World governing body congratulates local organisers
Eight
long-serving members of the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) were honoured for
their contribution to the development of the Club and motor sport in
the island during the BRC's 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the
Sherbourne Conference Centre on Saturday night (May 12).
Principal guest was the Minister of Tourism & International
Transport, the Hon Noel Lynch, who congratulated the Club on its
record, not only as a sporting organisation, but also one which had
helped the socio-economic growth and stability of the island and
contributed to the sports-tourism business. In an address before making
presentations to the awardees, the Minister said: "The Government and
the people of Barbados salute you for your achievements and urge you to
use them as a platform for future growth."
Two committee members who drove the early development of the Club
enjoyed lengthy standing ovations as they made their way to the stage:
Trevor Gale, the Club's longest-serving Chairman and a great innovator
in the 1960s, and Bill Mallalieu, whose service to the Club is unique
in spanning the five decades - a Founder Member, he is the incumbent
President, and has served in nearly every capacity except Chairman over
the past 50 years.
Club Chairman Mark Hamilton said: "I would like to acknowledge -
and propose a toast to - those who have performed beyond the call of
duty over the last 50 years, many of whom are not with us tonight. Your
dedication to this club and to this sport has allowed both not only to
survive, but you have provided a strong foundation upon which the next
generation of motor sport enthusiasts can build, be they competitors,
marshals, members or spectators."
The Club itself received an accolade from the world governing body
of motor sport, the FIA. Andrew Mallalieu, President of the Barbados
Motoring Federation - the island's governing body - read a message from
FIA President Max Mosley: "On behalf of everyone at the FIA, please
accept my warmest congratulations on the 50th Anniversary of the
Barbados Rally Club; we have always enjoyed an excellent working
relationship with the BRC and wish you a wonderful evening."
Nearly 500 people gathered to celebrate this major milestone; a
display of competition cars representative of each decade in the Club's
history was arranged in the Lower Foyer and Main Foyer of the building,
including multiple Champion Michael Gill's self-built Minilan,
currently mid-way through restoration, which had not been seen in
public for many years.
The awardees were not necessarily those whose expertise behind the
wheel marked them out among others, but those whose commitment to the
management and future of the Club was uppermost in their minds. Each
received a plaque to mark that contribution, a framed photograph of
them in action and a copy of the Club's 50th Anniversary publication, 0
to 50: The Barbados Rally Club 1957 - 2007. Each copy had been
personally inscribed by Sir Clifford Husbands, Governor-General of
Barbados, a former competitor and official of the Club, who wrote the
Foreword.
The celebration was briefly tinged by sadness, with the
presentation of an award marking the contribution of Andrew Phillips, a
committee member in the early 1970s and again in the 1990s, when he was
an important figure during a period of revival and growth. Phillips
died in 1996; in the absence of Wynona Phillips, the award was accepted
by former Club Chairman Antonio Rodriguez.
The other awardees were:
+ Tommy Bentley - Treasurer for more than two decades, Secretary and Vice-President for shorter periods and former Trustee
+ David Edwards - former Chairman, event organiser and route-setter, also a winning competitor, who remains a Trustee
+ Geoff Goddard - a competitor who gave 20 years of committee
service, mainly in the roles of secretary and competition secretary
+ John Sealy - a committee member as early as 1962, former
Chairman, current Trustee and former Clerk of the Course at Bushy Park
+ Harry Watkins - the Club's first Competition Secretary, when already a successful competitor, and recently-appointed Trustee
The second major event for the BRC is Rally Barbados 2007, which
will be run over the weekend of May 26/27, followed by the
Esso/Courtesy Garage 50th Anniversary June Safari, which will round off
the month of celebrations by returning to the Club's roots. The
successful running of the first June Rally in 1957 was the catalyst to
the founding of the BRC, and it remains the oldest-established motor
sport event in the region with a continuous history.
Principal sponsors of the BRC's 50th Anniversary celebrations are
Automotive Art, Banks Holdings Ltd, Dacosta Mannings Auto Centre,
Digicel, McEnearney Quality, Simpson Motors, Texaco and Williams
Industries. Associate sponsors are Armag, the Barbados Hotel &
Tourism Association, Courtesy Garage, Crane & Equipment, Essco,
Esso, Harris Paints, Nassco and SOL.
For further information:
e-mail - robin@bradfax.com
web sites - www.rallybarbados.bb
