THE NORTHERN REGION ROUTE NOTE SAGA COMES TO AN END
author: Leon Botha
A number of competitors asked me to tell them the reason why the Northern Region Route Notes became an issue – as I said then it was a mystery to me, but here is the story after a decision has been taken by MSA.
“Keep your head straight and focus –and again focus! Only when focused will you succeed in what you do.”
That was my dad’s “easy way” out of almost any problem that came on MY path. He sort of deviated often himself, but always tried to keep me focussed!
Like with most advice from the sideline it is easy to give when one has no clue what lies on the road of the person you so kindly hand the advice to.
Take the Route Note issue – that is now a true bed of roses if ever I saw one?
Even while thinking back after a few years about how difficult certain people tried to make my job in the beginning when I started out doing the National Championship Notes after a short training session of about eight days, I actually get upset again.
I had to grid my teeth on many occasions and wanted to walk away from it many times. Worse of all was that I had to change my lifestyle and family life to be able to do the Route Notes!
One of the low-lights of the period was when I wanted to cry from frustration when a certain competitor who truly could never really drive a car let alone understand or read notes, suggested that I draw the degrees on my car’s windscreen – then aim the drawing at the corners to get the calls right! The whole family stood there in support of this incredibly stupid suggestion probably based on True Africa experience?
As time went by and I got help and support from especially the competitors who did well and won rallies, the notes got better and today I am convinced that we can actually compete with the best in this field. Unfortunately for the Einstein of the past the only thing that got bigger and better was this competitor’s mouth and not driving! Luckily now that the notes are sort of acceptable I think, this wise ass is not active on the real scene anymore and strangely not many people miss the irritating presence.
Then last year or so I was called in to take over the Regional Rally notes for various reasons.
Once again I think and so I am told, I did a fairly good job?
To tell you the truth some competitors actually paid in their full 2010 season’s money for the route notes into my account to ensure they get their notes! They must have been crazy because suddenly for no valid reason (I know of) under the sun my doing the notes got some opposition from one or two persons in the regional rally committee?
Personality problems (thank goodness I do not really know or care what they are) crept in and suddenly the competitors had to vote for who they wanted to do their notes – or so I was told.
Quite surprised I wanted to know, “Did the competitors complain? Were they unhappy? Were the notes bad? I know of a certain world class navigator once remarked that the notes were “awful” but could only tell me about two insignificant places she (oops) did not agree with?”
“Nobody complained”, I was told and I had to concentrate not to lose control over all my valves!
|
|
Enough is enough
|
I mean why do you want to change happiness and satisfaction? How do you fight something where almost everyone (except those who think they are really in count) are standing on the same side?
The suggestion however was that the voting should take place AFTER I do one more event for 2010!
Now if that makes sense to anyone of you – please let me know because I truly do not see any sense in it? They probably wanted to shoot me while I was doing the notes or set me up, or do something funny?
Typical of the renowned efficiency no one I know of was contacted to vote –except the PMC members who obviously voted in-club based on an in-house initiative - for me to carry on.
I let the Chairman of the Regional commission John Ogden know that I was not interested in doing one rally and then wait for a vote without any control or transparency after the first rally. I had to plan my year and why not vote and get it over with – at that stage there was still time?
Next moment (weeks afterwards) I heard that I never replied to a follow-up letter from him – a letter I never received as I have a tripple check system on all my mail. The “copy” of the letter claimed to have been sent to me could also not be verified with the appropriate dates and proof of previous delivery.
Be that as it may – after receiving a 'copy' of this so-called letter that was “sent” I let him know that I was ready and willing to do the notes if asked to do so – still no answer.
Now due to concern about the handling of the issue MSA stepped in and the MANCOM took a decision after careful consideration of the circumstances and hopefully we can now concentrate on the sport and not on stupid little games to try and prove nothing.
In my opinion there are many more pressing issues that need serious attention than us bothering with things that are working well.
The regional competitors deserve to get people who truly carry the sport at heart, people who will spend quality time positively addressing the various issues that prevents competitors advancing in the sport to take over and run it properly.
If those who made it their life tasks to waste other people’s time spend that wasted time to try and get money into the sport I am positive we would have been better off long ago!
I believe the time has come for competitors to get involved in the management and stop leaving their future in the hands of some people who truly could not give a damn.
The time has come for someone to stand up, take the lead and for instance generate money and support from which all the deserving teams can gain.
I believe you have a real product to sell – but unfortunately currently the product is hidden from the public eye and the key to the locker is kept by some people who only care about their own agendas and little images based on goodness knows what? I don’t think they actually know what their own issues are?
Here is a copy of the decision taken by MSA:
MSA RALLY CIRCULAR 4/2010
Following on from a decision of the MANCOM on the 24th March 2010 the following will come into effect:
Within the Northern Regions, Regional Rally Pace Notes will be compiled by Leon Botha and sold for R395-00 per event.
These notes are neither compulsory nor mandatory, however for those competitors who require Pace notes these will be available.
In considering the way forward, the MANCOM considered the progression from Regional to a National level. In as far as this goes MANCOM considered a variety of options, but have approved the current system of appointing an individual as done by the Rally Commission to provide National Pace notes. The appointment affords the best transition for Regional Competitors into National Rally in as far as consistency and accuracy of pace notes is concerned.
ALLAN WHEELER
MSA MANAGER SPORTING SERVICES : NON-CIRCUIT
2010-03-24 156973/157(f)
Distribution
Mr Willie du Plessis: President - MSA Rally Commission President
MSA Rally Commission Members
MSA Rally Clubs
MSA Sporting Co-Ordinators
All MSA Rally Competitors
I trust that this issue has now been put to rest and that we will get co-operation from all the organisers that will make our job easier instead of more difficult?
The Route Notes form an important part of the sport for those who are serious about rallying and we will do our best to make their entry into National rallies easier where we can and also keep their damage and so, also their costs down.
Due to the short notice and time left those of you who would like to receive the notes for the first regional rally on the 10th of April 2010 must please order their notes now.
To keep the costs from becoming an issue and to do my bit to keep it down I decided to leave the cost unchanged on R395 per set.
So if you want to receive notes please pay your money into:
Rallystar
Absa Acc 405 714 7990
Branch 335 – 345
And send proof of payment to:
alanie@rallystar.co.zawith your details clearly on the email, or fax proof to 012 347 2769 also with all your detail on.
Due to the fact that we kept the prices on the same level we will not be carrying extra stock. If you have not paid and ordered by Monday the 5th of April 2010 we will not produce a set for you. No payments will be accepted at the rally without prior arrangements.
Please make sure that you are registered for the 2010 Route Note SMS service as well.
|
|
