Hi all , and welcome to my 1st ever presidents report.

My name is Colin Matthews and I’ll be your “Pres” for the coming year (all going well). This year we have a great mix of ‘old hands’ and ‘young blood’ joining me on the Committee , already there is lots of enthusiasum around the committee table , and lots of ‘plans’ being orgainized and ground work done.

Goals for the year

It was discussed at our 1st meeting (June) , what we would ‘like’ to have happen this year – these are some of the suggestions SO FAR.   (in no particular order) 

1/Move the start gates – have them modifyed so they are movable – like the MOMCC ones

2/Re-clad the clubrooms

3/Get the pictures in the clubrooms revamped/protected

4/ Water blasting facilities/Sump catchment area

Clubroom re-clad.

I think you’ll all agree the exteriour of the clubrooms needs re-cladding , so a couple of months ago I got onto it and talked to a few builders about what could be done , how much etc.  We have decided the best option is to re-clad it in a ‘board and batten’ style , with the club purchasing the materials and using volunteer labour to put it up. I have had numerous offers from Builders that are club members , donating their time and expertise for this project , and I’m sure there are afew more of us around that would like to lend a hand – so the Labour is under-control .I have received  quotes  for the materials , 50X25 Batten over treated 12mm ply. 75X25 Batten around the windows and doors , Stainless steel nails etc . The money is sitting there ,ear-marked for this project.At the last Committee meeting it was decided to go ahead with this project .It is more likely to happen over early Summer than this Winter. Still if  the materials are sitting there and the ‘Free Labour’ can do it over winter, then lets get into it.   

Major Events in the future

A couple of you have talked to me about running a Major/National event in the near future – I am keen as to do this to – but we need to learn to walk before we can run – Anyone who has been to Taupo for one of their Internationals/National events must have seen the huge numbers of volunteers and how much work goes into an event not only on the day but on the WHOLE VENUE. Very few Club Members can remember the $45k LOSS that we made when we ran our last National  round ( SX,Cooks gardens March 2008) Thankfully we had the $$ in the bank – we no longer have that luxury.MNZ have a list of what a track must have before being able to host a National event – track width , length , min and max lap time ,  Track watering system (in summer) , 1st Aid access to ALL the track without stopping a race – Richard will be a huge help to us in this area as MX commissioner-  and we have some great facilities with the clubrooms , all-weather pit area etc - but we have a way to go. If we can run a fairly serious MX event or 2  , then maybe a National Mini’s Event ?  THEN a crack at a National Senior’s event – all the while building up our Facilities/Infrastructure and Club base , then all we need to worry about is how to break even$  ! ! !  I am keen to pursue this , but can’t do it on my own. With this in mind , I will ask you a fairly Basic question – In MX there are only 4 things you can protest , can you name all 4 ??                How many of us can ?? not me  

 P.S  the answer is at the end of this report – but we all signed the MNZ licence application saying we have read and understand the rules   ,  right ???    So you won’t need to check the answers !!!  

Bottom Paddock

I am constantly being asked if we will get the bottom paddock back to use so we can extend our seniors track – the short answer is’ not in the short term’ . Richard Managh , your Vice-President, has agreed to pursue  this issue  again . It is not easy , being Defence Force land , but we will keep you posted with progress. So in the long term the answer is a big ‘maybe’  -  but we still have a huge amount of hurdles to jump yet. Thank you Richard – and good luck.

MASTERS GAMES

The last weekend in January 2010 (just gone) was the Dunedin Masters Games and a ‘Team’ consisting of Ray Dittmer, Colin Matthews, Malcolm Matthews – and ‘pit bitch’ Chris Barry decided to take a look at how the Southerners do it. The plan was to turn up , win all the races and take home all the medals, not to mention the Glory ! – and it ‘kinda’ went to plan, but it turns out we were all in the same class ! 2 x Gold  and 1 x Silver medals were Stolen from those mainlanders, as well as ALL the Glory. They do a couple of things alittle differently than we have in the past, so next year we have a couple of changes coming up.

OUR Masters Games have been booked in for the weekend of  Sat 5th Feb 2011   X Country - and Sun 6th Feb 2011 for the MX  . Both of these events will be at the same venue (Snow McDougals property on Brunswick Rd ) to encourage camping over-nite and the prizegiving will be ‘just down the road’, very handy when you’ve had 16  to may beers afterwards! So any 30yr+ Men ,or 25yr+ Women, write the dates down in your race diary and spread the word to your out-of-town mates. Billet them @ your place and race’em the next day. It’s always a great weekend

This will be one of my focus’es for early next year – have a read of the attached flier , talk to your out-of-town mates , and get training !!!

OK , thats all I can think of for the mean-time . I’d like to say that I’ll be updating this report as the year progresses  -  but I’m not going to commit to that just here , we’ll see how the year progresses first !

Feel free to contact any of your chosen committee members during the year , or myself - e.mail     This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it      Cell 0272 936639

CHEERS COLIN MATTHEWS  - “PRES” - WMCC 2010/11  

ANSWERS – (like you needed to check ‘A’! ) 

You can only protest 4 things in MX – they are......

1/ Machine Specification

2/ Order of finishing (a race)

3/ Rider Conduct

4/ Conduct of Competion