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Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Updated 31/7/2020

July 31st, 2020 • By: Chairman • Aintree, Barbon, Events, Hillclimb, News, regs, Results & Reports, sprint

Update 31/7/2020

We have been trying so hard to ensure we could run at least one event this year but we have now reached the point where we have had to admit defeat and cancel our last possible event, the September Sprint at Aintree.

Because most of its staff have been laid off, Aintree Racecourse hasn’t been able to remove the horse running rails that sit between the Grand National Course and the Motor Racing Circuit this year, and to bring staff in to remove them for just one event presents the Club with a financial burden that would render the Sprint completely unaffordable. The further lockdown of substantial areas of the North West and Yorkshire that has been announced today brings added complexity to the situation particularly as these are areas from which so many of competitors travel. Cancelling is, without doubt, the right course of action to protect the Club and everyone at its events. All competitors’ entry fees have been refunded in full.

We managed to keep our Aintree events going through the Foot & Mouth epidemic in 2001, but this time we have an unprecedented situation affecting human health, the effect of which is completely out of our hands.

We are planning to run a full season of “Covid-19 compliant” events in 2021 at both Aintree and Barbon, We hope that you will be with us at our events once motorsport resumes and we thank you for all the kind messages of support you have sent in during this most difficult of times.

Stay safe everyone, see you next year.

John Harden, LMC Chairman

Announcement 6/7/2020

With the information we had back in March, we had been planning for Liverpool Motor Club’s events to go ahead as normal this year unless we were instructed otherwise.

However, things subsequently changed completely and all British Motorsport was cancelled until July and permits for all events prior to 30th June were withdrawn by MSUK.
As a result, the April and June Aintree Sprints, the May Track Day and the June Barbon Hillclimb all had to be cancelled.

Subsequently, we made the tough decision to also cancel the July Barbon Hillclimb that was due to take place just 4 days after the end of the suspension of motorsport. It became clear that we were likely to have serious difficulties securing sufficient volunteers to run the event, particularly adequate medical cover as several of our medics are NHS personnel who cover motorsport on their days off. It’s extremely disappointing to have to cancel any event, but we felt that it was the responsible thing to do at this most uncertain of times.

We have refunded all entry fees for the affected events, and thank those competitors who asked us to hold on to their donations to North West Air Ambulance. We will pass those on in full at the end of the season.
The Air Ambulance service in England receives no Government subsidy and is as busy as ever during the Covid crisis. They need all the help they can get, so please consider making an extra donation to NWAA via their website: www.nwaa.net

In June we decided to postpone the LMC Speed Championship until 2021 as 18 of the 24 qualifying events had been cancelled making the championship unviable.

In July we reached the point where we had to decide whether we could run the 22nd August Aintree Track Day. Having examined the various requirements from our insurers, from Aintree Racecourse and the UK Government, and having taken into account all the issues and responsibilities connected with social distancing, we have reached the conclusion that we cannot safely run a track day at Aintree at the present time. No doubt many of our regular participants will be as disappointed as we are that the event will not run, but we hope you will understand why we have made this decision. We hope you will all be back with us at our next track day in May next year.

We will continue to monitor the situation and follow the instructions of  MSUK and the relevant authorities. We still hope to be able to run the September sprint, but this is by no means certain.

In the meantime, stay safe, heed the Government’s warnings and look after yourselves and those around you.

John Harden, LMC Chairman

6/7/2020

Motorsport UK COVID-19 Update

Friday 26/6/2020

Motorsport UK is continuing to updating its guidance about Motorsport in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.

See the latest news and information HERE.
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Covid-19 Information for Marshals (updated 25/6/2020)

June 27th, 2020 • By: Chairman • Aintree, Barbon, Events, Hillclimb, News, regs, sprint, trackdays

In consultation with the UK Government, Motorsport UK has given the green light to motorsport recommencing from 1st July. However, there are many complex issues that have to be addressed by organisers and all those taking part to maintain the safety of Marshals, Officials and Drivers through social distancing and the avoidance of cross-contamination.

Events taking place in July are to be run under Phase 1 of MSUK’s guidelines and we anticipate changes will be made in the light of experience over the coming months.

We recommend all marshals read the Phase 1 guidelines, whether or not you are attending events in July, and also the Q & A notes that should answer most of the questions that you may have.

What we don’t know at the moment is how the guidelines may change over time, nor do we know what extra requirements venue owners may impose that might affect the running of events.

You can read the guidelines here: Phase 1 Marshals’ Guidelines 9/6/2020

The Q & A notes can be read here: Phase 1 Marshals’ Questions 9/6/2020

Please remember that this is Phase 1 of the guidelines which are likely to be amended as experience is gained of running events.

Motorsport UK has published a comprehensive range of information about running all disciplines of motorsport whilst reducing the risk of Covid-19 infection. This can be found here: Motorsport UK – Restart 

We will update this post as and when we are notified of changes, so please keep coming back for the latest information.

updated 27/6/2020

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July 2020 Barbon Hillclimb Cancelled

May 6th, 2020 • By: Chairman • Barbon, Events, Hillclimb, News

It is with regret that having lost the 6th June Barbon Hillclimb following MSUK’s suspension of motorsport, we now have to advise that the 4th July Barbon Hillclimb is also cancelled.

We had hoped that the restrictions connected with the Coronavirus pandemic would have reduced sufficiently to enable us to run the July event, but it now appears that even if some easing of the current lockdown happens before the end of June it is unlikely to be sufficient to allow us to run the event whilst keeping everyone safe from Covid-19.

After a great deal of deliberation including consulting our safety, medical and support volunteers, we have reached the sad conclusion that we won’t be able to run either of the  Hillclimbs at Barbon this year.

The July event would have been just 4 days after the end of the current suspension of motorsport (which may yet be extended) but to give adequate notice of our intentions to everyone connected with the event, we needed to announce our decision at least 2 months prior to the event.
We have now reached that point as we couldn’t afford to wait any longer for MSUK to announce its plans.

The decision has not been easy. No-one knows what the world is going to be like by July as none of us has experienced such an extraordinary situation before, so all we can do is make a decision based on the limited information available today.

We have taken into account a whole range of factors, the main issue being that of social distancing especially in the very restricted paddock space at Barbon.  We have had to consider the welfare of all those involved with the event, competitors, marshals, rescue crew, medics, event officials and of course spectators. We also had to consider the residents of Barbon Village to whom we also have a duty of care. Even if we closed the event to spectators, we would still have had over 250 people on-site which we think is likely to be more than will be allowed when easing of the current restrictions is announced by HM Government.

Clearly, the right thing to do is to cancel the event in order to protect the health of all those who might attend.

I’m sure you will be as disappointed as the members of the organising team who have put in a tremendous amount of work in preparation for this years’ Barbon events but, ultimately, the safety of everyone connected with the event needs to be our priority.

We have now refunded all competitors’ entry fees for this year’s Barbon events

We hope you will support the Barbon Hillclimbs once we are able to run the events again, hopefully, next year.

Stay safe everyone.

John Harden,
Liverpool Motor Club, on behalf of Barbon Hillclimb Ltd.

6/5/2020

 

 

 

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We’re now taking entries for the 2020 Aintree Sprints

February 2nd, 2020 • By: Chairman • Aintree, Events, News, regs, sprint

We’re accepting entries for our 2020 Aintree Sprints.

You can enter our events on-line with our quick & secure booking service. It’s the same price to enter online or by post.

Just click here to be taken to the Aintree Sprints Page for more details.
Enter online and you’ll avoid the risk of postal loss or delays, you will receive immediate confirmation that we’ve received your entry, & you don’t need a stamp or envelope.
And if you wish to enter more than one Aintree sprint, you can use the same on-line form without entering all your information again.

Don’t delay though…. some events may be full well before the closing date, so send in your entry in plenty of time!

Why not join LMC too?

Members of LMC are entitled to a discount of £3 off the entry fee for each of our events. If you enter any three LMC events (sprints, hillclimbs or trackdays), your total discount almost pays for your membership. Enter a fourth event and you are in profit. And membership entitles you to join our popular Speed Championship that allows you to select from over 20 rounds at 8 of the most popular Sprint and Hillclimb venues in the North, North Wales, and Midlands.

Updated 25/1/2020
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Registrations are open for the LMC Speed Championship

February 2nd, 2020 • By: Chairman • Aintree, Barbon, Events, Hillclimb, News, regs, sprint

Registrations are now open for the 2020 Liverpool Motor Club Speed Championship.

We’ve kept the registration fee at £17 for another year – we do hope you’ll join us!

There’s a choice from 24 rounds taking in all the most popular sprint & hillclimb venues in the North, North Wales and Midlands.

Simply click here to see the regulations and to enter

Updated 2/2/2020

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