow fund for PEI Nationals and Saint John regional was $3000. We purchased a display and additional timing lights for solo, and the fees for Digby Airport increased over last year.
Outstanding: 2014 ARMS levy, AGM expenses. Will be finalized for January meeting.
Race report, Brian G:
The 2014 season has come to a close as everyone is busy bundling up for the cold and race cars have begun hibernation. This past race season has been a good one as ASCC members continue to support road racing in Atlantic Canada and continue to represent well over 50% of the field on any given starting grid!
I have always talked about change over the past years and things continue to change even if the change stems from unfortunate circumstances. This past season has been a trying one for sure on our officials, Stewarts and Marshalls. When volunteers aren’t having much fun it’s hard to find volunteers, go figure. ARMS was put to the test this year by a few unfortunate incidents on and off the track and realized that they did not have the documentation in place to deal with these situations in as professional manner as possible. I know Dave Hull has been busy since the ARMS AGM updating the rules and now a good set of rules and a great action plan in place moving forward to train officials and stewards to better deal with the unwelcome situations. Maybe we should consider ourselves lucky that we have never really had to deal with this in the past, maybe we have had a great group of races that remember why they are there, to have fun. For some reason the art of racing side by side, door to door without contact was lost by a few but I think we will see an improvement for next year. On the plus side other ASCC members continue to demonstrate that you can still race side by side, door to door at even much higher speeds with zero contact, win or lose, these people had fun. In the race school we will continue to do our best to impress upon new racers the art of race craft, knowing what’s 360 deg around you at all times, driving 10/10ths and planning you next move all within split seconds. This is what makes racing fun!
AMP was shut down early this year with the JCM being held on the last weekend of September, this was not in madness to kick everyone out of racing early but rather help AMP take on the largest paving project since opening in 1974. We needed decent weather to be on our side this year to try and accomplish what we wanted and the only way to do this was to close early. I am happy to say the project was very successful with a lot of bumps and humps fixed, repaved and looking great to start next you on. Many of the AMP member clubs including ASCC, along with several individual ASCC members have also contributed substantially to funding more pavement being placed in the paddock giving everyone who uses the facility less gravel to park on. I’m looking forward to getting back to the track next year and the season getting under way.
I would like to wish all ASCC members and their families a wonderful holiday season and look forward to seeing everyone in 2015!
Rally report, Ian P:
It’s the end of another year in Rallying. We’ve seen some highs, with Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia securing another WRC championship. Antoine L’Estage and Alan Ockwell winning all rounds of the CRC, and David Higgins and Craig Drew taking home top honours in the US.
We saw some lows as Mother Nature played havoc with our local Rally X championship, some low entries and very few events in Navex, and some extra work for some teams during the Performance Rally series. 2014 also saw the retirement of fan favourite Pat Richard due to medical issues from the National Series. We wish him well.
As we look forward to 2015, we are met with optimism. We have a Navex scheduled for the 10th of January. Rally X has started, with solid entries this past weekend, and a new Regional Rally X Series with events in NB.
In Regional Performance Rally, things have never been brighter. This year saw hundreds of spectators, 120 km of special stage and multiple geographical stage locations over two full days of proper stage rally with BAC’s Ledwedge Lookoff Rally.
The Canadian Association of Rallysport is set to release a new set of rules in early 2015 designed to make Performance Rallying easier to get into, with more accessibility and options for those starting in Performance Rallying.
There are already rumours of certain teams making secret quick turnaround trips to Ont and Que to bring back what is certain to be very competitive machinery, and pictures of cars that have arrived new to the region in the past few months have surfaced.
2015 is going to be better than ever, and we invite you along for the ride. Come get sideways with us.
Solo Report, Joel N.
Looking to secure Toyo Sponsorship for autoslalom for 2015. Dates are to be firmed up and confirmed with Stoneridge Church for slaloms. Looking into a no points ‘fun run’ event to allow participants to go to Loring AFB event in Maine. Currently scheduled for 8 events, dropping the worst event.
ASCC is now using the same points grouping as regional events, and is adopting the Time Attack style points system.
-Presentation of Solosport Awards-
Old business: AMP is undergoing the largest paving project since it was opened. 2013 patching was done in sub-par weather, and needed to be repaired. It has been along with new paving.
New Business: There was a proposal made by Debbie M to donate $2000 to AMP toward paving fund. 2nd Ian P, all in favour.
2015 AGM will be hosted by ASCC. Nov 13-15. We are looking for sponsors.
Ian P reminded of the ARRCA marshalling school in May. They would love your help.
Adjourned. 9:00pm