Confused over ACU Events?
By TMX Archives on 11th Jun 11
A row in the Isle of Man regarding a comment made to race marshals prompts editor JD into defending the ACU Ltd...
Don't know about you, but I've always been a huge fan of the Isle of Man TT races. Although it's been a few years since I've actually been to watch, I was a regular for around ten-years or so, pumping huge amounts of money into the Isle of Man Steam Packet company as I did so. Yes, I've done it properly, tent on the back of my 750 Suzuki and toothbrush stuffed in the back pocket of my jeans and off to Liverpool docks.
Luckily for me these days, and for you also, the television coverage of the TT is these days nothing short of fantastic. ITV4 has clearly engaged an awesome film crew because they provide camera coverage that is nothing short of stunning. Not for them the easy option of setting up six cameras in the obvious, easy places – they really work at getting to the quick parts of the course, often places the public can't access, with remote cameras. Brilliant job!
Yes, I know that the TT has little to do with off-road directly although plenty of the participants are into their dirt bikes in a big way, none more so than 16-times winner John McGuinness – he topped the podium again last Saturday – who was a keen youth MXer before hitting the tarmac trail. He also lives just down the road from the T+MX dungeon and drops in occasionally to bum a paper!
What really started this column off though is that during the course of the fortnight's action I've been following practising and racing partly on the event's own website and I was shocked to see that there was a huge row going on behind the scenes whereby there was a threatened marshals revolt.
This came about after clerk of the course, Eddie Nelson, had told marshals to "Stop whingeing about nothing,” which many of the hard-working and committed volunteers heard over the tetra radio system. This caused a huge upsurge of anger, several marshals threatened to quit on the spot, many more threatened to join in and the official TT Twitter site was sizzling with indignation and many uncomplimentary things were said about the ‘ACU' and its officials as feelings clearly boiled over.
Eddie Nelson later made a public apology for his comments, which the marshals were urged to accept in the interests of the future of the event. Like any other race meeting, no marshals means no racing.
I am making no judgements whatsoever on Eddie Nelson. I'm sure that his job is hyper stressful and it isn't one that I'd like to sign my name to. I'm also sure he genuinely regrets any comments made in the heat of the moment that so upset his army of previously willing volunteers. And believe me they were mighty upset and rightly so.
No, what concerned me most, and still does, is the degree of mis-understanding by the majority of people, including ACU members, regarding the ACU Ltd and ACU Events Ltd. This is of course totally understandable given the similarity in the names and the individuals linked to both bodies – and many of those commenting vociferously in the Isle of Man were venting their spleen on the ACU.
ACU Events Ltd has taken over the running of the Isle of Man TT races and the high-profile Maxxis British Motocross Championship series.
However, it needs highlighting that ACU Events Ltd is NOT the same as the ACU Ltd.
ACU Events Ltd was set-up as a ‘subsidiary' of the ACU, but the two bodies are legally separate operations – as should be obvious as both are Limited Companies.
ACU Events Ltd does however have access to some of the the ACU's not inconsiderable funds and was initially given a £100,000 loan facility, which T+MX understands has subsequently been raised considerably. Why one limited company felt it necessary to form another limited company as a subsidiary to carry out what appears to be the same role has never, to my knowledge, been clearly explained.
As I say, this chain of thought was kicked-off by race fans and officials who clearly don't know there's a difference between ACU Ltd and ACU Events Ltd. If you are similarly confused, and I know you are, I suggest you contact your local ACU centre secretary and ask him or her to explain.
Meanwhile, over the channel, there were no upset marshals threatening to bring the MXGP to a screeching halt (couldn't find any on Twitter anyway!) Tommy Searle was busy raising the British supporters' blood pressure with a stunning MX2 win at St Jean d'Angely and in the process forcing himself right into the World Championship reckoning.
‘Tommy Gunn' has a huge and loyal fan base in Britain and I'm sure British GP promoter Steve Dixon – despite running a rival MXGP team in the same class – was grinning from ear to ear at Searle's victory, wearing his GP promoter's cap of course. And why not. Having proved that he can win races (not that anyone ever doubted Tommy's outright speed) this had given the British GP, due to run at Matterley Basin on Sunday, August 21 just the boost it needed and ticket sales should really take off now...
