Harvey Garton handed the reins of Manx Motor Cycle Club over to Peter Maddocks at the annual general meeting and dinner on Friday.

For a mild-mannered individual, who doesn’t normally court controversy, the past five years have been the most difficult in the 95-year history of the club.

To the uninitiated, the impression would be that the Manx Grand Prix has blossomed and grown under the umbrella of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling.

But it has been a turbulent period, as the marriage to new bed-partner (aka the Classic TT) has not been so cordial beneath the surface.

Fortunately, the outgoing chairman’s placid nature and all-round respect has helped steer the MMCC ship safely through some very choppy waters.

Harvey touched on it briefly in his retiring speech to members in a private meeting prior to the dinner at the Palace Hotel.

’The club continues its positive dialogue with the Department of Enterprise. We have a one-year extension to our contract.

’However, there are some potentially exciting developments which, if they come to fruition, will mean a lot for the future of, not only the Manx, but also the Classic TT.

’I wish the Department and the club’s new executive committee well in their ongoing discussions.’

The past 12 months were also tinged with sadness, and the retiring chairman asked for a few moments of respect to acknowledge the passing of former committee members Chris Rowe (one-time chief scrutineer), Ian Cannell CBE and Mike Dean. Also Raymond Caley (a founder member of the Manx Grand Prix Supporters Club), long-time marshal Eddie Christian of the Sulby Glen Hotel (a great supporter of the MGP) and Mike Jones (former scrutineer).

Among the others named were MGP riders: Paul Crellin, Steve Spencer, Davey Lambert, Jamie Hodson, Gavin Lupton, Euan Ferguson, Brian Hussey and 1954 Senior race winner George Costain, whose celebration of life service had taken place earlier that day.

Harvey wished to place on record his thanks to all of the committee the vice-presidents and to many others who, over his time as chairman, had given him massive support. ’The club has a superb, hard-working committee and I am sure that the future of the Manx Grand Prix is in good hands,’ he said.

The thanks continued with mention of the MGP Supporters Club and Mylchreest Motors.

’In 2017, everybody’s efforts saw the club running a successful Classic TT and MGP. The quality and excitement in the Manx Grand Prix Races proved, yet again, that the most exciting races are not necessarily the very fastest.

’The Manx also proved to be relatively safe. Here I must refer to the TT Marshals Association which is to be thanked for the efforts which greatly assist the smooth running of the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT.’

Before finishing, Harvey referred to the conduct of some of the newcomers to the Manx, whose behaviour on the Course, he said, did not come up to the necessary standards.

’I have to advise you that subsequently the club, working together with clerk of the course Gary Thompson, has put a lot of effort into trying to ensure that the newcomer riding standards for 2018, particularly in those early practice sessions, will be much improved.’

He thanked the Mike Hailwood Foundation for its continued support in running the newcomer weekends, as well as all the various emergency services and volunteer organisations involved with the events on the Mountain Course, along with sponsors, Douglas Corporation, various Government departments and fund raisers.

He gave special thanks to former race secretary Caroline Etherington, who left her position with the club after 29 years of ’massive’ help, but added that the office continues to be in very safe hands with Ann and Heather.

john watterson