web development & design: mike manning                                                                             

Sunday 13th November 2011 saw the club's AGM once again with a typically poor turnout.

The turnout may have been below par but the meeting certainly was not! A very positive atmosphere was the order of the day.

I did my chairmans report which included details of the rather poor turnout for club meetings but the BIG support from all other National sections, once again proving that 'folk just like racing at Mendip'.

Wayne (Treasure) gave us a detailed report on the club finances which, considering the present climate, looked ok!
Gone are the Hazy Days of yesteryear, model car racing now has become a bit of a luxury, but we seem to be holding our own.

The election of officers was a simple affair with me (Noodle) remaining as Chairman (by popular demand of course..LOL).

Our overly tall Vice Chairman Mark (I've got a Kettle) Owen turned down the offer of becoming Chairman but said he would happily stand again in his original post. Once again giving the club (and me) great support.

Wayne G said that he would again stand as Treasurer and Denise said that she would be happy to stand as Secretary..along with my help...(heaven help her!!).

Amando (apple pie & cream) Ludenawas happy to stand again as Safety officer.

I suggested that we appoint a PRO for the club and suggested Kev Nash. He accepted the role and he was voted in unanimously.

Race Control was the one BIG thorn in the side but I said that I would again cover the job but that I MUST have helpers as I cannot do all meetings. Watch this space!!!

Ashley G accepted the psition of 'web manager' BUT we have since come across a smallish problem here with the fact that I use Mac, Ashley uses PC. However, we have agreed to work together over the year.

Next item on the Agenda was the Official announcement that Tony Coles would become the Mendip Club's Lifetime 'President'.

Tony has been a huge cog in the Mendip wheel for many, many years and this is his rightful position. EVERYONE welcomed this appointment and Tony and Marilyn seemed a tad 'chuffed'. Welcome back folks.

Onto the next issue...the Offroad Track. It was suggested by Wayne that the Mendip Club allow another club to build and service the track, and then pay us a sort of 'retainer' by way of a percentage of the 'per head' entries at their meetings.

Kev Taylor has spoken to a couple of parties but there seems no interest, as yet, to taking over the responsiblilty for building the track. Time will tell!

Another issue was the cafe. A 3rd party was brought it to run the cafe last year and it seemed to work ok. The club will again negotiate this year over this situation.

I proposed that any person joining the club after the 30th October would be entitled to the membership to carry on until the 31st December of the following year. This was carried unanimously.

Subscriptions would remain the same for 2012 (except for the £1 increase for BRCA club affiliated membership). Carried.

Club Championships for 2012 would be cut down to just 6 rounds with 5 to count. This was also carried unanimously.

A winter series was again voted for.

It was agreed that Work Parties be arranged as soon as possible, the details of which to be put on the Website/Forum.

Several other items were discussed and agreed upon.

Meetting closed at 4pm.

END OF SEASON Mutterings.

Well folks we have come to the virtual end of another season's racing at the Mendip Raceway and I can honestly say that we have had a fairly reasonable year meetings wise.

The turnout for club meetings has been rather poor again this year, but the attendances at 'National' level seems to be on the up...it appears that drivers have not been able to do both Club and Natiuonal meetings and have voted with their feet.

The level of National meetings at the club this year has been particularly good, even the BRCA Large Scale series seems to be reasonably healthy.
To all National Sections who have raced on our circuit this year we offer you a big Thank You. Bring it on for 2012!

We now look forward to the Club AGM on Sunday 13th November at 2pm (at the Clubhouse) and sincerely hope that ALL members will attend as we have some VERY important issues to discuss.. amongst those will be:
1). Club Championship 2012? Number of Rounds etc etc.
2). Off Road Circuit.
3). Work parties (yes this little nugget again).
4). What members want from the club.
...... and several other topics.

The committee has been asked about our feelings towards the planned Off Road track and all I can say at this moment is that we 'Have A Plan' which we will discuss at the AGM. We have the full backing from Colin (our landlord) with regards this action that we wish to put into place in the very near future as it can only benefit our cliub in the long term.

With this in mind, we would like to invite a small contingent of committee from any local 'Offroad Club' to attend our AGM. We feel that it will be to your benefit! More on the 13th.

Anyway, I won't go on, as I usually do, but I'd just lke to thank the 'ever presents' this year at National meetings and work parties.

Before I go, and on a personal note, I am really pleased to see the upsurge in interest in 1/8th at the club this year. This is the class that started the Mendip club all those years ago and it is good to see it on the upturn.

One thing that I know often puts folk off is the setting up and maintenance of cars, especially engines! I would like to see us host another 'nitro' test day with some SERIOUS assistance from some of the more experienced among us.

Anyway, bye for now.....SEE YOU on the 13th.

Mike Manning
Chairman MMMRC

Please send any Proposals etc to:

The Club Secretary

Denise Manning

210, St Michaels Avenue

Yeovil, Somerset

BA21 4LY

Pictures courtesy of Wayne G

Monday 2nd May saw the start of the Mendip Club's new off road circuit at the Mendip raceway. Several committee and club memebers, and a couple of welcome guests, all came down to the track to give a hand clearing the area in readiness for the track.

Although the track design is still in it's infant stages, we were able to construct a 'table top' that follows into a large sweeping bank that then levels out onto a short straight towards the canteen building. To slow car speeds the short straight will be followed by a virtual 'U turn' back towards the centre just below the banking.

A big thank you to all who helped out and do please keep watching this space for 'official' news on progress.