Motorsport UK - Important Club Changes for 2020

Now that 2019 is on the finish straight you may be starting to plan your events for the 2020 season, so we need to advise you of a number of changes to event permits and competitor licences that will affect the organisation of competitive events next year.

Throughout 2019 we have been evaluating the best strategy for the future of motorsport in this country. The fact is that there are some real challenges ahead and we need to act now, or potentially see a further decline in both licence holders and events. Why should that be something to worry about? The issue is that across the sport we are beginning to see some events, clubs and championships reaching a tipping point where their viability is in doubt.

Andrew Cowan

SAMSC joins with the rest of the world wide motorsport community in mourning the passing of Andrew Cowan while at the same time acknowledging the positive impact he had on our sport over many years.

Scottish Autotest Championship and Scottish Road Car Series - Leuchars 17th November

The event at Errol on 6th October was cancelled due to bad weather, so the Glenrothes MSC event at Leuchars will now be the next round of the Scottish Road Car Series of Autosolos, as well as the 9th round of the Scottish Association of Motor Sports Clubs Autotest Championship.
There will also be a Production Car Autotest.

Scottish Navigational Rally Championship - The Hairst 16th November, Aberdeenshire

This years SDMC Hairst Rally is on 16th November, and is a Clubman status event counting in the SAMSC Championship. Entrants do not need a Nat 'B'licence this year, only a valid Club Card, to take advantage of the Motorsport UK two year experiment for Regional Championships. We are offering 98 miles in North East Aberdeenshire, starting at the Scout Centre, Methlick ,and we look forward to a great nights competition. 
Entries can be made online using RallyScore (see below),

Scottish Autotest Championship and Scottish Road Car Series - Errol 6th October

Scottish Association of Motor Sports Clubs Autotest Championship Round 8

Scottish Road Car Series Autosolo Round 8 (also counts towards the Saltire Club Championship - See SR's for clarification)

Saltire Rally Club Production Car Autotest ( Counts towards the Saltire  Rally Club Championship)

Autotest Championship results after 7 rounds are on the SAMSC Autotest page.

Online entries are available from Rallyscore - there are links in the SRs below.

Scottish Autotest Championship and Scottish Road Car Series

SSCC Autosolo/Test/PCA Sunday 22 September

Scottish Sporting Car Club will run the next round of the Scottish Autotest Championship and Scottish Road Car Series on SUNDAY 22nd September 2019: an AutoSOLO, an All-Forwards Autotest and a Production Car Autotest to be held at the premises of Irvine Bay Events, Ardeer (the former ICI Nobel Explosives plant). 

New Training Events

7 September       Rally Marshals training with a focus on Closed Road events

to include Fire Training

location Melrose 

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/6tscC2zJwKSUNavd9

The last quarter of 2019 sees rallying in Scotland take a major step forward with the reintroduction of closed roads rallying – the Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally on 11 - 13 October and the Jim Clark Rally on 8-9 November.  The training day on Saturday 7^th September has been added to the calendar to provide rally marshals with more of the knowledge required for this unique type of event.

Sessions will cover:

• Unique attributes of closed road rallies
• Handling difficult spectator conversations and conflict management
• Fire and incident handling

The training is open to all marshals and officials irrelevant of whether you have offered your assistance on either, or both, of the closed roads events in Scotland this year.  Reference will be made to the Stage Rally Safety Requirements.

It is hoped that a external guest speaker will also give an insight into how third party services rely on the work of the rally marshal.

A light lunch will be provided along with tea and coffee in the morning and afternoon.

14 September     Cross Country Training, safe use of winches 

Location Uphall, nr Bathgate  

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/1LBz6WXVkeMWUkqW6

This training is aimed at anyone attending cross country events who may use their winches, whether for self-recovery, competition or supporting others.  It is not part of the training programme for licensed motorsport recovery operators.  This is a formal course based on industry standard material but designed to explain good practice and safety in a cross country scenario. Attendance at this event is limited in numbers both for your comfort and to ensure a good experience.

Scottish Road Car/Street Car Series Round 4: Knockhill 2nd June

Round Four of the Scottish Road Car Series and Scottish Street Car Shootout  will be run at Knockhill on 2nd June (note change of date from the original 18th May)

There will be an Autosolo, and all forward Autotest, and a Production Car Autotest. 

Scottish Autotest Championship Round 3: Tain, 12th May

Highland Car Club will run the 3rd round of the championship at Fendom Airfield, about two miles east of Tain, on 12th May

Entry fee is only £15, no competition licence required, open to members of clubs which are members of SAMSC - membership card must be shown at signing on.

The Regulations and Entry Form can be found on the SAMSC Autotest page. 

UPDATE: Results are now online 16/5/2019

THE JIM CLARK MEMORIAL RALLY, 8/9 November 2019

The annual Jim Clark Memorial Rally is back under Starter's Orders. Following the final completion of new legislation  by the Scottish Government this week, the way is now open to bring the rally back to Berwickshire.

Originally the organisers sought to run this year's event on their previous end-of-May date, but, having checked with the 'Motorsport UK' competition calendar, this clashes with other events around the UK in this very busy season.

However, in a bid to get back on the road, the organisers have opted for an end-of-season date which would cause the least interference to a very busy motor sporting calendar.