Thanks to James Batchelor

[Mark w]

I know that there's more than one individual involved in arranging the club track days but i think thanks are due to James at the end of his final year as TDO for all his efforts over the past couple ( few ? ) of years in raising the profile of the club track days , introducing new venues and ,most importantly , introducing the "novices " to the delights of time on track. The profile of this element of the clubs activities has increased in profile tremendously during James involvement , 

Thank you James .

[ECR]

As one who knows the effort and commitment required I heartily agree. Well done James you've done a fine job. A hard act to follow ....

[Doctor]

Could not agree more - always happy to help and doing so very quietly. Sorry to see you go, hopefully we still have Dave. 

[Shortshift]

Well - many thanks for the thanks, chaps!

It has been very rewarding to see the trackday programme reinvigorated and rightly re-established as one of the Club's core activities. This has been made possible only with great support from Dave R (he and I stepped forward at the same time, at the start of 2016) and, more recently, from new-boy Simon M.  We have always enjoyed great support from Sam and Lucy in the Club office; they have been an important and integral part of the trackday team and a great help, behind the scenes, in ensuring that the wheels have turned smoothly.  And it's important, also, to recognise the unwavering support we have received from the MT in encouraging us to push forward with our plans for expanding the programme and building the 'Club atmosphere' that has become such an important feature of our events.

You'll hear more in due course but to allay any fears I can share some great news; Simon has agreed to step-forward and take over the lead role for 2019 (and his appointment has just been approved by the MT) with Dave and myself continuing to provide support - in my case, in a much reduced capacity as I step-down from the MT.  So continuity where it is needed and also a great opportunity for Simon, as the new broom with fresh ideas and energy, to further develop the programme for everyone's benefit.  And the 2019 programme is shaping up rather nicely...

A snapshot of this past season of 10 trackdays is interesting; it shows that we took more than 400 separate bookings with 273 individual members participating as drivers at one or more of our events (so 10% of the total Club membership actively involved in the programme).  Looking just at Main Drivers, nearly 40% took part in more than one event (so the bug seems to be biting deep!) and one member - no name, no pack-drill - even attended all 10 events through the year!

For me, some of the greatest rewards of the past three years has been to see so many new members coming into our trackday programme (it's great to see drivers take to the track for the first time with us, often on our Novice Days - and then become 'regulars' at our other events) and to see so many happy, smiling faces at the end of each trackday - irrespective of experience and ability levels.  Those are good take-aways.

As you might imagine, I am now looking forward to seeing more of you on Club trackdays next year - and to having more time to be on track alongside you!

James

[Doctor]

Would it be possible to have some 2019 dates and venues? 

[Green7]

Well done James, it’s been great getting to know you this year and thank you for all of your hard work, help and advice. I have thoroughly enjoyed this first year with my 7 and track days with the club have made it just that bit better.

Getting to know Simon has also been great, and I’m glad to hear he is going to be the 2019 main man. I’m sure he will do a fantastic job.

Bring on 2019!