e-Wheels - February 2009

Issued 10^th February 2009 a.dean-lewis@msauk.org

e-Wheels anniversary

This is the 12th issue of e-Wheels, which was first produced in March 2008 to replace the long-running paper-based Wheels. Hopefully, one of the aims of the digital format – to make it easier and cheaper for the information to be disseminated to club members – has been achieved.

If a paper copy is required, or to access back issues, Word and pdf versions of e-Wheels can be downloaded from the MSA website www.msauk.org by clicking on MSA publications>Wheels>e-Wheels.

As always, we welcome your feedback, on both the content and the technology, and would be interested to hear of innovative ways of circulating the information to your members. Please send your comments to: Allan Dean-Lewis, Head of External Affairs, MSA at the email address above.

MSA 2009 Competitors' and Officials' Yearbook correction – fuel testing

As mentioned in e-Wheels January 2009 and repeated here for emphasis, regulation changes with regard to fuel testing were ratified by the Motor Sports Council at its meeting on 4 March 2008 and duly published in the Spring 2008 issue of Motor Sports Now! – the quarterly MSA publication sent to licenced officials and competition licence holders.

However, these changes were omitted from relevant sections of the 2009 Competitors’ and Officials’ Yearbook (the so-called Blue Book which is sent to licenced competitors) but can now be viewed on the MSA website at www.msauk.org >Clubs>Publications>MSAYearbook

MSA Club Development Fund

During 2008, the MSA Club Development Fund grant aided applications from MSA Clubs for purchase of safety related equipment (radios, fire extinguishers etc) and assisted venue improvement projects in a total amount of £80,559 and this has enabled projects with a total value of £281,238 to be undertaken to benefit the sport. Over the last 14 years since the Fund started, the MSA has provided grant aid of £636,983 to assist projects worth a total of £2,990,390 to the sport. The Club Development Fund continues for 2009.

MSA Rescue Development Fund

Run in tandem with the Club Development Fund (and using the same application form), the Rescue Development Fund enables enhanced funding for the replacement and renewal of rescue and recovery equipment to MSA specifications, and even to assist the purchase of new or replacement rescue units. In 2008, the MSA made awards of £51,730, making its contribution total £99,482 since the scheme was started in 2007 – which has enabled rescue and recovery unit related projects with a total value of £278,198 to be funded during that time.

Grants for defibrillators

For 2009, MSA Regulations make it mandatory for MSA Licensed Rescue Units to have a 3-lead AED – a defibrillator with a monitoring facility. A number of rescue unit operators had previously bought defibrillators (even though they were not an MSA requirement at the time) which may not meet the MSA minimum specification. The Rescue Development Fund has therefore made a commitment to grant aid the purchase of new defibrillators for MSA Licensed Rescue Units in the sum of £750 each. With around 60 operational rescue units, this is a significant total amount of grant aid on offer during 2009 of around £45,000.

Applying for grant aid

Both the Club Development Fund and Rescue Development Fund are partnership schemes and – dependent on the nature of the application – grant aid can be provided in appropriate cases for either a percentage award or a fixed grant award. Application forms can be downloaded from the MSA website. Applicants are strongly recommended to discuss their proposals with Allan Dean-Lewis or Richard Nunn at the MSA prior to submission, so that suitable advice to guide the effectiveness of any subsequent application can be offered.

Winter club nights

Together with useful publications about marshalling and rescue techniques, the Motorsport Safety Fund has an excellent DVD for sale. The 5-in-1 Safety DVD has sections on first aid, marshalling, safety considerations for competitors, firefighting and motor sport rescue techniques. It costs £10 including postage and packing from Motorsport Safety Fund, PO Box 200, Sevenoaks TN15 8WZ.

ENDS.