2025 Awards Night and AGM Debrief

Almost two weeks ago we officially drew a close on the 2025 racing season, with 268 of you attending our Dinner, Dance and Awards night.

In this news item we have photos from the night, courtesy of Jeff Bloxham and AGM statements from our Treasurer and Chairman. Coming soon will be the brilliant end-of-season highlights video from Marc Peters, that premiered on the night.

Photos may be viewed and downloaded from these four folders, as annotated by Jeff: People Prizes People 'Extra' Prizes 'Extra'

A special thank you goes to our Guest Speaker, Martin Short, it was a pleasure to have his family and friends there on the night too. Many of you commented that Martin delivered one of the most interesting after-dinner speeches we have heard. All the more impressive given it was his first time. Mark Werrell was as professional a presenter as ever, patient too, given the enthusiastic chatter from the back of the room in the early stages!

Annual General Meeting 23/11/2025

Treasurer's report

Results for year-end November 2024

Turnover                                                               £1,276,396.00

Gross surplus before overheads                                £275,138.00

Administrative expenses   (£295,009.00)

Other income          £23,283.00

Remaining Surplus                                                                                 £2119.00    

Note 2024 was a significantly better year than 2023 which showed a loss of (£36,265.00)          

The Club has tangible assets of £158,196.00 and cash in hand of £479,095.00, with total equity of £637,291.00. The Club remains in a strong financial position.

2025     

The accounts for 2025 are in the early stages of preparation but already we can see that 2025 has been a very challenging year with disappointing grids for the second half of this season together with rising costs of track fees, medical, recovery and other costs year on year.

It is most likely that the Club will show a significant loss for year-end 2025 as a result. The cost of operating a race meeting now is such that without full, or close to full grids, it is increasingly difficult to generate sufficient income to cover the Club’s costs.

2026

The Club has already carried out a detailed analysis of the 2025 Season results and this analysis has been put to good use when planning the 2026 Season. As a result there will be fewer racing days (14 days down from 17 days) however the intention is still to offer members the maximum possible track time at the most competitive entry fees. This may involve, in some limited cases, combined grids, however wherever possible grids may be split to offer a 'race within a race' so that each Series retains its own identity. We have found a number of examples of combined CSCC races in the past that have worked well.

Entry fees at some rounds won’t change, whilst others will need to increase to cover rising costs at those venues. In order to keep the entry fees competitive, we will, for the first time since 2011, be increasing Registration Fees to £150.00. As before, this one registration fee will cover you for as many CSCC Series and Championships as your car is eligible for. Those wishing to register a second car can do so for just £75.00. Membership fees will remain unchanged at £49.00 for a further year.

We trust that Members can see that the Club is doing it’s very best to provide the best venues at the most competitive cost of entry.

Chairman's Report 2025.

A very warm welcome to you all, I hope you enjoyed last night’s festivities and have recovered from any excesses!

So, on to business. As you have heard from Malcolm, 2025 has not been one of most successful financially, however it’s not all bad news. We have had some fantastic, close, competitive racing, few driving standards incidents which given the thousands of racing miles completed is testament to our driving standards procedures, but probably most importantly is the great paddock atmosphere our meetings have engendered.

To say that 2025 has seen some changes within our organisation would be somewhat of an understatement! Our club founder and treasurer Richard Wos decided early in the year to retire. Make no mistake that without Richard, the CSCC would not even exist. Even after retirement Richard continued to pass on pertinent information to our new acting treasurer Malcolm Johnson.

Having just managed to regroup after the loss of Richard we then found that our long-time director Hugo Holder wanted to take early retirement, and whilst we knew he had discussed this for a while, again a regroup was necessary. To this end we promoted Hannah Gardin to Director, and Tony Rushforth to Non-Executive Director. We have also taken the opportunity to update our club rules, and I will be asking you to vote on these and committee appointments later on. The updated club rules and appointments were later voted on and passed unanimously.

I must give my heartfelt thanks to Richard Wos and Hugo Holder for their sterling efforts in making the club what it is today, and to Malcolm for stepping in at a very stressful time, and to Hannah and Tony for their unwavering loyalty and understanding. I can’t finish this part of my report without thanking our continuing director, now managing director, David Smitheram for his even extra efforts in keeping things going during this reorganisation, and also to our new acting vice chairman Ian Everett for his help in bringing office systems up to date. I must also welcome our new staff member Claire Archer, and thank Jo Lewkowicz for her additional efforts. It is testament to the efforts of all these folk that our race meetings continued to be organised to our usual high standards despite the turbulence behind the scenes.

So, on to 2026. By now you will have seen our proposed 2026 dates. We have always tried to be innovative with our calendars, so for this coming year, alongside our usual venues we are excited to try a couple of different things. A mini-enduro at Donington on 21st June will be the first time we have offered a pair of 2-hour races. Full details will be provided nearer the time, but refuelling equipment may not be required. We are also going North of the Border to Knockhill to hold the first ever night races at that venue. Those that raced there a few years back will testify that its well worthwhile making the effort to travel up there as it’s a fantastic drivers’ circuit. With Silverstone GP and our usual spring date at Spa back on the calendar, 2026 promises to be an exciting year for us.

We are looking at ways to maintain and improve our pit-lane safety record, by introducing Hi Vis, whilst improving speed before drivers’ briefings by removing wristbands. Exact details are still to be discussed and agreed with your committee. Talking of briefings, after listening to feedback and finding a way forward that is acceptable to Motorsport UK Clerks, our driver briefings will now be carried out after qualifying.

As ever I can’t finish without offering my sincerest thanks to our series and championship sponsors, our directors, office staff, my fellow committee members, our officials, helpers, the boys and girls in orange, but most of all to you, our members, for your continued and valued support, thank you.

John Hammersley (CSCC Chairman)

The AGM continued with a unanimous vote to approve the existing committee appointments and approve the changes to the club rules, which have now been updated on the CSCC website.

Taken from the meeting minutes:

Would it be possible to return Classic K races to longer races, perhaps 50 or the original 60 minutes in duration? This was raised in advance, by member Peter Boyes.

David Smitheram Peter shares the car with his son, so to maximise track time they prefer longer races. At the last survey, the show of hands was fairly equally split between those preferring 40 minutes and 60 minutes. For some single drivers (and cars) 60 minutes was too much. For those wanting more track time they have the option of entering Swinging 60s for half price, I appreciate this isn't what Peter is looking for. It is certainly easier to plan the timetables for the year when each category occupies a similar period of time.

John Hammersley We would have liked to have done another driver survey by now; but it has not been possible.

We hope to do one next summer, when this can be a question to put to the Classic K members. There will be no changes for 2026, but it will be considered for 2027 season.

JH asked for any other questions:

Christopher Blewett raised the subject of parking in the Paddock.

While Swinging 60s usually park together, Classic K tend to park all over the place, which makes it hard to get to know the other drivers.

Malcolm Johnson We have had a volunteer to act as Paddock Manager. He has suitable experience and knows his way around a race paddock. He will arrive on Friday afternoons and be available to help and organise at certain circuits where we know parking is a problem. More will be announced in a future news article.

Any other relevant Club business

A- Pit-stops and winners’ penalties. To remain “as is” for 2026 but subject to the survey and possible review for 2027.

B- Open discussion

No further points were raised, meeting closed.