Well where did 2023 go to? Another successful season behind us
Events have had mixed entry levels, some being slow to fill while others were over subscribed!
We as a committee have looked at the reasons but there appears to be no definite answer. Whether events come thick & fast doesn’t seem to matter, but if we want a full season this cannot be avoided

SPRINTS
80 Entries, 34 class records were set with overall champion being David Wallace in his MX5

HILLS
83 entries, 21 class records were set with overall champion being Stuart Sugden in his GWR Raptor

A good turnout for the AGM & committee meeting allowed us to get most matters sorted. We welcomed our new eligibility Scrutineer  Neil Ritchie & Assistant coordinator  Gary Warren I’m sure both will be a great benefit to SSHC & competitors with their considerable knowledge & enthusiasm for the sport

September Boyndie saw the introduction  of our first Junior Sprint competitor Euan Bruce hopefully he will encourage many more to come along in the future.

October Kames also set a record by all accounts seeing the youngest & oldest sprint competitors in Scotland competing at the same event. Congratulations Euan Bruce & Mike Murchie

The cost of events is going to be challenging in 2024 with clubs struggling to break even with the increased costs involved, Doctors, Rescue, MSUK fees, etc, etc!!

Entry fees will need to increase moderately to cover these!

I’m sure you’ll agree Clubs are not looking to make profit but costs do need to be covered

Awards dinner dance is being held on Saturday 2^nd December at the Woodlands Hotel Dundee, a good night guaranteed so hope to see you all there

Thanks
Jim King
SSHC Chairman

Dear competitor,

As 2022 draws to a close, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect on what the committee believe has been a largely successful season of motorsport in amongst an environment which continues to throw up challenges for both competitors and organisers. I have noted below a few key themes which I would like to highlight.

We welcomed 3 newcomers and a total of 81 entrants to this year’s championship across Sprints and Hills:

• Attracting newcomers is an important focus of the championship and organising clubs. It is therefore positive for us all to see new faces at events, particularly during a challenging economic climate when non-essential expenditure (!?) can be queried.
• We believe that the flexibility of our specific motorsport discipline is well-suited to these challenges and at our recent committee meeting it was encouraging to hear the passion of our clubs to maintaining a low barrier to entry to the sport in areas we can influence.
• The championship will also do what we can to encourage newcomers and for 2023 will implement a slight tweak to our newcomer award criteria; recognising those who are new to our sport, rather than new to the championship.

Each of our scheduled rounds went ahead as planned and were delivered safely and efficiently by the organising clubs:

• We enjoyed a full event calendar in 2022, with each event well run by the organising club.
• We were pleased to see the reduction in COVID19 related measures which impacted our calendar in 2021, but with the positive lessons learned which emerged during that period continuing to be adopted to aid the competitor experience and help to prepare for and run the events more efficiently.
• On a related note, the online entry systems being adopted by more clubs have been very much a ‘win win’ for competitors and clubs alike.
• Regrettably, a couple of events did suffer with low entries which we understand to be predominately as a consequence of the ‘cost of living’ challenges being experienced across the population and the often-great distances our competitors must travel.

Our championship awards and dinner dance evening was well-attended and enjoyed:

• We are receptive to feedback on how to improve this event going forward so please do not hesitate to contact the committee with any thoughts you may have on how to refine the event in the future. We recognise that to satisfy a broad range of preferences there is a balance to be found between an ‘awards night’ and a ‘dinner dance’, but we believe the change in location in recent years has been generally a positive move.

Changes in the championship committee:

• At our awards evening we recognised Mike Murchie’s long service to the championship as he steps down for 2023. We are exceptionally grateful for Mike’s personal contribution to the successful running of the championship, particularly through the last couple of years as we have managed a high level of change; from the disruption of COVID19 to managing the transition towards online banking to the additional challenges associated with SSHC running the Boyndie Sprint events.

Thank you to our championship supporters:

• Finally, I must highlight the crucial role our championship supporters play in the sustainability and development of our championship. Sincere thanks to the ongoing support of Guyson International, Tillicoultry Quarries, Rocatex, Dunnet Bay Distillery, Central Garage Glenkindie, Trimline Systems, Kintore Trophy Centre Central Cosmetic Repairs in Kilmarnock – a new supporter for 2022!

To close, I sincerely hope you have enjoyed your season and can now take some time to recharge, repair and refine before the 2023 season begins – it is never too long in coming back round again!

I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Best regards,
Jim

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all championship competitors & members.

A face to face meeting was planned for 23^rd October but unsure if this would happen as previous meetings were conducted through Zoom. Good as it was you missed the personnel touch!

I can report this meeting went ahead with 11 people attending. Much was discussed and addressed.

AGM.

Entry fee for 2022 was agreed to remain at £25 but will probably need to increase for 2023 to allow for increased costs

2021 results & final positions were agreed

All current members happy to continue in present positions

Small changes & corrections to constitution were discussed & agreed

COMMITTEE MEETING

All clubs present gave us positive reports on how their season had gone. No major problems reported

Monklands reported that they were looking into the possibility of introducing penalties for hitting bollards; this has always been an issue at Forrestburn . Hopefully a workable solution can be found

Boyndie

Was reported that following the rescue of the June events a well supported successful September events were ran.

Planning is in the early stages for 2022 events

GAC confirmed that at moment they were unable to run Alford Sprint this was due to a number of factors outwith their control. Safety, change of transport museum staff and introduction of caravan site being some of the reasons

Championship numbering, this has been discussed many times before the outcome being that the complexity outweighs the benefits. Vote 10-1 in favour of continue as is

A big thank you to all entrants, marshals & officials who competed & organised events allowing us to have a great near full season of competition

Look forward to seeing everyone at the Awards presentation/dance at the Best Western Invercarse Hotel Dundee on the 27^th November (Still a small amount of tickets available)

2022 Full season ahead

Jim King
Chairman

Dear all,

I would like to extend a welcome to all hillclimbers, sprinters and motor enthusiasts; here we are in 2021 and still not clear of this Covid!

The committee met on the 20^th of March by Zoom which was well attended by 14 people. Much was discussed and ideas were shared as we prepare for the new season.

As near as possible a full season of events are planned for the Championship and all clubs were upbeat on the possibility of achieving this as the present Covid restrictions in Scotland are eased. Although, trying to fit in events may mean that they come thick and fast as we’re allowed to travel and socially meet.

The first meeting should be the May Kames event which has been moved to the 29^th and 30^th of May to give it every chance to run.

A revised start line procedure was discussed and it was noted that Motorsport UK are now allowing marshalls to touch the vehicle with sanitised hands and the wearing of gloves. This will allow the placing of vehicles on the start line as normal, if preferred to the ‘one metre box’ system adopted in Europe. New records will only be recorded if normal procedures are used, with the organising clubs making that decision on an event-by-event basis.

A digital sign-on process will be used this year which will require stricter enforcement of entry cut-off dates, therefore late entries cannot be accepted.

Ronnie Macgregor has suggested an improved system for scrutineering is being tested, which was well received by the committee (watch this space!).

It was agreed that the Championship should make more use of Facebook, in addition to email, to promote our championship and communicate with entrants. Martin Banks has kindly volunteered to look into this.

The Zoom format worked very well and it was suggested that this should continue for future meetings, however the committee will still target one in-person meeting each year.

The number of entrants for 2021 was artificially low as people seemed to be waiting to see how this season was panning out, many having purchased a MUK licence in 2020 and didn’t get the use out of it! It was agreed that the championship could do the necessary paperwork if the go-ahead was given by the entrants, therefore relieving them of this stress. The take-up of this approach has been very positive – thank you.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone for their support and input in this difficult time as we finally get our racing season underway. If anyone has any comments or suggestions for us to consider please let us know by contacting us at secretary@sshc.org.uk

Jim

Well that’s 2020 just about finished and I’m sure none of us will be sorry to see the end of this crazy year!!

Here at SSHC we have had a few sad events during our year, mainly first the passing of Brian Park an ambassador for our sport, always willing to help out whenever help was needed, Rob McKenna eligibility scrutineer and Trevor Park taken far too early in life. Their input was invaluable to Scottish Motor Sport and all will be sadly missed within the SSHC committee & motorsport in general.

But let’s put this and 2020 behind us as we move on to the 2021 season The Championship have penned a full years Hill climbing & Sprinting season providing restrictions & rules allow the organising clubs to do so. …
I’m sure we’re all up for this!!

The committee re-vamp has been completed, so as we go into 2021 I’m sure the new team are up for the challenges ahead.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those leaving for all their effort & hard work over the years to make the SSHC the success it is, and wish them luck in any new future endeavors going forward, so please join me in thanking Tim Thomson & Vicky Park……… All the best

As I’m writing this I hear we’re being put back into “Lockdown” not really the start we wanted to hear for 2021, but positive thinking with the help of Vaccine & careful procedures we can get on top of this early allowing us a full 2021 season!!

Finally all that’s left to do is wish one & all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

Jim King
SSHC Chairman.

The committee held their AGM & general meeting of the SSHC recently. Various posts were up for renewal, I’m pleased to announce that myself Jim King is your new Chair Person for next 2 years, Martin Banks becoming Secretary and John Albiston filling vice-Chair these were the new positions being filled. All other roles carry on as before.

With the present Covid situation being on going it was decided to divide out excess funds to all Hosting Car Clubs, to be used for improvements or purchase of new equipment relating to Hill climb & Sprinting helping us to see the return of events in 2021
Entries received for the 2020 championship are being rolled over to 2021

I look forward to getting out and about the various venues in 2021 whether to compete or just see how everyone is coping! This being the case please feel free to contact/approach myself with any questions or ideas to make 2021 onwards a successful Championship

The Committee & I would like to thank Tim Thomson & Vicky Park for all their hard work & ideas carried out over the last few years, they will be a big miss to the Championship.

Hopefully the “New team” can look forward to a successful 2021 onwards racing season.

Regards Jim King

Chairman

Chairman’s Message November 2020

The 2020 Championship has been cancelled

It will be no surprise that following consultation with all member clubs it has been the regrettable decision to cancel the 2020 Championship.

There will be the option to carry your entry over to next year, should you require a refund please bear with us as the admin will take a while to get your bank details etc.

This is a situation none of us could foresee and particularly disappointing as this year was the 50^th anniversary of the Championship, we are looking at a possible get together later in the year to celebrate this depending on where we are with the current situation.

If you have any questions please let us know secretary@sshc.org.uk

A copy of this messgae can be downloaded here: SSHCC Update June 2020

Stay Safe

Tim Thomson

Chairman – Scottish Sprint and Hillclimb Championship

The current situation

The full update can be downloaded here: SSHCC Update May 2020 v1

First of all I hope you are all safe and well and if not that you are getting plenty of help in these difficult times.

As you would imagine there have been many conversations by committee members who continue to monitor the guidance from the government (local and national) and Motorsport UK.

Following the announcement by Motorsport UK to withdraw any permits until the end of June we have of course lost many events, some are discussing possible new dates but the second half of the season is already busy.

We will continue to monitor the situation with regard to reviewing the championships and their viability this year.

As a very fluid situation you will appreciate many conversations will be had before another communication is made as we continue in the background to ensure when things change we can move forward and inform you of our process going forward.

All the very best

Tim Thomson
Chairman