… Safety Delegate appointed for Scottish Rallying …
Things are moving pretty quickly down in Colnbrook with another Press Release this morning announcing the interim appointment of a Safety Delegate for Scottish multi venue stage rallies – with appointments for the rest of the UK to be announced in due course!
The initial choice of Nicky Moffitt for Scotland is not entirely unexpected. Although reared in Northern Irish motor sport, Nicky has been around since the invention of the wheel (well, almost) competing in rallying as a driver and co-driver in the 1970s before going on to event organisation and motor sport administration as Secretary of ANICC, the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs.
He is currently an International Steward and non-executive director of the MSA attending events from autotests to F1 races, from navigational rallies to stage rallies. He has stewarded on such Scottish events as the Galloway Hills, Mull and McRae Stages as well as Rally Wales GB so he has a fair grasp of the sport at all levels, and has a sound working knowledge of ‘Scottish’ as well as the English language!
Formerly a bank manager before retirement, Nicky is a stickler for paperwork and detail, so all clubs and organising teams take note!
It should also be emphasised that this is an interim appointment. Given the time taken up by all his other duties, I wouldn’t expect Nicky to have the time to attend all Scottish events. That means someone else is going to be appointed, but it is essential that it will be someone who is acceptable to, and can work WITH, the amateur teams of individuals who organise these events.
It is hoped that such a position will be discussed with SACC, the Scottish Association of Car Clubs, before any appointment is made.
The full text of the release is as follows:
Interim appointment of MSA special stage rally Safety Delegate for Scotland
The Scottish Motorsport Event Safety Review (MESR) recommended that: “It is essential that the volunteer based organisation of multi-venue stage rallies is augmented going forward with mandatory independent input from out with the organising committee into the safety of the event by a new independently appointed safety delegate. We consider it appropriate for the motor sports governing body, the MSA to provide the safety delegate to each multi-venue stage rally and intend to discuss this further with the MSA.”
Pursuant to that recommendation, the MSA has today first confirmed with immediate effect a new role of Safety Delegate by amending the provisions of ‘MSA Yearbook’ regulations G2.4.2. and G2.5. as follows:
2.4.2.: Subject to G.2.5. In the case of force majeure or for safety reasons, instruct the Clerk of the Course to postpone, abandon or stop an event or part of an event (except as provided for in (Q.5.4). Any such instruction must be formally recorded. Provided that an event is run in more than one heat or part, these powers may, if thought fit, be exercised in respect of one heat or part.
2.5.: The Stewards of a Meeting have another major function, to prevent unnecessary danger, and the MSA Steward has overriding authority in matters of safety save where the MSA has appointed a Safety Delegate, in which case the Safety Delegate shall have overriding authority in matters of safety.
Secondly, the person appointed on an interim basis as Safety Delegate for stage rallies in Scotland is Nicky Moffitt, a Non-Executive Director of the MSA and an International Steward.
Additional Safety Delegates will be appointed in due course, including for events outside Scotland.
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