Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 31 July 2008

THE MOTORSPORT Association has launched a new drive to bring in new blood to motorsport.

Go Motorsport is based on a new website and a number of motorsport ambassadors that include our own Malcolm Wilson, along with Murray Walker, Allan McNish, Jenson Button, Damon Hill and Vicki Butler-Henderson.

The idea is to raise the profile of motorsport and via the website publicise events and explain how to get involved, with basic advice and links to the main clubs.

There are three main areas of the promotion - Go Drive, Go See and Go Help.

Go Drive is about how to take part in any of the 12 disciplines of motorsport and gives a simple list of what is required in terms of car and personal equipment and of course the costs involved.

Perhaps the figures quoted err on the expensive side but things cost more down south.

Go See is a list of events happening around the country where spectators are welcome. Motorsport, like many sports, has suffered in recent years with so much media coverage centred on soccer and many people who would go to events just don’t know they are happening.

Go Help is about getting involved as organisers, marshals or officials. Motorsport involves a huge number of people to run events – in some cases more than the number of people competing if you take rallying or racing as an example.

The MSA has concerns that the average age or registered officials is rising steadily and there are not enough young officials coming forward to replace those that are retiring.

The Volunteers in Motorsport scheme is trying to assist this, particularly in marshalling.

National Motorsport Week is from August 9 to 17 and features various events around the country where enthusiasts can find out more about motorsport.

The Cumbrian event is at the Cumbria Classic Car Show at Dalemain on August 17. The Wigton Motor Club-run event will have action displays of sporting trials, 4x4 trials and autotests, along with display of race, rally and speed event cars with regular competitors present to inform anyone who is interested.

There will also be marshals on site to explain what they do at events.

Wigton members Neil Rudd and Brian Hodgson did well on the Manx International Historic Rally taking a class win in C2 in their Escort TC against some very tough opposition.

There is a lot going on over the next few weeks. This weekend sees the Northern Speed Championship head for the Elvington Sprint near York with Peter Garforth and Colin Birkbeck tying for the lead. Wigton have their August Pub run on August 6.

Several local drivers are heading north to Bo’ness for the Bo’ness Revival Hill Climb which has been brought back after some 64 years.

The first event was pre-war and in 1947 it was the first round of the first ever British Hill Climb Championship. This year’s event is on August 9/10 and is for pre-72 cars only.

The course is rather shorter than the original but if the event is well received then the full course will be restored for 2009.