Competitors are the lifeblood of motorsport clubs
R O O T S
S imon Fowler has been working with the governing body for 38 years now. Those years of experience, particularly in the disciplines now defined as Clubsport – Autotests, Trials and 4x4 Cross Country – means there is very little he does not know about how to deliver a safe and successful motorsport event, on every level.
In an evolving world, there has never been a more important time for motorsport clubs to think outside the box and explore different ways to attract the next generation of competitors – and the introduction of new digital permitting processes, which are now mostly handled by member services, has freed up time for Fowler to focus on this.
Much of his time is now spent supporting events where clubs want to do something a little different and need a helping hand, which typically come under the‘ Certificate of Exemption’( CoE) permit, many of which lie under the Clubsport banner.
“ There are around 4,000 permits issued each year and of those we have around 60 taster events and probably another 100 demonstrations,” he explains.“ I enjoy encouraging clubs to organise events where they might attract more people in, because I think it is essential that clubs run events that bring new blood into the sport.”
It is important to recognise that while a club could have 300 members, and look relatively healthy, having people who enter their events and make them viable is most important. Clubs need competitors more than they need members.
“ A lot of the Clubsport disciplines are hidden, and you wouldn’ t know they’ re going on,” adds Fowler.“ They’ re real grassroots – a Cross Country event, for example, might involve 20 people
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