News from Cirencester Car Club

2009 'Introduction to Motorsport' weekend

To celebrate National Motorsport Week, Cirencester Car Club will once again run its ‘Introduction to Motorsport Weekend' on 7-9 August.

The Gloucestershire-based club will again run a wide range of events designed to show the scale and diversity of motorsport events that are accessible to everyone in their road-going cars at local level. During Friday evening and throughout Saturday and Sunday, events will run from the event headquarters at the Highwayman Inn, Elkstone, just off the A417 between Cirencester and Gloucester.

The events are all true 'grass roots' motorsport events and will include a navigational scatter, a touring assembly with photograph based questions en-route, the ever popular gymkhana (driving test) and a grass autotest which, whilst open to all entrants, will also form part of the clubs Summer Series.  A motorsport pub quiz will be held in the public bar on Saturday night from about 8pm.

On Friday evening there will be a navigational scatter, while Saturday morning competitors will be invited to take part in a Treasure Hunt.  Saturday afternoon will feature a revised Gymkhana, similar to last year's event which, amongst other things, saw competitors using their cars to take penalty shoot outs with a 4 foot inflatable football.  Sunday morning features a Touring Assembly during which competitors will be invited to match photographs provided in the roadbook to locations passed on the route.  This event encourages enthusiasts to take part in non-competitive tours through some of the best scenery in the region and is an ideal event for all the family, using cars of all ages.  The event will finish on Sunday afternoon with a Grass Autotest in or near the pub paddock which will form part of the club's Summer Series of events and will give all competitors the opportunity to test their driving skills around the cones. 

The event was first run in 2007 and helped the Club to finish second overall in the MSA Motor Club of the year award, and the Best club in England.  The format was conceived by club Chairman, Martin Saunders and is now being copied by many other local motor clubs.  The 2008 running built on the success of the first event and despite bad weather was a huge success.  Lessons learned through previous events have been incorporated into this year's running which will feature a slightly different format to allow competitors more time to enjoy all the events.

"We are the only club taking on the concept of National Motorsport Week in its entirety" says club chairman Martin Saunders, the man behind the event, “at a time when everybody is thinking about reducing motorsport budgets it is only appropriate that local clubs offer their members low cost motorsport and we know from previous years that this is what people want.  The proof of this is in the number of new club members this event generates each year”.  National Motorsport Week is a major event created by the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) in conjunction with the Motor Sports Association to enhance awareness of and interest in motorsport.  This year the MIA will award a prize for the event which best captures the spirit of National Motorsport Week and Cirencester Car Club is hoping that their event will be a serious contender.

By taking a 'back to basics' approach to its programme in recent years, Cirencester Car Club has managed to successfully rebuild its membership and now has over 100 active members, drawn from a 30-mile radius around the Cotswold market town.

The weekend is open to everyone and entry to many of the activities and a trial membership fee are covered by only a small charge.  Anyone wishing to take part will need to complete an entry form which will be made available inside the club magazine or on the website. Entries are limited but the club prides itself on its friendly environment and everyone is welcome to turn up and see what is going on during the event.

For more details, visit www.cirencestercarclub.com

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Issued by James Goodfield on behalf of Cirencester Car Club. Tel 07989 384899; e-mail jgoodfield@btinternet.com