Award Dinner
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
Michael Fergusson's Speech
Firstly I would
like to welcome all our guests, and give an especially warm welcome to our
sponsors who are present here tonight, we are indeed glad that you could
be here to share this evening with the class that you have supported for
so many years. We like to feel that you have stayed with us because you
are getting value for your input, well this year we aim to do it even
better. As has become
usual in this class, we look back at a year where we tried something new
and look forward to a year where we try something new again. We had high
hopes of doing something that still has not been done, although through no
lack of trying, to whit co-eventing. In concept it is a great idea as it
brings new people into contact with motor racing. Unfortunately in spite
of the best of endeavours on our side the plan did not work out. At the same
time we watched in horror as more and more sponsors pulled out of motor
racing. Then the manufacturers fled, and motor racing was facing perhaps
its darkest hour. It was in this darkness that a joint vision was born out
of necessity. All we must hope is that the light at the end of this tunnel
is NOT the oncoming train! Our racing was
good. It attracted some new talent to the class and the endurance events
with shared drives still brings in new talent to the class, such as our
2001 champion George Ferriera, and also spreads the news of our class to
other drivers, hopefully sustaining the viability and strength of the
category. A further innovation that was reported to be a huge success and
a great crowd puller was the introduction on the GT class running within
our enduros. Certainly there is more than casual interest in running the
same format in 2002. What is more it does not detract from our racing. Another format
for endurance races that met with good interest was the final two hour run
in place of the international sports car race, that was a casualty of the
September 11 attacks. Although it got a bit hot for some of us, it was a
success. As alluded to
earlier motor sport had slipped into a crisis, and it seemed that the
controlling body was not aware of the problem. At the same time MSA was
given the rights to the TV coverage, and they saw this as another
opportunity to get money out of the classes. It was about at this time
that all the national categories got together in order to strand united,
and to try to put motor sport back on track. We need to a) Get spectators
back to the track and b) to get people to want to watch our racing on TV.
It sounds easy, but only time will tell how we succeed. The plan to
achieve this goal involves us all. We think that the racing is good, so
there is not much that we can do in that direction, other than to keep it
up. So the parts of
the plan evolved as follows:- 1.
We wanted to make the mix of events on a day as varied and exciting
as possible. 2.
Ideally we needed to fit the events in on the day between two and
four! 3.
We did not want there to be too many race days a.
For scarcity b.
For cost reasons 4.
We wanted to make the race days at the various circuits follow the
same style and order. 5.
We needed better promotion. 6.
We wanted to have more input into the type of programming being
aired on TV. 7.
We need to create more personalities. It is people not cars that
spectators go to watch. As far as VSP
is concerned we are concerned that people still want to know “What is a
VSP?” and this year will give us the chance to make it happen. There
will be on track interviews and in studio programmes; so we must all do
our bit to be there with our best promotion foot forward. The Guinness
Power Tour will be the promotional arm of the series, in fact of all the
classes. There will be events to which we will be invited, please make
sure that you make time to attend them and be seen. It is at events like
this that we will be able to get our names and our VSP Cars across to the
public both at the event and on TV. Jan Hartzer
will be doing all our filming, and as we know him well, I want every
driver to speak to him. If there is a drama happening, or just a bit of
fun, call him over and let him film it. You never know it may be the spark
that sets the VSP series alight. As you heard
for Neville, we may need a series sponsor for next year… and in any
event we owe it to the sponsors, most of whom are present here tonight to
give them the very best bang for their buck. They help us enjoy our racing
lets make it worth their while! And now to the
Thank Yous, Firstly this is
the occasion where we all give a big thanks to our wives and girlfriends,
who put up with us traipsing to meetings, races and all manner of being
apart. We really thank you for you understanding of this extraordinary
sport. Here is a joke that may raise a smile for the ladies. To Jannet and Vikki for creating the imaginative invitations and carrying out the “in Africa” theme so cleverly. And for organising this do on less than a shoestring. Thanks to both you and your helpers. |
