Regulations now available for the Fellsman

Navigational Run through parts of Cumbria and north Lancashire, Srarting from Crooklands this event gives a choice of route books from full navigation to simple Tulip – your choice.

Starting from the Cafe Ambrio near M6 junction 36 and running ito south Cumbria for a 65 mile loop returning to Cafe Ambrio for the Lunch Halt.

The afternoon section heads South crossing the Lune at Hornby and then skirts the Bowland fells via Clapham,Wigglesworth and Tosside. The route follows much of the Hodder Valley to finish at Knowle Green Village Hall, again with ample off road parking. Total mileage approx 135 in total.

For regulations and entry please click on link.

Enter Event

Regulations now available for the LAC Kendal 100

Regulations are now available for a new event on our calender the LAC Kendal 100 on the 18th June.

This event recreates an earlt reliability Trial from 1903/4 organised by the North East Lancashire Automobile Club, which shorlty after became the Lancashire Automobile Club. The original event ran from Whalley to Kendal and then retraced it’s steps back to Whalley.

We start from The Mytton Fold Hotel, coffee and bacon butties available, then pass the original start point in Whalley to follow as closely as possible the original route to Kendal.

Modern regualtions mean the return journey cannot return by the same route so we are using roads from othe Reliability Trials to return via the Trough of Bowland to the Mytton Fold Hotel where pie, peas and chips will be served.

Full details, regulations and electronic entry form can by found by clicking on this link.

https://lancsautoclub.com/enter-event/?action=show&event=6208

Regulations now available for the St George’s Day Run

Regulations are available for our St Georges Day Run on Sunday 23rd April. This year we are starting from Cafe Lazio at Huntley’s. Saml;esbury and taking in the Fylde with a stop at Knott End before going to Quernmoor and back over the Trough of Bowland and Pndle Hill to finish at Blackburn Northern Sports.

Please click on this link for regulations and electronic entry form.

https://lancsautoclub.com/enter-event/?action=enter&event=5795

Alec Poole Evening 23rd March – Alec Poole’s Book ‘A Life By The Poole’

Lancashire Automobile Club (1902) Limited 

Presents the latest in its Motor Sport Supper Series 

An evening with Alec Poole 

Last night an audience of almost 100 motorsport enthusiasts were treated to a fascinating evening by former racing and rally driver Alec Poole.

During his series of stories and anecdotes Alec mentioned he had written a book during lockdown covering his exploits over the years.

Many of those present asked where they could obtain a copy (Alec had unfortunately left a supply of his books in his hotel room) so I had a word with Alec after the event and he gave me the following details. The book is called ‘A Life By the Poole’ and can be obtained by going to https://www.alifebythepoole.com/

If last night is anything to go by it will be a thoroughly enjoyable read.

2023 Annual Dinner Dance and Prize Evening

As normal the Lancashire Automobile Club returned to the great setting of Mitton Hall for it’s Annual Dinner Dance.

The guests arrived to a complimentary glass of bubbly courtesy of the Club before sitting down to a fine meal. Steve Woods said grace and then three course meal was served in exemplary fashion by the Hall’s staff. Martin Wylie then proposed the Loyal Toast to the King, Duke of Lancaster, Lord of Man.

The meal was followed by the prize presentation. The first to receive an award was the ‘young’ Mike Wood who appropriately received the Wood Trophy for his lifelong exploits in rallying and his consistent support of the Club for70 year. During this time he has been a member, Committee Member, Chairman, President, Vice President and Director. Somewhere in the midst of all this he has been the prime mover of several events and organiser of many more including driving and social events. He continues to support the Club assisting in the organisation of the St Georges Day Run, LAC Kendal 100 and Coast to Coast.

The next award was the Attwater Trophy. This is for services to the Club and this year’s winner should be known to many regular entrants. Sandra Williams is our entries Secretary and ensures the smooth running of events. Additionally, she can be found at signing on as well as marshalling on our events. How she has fitted this in over the last couple of years with her other duties is a mystery. She has also been working as part of the Covid vaccination programme.

 

Next came the RW Clarke Memorial Trophy. This was presented by Ray’s family to the Club. Ray was an organiser of LAC events for many years plus being the Club Treasurer with a watchful eye on the LAC funds. Our winners this year, Norman and Mary Stansfield, have been involved in Lancashire motorsport sprints several decades ago and have recently entered many of our runs, as well as supporting Social Events, whenever possible.

We moved swiftly on to the Jaguar Trophy. This was presented by Jaguar Cars Plc to the LAC for organising their 100 Centenary of Sir William Lyon`s week-long Rally. It is for us to use annually as we wish the only stipulation is that is should go to the driver of a Jaguar. This year the award goes to David Williams someone who does more than most of us with his crazy Jaguar – It is not only his exploits on our events, but the car is regularly used to make money for Charity in both British   and European events. The XJS does not have a standard, gleaming, paint job, but falls well in line with their title – the fantastic Rat Jag.

The Presidents Trophy came next. Our President, Eileen Dyson, has free choice on this one and she chose the Club Chairman, Martin Wylie, for all his hard work over many years supporting and promoting the Club. As an additional surprise for Martin he was also granted Honorary Membership by the Club.

Our premier award The Peter Collins Trophy was not awarded this year as we like to keep it for someone very special not only for the way they take part in motor sport but also the manner in which they do it. The assembled multitude were asked to get their motors out and do something special this year so the award can be presented next year.

However, our last year`s winner: we now thank Andrew Wareing who has presented the Club with an original Programme for the 1958 Silverstone Daily Express Race at which Peter won this glorious trophy. The Programme must always stay inside the Trophy for others to enjoy.

Some of the names in the Programme are iconic, Moss, Hill, Hawthorne, Salvadori, Innes Ireland, David Piper and a host of other international motorsport names.

But, there is also one named driver in the Sports Car Race, again alongside all those same names, Mossy, Hill & Co, who was local to here – that name is John Horridge.  He was driving a Lister Bristol, which interestingly, was raced in the sixties by our own Anthony Taylor.   We are delighted to once again have John`s son, Nick Horridge, a regular attendee at our events, with us tonight.  Nick was asked to stand and take a bow!!

With their meal settled the evening moved on to dancing and general socialising before the raffle was drawn with some great prizes. Proceeds from the raffle will be going to charity.

After this more dancing was the order of the evening until late.

A great event special thanks to Carolyn and Eileen for the organisation at to the members present for making it special.

 

 

 

VSCC – BOWLAND 23 – A RALLY WITH A DIFFERENCE

The Lancashire Automobile Club is assisting the Vintage Sports Car Club to hold an event on Saturday 22 July 2023. LAC Members with suitable cars (see information below) are invited to enter this event.

Full details below.

Have you ever wanted an event with all the components of a rally but slightly more relaxed and sociable? If so the VSCC’s Bowland 23 Rally could be just what you want. LAC & PDVCC are invited clubs and will also be assisting with marshalling duties.

  • 100 miles of superb, motoring roads in an area of outstanding natural beauty
  • Classes for pre-war cars and Category 1 historic rally cars*
  • Choice of straight-forward map reading or easy to follow road book instructions
  • 8 regularities – 1 timed to the second – the rest timed to the minute
  • 4 – 6 ‘special tests’ for everyone
  • Start/Finish at the picturesque Bleasdale Parish Hall
  • Half-way halt in the beautiful Lune Valley
  • Scrutineering, issue of instructions and pre-rally social evening on the Friday
  • Post rally supper of traditional Lancashire Hotpot before the results on Saturday
  • Invited clubs include HRCR, PDVCC, LAC, KLMC, KDMC, KCC and others
  • For further information about the event itself please contact Clerk of the Course, Martin Jelley, on 07757 812703 or jelley145@btinternet.com
  • For Supplementary Regulations and queries about entering contact Secretary of the Meeting, Ethan Harris, on 01608 644777 or harris@vscc.co.uk
  • Volunteers to marshal please contact Chief Marshal, Angie Jones, at ajonesseven@aol.com
  • *Entries welcomed from all pre 1940 cars and all Category 1 historic cars (any car of a type made before 1968) so Minis, MGBs etc from the 1970s are ideal

Bowland 23….a rally with a difference from the Vintage Sports-Car Club.

Alec Poole Evening Tueday 23rd March

Lancashire Automobile Club (1902) Limited 

Presents the latest in its Motor Sport Supper Series 

An evening with Alec Poole 

Thursday 23rd March 2023, 19:30 hours at Whalley Golf Club 

“Lancashire Automobile Club (1902) Limited is delighted to announce that its next Motor Sport Supper Evening guest speaker is none other than Alec Poole. 

Born in Dublin, son of Billy Poole, owner of Booth Poole Ltd importers for MG and Wolseley, Alec attended Trinity College, Dublin, where he met Paddy Hopkirk. 


At the age of eighteen he was sent to BMC (British Motor Corporation) to complete a five-year engineering apprenticeship during which time he not only gained a great reputation as an engineer but also as a racing driver competing in events all over England and Ireland. His motorsport career grew and he competed in some of the world’s most famous events right across the globe before becoming the 1969 British Touring Car Champion in a privately entered Mini Cooper S.


In 1968 he finished fifteenth at Le Mans driving for BMC in an Austin-Healey Sprite and secured a third place podium at the 1978 Daytona 24 Hours. During the 1990s he was manager of motorsport for Nissan Europe. 

He still competes in historic events such as the Goodwood Revival and the Silverstone Classic. As well as driving, he works as Commercial Director for the Tour Britannia historic racing event organisers. 

This is another not-to-be-missed event where a unique and insightful motor sport career will be told littered with stories, anecdotes and plenty of humour. 

Tickets costing £15 each (including a potato pie supper) can be purchased using the attached application form. 

We look forward to seeing you on the night.”

Lancashire Automobile Club (1902) Limited

Let’s Party – Lancashire Automobile Club – Annual Dinner Dance

Our first social event of the year, as always, the very popular, Dinner Dance is coming up on Friday 24th Febuary.

Als always we will be at Mitton Hall Whalley BB7 9PQ.

Welcoming glass of Fizz, 3 Course Dinner, Dancing, Raffle and Prize Presentation. Get together with fellow enthusiasts to welcome the 2023 season of motoring events.

Tickets only £45.00 please contact Martin Wylie martin.wylie@talktalk.net
https://lancsautoclub.com/

Tickets are selling out fast so please contact Martin now.

Alex Poole Evening

Our evening with Alec Poole is getting closer.
The Lancashire Automobile Club (1902) Ltd is proud of the many motorsport evenings with some of the greats from motorsport.
Our next evening on 23rd March is with Alec Poole.
Alec is a legend in British Motorsport and he has tales and stories as an impecunious BMC (Austin / Morris / MG) apprentice in club racing and rally driving in the Sixties. These fun and games led to being asked by the Factory to drive at Sebring in the United States in a Works Austin Healey. Then there was Le Mans also for Austin Healey in 1968, followed by co-driving with Paddy Hopkirk (one of his best buddys who sadly died last July) for them to finish 2nd on the London – Sydney Marathon.
Then he won the British Touring Car Championship in a Mini the year after in his early Twenties.It wasn’t all sweetness and light racing back then. People got badly hurt.
In the mid-Nineties he was roped in by Nissan to turn round their dismal European Touring Car racing programme. Result – standing toe to toe with all of the other Manufacturers; it only took them 4 years to win everything.
Then there was The Dakar with Nissan South Africa when Nelson Mandela took him to task – Maybe he wasn’t far wrong as Alec managed to blow all of Nissan’s cash on a New Years Eve party in Marseilles before the Start. He even managed to give Carlos Ghosn his heavyweight boss some Blarney to look the other way.
As journalist Maurice Hamilton says: “Alec, you portray the golden era this was – and how mundane the life of a racing driver is today by comparison. It’s a wonderful antidote to Political Correctness and yet you are by no means pompous or an old boy looking through rose-tinted specs. This is the way it was; period.”
Tickets are only £15.00 and are available from Eileen Dyson email eileen.dyson@btinternet.com Tel 01282 771488

Sportsman’s Lunch with Mike Knight and Richard Attwood

Sunday 13th November saw Lancashire Automobile Club’s 9th Triennial Motorsport Luncheon at The Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn.
Following an enjoyable lunch almost 100 LAC members and fellow motorsport enthusiasts were entertained by International Driver, Tutor & Designer Mike Knight in conversation with former F1 Driver & Le Mans Winner Richard Attwood.
For the uninitiated Mike Knight is the force behind the Winfield School of Motor Racing for F1 Drivers at Magny Cours & Paul Ricard Circuit, France.
Amongst others “The Playboys” – Pironi, Laffite, Arnoux, Prost, Jarier & Jabouille passed through the hands of instructors Richard & Mike Knight at Magny-Cours.
With over 90 pole positions, 90 Grand Prix wins & 2 F1 World Champions to his credit, we heard the inside story of F1 drivers in the making.
Great day all round with a donation going to the Salvation Army. Here’s to the next Sportsmans in 2025.