BURTON BUGGY CLUB

Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 10th December 2024
The Club Secretary opened the meeting and thanked everyone for attending.

Chairpersons report
Firstly, I am very sorry that I cannot attend the meeting in person, as most of you know I have been in hospital for a hip operation and it went wrong.
It has been a very good year for the Club with an average of 25 drivers racing each week. which is the most since the Club moved here in 2012.
There have been 35 drivers on a couple of occasions, only twice dropping below 18.
We have had a lot of different track designs, some very good and some a bit harder.
There has been some very competitive racing with a variety of events, including Leagues, Trophy meetings and ordinary Club nights.
We held a “Help a Driver” evening where some of our most experienced drivers helped others with setting up their cars. This went well and we plan to repeat it next year.
As you know we are a members Club which means it belongs to all the members so we need help in setting up the track at the beginning of the evening and not leaving it to the odd one or two people every week.
The same goes for packing away all the equipment at the end of the evening If we all muck in takes much less time.
We must be out of the building by when it closes at 10-00pm
The problem is that we need four people to wind the carpets back on their rollers which takes time and is usually done by the same few members every week So please everyone needs to help in some way as at the moment it is not good enough.
There have been several weeks where 5 heats rather than 4 have been required which makes it increasingly important that racing starts on time and it runs efficiently.
The biggest problem we have at present is Marshalling, this is very important.
You race, you marshal at the Marshalling point
You need keep your attention on the track, not on your mobile phone or talking to others.
Finally
If anyone wishes to take on the Chairperson job then please do.
If no one wants to I am quite happy to carry on.

Secretary / Treasurers Report
The Secretary /Treasurer reported on the Clubs finances for the year ending 31st October 2024 and briefly went through the main items of expenditure from the financial statement. The largest items being the Hall rental, the purchase of two sets of square white downpipe for track markers, carpet tape and four sets of trophies and engraving. The cost of trophies was higher than usual due to less recycled trophies being used. In response several members offered to bring back trophies in good condition for recycling to reduce costs.
With an average of 25 drivers racing each week the Clubs financial position remains healthy with sufficient funds to cover the unplanned replacement of equipment.
The Club is considering purchasing a projector to replace the spectator screen at race control.

Election of Officers and Committee
All the present committee members stood down.
The Secretary reported that only one nomination had been received for each of the Officers.
Chairperson Bob Harley, Vice Chairperson Michelle Snowden, Secretary Mike Simpson, Treasurer Simon Pole
He asked if anyone else wished to stand for election, there were no other nominations
Richard Parker proposed that all should be elected, this was seconded by Alister Hart. A vote of members present was taken and all were elected.

Other Committee members
Nominations were received for Courtney Orme, Richard Parker and Will Lacey.
Alister Hart proposed that all should be elected, this was seconded by Mike Simpson.
A vote of all the members present was taken and all were elected.

Membership and Race fees
Club Membership
The current Membership fees will remain unchanged.
Annual Membership fee £6 and £1 for Junior members aged 16 or under when joining. Membership will run from 1st January 2025 to 31st December2025 in line with the BRCA
Race Fees
The current race fees will remain unchanged at £5 for members, £4 Junior members and £7 for non-members.

Proposals

Proposer Will Lacey Seconder Richard Johnston
That drivers marshal the 2nd race after theirs. (Heat 1 to marshal Heat 3 etc)
From a race ending to taking cars back and getting to a marshalling point in 2 minutes is not always easy. When a race ends you have two minutes before the next starts. So, from coming off the stage, collecting your car, very often the next race drivers are there so it’s hard to get down the stairs to pick up your car, get back to your pit table and then find a marshalling point.
Marshalling two races after gives the driver 10 minutes to get off the stage, take their car back to the pit table, add additive, start charging batteries or whatever else and then go to a marshalling point.
The proposal was lost.

Proposer Will Lacey Seconder Richard Johnston
That we get rid of the Marshal point chairs and replace them with designated marshalling point signs numbered 1-5. In the event of there being six drivers one can be a spare or stand near young or less experienced marshal.
The proposal was passed.
It was also suggested during the discussions that new members should be given training in marshalling.

Proposer Will Lacey Seconder Richard Johnston
Marshals to get off the track as quickly and safely as possible after marshalling a car needing assistance so drivers can get a clear view of the track. They often stand there blocking corners when they don’t need to.
The Club general rules have been amended accordingly.

No distractions for marshals like mobile phones (checking RC-results), cups of coffee and other drivers generally distracting them when they should be watching the track. They need to concentrate on the job for six minutes Even if drivers miss a race they need to marshal or provide a substitute.
The Club general rules have been amended accordingly.

Proposer Eric Enion Seconded by Barry Thomas
Marshalling standards, especially marshals paying attention in heat 1
There had been occasions when cars have crashed and not been marshalled, the driver having to go and retrieve their own car.
It was suggested that the marshals had possibly not seen that the cars required assistance, however this should not be the case if marshalling correctly.
Marshalling must be to a high standard at all times.

Proposer Eric Enion Seconded by Barry Thomas
There are sometimes on some track layouts no areas to stand off the track to put the cars back on to carry on racing without getting hit by the cars on the track. This can be dangerous especially for the younger members.
It was agreed to take this into consideration when designing track layouts. Tracks are hazardous places and before leaving their marshalling post marshals should always assess the situation to ensure their own safety.

Proposer Simon Pole Seconded by Richard Parker
Changes to the Super league format
Change to Round by Round format with 4 Qualifying Rounds and no Finals
Points scored as previous league.
Last Round to be all Finals with 3 to count
Each Rounds heats set by league results
There was a discussion regarding issues around how it would cope with drivers who did not enter the minimum qualifying rounds.
The proposal was lost

Proposer Eric Enion Seconded by Barry Thomas
Run a couple of fun nights
1. Run track in reverse
Previous experience in running anti-clockwise highlighted a problem that it would have an adverse effect to the tyre grip on the carpet in the following weeks.
The proposal was lost

2. Run cars with lights – no lights on in the club
It was thought that this would cause a significant Health and Safety issue regarding maintaining marshals safety in a darkened environment and many drivers would not wish to risk damage to their cars.
The proposal was lost
During the discussion it was suggested that other alternative forms of fun nights such as team events should be considered.

Proposer Richard Parker Seconded by Simon Pole
To relax the GT12/LMP only rule to allow cars smaller than 1/10th to race eg Minis, Mini TC. These Guest cars would not race for points or trophies
Proposer Eric Enion Seconded by Barry Thomas
Run different classes i.e. Mini / LMP
There was a discussion regarding the club’s current rules restricting the classes of cars raced to GT12 and LMP.
Richard proposed that the club should not be turning away drivers, particularly newcomers to the sport who have a mini etc.
He considered these cars to be very suitable for novice drivers, also being cheaper than a GT12 and could be run alongside them in the same heats.
It was appreciated that we have a very good GT12 Club at present, but the situation regarding the GT12 class generally is changing and we should not be left behind.
The Secretary outlined his view of the merits of the Clubs current policy.
The Club has just had its best year since moving to Gresley Old Hall during 2012, and is doing much better than many other clubs with a record number of drivers racing each week.
He believed that a major factor in our success is that everyone is driving the same class of car. It enables drivers of similar ability to race together in 4-5 heats so everyone gets most enjoyment out of each race, which is what we all come here for.
We are also able run other events such as leagues and trophy meetings to provide that extra bit of competition. This would be more difficult if the Guest cars run with the GT12 cars.
If Guest cars were put in a separate heat the number of drivers in each GT12 heats would potentially be increased, bearing in mind that we can only run a maximum amount of 5 heats in a round and everything has to be packed away and the Hall vacated by 10pm.
The proposal wording was clarified and passed
To relax the GT12/LMP only rule to allow 1/12th scale cars with foam tyres and closed bodies eg Mini’s, Mini TC to race at the club. These “Guest” cars would not race for league points or trophies.

AOB – None

Date of next AGM Tuesday 25th November 2025
The meeting was closed by the Secretary and followed by free racing for members.