This website is now 'retired' - for our new website go to www.whoracing.org.uk

Annual Report 2010

Worthing HO Racing 2010 Annual Report and Financial Report

To be presented to the Annual General Meeting on 3/11/2010 at the English Martyrs Church Hall, Goring-by-Sea.

The build up to February

Robin and Andy held their first planning meeting for Worthing HO Racing in September last year. After getting advice and support from Victoria Sturdy at the Worthing EESI project, the club constitution and policies were written in October. A Worthing Community Partnership grant was applied for and awarded in December, so we had the luxury of covering most of our first year’s running costs.

Moving into 2010, the club was nearly ready to launch. Robin painted up hundreds of pieces of track, built the electrical gear and prepared the Mod class cars. Andy prepared the paperwork, publicity and finances and also took responsibility for the Formula One cars. A trial run took place at the end of January and it went okay…

The club goes ‘live’

Wednesday 3 February saw 39 people drop in to the English Martyrs Church Hall to see what all the fuss in the Herald, on Splash FM and various websites was about. George and Jody were our first winners and everyone had a great time.

Since February, the club has held an event at the English Martyrs Church Hall every month. The attendances were: March – 19 racers; April – 24; May – 21; June – 22; July – 19; August – 12; September – 11; and October – 21. That’s an average of 18. We expected the dip in August, but clashed with the start of term in September!

Overall, 57 people have raced at Worthing HO Racing events, 33 of those are under 16 years old (and 24 over 16). Our youngest racer is 6 and our youngest winner was 7 years old (he is now 8). Fourteen people have won medals so far this season.

Most of our racers are local – 45% live in the BN12 postcode area. We would describe most of our racers as ‘dads and sons’ – and we think our club nights are successful, family-friendly community events which bring together several generations to take part in a shared activity.

Whatever we think, we know from our questionnaires that people are enjoying the race nights and that 85% of people return to race again.

As we near the end of the season, Will has achieved a remarkable hat trick of junior titles – F1, Mod and the overall junior championship. Robin has also clinched the Mod title. Well done to both – and to whoever takes the F1, Club Championship and Rookie of the Year awards in December.

National Racing

The club will have hosted two national EAHORC rounds in 2010 – one in June and one coming up at the end of October. Thirteen of our racers have raced at these events so far and travelled to other national rounds. Last season, the club finished fourth in the EAHORC club championship and Andy won the F1 ‘Main Grade’ cup.

In September, the club entered the Racemasters AFX 6 hour race at Pinewood Raceway. The team of John, Robin and Andy came fourth.

Finances

Income and expenditure 01/01/2010 to 31/10/2010

Income
Community Chest grant £607.00
Easy Fundraising £20.70
Buyat.com £20.17
Race fees (February – October) £367.50
Maybridge Grand Prix (October) £200.00
Birthday Party (October) £75.00

Total income = £1290.37

Expenditure
Venue hire £444.00
Publicity £79.58
Insurance £45.75
Medals £35.70
Spares for club cars £75.05
Misc spares & equipment £36.48
Spares for Maybridge GP £10.50

Total expenditure = £727.06

Balance = £563.31

A more detailed financial summary is available on request.

The Worthing Community Partnership grant covered most of our first year’s running costs. Receiving the grant removed any anxiety of being out of pocket if the club didn’t take off. It also allowed us to concentrate on making sure the club was a success.

Charging a race fee of £2.50 has meant the club makes a small surplus on most events. We intend to reduce the race fee in 2011 by 50p for racers who use their own car (see below). We will review this again next year.

Although not a priority at the start of the year, the club has been booked for two ‘hire events’ – the Maybridge Grand Prix on 9 October and a birthday party the week after. These provided useful income for the club. We would like to offer local community groups and our racers similar events in 2011.

We have recently applied for a Grassroots Grant to fund an upgrade of our track system. Our plastic sectional track will not last for ever and can be a real pain to set up. If we are not successful with the grant (we will know by the AGM), this will become a longer-term fundraising priority.

We have – unsuccessfully so far – approached a number of local businesses to sponsor our championships. We have offered potential sponsors the chance to buy and engrave a cup to be awarded each year. In the interim, John has very kindly donated some cups to hand out in December.

Plans for 2011

We don’t intend to change very much next year. However, we would like members to agree to the following at the AGM:

1. Robin and Andy continue as the club’s ‘Organising Team’ in 2011.
2. This Annual Report and the Financial Report are accepted.
3. Race fees for 2011 will be £2 if a racer brings their own car and £2.50 if not.
4. In each championship, a racer’s worst points score is dropped.
5. The club to provide a ‘pit lane’ service with spares, expertise and tune-up advice.
6. To donate one event’s takings to charity – Help for Heroes in 2010-11.

We also want to look at the introducing some of the ideas and suggestions raised by members in the questionnaire and will do so during next year. A number of technology upgrades are scheduled for 2011.

Thank you for your support and keep the feedback and suggestions coming!

Robin and Andy, October 2010.