Classic Clubs Should Embrace Motorsport | Footman James

03 March, 2015

Classic car clubs should offer members the chance to become mini Lewis Hamiltons, at a fraction of the price of Grand Prix racing.

The call comes from the Motor Sports Association (MSA). It wants classic clubs to get more involved in competitive races to help widen their appeal among potential new enthusiasts.

The MSA’s plea came at the Gaydon, Warwickshire-based Heritage Motor Centre’s Club Expo club networking event staged on February 28.

It urged clubs to register among its ranks to help it organise internal road runs and also wants autotests and autosolos introduced as a means of drawing new members.

Development manager for the MSA, Jess Fack, says these races are simple to organise and help to bring fans together.

Fack said autotests and autosolos cost between just £20 and £30 to enter to make them very accessible motorsport options for club members or anyone thinking of joining a club.

The MSA
- Is a burgeoning not-for-profit organisation
- Boasts about 750 motor club associates, around 30,000 holders of licences enabling them to compete, besides 9,500 officials and marshals
- Arranges roughly 5,000 permits to sanction motorsport events every year
- Offers tips about touring assemblies and friendly road runs; the latter entails organised routes and larger amounts of cars.

Rover Sports Register’s chairman, Mike Maher, said the MSA’s part in offering tips for sociable road runs can be “valuable”. This is because they help to iron out potentially “very confusing” details for motor clubs.

Mr Maher confirmed that low-cost motorsports can increase clubs’ appeal to would-be members.

Joining a classic club
Of course, not everyone needs the thrilling incentive of low-cost racing to join a classics club.

For many, just the camaraderie of like-minded enthusiasts and the advice they can get on matters such as restoration or spare parts can suffice.

Here’s just an example of two of the clubs we partner with:
- Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club: A must for anyone who has restored a Daimler, SS or Jag, as well as general enthusiasts. This group turned 30 last year and offers both technical and social benefits with events all over the country.
- Morris Minor Owners’ Club: Forty years old in 2016, this club now boasts 14,000-plus members with more than 50 groups in the UK alone.

What would you like to see your club do to make motorsport events more accessible to members? Let us know by tweeting us @Footman_James or leaving a comment on our Facebook page