HRCA

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HISTORIC RACING CAR ASSOCIATION (HRCA), HELD AT THE OFFICES OF MOTOR SPORT IRELAND IN DAWSON STREET AT 8PM ON 26TH OCTOBER 2010.

PRESENT:
Ken McAvoy Chairman
Dave Miller Treasurer
Liam Ruth Newsletter
Barry Smith Committee Member
Dominic Peel
Billy Crosbie
Bernard Foley
Noel Kavanagh
Matt Dunne
Peter Murray
V X O’Reilly
Alan Kessie
Frank Hart
Eddie Burke
Matthew Dunne
Maurice Cassidy
Ciaran Nutty
Tommy Doherty
Kieran White
Kieran Hennessy
Detlef Heyer
APOLOGIES:
Edmund Cassidy
Mick O’Shea
Dave Moloney
Stephen Boden
Wolfgang Schnittger

1. APOLOGIES.
The Chairman read out the apologies as per the above list.

2. MINUTES OF THE AGM OF 2008.
The chairman noted that the minutes of the AGM have been published on the website since the last AGM and asked the meeting if they would accept that they should not be read out as all had had ample time to read them and comment. The meeting agreed to this. Alan Kessie stated that there were a number of inaccuracies in the minutes and that there were also omissions. Ken McAvoy stated that there had been adequate time to flag these. Alan stated that he had written to the Committee on the subject but stated that he did not wish to make any further issues on the subject. The Chairman asked for a proposer and seconder for the minutes:
Proposed by: Eddie Burke
Seconded by: Noel Kavanagh

3. CHAIRMANS REPORT FOR 2010.
The Chairman then read out his report for 2010, as follows:

“27 members attended the AGM in 2009
2010 has been a difficult year
Recession in the Economy has created difficulties for Organisers of events during the Year.
A number of Hillclimbs scheduled for our programmes were cancelled and the Phoenix park Races did not happen
However the HRCA held 7 race meetings during the year but only 3 hillclimbs due to the fact that 2 of the scheduled hillclimbs were cancelled
Of the Race Meetings that did take place and in which the HRCA participated our grids were were among the strongest in the racing groups in Ireland, but down on last year and patchy in numbers, ranging from 9 to 27 cars. The HRCA has tremendous support and has the capacity to be one of the strongest racing classes in Ireland
The Hillclimb calendar was disappointing this year with events cancelled andfewer people willing to travel to participate. However the MEC Naul Hillclimb demonstrated that with a good venue and a well run event within reasonable distance there can be a good turnout. At this event this year the Class 4 (historics) entry was the largest on each day and in fact we did our affiliate club (MEC) proud.
Our away event at Angelsey proved contentious in respect of “eligibility” matters and was not particularly strongly supported
The Pre 55 group managed 5 competitive outings in the year with various degrees of success in achieving numbers. However the Pre 55 group were well represented at a number of non-competitive events including the 75th Anniversary of the Limerick Grand Prix and the Dunboyne Festival. Unfortunately the Dunboyne Festival was disrupted this year due to a serious accident on the bikes and the cars did not run. On behalf of the HRCA we wish the rider of the motor bike a quick return to health and hope that the Dunboyne Club will be able to run the event in the future
Once again the HRCA participated in force at the Mondello Classic day in June. This event is gaining in strength from year to year and will prove to be a big success in the future. The format suits the HRCA well and allows us to show off our wares and hopefully recruit new members
Talking of new members the club attracted several new members this year many of whom participated enthusiastically in our program. The HRCA had 54 paid up members in 2010.
I could not present a Chairman’s Report without discussing the organisation of our Association and it’s problems
So now an “end of term report”
The HRCA continues to find it hard to manage itself well. I want to say a few things about how the HRCA functions and particularly how it functioned in 2010.
By way of introduction we must all remember the following:

• We have the most diverse group of cars of any class in Ireland
• We have some of the most opinionated members of any class in Ireland
• We have a small base of cars to draw from to make our grids and we must be flexible in our approach yet diligent to preserve our objectives – namely the preservation of historic cars in racing form – not as static displays
• How on earth do you make that work!

Firstly the Committee:

• The committee met regularly (13 times) and spent many hours dealing with many issues
• The committee failed to deliver on a number of key matters – Rules review and Class Eligibility re-organisation
• This was down to a failure on the part of some members of the committee being able to complete the tasks given, due in no part to work related issues linked to the recession
• The Eligibility Sub Committee in particular did not work and it is for that reason that an EGM was called and I have proposed a new format
• Results reporting in the year was largely on time but not adequately accurate
• Prize giving at events was marred by errors in listing on a couple of occasions
• The committee spent an inordinate amount of time dealing with “issues” and complaints and this left little time for working for the future – eligibility issues at Motor Sport Ireland and an EGM that took quite some planning
• Many of these issues and the manner in which they arose had a huge demotivating impact on the committee and I have struggled to hold the team together
• In the end I give the committee and me as Chairman 5 out of 10 for running the HRCA in 2010

Secondly the Membership:

• I think that there is a need for the members to deal with organisational shortcomings and problems in a positive way. Abusive e-mails and outbursts at meetings of a personalised nature do not help
• How about a different approach “ hey guys you seem to be struggling to get things right – can I help”
• As an example there was plenty of advice and discussion at the EGM in connection with the proposal to change the “Eligibility” process. I circulated a proposal and I have received only one comment
• In the end I give the members 5 out of 10 also for being members in 2010

I have sought as Chairman during the last year to try to be “all things to all people”. I have espoused a pragmatic approach to the application of the regulations whilst holding the line in certain areas (post 1979 cars and slicks etc). I have therefore had to propagate a subjective view as to what is a historic racing car. This I continue to believe must be the way forward for the HRCA and this may mean a rewrite of the Tech Regs
I don’t believe that this approach has been accepted by all the members and I feel that my Chairmanship has been akin to trying to glue together components that by their very nature want to be separate. I have been on this Committee for 4 years now. Accordingly and with reluctance I have not allowed my name to go forward again. I would like to thank all the committee who worked with me during the year, for all their help.”

Alan Kessie stated that the grid sizes stated by the Chairman were wrong and that the max grid size during the season was 17.
The Chairman requested a proposer and seconder for this report.
Proposed by: Liam Ruth
Seconded by: David Miller

4. TREASURERS REPORT 2010.
David Miller presented a full set of accounts for the season, the highlights of which were:
Income: €10,006.38
Expenditure: € 7,009.52
Surplus: € 2,996.86
David stated that there will still be some expenses associated with the dinner dance but noted that the HRCA had a sound financial year and was financially sound. He commended the good work of Barry Smith in obtaining sponsorship during the year.
Alan Kessie complimented the Treasurer on a well presented set of accounts.
The Chairman asked for a proposer aand seconder for the accounts:
Proposed by: Alan Kessie
Seconded by: Vinnie O’Reilly

5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Ken McAvoy stated that only one valid nomination had been received in writing and by the due date, this had been circulated to all members via the internet before the AGM. Subsequently this candidate has withdrawn his name, and so there are presently no nominations.
The Chairman then reminded the members present as follows:
Rule14 of The Historic Car Association states as follows:
“Any two members may propose any other candidate or candidates by notice in writing to the Secretary 10 days at least before the meeting, PROVIDED that two thirds of members present and voting may waive this requirement”
As there are no valid nominations and as the HRCA needs a committee to manage it’s affairs the Chairman asked for a two thirds approval from the Members present to waive the 10 day notice and to seek nominations from the floor for Committee positions and vote thereon during the AGM. A vote was taken and it was agreed to seek election of Officers by oral nomination and voting on the night.

Resulting from this process, the following was decided:

Ken McAvoy then declared that the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, and Speed Event Officer were filled in accordance with the nominations above.
Ken McAvoy thanked the HRCA for assisting with the election and handed the meeting over to the new Chairman, David Miller

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
David Miller thanked Ken McAvoy for all the hard work undertaken in the last year and stated that he would do his best for the HRCA in 2011.
David Millar then asked the AGM to consider the motions on the table for the evening as follows:

MOTION 1
Proposed by: Edmund Cassidy
It is proposed to amend the Race Group Rules to allow for any Driver who does not maintain his times in the Group in which he is allocated for two successive events, that this Driver should be moved down to the next slower Group, in the same way that Drivers are moved up to the next faster Group.
Alan Kessie stated that this motion was unnecessary as this was already in the Regs, although probably not applied. After discussion, the Chairman asked for a vote and the Motion was carried

MOTION 2
Proposed by: Alan Kessie
It is proposed to amalgamate Class 1 and Class 2 where awards are concerned (removing the need to present 6 trophies at the end of the year between an average of 14.37 cars)
This was discussed by the meeting with various views being expressed. The Chairman asked for a vote and the motion was carried by a substantial majority

MOTION 3
Proposed by: Alan Kessie
It is proposed to award a 1st,2nd and 3rd place trophy in the George Mangan
This was again discussed with various contributions and the Chairman asked for a vote and the Motion was carried with a substantial majority

MOTION 4
Proposed by: Alan Kessie
It is proposed that an invitation class be added to the HRCA Regulations for 2011 and paperwork sent to Motor Sport Ireland to have a bulletin prior to the start of the season. The basic guide rules for this class should be as follows:
Rule 1A The car in question must fit the basic criteria and spirit of the HRCA grid (example John Cardoo’s mini fits our grid except tyres; another example is that a Porsche 924 was manufactured and introduced in 1975, but most commonly the cars are 1977 up to 1986, but the car specs actually never changed in any great deal)
Rule 1B The invitation class is invitation based on the car and not the driver
Rule 1C The invite is extended to the car for a season with the option to withdraw the invite based on a vote of registered drivers currently competing on that grid (example no pre 55 drivers can vote on pre 74/79 class and vice versa). Within championship at any stage prior to a race meeting a vote in favour of withdrawal of invite will come into effect for the next meeting
Rule 1D At the end of a season if an invite has been extended and the driver wishes to join our grid for the following year, he or she must have demonstrated genuine interest in making the car in question comply with our regulations (this means actually removing ineligible parts where physically possible)
Alan Kessie stated that it was not his intention that the full text of this Motion should
appear as presented to the meeting. However it was the spirit of the Motion that he
wanted the members to consider. After much discussion the Chairman asked the
members to vote and the Motion was defeated by a vote of 5 for and 7 against.
The Members however asked the Committee to look carefully at this whole issue
And revert to Members in early 2011

MOTION 5
Proposed by: Ken McAvoy
It is proposed that a Car Classification Listing (CCL) shall be adopted by the HRCA based on the following procedure:
a) A Vehicle Identity Form (VIF) similar to the attached will be issued to all drivers at the beginning of the season along with the then current Car Classification Listing (CCL) from the previous year. Copies of a draft of the VIF and the 2010 CCL are attached for comment
b) All drivers will be required to complete the form, attach a photograph and classify their own car
c) The VIF must be returned to the Committee (Class Coordinator) at least 3 weeks before the start of the season
d) The Coordinator will sign the form , place the car in the appropriate speed group, file the form and return a copy to the
driver. These forms will be kept in a master file that will be available to any driver for review at any time
e) If a driver decides that a particular car has been incorrectly classified by that driver, the protesting driver is free to challenge the classification by following the standard process with Motor Sport Ireland, who will then check the car and the VIF and provide a ruling
This Motion was again discussed vigorously by the Members. Some objected to the extra paperwork, others explained that thiswas the method chosen by many clubs and relied upon the “gentlemanly behaviour” of Drivers
The Chairman asked for a vote on the motion and the Motion was carried, but with a suggestion to the Commmitee from a Scrutineer present that any challenge to classification should be resolved through the class scrutineer in the first place.
The Chairman agreed to review the detail of the Motion and to adjust after deliberation with the new Committee and the Forms with Procedure Instructions will be published in January 2011

7. CLOSE OF MEETING
The Chairman thanked all who attended for their contributions. He stated that the Committee will meet shortly to recruit additional members in the traditional way. He wished all well and asked for maximum support for the Dinner Dance and for the new season. The Meeting closed at 9:30pm

You can download the Minues in PDF format by clicking HERE