Whilst on the face of it the above statement might more normally be associated with the scandal rags, it is currently a very valid question for motor sport to be asking itself.

Towards the end of 2005 we saw a general decline in entries to all kinds of motor sport events. These were largely attributed to the normal end of season broken cars, lack of budget, poor championship position, etc. you’ve heard them all.

So what of 2006? Given the above arguments we should expect entries to be back up there, the truth however is that they are not. We are only in February and we have already seen the Kall Kwik National Rally postponed due to a dramatic lack of entries (just 14 two weeks before the event). Andy (Kilby) and I were out on the National Tour of Epynt at the beginning of the February which had just 60 entries against 78 on last year’s event and that was run in October.

Sadly I also have to report that the Kent Rally has been cancelled for the very same reason, this was in no way a financial decision because unlike most motor sport events the costs of running a road rally are relatively low, but the decision was based on the number of entries and the man power that is required to run the event, when marshals dramatically outnumber competitors there is something very wrong.

So what is going on? Well despite what our illustrious leaders Messrs Blair and Brown tell us, the cost of living seems to be going up and people are having to tighten their belts. This in conjunction with the ever-spiraling entry fees due to the costs of running events, has to have an effect (although this does not really explain the entry level on a road rally). So what can be done? You tell me! There seems to be no magic formula, fewer events seems to be a logical route, but then the question is which ones should go? The natural market will most probably decide, but the small club that runs just one or two events a year could end up with nothing.

Therefore the another answer has to be co-operation between local clubs much in the way we work with Maidstone and Bexley on the Rally of Kent, but believe me that is in no way a recipe for financial success for at the time of writing this article, the level of entries is less than encouraging for the effort that has already gone into the event. Believe me this problem will not be restricted to rallying, it is just that our season starts earlier than the race and sprint fraternity. I am sure we shall see the exact same trend there. So the question is open, I will be more than happy to hear your thoughts.

Colin Billings