Hello folks. Yes it's me back again. With the advent of the new millennium, it seemed like a good time to put fingers to keyboard for Nerfers, after quite a gap. There is also a rumor going around that I could be putting said fingers (or even thumbs) to an even better use in the new season but that largely depends on whether I can get the car going! We'll see.

First order of business then is to remind you all that this is renewals time when number and BRCA membership must be sent to me at my usual address. I need to remind you also that no renewal means no more Nerfers, no grade, no National Points, no racing at WEMSA meetings, in fact no meaning to life at all really from now on!

As most of you will know by now, you can renew both memberships through me and a list of the fees is provided at the end of this column to help you decide what to pay. Please do it now; the sport needs members and funds in order to survive and progress.

Hot Rods have been in the news recently, at least at Committee meetings. I'm very glad to say that, as far as I am aware, most of the bones of contention between the National Hot Rod Association and the 1/8^th Oval Section have been ironed out and some of the said Hot Rod drivers have recently applied for numbers and membership. You're very welcome, folks.

One of the things still outstanding, however, is the desire of some Hot Rod drivers to have more choice as to which number they race under. This is a perfectly understandable wish and one which I raised with the Committee following talks with some Hot Rod drivers. I wanted to have a numbers re-issue for Hot Rods which would give more choice for those drivers who race them and the Committee agreed that this can now be done.

Included in this package therefore is a letter explaining the details of this but basically there will shortly be a new issue of all nine hundred and ninety nine useable numbers solely for Hot Rod drivers. Existing number holders will be able to have their own number in the new issue free of charge and will have first choice to do so. A new number in the new issue in addition to an existing number will be half price, and completely new numbers solely for Hot Rods will be full price.

I need to point out one more thing not in the letter: if an existing number holder who races Hot Rods ONLY, wishes to change that number for a different one in the new issue, provided it isn't already taken, they will be able to do so free of charge. They must, of course give up their number in the stock-car number issue so as not to incur a fee. Seems straightforward enough?

Please read the letter and contact me as a matter of urgency if you are in any way interested in a Hot Rod number.

Another matter I raised with the Committee is what I am calling 'variable membership'. In other words, I want to give people the choice to join both the Section and the BRCA for extended periods if they so wish, instead of doing so on an annual basis as at present.

The advantages of this are considerable. Not only will drivers benefit by not having to think about renewing their memberships every year, but the Section will benefit by having less administration to do annually and by having more working capital up front which can be used for the benefit and promotion of the sport.

In effect, the new system would be a reversal of the present practice of the Committee telling you when you need to renew number and BRCA membership, to you telling us how long you want to sign up for. For example, if Tony Perry decides he wants to renew his membership for the next five years, and then forget about it until season 2006, he can simply pay me the requisite fee and I will do the rest. If he would prefer to do so for just two years, he can. And so on!

It's basically a matter of choice with added benefits. For example, the Committee briefly discussed possible discounts for drivers joining for extended periods. Nothing decided on this yet, but maybe more to follow. Another idea that occurs to me is that of refunds. For example, if Dave Waters joins up for five years and then decides he doesn't want to race anymore, say after two years, he would be able to receive three years discounted fee back. So it's not really much of a gamble for you, is it?

I would be interested to know peoples views on this but, as the person responsible for the Sections finances, I consider it would make sound economic sense to offer the option and will probably do so at the next AGM. In the meantime, if anyone desperately wants to join up for future years, please feel free to give me a ring and discuss the options.

Finally, I'm not on the E-Mail at present as I'm having one or two problems. Other methods of contacting me are listed below. Have a good season. I hope to see many of you around and about and will probably be going over to Holland in May as, I hope, many of you will be.

MEMBERSHIP FEES 1999-2000

Any problems, queries, comments, renewals advice, or if you just want a chat, DON'T SIT ON IT, CONTACT ME, as below:

Terry (3)

Tel: 0161-792 4015

Mobile:07930-538 987

No E-Mail at present.

Address: 7, Brookside Drive, Broughton Park, Salford M7 4NP.

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NERFERS NEWS.

SUPPLIERS GUIDE.

Drivers will be graded using a Club based centrally administered grading system. Drivers will be awarded points as to their performance in heat's, semi finals and finals.

1. Clubs send meeting results to the section Grading Officer.

2 Using the agreed formula, works out meeting positions based on a points system (detailed later) and returns these to the clubs, together with an overall, updated points chart.

2. Clubs are responsible for ensuring their drivers are correctly graded based on these charts and also decide how often to re-grade (in agreement with their drivers, club must inform the section grading Officer on the number of periods of grading before the commencement of each season).

3. Clubs can either use the grading points to decide their club championship, or devise their own but ONLY grades based on the nationally agreed formula will be used.

4. Drivers who are MEMBERS of more than one club will adopt their highest grade when these are issued by the club concerned.

5. Only club meetings will be graded. Nationals, Regional's and Major's to be taken out of the grading system.

6. Formula: Heats: Points: 6,5,4,3,2,1.

Cons/Semi's: 4,3,2,1 (non-finalists)

Finals: 12,10,8,7,6,5

Bands (per club): Top 2%- Superstar

Next 10%- Red

Next 30%- Blue

Next 40%- Yellow

Rest (18%)-White or CBDG.

Drivers are upgraded or downgraded when they fall into the bands above ( they only be down one grade at the end of each period).

Points that drivers score at away tracks will be counted to-wards there total for grading as long as there home club has no scheduled meeting.

Note - race controllers must where ever possible have 6 cars in each race and have a cross section of grades.

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NEW FOR 2000 SEASON.