Each month we feature items from the archives compiled by Club Historian  Janet Kitching

75 YEARS AGO

There were no Committee Meetings in July and August 1935 but as the country was still struggling with the Depression, the number of events seems to have decreased.   The only activity during this period appears to have been the Annual Children’s Day when local children were taken in members’ vehicles for a run through the countryside to “Dale Hall” for tea.   According to the accounts 290 teas were provided and £1. 16s. 9d. was paid to Vassalli of Leeds for balls, presumably for presents for each child.

50 YEARS AGO

Ken Waddington organised the Ilkley Gymkhana which was held in Peter Kendall’s field at Bramhope.   There were two classes for (1) open cars and (2) closed cars.   It was stated that the event was not of a car damaging nature and all members should find it an interesting social event.   Everybody stands as little chance as everybody else!    22 members competed and a very enjoyable afternoon was had by all.   In spite of the non-car damaging nature of the event one driver landed half in a ditch, lost his steering wheel and later a piece of exhaust.   The winner was A T Johns with Norman Umpleby in second place.

It was agreed to hold a Dinner in October as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations and a sub-committee was formed to organise this.

21 YEARS AGO  - From the August, 1989 Newsletter

The CLUB NIGHT AUTOTEST was held at Concourse House, just off the Dewsbury Road in Leeds and 4 tests had been set out by Clerk of Course Nick Pullan, helped by Secretary Nigel Sykes.   16 tests were run and tested skills of memory, driving ability and speed – there were a lot of washouts and penalties.   David Mosey won Class 1 with Francis and Chris Tindall having gear box trouble (since rectified) and Anthony Tindall having problems with the engine cutting out (a fault traced and rectified by Adrian Tate – i.e. no petrol in the tank).   Henry Kitching won Class 2 and Dave Sowman Class 3.   Afterwards everyone retired to the Woodman Pub where the results were examined and analysed.

The FILTRATE TROPHY PCT was run at Caley Hall Farm with Clerks of Course Brian Sands and Bryan Kitching in charge of sorting out the BTRDA competitors. Geoff Wheater was in charge of the paperwork.    There were 33 entries and, as expected, Mike Hinde in a VW was 1^st Overall, dropping just 3 marks (on 2 hills), leaving Graham Brasier to take the Class award on 13.   Class A awards went to Neil Mackay (Nova), Harry Tregenza (Nova) and John Ludford (Nova).   Class B awards went to Adrian Tate (Golf GTI) and Nick Pullan (Honda Civic).   Class C went to Peter Phippen (Vauxhall Belmont), Class D to Peter Colman (Panther Lima) and Class E to Steve Courts (Imp).  Best Ilkley award went to Simon Kingsley (Imp).   During the trial a team from Yorkshire Television filmed Harry Tregenza (sharing Neil Mackay’s Nova) for the programme “Living it Up”, dealing with “pursuits of the elderly” (although Harry didn’t realise that he belonged to this branch of society!).    Following the trial he was filmed “wizzing” round the rack track at Cadwell Park.    The programme was shown in September and the club’s event showed up very well.

Ken Hodgson reported on the 1989 NATIONAL MOTOR CYCLE RALLY which he had entered on his Yamaha 900 and was once again aiming for “Gold” standard which he managed to achieve.  There was a full entry of 1200 motorcyclists and Ken covered a total of 815 miles in 26 hours (including stops) and used 13.3 gallons of lead free i.e. 61 mpg.

Round 4 of the SHELL LEAGUE was Airedale & Pennine’s autotest meeting at Hartshead Moor Services on the M62.   There were 8 Ilkley entries out of the total of 50 and for the first time Team Manager Henry Kitching had to pick a team.   With one dropping out, the 7 Ilkley members were David Mosey and Adrian Spencer (Mini) in Class 1.   Henry Kitching (Metro), Nick Pullan (Escort), Chris Sykes and Nigel Sykes (VW Golf) were in Class 2 and David Sowman (Mini Special) in Class 4.    3 test sites were set out and 18 tests completed.   Peter Cohen beat David Mosey to the Class win but David, with a new engine, managed to beat both Malcolm McGovern and Dave Taylor for the first time.   Adrian Spencer finished a fine 9^th out of 17 in his first major event.    Henry comfortably won Class 2 with Chris 5^th, Nick 7^th and Nigel 10^th.   Dave slipped to 3^rd after a penalty on the penultimate test but Ilkley were 1^st overall on the day from Alwoodley and extended their overall lead.

As a PR exercise Dave Sowman had organised a display at BURLEY FETE and 7 “lovingly cleaned and polished” vehicles were on display.   A “guess the weight” of David’s Supercharged Skateboard raised a tidy sum for charity.

The July NOGGIN & NATTER was at the Lamb & Flag at Bishop Monkton where only pool and darts were played against the locals……...the spots were missing from the dominos!   With the score level, Graham Hepworth won the “play off” game of pool to give Ilkley victory!

The deaths were recorded of two well-respected members – Edgar Wadsworth, who had been a member since 1968 and was a familiar sight in his red Denzel and Gordon Chippindale who had joined in 1970 and died suddenly at the age of 55.    He thoroughly enjoyed his rallying, hill-climbing, PCT’s, autocross and autotests and his hand-brake turns were “pure poetry in motion”.   They would be sadly missed.

Club Historian.