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Archive Review Archive
Woodside Avenue, Eastleigh. SO50 9ES
History
Compiled by Wilf Paskins, member since 1945
Sporting History
The Club has a motorcycle sporting history of which it can be proud. Since it s formation in 1944, it has organised over four hundred events, many of National and International status.
The regard that the Club enjoyed in sporting circles can be illustrated by the mention of one of it s annual function of a different nature, for it s annual dinners held between the fifties and the eighties, the numbers of tickets had to be restricted because there simply was no venue in the Southampton area big enough to cater for the numbers wanting to attend. The functions were held on weekday evenings so that members of the motorcycle press, trade and the oil barons , could be present without upsetting their commitments to weekend sporting events.
After dinner speakers included Prof.A.M.Lowe, then Chairman of the AutoCycle Union, Jock West of AMC Motorcycles, manufacturers of Matchless and AJS bikes, Geoff Murdoch of Esso, Cyril Quantrill, sports editor of Motor Cycling ( the green un), Harry Louis, editor of The Motor Cycle (the blue un), riders Ray Amm, Ken Kavanagh, Peter Williams, to mention a few. On one occasion, for light relief we enjoyed a discourse by Blaster Bates, whose business was blowing up unwanted buildings and chimney stacks.
Long time Club President was ex TT winner Alec Bennett who was followed by lifetime club member Syd Lawton. President now is Neville Goss MBE, who was one of the Founder members of the Club. It is largely due to Neville that the Club achieved the recognition it has enjoyed in ACU and FIM circles although it must be said that he had the backing throughout of a very strong and efficient team of dedicated enthusiasts.
The total number of sporting events organized was made up as follows:
28 Endurance Road Races which, for the first few years, were of National status then International, then full European Grand Prix status in the later years.
82 Road Races at Thruxton
( one at Thorney Island Airfield), mostly of National but some of International status.
94 Scrambles (now Motocross).
49 Grass Track
22 Enduros
106 Trials
20 Road Trials