Brighton and Hove Motor Club

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The Brighton and Hove Motor Club (BHMC) is best known as organiser of the Brighton Speed Trials.

Brighton Speed Trials

The Brighton Speed Trials, in full The Brighton National Speed Trials, is commonly held to be the oldest running motor race. The first race was held 19–22 July 1905 after Sir Harry Preston persuaded Brighton town council to tarmac the surface of the road adjacent to the beach between the Palace Pier and Black Rock to hold motor racing events. This stretch was renamed Madeira Drive in 1909 and the event is still held there, normally on the second Saturday of September each year. In 1936 Motor Sport described the event as: "undoubtedly the most important speed-trials on the British Calendar."

Contents

History

The club's origins date to the early 1920s when it was known as the Brighton and Hove Motor Cycle and Light Car Club. The earliest known reference to the Brighton and Hove Motor Club dates from 3 October 1925. [1] On 12 January 1926 the sixth Annual General Meeting was held at the Royal Albion Hotel, Brighton. [2] The Motor Cycle interests were split off in 1932.

During the 1920s the club organised speed trials at Lewes, [3] there being no Brighton Speed Trials in the years 1925-1931. In 1926 the Brighton to Beer Trial for the Mayor's Cup was scheduled for 26/27 June. [4] In 1927 there was a proposal to build a motor racing circuit on the Downs at Portslade, near Brighton. C. Laurence Clayton, who was secretary of the BHMC, also acted as Secretary for the track management, Brighton and Hove Motor Racing Club Ltd. The track was never built. [5] On 5 September 1931 the club held an informal race meeting at Brooklands. [6] The plan to build the Brighton road circuit was revived in 1934 but did not succeed. [7] In 1938 The Autocar reported: "The Brighton-Beer Trial organised by the Brighton and Hove club has become a classic." [8] Among the competitors that year was Sydney Allard, who gained a First Class Award. [9] The 1939 Brighton Speed Trials were scheduled for September 23, [10] but were cancelled due to the outbreak of war.

The Lewes Speed Trials were speed trials held on a defunct course in Lewes, Sussex, England, sometimes known as "The Motor Road."

Brooklands race track

Brooklands was a 2.75-mile (4.43 km) motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England, United Kingdom. It opened in 1907 and was the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit as well as one of Britain's first airfields, which also became Britain's largest aircraft manufacturing centre by 1918, producing military aircraft such as the Wellington and civil airliners like the Viscount and VC-10.

Sydney Allard British racing driver

Sydney Herbert Allard was the founder of the Allard car company and a successful racing motorist in cars of his own manufacture.

After World War Two the club was eager to stage competitive events. Early in 1945: "The possibilities of a post-war hill climb, which Robert Waddy of "Fuzzy" fame has been asked to investigate and the continuation of the Brighton Speed Trials were discussed at the annual general meeting." [11] The venue investigated was Clayton Tunnel Hill, to the north of Brighton and about one mile in length, but the plan went nowhere. [12] The club organised a hill climb at Stanmer Park, Brighton, Sussex, on 5 June 1948. The event was won by Bob Gerard, driving an ERA, but he crashed beyond the finish line and no more events were held there. [13]

Clayton Tunnel

Clayton Tunnel is a railway tunnel located in the village of Pyecombe near the village of Clayton, West Sussex between Hassocks and Preston Park railway stations on the Brighton Main Line.

Frederick Roberts "Bob" Gerard was a racing driver and businessman from England. He participated in numerous top-level motor racing events on either side of World War II, including eight World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, scoring no championship points.

English Racing Automobiles automobile manufacturer

English Racing Automobiles (ERA) was a British racing car manufacturer active from 1933 to 1954.

In 1948 the club moved into premises in the arches under Dukes Mound on the seafront at Brighton and have remained there ever since.

Regular events

As well as the Speed Trials, the club organises other car related and social events.

MonthEvent
JanuaryVisit to Autosport Show
AprilAnnual General Meeting
MayJolly - a social day trip
JuneClassic and Concours Car Show
AugustGoodwood Sprint
September Brighton Speed Trials
DecemberDinner Dance

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Motor Sport, November 1925, p. 178.
  2. ↑ Motor Sport, February 1926, p. 275.
  3. ↑ T.R. Nicholson, Sprint - Speed Hillclimbs and Speed Trials in Britain: 1899-1925, David & Charles, 1969, p. 241.
  4. ↑ Motor Sport, March 1926, p. 308.
  5. ↑ Motor Sport, January 1927, p. 226.
  6. ↑ Motor Sport, October 1931, p. 588.
  7. ↑ Motor Sport, January 1934, p. 143.
  8. ↑ The Autocar, June 17, 1938, p. 1110.
  9. ↑ Motor Sport, July 1938, pp. 266-267.
  10. ↑ Motor Sport, September 1939, p. 276.
  11. ↑ The Motor, April 18, 1945, p. 173.
  12. ↑ The Motor, August 15, 1945, p. 50.
  13. ↑ Motor Sport, July 1948, pp. 211, 213, 214.

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References

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