Peter Cooper
1922 ~ 2009

The ASWMC are saddened to learn of the death of Peter Cooper, who passed away on March 28th 2009. Peter had a long involvement with the ASWMC and has been one of our Championship Stewards for many years.

Below is the tribute from the MSA

Peter spent more than fifty years in motor sport including six years as MSA Chief Executive from 1982 to 1987 and was a long term member of the Motor Sports Council, including a spell as chairman from 1982 to 1985. Further highlights of his achievements included 2nd place in the RAC Rally in 1954, Chairman of Kart Committee, a Steward of vast worldwide experience, FIA World Council member for many years and FISA Vice President d'honneur. His glorious career was officially recognised last year with the Motor Sports Association's Lifetime Achievement award.

Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the Motor Sports Association:
"Peter demonstrated an unrivalled commitment to the sport over many, many years, having held almost every possible post in that time. Perhaps his greatest achievement, however, is that he remained known, well liked and greatly admired throughout motor sport by all those who came into contact with him, right through from Club and National to International and World levels. He will be greatly missed."

On receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award last year, Peter said:
"When I look back, I can say with confidence that if I'd spent half as much time on my business as I did on motor sport, I would have been a lot richer...but a lot less happy."

The ASWMC sends its condolences to his family.

AGM News

New Endurance Rally Championship for 2009, new page on website will be launched soon.

Autotest Class changes, with two new classes added for Autosolo cars full details to follow soon, along with recommendations for organisers of Autotests. Registration fee for 2009 is free for all autotest contenders.

Registered contenders in the Car Trials championship will also get a free registration in 2009.

Jannine Loveys is the new ASWMC Registration Secretary, details on the officials page.

Wessex Sprint 5th May

Due to the sad loss of Kieron Winter at the Wessex Sprint, the event was abandoned before all the competitors had completed a timed run. Therefore no points will be awarded for this event.

MSA British Autocross Championship

2008 sees the return of the MSA British Autocross Championship. There are 6 rounds on offer, which two are our North Devon Motor Club Autocross on the 19th/20th July. Championship details are below

MSA British Autocross Championship

This year, the Association of Eastern Motor Clubs have regained the MSA British Autocross Championship for 2008. It will consist of 6 rounds. They will take place over 3 weekends in the year with 2 separate events being held each weekend with one in the South East, one in the South West and the final in the North East. The proposed dates are as follows:-

• Rounds 1 & 2 – 10th/11th May – Braintree, Essex – Green Belt MC and Wickford AC
• Rounds 3 & 4 – 19th/20th July – Sugworthy, North Devon – North Devon MC
• Rounds 5 & 6 – 23rd/24th August – Causey Park, Morpeth, Northumberland – Cramlington and District MC

After, the final round, there will be a barbeque for anyone who wishes to stay as the following day is Bank Holiday Monday which would allow for those people to travel back the following day.

If you have any autocross competitors in your region who wish to compete in this Championship, please pass on my details, as co-ordinator, to them.

My email address is john@jewhitemotors.co.uk or tel. no. 01279 731039.

John White
AEMC Chairman

Urgent Reminder

Dates forms have been sent out to all member clubs, these should have been returned to Nic Ayre by Sept 8th.
Please ensure that your club has returned their form or date clashes may happen and priority for Championship Status may be given to those clubs who have submitted dates by the deadline.

Some Championships have now been finalised, so if your club has failed to return the form your events may not be rounds of the ASWMC Championships for 2008. We are now editing the 2008 Year Book, so if you wish your clubs dates and correct officials to be published the deadline is the 1st December 2007.

A big thank you to the following clubs who have already returned their forms or attended to AGM/Dates Meeting to submit dates.

Amman & DMC
BARC (SW)
Bournemouth & DCC
Bristol MC
Bristol Pegasus MC
Burnham on Sea MC
Camel Vale MC
Carmarthen MC
Castle Combe Racing Club
Cirencester CC
Dolphin MC
Epynt MC
Exmouth MC
Herefordshire MC
Farnborough & DMC
Jersey MC & LCC
Launceston & North Cornwall MC
MG Car Club (Devon & Cornwall)
Minehead MC
Newquay AC
North Devon MC
Plymouth MC
Road Rally Register
Southsea MC
South Wales AC
Sutton & Cheam MC
Tavern MC
Torbay MC
Weston-super-Mare MC
Windwhistle MC

The Torbay MC Autocross scheduled to run on Oct 7th has been cancelled due to a lack of entries, only 9 entries had been received by the closing date. The Torbay MC would like to thank those that made the effort to enter on time and apologise to them that they are unable to run the event.

Closing dates are there for a reason, these events cost a lot of money to organise and it is down to you the competitors to ensure that entries are sent in before the close. I am not aware of any clubs who bank the cheques until after the closing date, by which time they know whether the event is running or not. If you have to withdraw from an event, your fee will normally be returned in full, providing that you inform the organising club within the rules of the SR's.
The officials that are needed to run Autocrosses, such as Doctors, Medical crews, Rescue Units, Scrutineers along with field hire, MSA Permit Fees, toilets and other bits and pieces all add to the ever increasing cost of running an event, which means many clubs need 35+ cars to break even.

It is your sport, if you do not support the organisers who spend hours and hours working for nothing to provide you with a days motorsport, then the sport will decline into non existence. For me it is a sad way to end my role as Championship Co-ordinator after eleven years and I hope that you the competitors rise to the challenge and give your full support to the new Co-ordinator and the organising clubs for 2008.

My advice to clubs for future seasons is to have two entry fees, one standard fee before the closing date and a much higher one after the closing date.

Nic Ayre
Championship Co-ordinator

Bob Jones has reluctantly decided to step down from the ASWMC Exec as Chairman due to a number of personal reasons not the least of which include a number of external pressures which prevent him from expanding his role for the Association.

To All Speed Event Organisers

Please note that the dates for the 2008 Longleat Hill Climb has been moved to 5th and 6th July 2008.

This is a result of the specific request from the owners of Longleat.

Obviously this is a weekend that none of us would want to lose, so I request that you avoid using this weekend as a date for a Speed Event.

Signed

Howard West
ASWMC Speed Championship Co-ordinator

2007 ASWMC Registration Cards and Yearbooks

Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control the production of the 2007 ASWMC Yearbook has been delayed, fingers crossed it should be with us soon and we should start to post them along with the registration cards and any other items purchased from about the 19th March.

Please accept our apologies for this delay.

A full listing of registered contenders up to the 4th March 2007can be found here.

The ASWMC Eligibility Scrutineer has issued the following statement with regard to cars running in Classes C1 to C4

Please be aware that where specific reference to MSA 'Blue Book' Regulations has been made in the 2007 ASWMC Regulations for Hill Climb and Sprint Championships (eg. with regards to Modified Production Cars Classes C1 - C4), it is expected that competitors will ensure that their competition cars duly comply with all relevant sections within these Regulations.  An example of this, in the case of Classes C1 - C4 would be with regard to Section L12.3.1 of the 'Blue Book', and which deals with the requirement that the unitary construction of the car within the wheel hub centres, remains to the manufacturer's original specification with regard to both construction and materials.

Howard West Speed Championship Co-ordinator therefore recommends that all contenders in Classes C1 - C4 inclusive, ensure that their cars are in compliance with L12.3.1. to L12.3.5. inclusive.     Please be aware that the onus is on the competitor to prove to the organisers of the events that their vehicle complies with the regulations.

Signed       

Howard West       
Speed Championship Secretary

Central Sussex MC has informed us that the Team CenSus Autocross on Sept 9th/10th 2006 has had to be cancelled due to venue problems. This is just a temporary problem and they will be back in 2007.

With the Championship reduced to 9 rounds it will be the best 7 to count.

The North Devon Motor Club have informed us that the second Chivenor Sprint, due to be held on Sept. 17th has been cancelled due to permission problems with the military. However, on a brighter note, there is a strong possibility that they will get permission to run 2 events in 2007.

Please note that an extra St Eval Sprint on the 30th July has been included in this years championship.

Newquay AC Sprint 25th June
Please note that the above event is a round of the ASWMC Championship, even though it does not state this in the regulations for the event, this will be amended in the final instructions.
The Regulations have been sent out already, if any contenders have been missed will they please contact
Martine Brewer
7 Curlew Close
Pentire
Newquay
Cornwall
TR7 1SU
Tel: 01637 850054
The entry list will be kept open until Sunday 18th June and entries will be accepted at the Chivenor Sprint a week before, provided that the entry maximums have not already been met.
The event held on 28th May does not form part of the 2006 ASWMC Sprint Championship.
With apologies for any mis-understandings from your Championship Co-ordinator. Howard West

Please find below a press release issued today (13 May 2005) by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Note to media: Please note that there will be no further comment from the Motor Sports Association at this time.

Note to clubs: Clubs are reminded that all events will still need to conform with Cross Compliance rules.

*******************************

NEWS RELEASE Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR Out of hours: 020 7270 8960

SINGLE PAYMENT - UPDATED GUIDANCE ON NON-AGRICULTURAL LAND USE
13 May 2005
Announcing a revision today to the rules governing the use of agricultural land for motor sports during the 10-month qualifying period under the Single Payment Scheme, Lord Bach, Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food, said: "Defra received a number of representations from motor sport interests following the issue of new guidance on 29 March. Having considered these, I am happy to announce the publication of updated guidance which now provides for motor sports to take place on up to 28 days during farmers' 10-month eligibility period on land used in support of 2005 Single Payment claims. Guidance for 2006 and beyond will be reviewed in the light of experience of this first year of the Single Payment Scheme.
" http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050513a.htm "
Public Enquiries: 08459 335577
Press Notices available via Defra website www.defra.gov.uk

PRESS RELEASE
MSA tackles DEFRA threat to UK motor sport

The Motor Sports Association has vowed to fight all the way to Brussels to safeguard the future of nearly 50 percent of its sanctioned motor sport events after the government decided to stop subsidies to farmers who allow part of their land to be used, even temporarily, for any form of motor sport.

The MSA has joined forces with the governing body of motor cycle racing (ACU) and other affected parties to challenge the Government's decision, channelling its efforts through the Land Access & Recreation Association (LARA) of which the MSA is a founding member and major funder.

The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) replaces the Common Agricultural Policy and now pays farmers for the land they own, not what they produce. The European Directive on agricultural subsidies does not prohibit motor sports on land eligible for SPS. However, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has taken the decision, without consultation, to stop these payments to UK landowners if agricultural land is used, even temporarily, for motor sport.

Activities that will be particularly impacted are autograss, autocross, sporting trials, production car trials, 4x4 events and some rallies.

"We believe the current guidance from DEFRA to landowners is incorrect, is inconsistent with EU policy and fundamentally threatens the future of motor sport in this country. The MSA is a founding member and substantial funder of LARA and it is entirely appropriate that the concerted response of all interested parties to this threat is channelled through LARA. We hope to have a successful conclusion to our urgent dialogue with DEFRA, but should the need arise we are prepared to pursue this issue further," said Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the Motor Sports Association.

Release MSA05-025: 20 April 2005

ASWMC Treasurer

Barry Luxton has taken over the role of Treasurer for the ASWMC from Paul Waterton who resigned from the position as he was unable to devote the time to the Association due to work committments.

Nigel Bigwood
1954 ~ 2005

It is with great regret that we have to report that 2004 ASWMC Sporting Trials Champion Nigel Bigwood died suddenly earlier this month. A member of Bristol MC, Nigel stamped his mark on the ASWMC Championships back in 1979 and 1980 when he won back to back ASWMC Speed Championship titles. Nigel then moved on to the British Sprint Championship again winning back to back titles in 1989 and 1990, before switching to circuit racing.
2004 was his first foray into Sporting Trials, a discipline with a reputation for being difficult, yet Nigel took to it like a duck to water winning the 2004 ASWMC Championship. No doubt, he would have kept up his reputation for winning back to back titles.

The ASWMC extend their condolences to Nigel's family and friends.

New Members

The ASWMC would like to welcome the following clubs into the Association; Forresters CC, London CC and White Horse MC.