Brian Higgins lands ACU chairmanship
By TMX Archives on 23rd Dec 10
AS widely anticipated Brian Higgins has been appointed as chairman of the ACU, while John Collins is the new vice-chairman after being appointed by the Board of Directors last week. Both Higgins and Collins will lead the ACU for the next three-years, commencing January 1, in what is widely anticipated to be a forward thinking partnership to help motorcycle racing grow and expand against a difficult financial and economic backdrop.
Higgins moves from being vice-chairman into the chairman's position. He has an excellent grounding in bike sport being a former trials and enduro competitor and has a keen understanding of the commercial requirements to operate events successfully. He takes over from Jim Parker, who has stepped down from the chairman's role and will now concentrate on his position as managing director of ACU Events Ltd.
Higgins has organised many motocross events through his club – West Devon MCC – and for the last four years has been the series manager for the Maxxis British Motocross Championship.
The Devonian has been chairman of the Motocross Committee for three-years and runs a successful vehicle hire company in Tavistock, Devon.
"Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the contribution and progress Jim Parker as chairman has made in the past seven-years of moving the ACU into the 21st century,” said Higgins. "My aim, together with the rest of the directors, will be to maintain this progress and ensure our grass roots sport is able to survive in these difficult times and, together with our clubs, move forward with value for money events.
"I will expand my knowledge of off-road events further by supporting some more trials, enduros and track racing this year and visit as many road-race events as possible, which will be a vast learning curve.
"However, I believe the ACU Road Racing is in very good hands with some very professional promoters and clubs and I do not wish to interfere in this. Behind the scenes there is much to do over the next few months and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
New vice-chairman, Collins, is another enthusiastic trials and enduro competitor. A former teacher, Collins has his own motorcycle shop in Port Talbot, Wales. He was secretary of the West South Wales Centre for over 20-years and has been chairman of the Trials and Enduro Committee for ten-years.
Collins has just been appointed onto the FIM Enduro Commission and officiates and plays a key role in the organisation of all major British Championship Trials and Enduro events.
Collins said: "My role is to work with the new chairman, assist him and do what I can to promote motorcycle sport. I think we've made progress under Jim's chairmanship and we now want to carry on with the work he started.
"I would hope my experience as chairman of the Welsh Federation and secretary of my Centre for many years will help me to be the interface between the centres and clubs and the new commercial people involved in our sport.
As a competitor in both trials and enduro events, I will also keep close to the grass roots and continue to understand what it is our riders want from their sport and the ACU.”