There were some amazing milestones this year – believe it or not. Although it seems an age ago (thanks to Covid) CMORC pulled off some of the best short course offroad racing events this country has seen in a long time, AND at a venue unlike any other in NZ.
It was this year that the club realised its largest investment in this sport, as the Manukau International Offroad Stadium finally opened to our members, racers, and race fans. Competitors, young and old, race fans, families, celebrities, and sponsors poured in and combined to make the inaugural NZ STADIUM OFFROAD CHAMPIONSHIP a huge success.
And of course, at the core of this success was our Club Committee, Associates, and Friends that made the magic happen.
Thank you to each and every person that contributed to the success of this event and series. Long may it continue.
At Club level, we committed to completing the 2021 Counties Classic and Junior Series, with our closest overall winners finish ever! The winning driver has to be determined by countback. This series has a good following and provides the opportunity to race competitively or simply test yourself and your machine against some competitors and competition, at a well organised and prepared event – for a reasonable price and prize. This formula works for our club and competitors and supplements our club as we establish permanent National Championship or Titled events as key race dates on the National Calendar.
In addition to the Classic, club days and testing days are on the cards as we now have a permanent venue. It is vitally important that at these types of events, and all events, we maintain the support and safety standards required for the drivers, crews, and each other to run a safe operation.
To this end, CMORC has plans to provide marshal training for our support teams, social events, and driver training days.
This can exhaust our limited resources, but on a smaller scale will be more manageable and focused for everyone. We do not want to be trying to train people at/during larger events.
As the new committee is established for 2022, the Club has plans to complete the NZ STADIUM OFFROAD
CHAMPIONSHIP, COUNTIES CLASSIC SERIES, a joint-venture for the NATIONAL FINAL, and the reincarnation of the TAUPO 1000. That’s a lot of racing, without planning for club days, training days and social events, Club meetings and ORANZ meetings. I would encourage our new committee to think carefully about the focus and resources we have, and that is required to get through the 2022 calendar.
Our membership has grown as a result of our good management and event quality – from promotion to podium, and everywhere in between. It is this ‘quality’ of venue and events that appeal to drivers, supporters, and sponsors. We must keep this in mind going forward.
At the competitor and representative level, CMORC members have been leading the way with good success at National events, whilst the support of other local club events has been good.
The objective of the Club is to foster, encourage and promote the sport of Offroad Racing in all its branches. Newcomers and supporters of our club and its objectives are welcomed, and I encourage you all to get involved more with your club committee and share your ideas. The growth of our membership with good people and active contributors is vital for this club’s survival. On this note, I would encourage our committee to establish support members for our club committee and support roles – i.e. for each of the roles such as treasurer, secretary, club scrutineer, and committee members, a second person is nominated, and supported to learn the ways of the role. This will increase membership committee support and help to assist issues that would arise if these roles we suddenly vacant.
I wish all our members a safe and happy Christmas and New Year, and look forward to getting into racing again in 2022
With thanks,
NICK HALL – 2021 CMORC President