2013 Rally

[chrisu]

you're not the only one who has volunteered PJ

[PJ]

you're not the only one who has volunteered PJ

I appreciate that Chris - but obviously not enough have

[Bill Newman]

After the AGM at Stafford and after a number of conversations with members I offered to put a suggestion together for the 25th Anniversary as I have had significant experience of major event management in the past.

I have beeen working on an idea for the Rally since that time and am now close to being able to publish a draft proposal for a significant event, complete with date(likely to be last weekend in June), location and schedule -all of which conform to the guidelines outlined at the AGM. I have not been able to come forward with this until now because I have been waiting to receive confirmations from those concerned, which I now have.

It is very important that we deal in facts not conjecture when putting forward a proposal - because credibility is key to the success of the event. Some of you may remember that it took an age for the German lads to publish a date and a venue for their Rally - this is how it is when a bigger than average event is involved and we are making a comparatively late start on this.

I am presently seeking approval from Jerry to put this forward as it will involve underwriting and, subject to approval, will try and get details posted early next week.

Once the idea is agreed this is when we will need to divide the work between those who want to help - and I will try and define the tasks so that volunteers can relate their own skills to what is required. These people will form the Committe that Paul and others refer to deliver the event.

Please be patient for a couple more days.

[tlc]

Thanks for posting this Bill. I know you have been working on this for some months. As you say it is necessary to do this by committee but with an experienced hand in the chair.

You will get all the help you need of that I am in no doubt.

[paul doran]

Bill I have sent You a pm regarding this

any help I can give please dont hestate to ask

Chris and PJ a big thanks for offering to help organise this
so it looks like We are on the way with this hopefully

thanks to all who have offered support

[PJ]

I will help in any way I can, but for the attendance - I will not be able to make the end of june

[paul doran]

nothing definetly decided on a date yet PJ

[PJ]

nothing definetly decided on a date yet PJ

Not a problem -I will still help, even it is

[mikey]

Dont know what i can to help but if i can in some way
gladly do it, its a great club get a lot out of it
so would be good to try and give something back.
Who knows i may even got to the rally if i dont get lost

[tlc]

Mikey.

Just follow the rising sun

[ADRIAN H]

I would happily help in anyway possible. However I am quite remote, so I do not know what use I could possibly be.

[mikey]

Mikey.

Just follow the rising sun

What if its raining chris

[Bill Newman]

I have now had a conversation with Jerry and am now able to table a proposal for the 25th Anniversary Rally. I have taken the comments and decisions of the AGM into account when putting this together and will do my best to explain the rationale which has led to the detailed content of the proposal.

The AGM actually debated and suggested Yorkshire and I think that was on the lines that the Rally needed to take.I looked at the Rally from the perspective of not only the GB membership but also from a European dimension and concluded that either Yorks or Lincs would be a good location. This is because it is central to the main body of membership(about 180-220 miles journey from most regions),good proximity to Hull(incoming visitors from all parts of Europe), accessible from Liverpool/North Wales(for visitors from Ireland), excellent local roads with good connections to national road infrastructure(20minutes from the A1) and a reasonable climate(better than west side of Britain).

When the area is fixed it becomes a matter of finding facilities- after some searching, I found the Lincs Showground, next to RAF Scampton(home of the Dambusters, Vulcans and Red Arrows)and 30 miles from Cadwell Park. It is also 20 miles from Horncastle(home of Classic Motorcycle Mechanics).This location gives unlimited capacity, event facilities, ability to host live music, access to good B&Bs/hotels next door and a range of interesting activities with opportunities for sponsorship/marketing. I have made some enquiries and now have very positive replies from senior management in the respective organisations and can now say that we have an offer to be hosted on a large site with a full range of facilities - camping, entertainment, bars, hardstandings, security and food. I also have an offer to get the Club into/onto Cadwell Park - either to do a parade lap if our event falls on a race day or onto the circuit if it is a track day. Either way there will be lots going on of interest to members at arguably one of the best circuits in Britain. I also have a provisional booking for a guided tour around the museum at RAF Scampton in late June.

I presently am looking at either 28-30 June or 5-7 July. My preference is for the June date, for reasons of cost and availability. One of the parameters for the event is to try and make it break even in relation to the costs - and therefore minimise risk to the Club.


I looked at the event in this way because we need to broaden the appeal of the Rally. The Club has 500+ members and we should aim at getting a significant proportion to the Rally. It should also be realised that a significant number of Z owners are not members of the Club - we should market the Rally to VJMC and others to increase attendance and bring down the overhead.It is conceivable that in the right location we could also get a minimum of 50 - 60 Europeans attending.

I would normally expect to see a large event broken into distinct sub areas for organisational purposes. In the case of this Rally I would think that 4 work streams should do it -

1 A Site Master in charge of the location - to include arranging venue, entertainment (2 nights), licences, agree rates, trophies/prizes, food and camping;
2 Ride Out Leader - route, marshals, liaison with Police and Highways Dept., directions/signs/maps;
3 Marketing - Liaison/advertising with Clubs(UK and European), magazines,websites,tickets, Branding and design/logo and T Shirts;
4 Administration - budget control, event co-ordination, liability/accountability, and sponsorship.

It is likely that a couple of those streams(1 and 2) would need two or three volunteers to put the hard work in both before and on the day - experience at the continental Rallies this year reveal how hard individuals work for the good of their Rallies.

If there is a general acceptance of this idea, I am happy to take the lead on Workstream 4 and to Chair a Steering Committee, made up of the leads on the three other workstreams. Please let me know through pm if you are interested and I will sort something fairly quickly. All I ask is if you volunteer, please stick with it for the whole of the process - we cannot be let down because all of the leads are critical to the success of the event.

I hope you like the proposal and look forward to getting a few pms.

[tlc]

I have spoken with Bill earlier today and offered to take the lead on number 3.

[chrisu]

although flat lincs showground is a good location.

been there a few time with my daughter when she was eventing