Rally - Not by magic

It’s that time of year when engines fall silent, garage doors are closed for a few days and sweaty racesuits get their annual wash, but elsewhere the work never stops. There may be no events on, but there is still much to be done at car clubs up and down the country. It’s the time for stocktaking, repairs, replenishment and work parties. The rallies may have stopped but behind the scenes, the preparations never cease.

Containers, lock-ups and store rooms will be busy as volunteers check equipment ahead of a new season. Stakes and stage boards have to be counted and replacements ordered, plus all the other signs, arrows and control boards which are needed for stage rallies. And then there are coils of tape to be unwound and un-knotted plus all the tools need to be checked, staple guns re-loaded and the stab mell head secured to the shaft before it flees off and clouts someone the next time someone takes a swing with it.

On top of that, other club officials have the end of season gatherings to organise, dinner dances and parties, awards night and trophies, tickets to sell, championship points and club awards to be prepared plus all the necessary engraving, to ensure the giver gives it to the correct getter!

Club activities are like rallies. Those who participate only see the finished product. They don’t see, and most are not aware of, the work that goes on behind the scenes throughout the year and during the ‘close season’ just to keep the club and the sport alive.

Just like on-event Marshals, the club officials are often the forgotten personnel of rallying. If we don’t have clubs, we don’t have volunteers. Over recent years we have lost quite a number of car clubs through falling memberships and/or inactivity. Any club is only as good as the people who run it and if they are not supported by the members, then the clubs fold and disappear. Volunteers at every level are the lifeblood of this sport – without them there is no competition and camaraderie.

That was brought home to me quite forcefully last weekend at Kames. Yes, there were 17 or so cars there having a bit of a test day with new faces in different cars and folk getting the feel of their new machines ahead of a new season, but beavering away in the background were the EACC club work parties. Fences had to be repaired and new security lighting installed with additional and regular track maintenance having to be carried out, and the materials all cost money. Each small team had its own job to do and they did it oblivious to the cars and the bitter weather.

Yes, it was bitterly cold, but even so frozen fingers were still hammering nails or fidgeting with wiring and flood lights. At least with frozen fingers, you don’t feel the pain (as much) when the falling hammer misses the nail and strikes the thumb. Their reward? A voucher for a hot cup of tea and a bacon roll.

We all need to be members of a car club in order to compete on motor sports events, but if clubs are disappearing then what will the future hold?

The future is in your, and our, hands – support your local car club and treasure its senior officials. If you have a skill or trade that would benefit your club then let them know and volunteer to help. Even if you are useless at least you can hold something while someone else does the skilful bit. There are too many ‘takers’ in life and too few ‘givers’ so please help out if you can and support their activities. Even just turning up to club nights is a much appreciated gesture, and who knows you might just enjoy the craic.

Oh, and by the way, if you are thinking of a book for Christmas or as a gift for Christmas, best get your order in quick now before the poor wee postie gets overloaded at the end of the week. Last year there was a last minute delivery to a hastily arranged meeting at Cairn Lodge Services on the M74 in the wintry dark to help a forgetful Christmas present buyer out of a jam, and I’ve got another one this year. I’m making a special delivery to Robbie Head’s Mum this week, but that’s because she’s special, and not just because she bakes exceedingly tasty fruit cake!!

Order now and I’ll get them in the post right away:

https://fife-motor-sports-agency.square.site/