Minutes of the Directors' Meeting held on 24 November 2009

Peter Whitmore circulated a draft of the 2010 race calendar on behalf of the Race Committee. The majority of the 2010 events were to be with MSVR which will:
• Raise awareness of the MRC.
• Distributing events more evenly throughout the season.
• Allow us to race at some 'prestige' tracks.
• Avoiding a return visit to a circuit within a season.
• Keeping entry fees to an acceptable level.
• Events will be costed to cover the cost of the end of season trophies.
• Allow MRC teams to meet a greater variety of fellow competitor.

Currently, the calendar has two double header ("DH") events with CSCC. Unfortunately, the 2010 race calendar is not finalised, and cannot currently be published. If everything proposed is included, the 2010 calendar will be well worth waiting for!

Directors discussed the possibility of having three grids at a DH weekend. This was only economically possible if there was one qualifying session for the two races. To have this option, the club needs to write it into our championship regulations, directors agreed that this should be done.

A stand has been booked at the 'Race Car Retro' Show at Stoneleigh, 12-14 March. The club hoped to display a 'middle class' machine, but currently only Dallaras are offered as display cars.

We hope to have a club presence (not a stand) at the Autosport Show.

Club member Peter Bragg made a presentation to the directors’ on two topics:
• The uncompetitive position that spaceframe, Zetec engined Mono2000 cars found themselves in when racing modern Dallaras.
• Problems with the cast iron valve guides in 2000cc Vauxhall engines, and the considerable cost of the standard gas filled valves, required by our regulations, when compared to the solid alternatives. He saw these items as not enhancing a Vauxhall engined car’s performance but improving its reliability, or reducing the cost of its maintenance.

After questions to Peter, Nick Harrison thanked Peter Bragg for his presentation, Peter then withdrew and the directors discussed the Mono2000 spaceframe car situation further. Alternatives discussed were:
• Leaving the spaceframe cars in Mono2000 but offering a 'Spaceframe Cup'
• Moving the spaceframe cars into the Mono2000 Classic class. Problems with this option centred round the Van Diemen 'Comtec' chassis, (not a chassis that Peter Bragg was advocating}, a chassis that had in the past demonstrated considerable pace, but would be permitted to race in the Mono2000 Classic Class if not specifically excluded.
• Create an 'invitation class' for the spaceframes and any other car of unknown relative performance

David Cox proposed that cars with a spaceframe or alloy chassis. with a chassis date between 1999 and 2001 (i.e. built before 2002), be included in the Mono2000 Classic class, providing that they had a Zetec engine to Mono2000 specification (i.e. Standard camshafts with standard camshaft timing). This motion was carried by a majority. It was emphasised that should the newly admitted cars dominate Classic the regulations permitted changes to weight.

The draft version of 2010 Technical Regulations should be completed very shortly.

Directors discussed:
• The materials used to construct flywheels when the choice of flywheel material was free.
• The size of commercially available 40mm injection tracts. Nick Harrison has been told that some commercially available units were marginally oversize as a result of manufacturing tolerances. It was agreed that the technical regulations would be written in a manner which permitted a small production tolerance. Detailed wording of regs to be finalised by technical committee.

Directors noted that the Club Website required updating as one season finished and another started.

The Treasurer was pleased to announce an expected surplus for the 2009 season. This was larger than originally estimated because the end of season meeting at Snetterton, and the meeting at Croft had been much more profitable than predicted which emphasised the volatility of finances from entry numbers. Additionally, administration costs had been less than originally estimated, and the mid-season BBQ had been profitable. 2009's strong financial position represents a good starting point for the 2010 season and will allow an aggressive policy to be adopted with regard to entry fees.

Members of the Technical Committee are to prepare lists of items to be checked by the scrutineer class by class.

Directors hoped that the 2009 season sponsors would carry into 2010.

The Club Administrator hoped to have credit card facilities available for next season.

Douglas McLay had raced with a group of FF Zetec cars at the FF Festival. He hoped to attract the owners of these cars to race with the MRC, and proposed that the MRC offer a Challenge Cup for cars complying with FF Zetec regulations.

Directors allocated the 2009 subjective awards which are published separately.

Patrick Huston
Club Secretary
28/11/09

The majority of our races are expected to be with MSVR in 2010. Click logo to read about MSVR, though not about Mono.

Click Autosports's own image for info about the show. If it looks like this when you get there, get new glasses or stop eating magic mushrooms.

Race Retro's image (which you can also click for info) is a tad more, well, "retro".

A familiar Zetec spaceframe at Croft (pic: Joss Guest)

Drawing (by Jenvey, to whom thanks) of a throttle body.

Lyrical picture from Autocar of the FF Festival. We couldn't find a Zetec pic so chose a pastoral one.