The Manx Grand Prix Supporters Club has set a provisional date of February 26 to vote on a decision to begin dissolving the charity, which was officially established in September 1975.

The non-profit organisation was set up to help fund rescue helicopters at the Manx Grand Prix on the Isle of Man. However, the Manx government began covering the costs in 2021.

At a committee meeting on Thursday, the club agreed to call a meeting of members in February to ‘vote on a resolution to dissolve the charity’.

Last year, the MGP Supporters Club, which also assists riders injured at the event and their families, celebrated its 50th anniversary.

placeholder image — Donegal's Caomhan Canny celebrates his Senior Manx Grand Prix victory on the Isle of Man last year. (Photo by Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press)

Now, the charity could be lost after more than half a century of supporting the Manx Grand Prix, which was traditionally viewed as a stepping stone for riders aiming to race at the Isle of Man TT.

Should the club be dissolved, any remaining funds would be transferred to ‘like-minded charities’.

Before Christmas, a statement issued to club members cited changes including a shift in focus since the government began funding the event’s rescue helicopters and an aging membership, with few younger volunteers joining the club to take on the responsibilities involved.

“As you know the MGP Supporters Club reached a significant milestone and celebrated its 50th anniversary this year which is a phenomenal achievement,” the statement read.

“The original reason for the creation of the club was to raise funds to support the costs of the MGP rescue helicopters, which the club has done right up to 2021 when the decision was made to stop supporting, as all the costs were now paid for by the Isle of Man Government.

“We have carried on since then and continued to help injured MGP riders and their families with financial support as well as donations for essential medical equipment. We have also supported every MGP rider, since 2022, with a payment to help them with their entry fee costs.

“Since the main object of the club has changed, your committee now feel that the focus has shifted both with themselves and with some supporters and this is why we now question the future of the charity.

“As with many voluntary organisations the majority of the work is done by a few and we are all getting older! It seems that this issue is also true with many other motorcycle related organisations having the same problems i.e. not enough younger members coming forward to take on some of the responsibilities.

“The other issue faced is, because we are a charity we have to comply with ever increasing regulations and the days of just volunteering to help out are long gone. As a committee member you now have a legal obligation as a trustee to comply with the regulations and this is obviously not for everyone to take on.”

Outlining the consequences of the “likely decision” to start dissolving the charity, the statement added: “If this happens, then our constitution states that we will call a meeting of members to vote on the resolution and if passed then our remaining funds can be transferred to like-minded charities and the Manx Grand Prix Benevolent Fund where the support for MGP injured riders will continue.”

The statement concluded with an apology to members if the news had come as a “shock.”