The Brighton and Hove Motor Club (BHMC) is best known as organiser of the
Brighton Speed Trials.
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. On 12 January 1926 the sixth Annual General Meeting was held at the Royal Albion Hotel, Brighton. The Motor Cycle interests were split off in 1932.
During the 1920s the club organised speed trials at
Lewes
Lewes () is the county town of East Sussex, England. The town is the administrative centre of the wider Lewes (district), district of the same name. It lies on the River Ouse, Sussex, River Ouse at the point where the river cuts through the Sou ...
, 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. 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. On 5 September 1931 the club held an informal race meeting at
Brooklands
Brooklands was a 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 'banked' motor racing circuit as well as one of Britain's first airfields, ...
. The plan to build the Brighton road circuit was revived in 1934 but did not succeed. In 1938 ''The Autocar'' reported: "The Brighton-Beer Trial organised by the Brighton and Hove club has become a classic." Among the competitors that year was
Sydney Allard, who gained a First Class Award. The 1939 Brighton Speed Trials were scheduled for September 23, but were cancelled due to the outbreak of war.
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." The venue investigated was
Clayton Tunnel Hill, to the north of Brighton and about one mile in length, but the plan went nowhere. 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.
[''Motor Sport'', July 1948, pp. 211, 213, 214.]
In 1948 the club moved into premises in the arches under Dukes Mound on the seafront at
Brighton
Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London.
Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...
and have remained there ever since.
Regular events
As well as the Speed Trials, the club organises other car related and social events.
See also
*
Lewes Speed Trials
Footnotes
{{Reflist
References
* Company Information
"Brighton and Hove Motor Club" ''Creditgate.com Website''
* Speed Trials Article
''Pistonheads Website''
* Club Website Home Page
"Home Page" ''Club Website''
Sport in Brighton and Hove