2013 Atlantic Region Motor Sports Annual General Meeting
Rally Workshop
November 16th, 2013
Westin Nova Scotian, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Minutes recorded by Sherrie Hennigar, Transcribed by Gordon Sleigh
- Meeting called to order, 1:13pm
- 22 Members in attendance, including proxies
- Gordon Sleigh, ASCC
- Matt Eakin, BAC
- Proxy Daphne Sleigh, BAC
- Donna Beattie, ASCC
- Ian Pearce, ASCC
- Proxy: Katherine Bourbonierre, BAC
- Proxy: Brian Bourbonierre, BAC
- Proxy: Maria Driscoll, ASCC
- Sherrie Hennigar, BAC
- Harold Merklinger, BAC
- Barb Trenholm, BAC
- James Partridge, BAC
- E. Clarke Paynter, BAC
- Ron McKenzie, BAC
- Cathy Partridge, BAC
- Charlotte Partridge, BAC
- Libby Partridge, BAC
- Proxy: Brian Partridge, BAC
- Christopher Ward, ASCC
- Brian Jarvis, ASCC
- Jeremy Roberts, ASCC
- Dave Hull, BAC
- Minutes of the 2012 AGM were read by Gordon.
- Clarke Motioned to accept the minutes as amended for typos. Ian seconded. Motion carried.
- No new business arising from the minutes.
Review of 2013 Competition Year
TSD Rally
- Somewhat better than last year, but we need more competitors. Advertising doesn’t seem to be attracting entries. Posting on Kijiji and Forums doesn’t seem to be helping.
- There is definitely burnout in current organizers
- Ian may not organize a rally in 2014. Jim Theriault would like to put his name forward to organize with Ian’s assistance.
- Lots of people have good intentions with helping out to organize, but not a lot of follow through. Perhaps a ‘project manager’ for organizers is needed? Someone to just list things to be done and make sure the organizers know what needs to take place.
- Discussions on ways to get more organizers
- An organizers workshop was proposed for January 21st, 2014. Clarke offered his office in Bayers Lake. Gordon will schedule and advertise.
- 2013 Regional TSD Results
- Experienced Equipped had a tie in 2013 for driver between Ian Pearce and Bill Anwyll
- Experienced Equipped Navigator James Partridge
- Experienced Driver Clarke Paynter
- Experienced Navigator Brian Bourbonierre
- Novice Driver Evan Williams
- Novice Navigator Brenda MacIntosh
- Ian received a response back from the RCMP to his standard event notice letter sent for his ASCC Rally in November. The office had some interesting questions. Ian asked whether providing a set of directions to the RCMP if asked.
- It was reinforced that Navigational Rally Rules specifically prohibit breaking road laws with immediate disqualification for anyone ticketed during the event.
- James suggested standardizing the letter to be sent to the Police/RCMP for events
RallyCross
- RallyCross celebrated its 10th years in 2012/2013.
- Attendance was good with a variety of competitors old and new
- Gordon formally thanked Dave Hull for his organizing the events for the last 10 years. Dave has respectfully stepped down to focus on competition. Gordon has agreed to ensure future rallycross events have an organizer, though he can’t commit to organizing the entire season himself.
- Gordon will produce an outline of organizer duties and an event checklist for interested organizers.
- 1st event of the 2013/2014 season was canceled due to lot conditions, 2nd event is November 24th at Scotia Speed World.
- Questions were asked about lot grading and plowing
- 2012/2013 Winners overall were Wayne Pitts, Jonathan Conrad and Brendan Neily.
- A discussion took place regarding the November 2nd work party at AMP where course paths were cleaned up and many rocks excavated.
- MMSC will be holding rallycross events on January 26th and February 9th, weather permitting.
- Gordon has discussed a regional series with Ming and it was decided that February 9th is MMSC’s desired Regional date. Gordon is considering two regional events in Nova Scotia, one at each lot, as well. FMC events are too unpredictable to host a regional at this time.
Performance Rally
- 2013 was a good year for performance rally with the standard 3 events, a RallySprint, a Single Road Event and a full Regional Rally with some minor vehicle incidents that were well handled.
- Unfortunately several cars have left the region due to life circumstances. New cars are being built for 2014, however.
- Ian gave big thanks to Ron McKenzie for all the effort of another successful rally season.
2014 Season Updates and Changes
TSD Rally Changes
- Gordon brought up the recent division of Experienced classes to Experienced Equipped and Experienced and asked the group to consider continuing with the split or re-merging them to one Experienced class.
- Extensive discussion took place on the subject.
- Concern was expressed that forcing some Novice teams to go to Experienced can be detrimental. Forcing novice teams to go Experienced is something to consider adjusting in the future.
- Ian expressed that it may be hard on Novice competitors to move to Experienced without a school or other method of learning new rally skils.
- With our current number of events it can be 2-3 years before a Novice Competitor is forced to go to Exeprienced.
- Going back to the original subject, Ian put forth a motion to return to a single Experienced class, sconded by Matt Eakin. Motion was carried with a single vote against.
- Brian Jarvis suggested a single set of directions for both novice and experienced. This was discussed and decided to not be suitable. No motion was brought forward.
- Gordon expressed some frustration at scoring events with organizers points when there is only two events in a championship.
- Discussion took place regarding the existence of a BAC Introduction to Rally book. Both Ian and Dave Hull have separately sourced digital copies of this document.
RallyCross
2014 changes to organizers and the addition of a regional series were covered in the 2013 RallyCross review discussion.
Performance Rally
- Ron McKenzie provided a Performance Rally report
- 2013 saw two new land bodies, one being the Nova Scotia Department of National Resources which is a big win. DNR sent a letter indicating they were happy with our event in 2013.
- The Conrad Bros Quarry, who hosted the Spectator stages for the Ledwidge Lookoff Rally, have invited us back again for 2014.
- Theoretical discussion of an additional large scale performance rally event took place with sponsorship, including possible prize money.
- Ron indicates that there are potentially as much as 50km of stage roads within the Conrad Bros Quarry.
- In 2014 New Cap Media has come on as a major sponsor and marketing partner with extensive radio and print promotion to take place. Their sponsorship is worth potentially as much as $5000.
- Miller Tire has come on as an event sponsor and is working on additional corporate sponsorship.
- Possible Media ridealongs and ‘Thrill of a Lifetime’ public participation is possible, pending insurance arrangements.
- Competitors from Quebec and Ontario indicate that 120-150km of stage kilometers is the desirable number for travel to events.
2014 Calendar
- The 2013/2014 BAC RallyCross calendar has already been posted
- 3 Performance Rally events have been scheduled
- Three Regional TSD rallies have been scheduled. MMSC and VMI are not currently planning to host any TSD events. FMC is uncertain.
- Calendar will be posted to the ARMS Google Calendar and RallyEast before the end of the year.
Other Business
- Gordon submitted that the most current revision of the ARMS Bylaws, published in 2000, allow for only one Rally Director while we have been conducting business with two, a Navigational and a Performance Director. This will be formally discussed at the AGM for correction which will require a special Bylaw change meeting in January/February.
- Clarke will be attending the 2013 CARS AGM in Quebec City in January as the ARMS representative.
- The 2015 CARS AGM will be held in Halifax with Clarke acting as primary organizer.
- Ron motioned to Adjourn the meeting, Jeremy seconded, all in favor. 4:12pm.
