BARBADOS RALLY CLUB TRUE TO CORE VALUES IN 2014

Posted on February 27th, 2015.

The core values of the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) served the island’s oldest motor sport organisation well during 2014, which Chairman Mark Hamilton described as “an interesting year” in his annual report at last night’s (Thursday) AGM at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association (BCTSA) Clubhouse at Searles, Christ Church.

After a year in which the motor sport landscape changed significantly, Hamilton said: “I am pleased to say that the Club has stayed true to its core values of doing what we do best: running our motor sport professionally, maintaining good relationships with all BMF Member Clubs, including the provision of revenue-generating support services to other Clubs and facilities, and maintaining our partnerships with the business community by providing an environment in which they see a return on their investment.”

On the sponsorship front, he reported that the Club had recently renewed multi-year deals with Banks Holdings and Chefette, had received commitments from Automotive Art and LIME for the 2015 season and were in the final stages of contract renewal for Sol Rally Barbados for a five-year period from 2016 to 2020.

With support for Sol RB15 also confirmed from Barbados Tourism Management Inc and the Tourism Development Corporation, Hamilton added: “Our commercial partners remain committed, which speaks volumes when you consider the economic challenges that we face today. I thank corporate Barbados for their continued confidence and investment in the Club and its activities, the Government of Barbados and its Officers with whom we interact and the various NGOs for their on-going support.”

As part of a continued programme of investment to support the running of events, three Isuzu Trucks were acquired and fitted out during 2014, with assistance from long-term partners Simpson Motors and Automotive Art, for stage set-up crews to transport equipment, personnel and relevant infrastructure. Hamilton added: “As is normally the case, maintenance and upkeep of the Club’s assets, radios and so forth, continue to place a financial burden on the club, but this is a necessary evil as we are all aware.”

The Club’s 2015 calendar gets under way this weekend, with the opening rounds of the BRC Autocross Championship at Andrews Factory Yard, St Joseph, at 2.00pm on Saturday (February 28) – postponed from February 15 – and the Chefette MudDogs Safari and Safari Novice Championships, which starts at Chefette Wildey, St Michael, at 8.00am on Sunday. The first round of the BRC Driver’s and Class Championships is incorporated into the Motoring Club of Barbados Inc’s season-opening double-header Speed Event on March 15.

Election of the Committee of Management (CoM) was a simple affair, with all members returned unopposed.

During the evening, Hamilton thanked the large band of volunteer marshals and Stage Commanders for their hard work and dedication, the media and the Club membership for their continued support, along with “all of those who quietly lend a hand without any acknowledgement or fuss.” He also made special mention of John Pinto and his family for hosting last November’s Annual Prizegiving and MudDogs Party at their St Philip home.

The Barbados Rally Club Committee of Management for 2015 is: Chairman, Mark Hamilton; Vice-Chairman, Geoffrey Noel; Treasurer, Jeanne Crawford; Competition Secretary, Neil Corbin; Assistant Competition Secretary, Kreigg Yearwood; Assistant Competition Secretary (MudDogs), Ricky Holder; Vehicle Classification Officer, Adrian Linton; Secretary, Jamal Brathwaite; Marshal Liaison Officer, Roger Hill; Equipment Officer, Roger Sargeant; Public Relations Officer, Neil Barnard; Entertainment Secretary, Sean Gill.