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Notes From the Chairman John Humphrey, Chairman of the North West Rally Council |
I’m very excited about our new website and online-magazine, Northwest Rally Today. This can be the start of a new and exciting time for the North West Rally Council and our member clubs and I want to use this opportunity each month to share with you my ideas, hopes and dreams for the North West Rally Council’s future. I also want to share with you the ways I think we can, as individuals, improve what we already do so well, and that is provide top-shelf rallies.
It seems everyone has a top 10 list, or a top 10 something. You've all seen the top five scenic drives, the top 10 performance cars, the top places to visit or the top 10 places to live. But what about a top ten list for NWRC club members? To start, let me offer a top five list of activities that I think every North West Rally Council club member should do or experience.
Number one on my list is ---volunteer to work a rally. A lot of work goes into putting together a successful rally. From writing the actual rally, to getting the dash plaques and trophies, writing the driving directions for the checkpoint crews, doing the checkout drive to working a checkpoint or route control. Spend an evening with an experienced checkpoint worker on a Friday Nighter and it will leave you with a sense of accomplishment and pride as well as a real appreciation for what these volunteers do so you can have an enjoyable evening rallying.
Number two is switch places with your rally partner. If you normally drive, switch to the right seat and navigate for a rally or two. If you normally navigate, switch to the left seat and drive. There's no greater way to appreciate what your rally partner does than to "walk a mile in their shoes."
Number three; attend your club meetings. There seems to be the perception that the club meetings are for the politicians and management types and that perception is simply not true. There should be ample opportunity for every idea, program and interest to be fully discussed. Remember, decisions are made by those that show up.
Number four is closely tied to number one but still has relevance. Be a Rally master. You will learn more about rallying by writing a Friday Nighter than you will in a year of running them. You will fully understand how a rally is designed, measured and calculated. But most importantly, each person brings their own unique style to a rally and by having many, rather than a few, experienced Rallymasters will enrich our sport, our clubs and ourselves.
Number five (let's have a drum roll, please) mentor someone. We've all seen them. Standing nervously off to one side at a Friday Nighter with that "deer-in-the-headlights" look. Or they've been to several Friday Nighters and are still getting 300 at one or more checkpoints. Introduce yourself and casually find out if they need or want some help. Offer to ride along on a couple of Friday Nighters with them and impart to them your knowledge, skills and passion. By involving new people in the sport and passing along to them your wisdom and knowledge, who knows, maybe in a year or two they'll be writing an article about their come-from-behind, unexpected win at one of our major rallies.
I hope that each member will look at this top five list and make a decision to try a new activity - to observe, to volunteer and participate at some level besides in the front seat of a car.
John Humphrey,
Chairman - North West Rally Council