Portsmouth
By TMX Archives on 12th Dec 07
TO celebrate 60 years of motorcycle racing, the longstanding and highly regarded Portsmouth Motorcycle Racing Club is holding a celebratory gala evening on the evening of Saturday, January 19, to which, of course, all present and former club members and families are invited. The venue is the Portsmouth Hilton, Farlington, with a start time of 7pm, and to get guests in the mood for what is sure to be great evening, current club President John Bussell has penned this short, colourful
history of the club.
‘‘The idea for Portsmouth Motor Cycle Racing Club was born when half a dozen Portsmouth enthusiasts were in the Isle of Man for the first TT race after the war, in 1947. Amongst those were John Fisher, a local motorcycle agent, a TT competitor and a scrambles rider, who became the first club President. There have only been two since John Fisher's retirement, John Wilson and John Bussell.
The first events organised were with the Gosport MCC, under the banner of the "Southdowns Combine” and were scrambles at Hipley Copse, Southwick, just north of Portsmouth.
The first open to centre scramble to be run solely by the club was at Old Idsworth Farm, owned by the Bussell family, in April 1952 with the first solo and sidecar meet in the following August. The entries contained some famous names of the time: Graham Beamish, Phil Nex, Les Archer, Eric Cheney, MXDN team members and local riders Wilson Bros, Ray Marsh, Ken Hall and John Clayton.
During the late '50s, Phil Nex achieved something no one has done since, winning both solo and sidecar Centre Championships at Old Idsworth on the same day.
Progress was made in the '60s with Stuart Maunder taking the helm as clerk of the course with John Bussell as secretary of the meeting of all the scrambles and motocross with events being run at Grandfather's Bottom on Butser Hill, Oxenbourne Farm, East Meon, and Ladies Mile, Chalton.
The pinnacle came when in 1974 and '75, with the help of John Mould, the Wilsons and the Smith family, as well as many other club members, the 250cc British MX GP was organised with riders coming from all over the world.
The club had a famous trophy – ‘The Kaj Bornebusch' – used from 1971 for scrambles. It was given by Kaj, a Swedish rider living in England and riding at Old Idsworth, at the time having enjoyed the welcome given to him by the club. He was both a solo and sidecar competitor and was well-known for a special, extra wide rear tyre on his machines.
During this exciting time, the many keen members organised grass track events with top class entries of Lew Coffin, Dave Palmer and other well-known competitors which were held at Froxfield (north of Petersfield) in 1965, 1966, and 1967.
Trials were led by John Mould(one of the longest serving Club Secretaries) for the Mould Trophy that had good quality entries as well.
Since the heady days of scrambles and autocross, the club has been very actively running enduros for more than a decade. The lead has again taken by the Maunder family. The enduros are again another success for the club and, as a result, the club going from strength to strength again. This year the club has seen almost three hundred members take part in the enduro events throughout the year.
The members that PMCRC has seen over the years vary from spectators through to international level riders, including those that ride the world Enduro championship and the famous Dakar rally.
None of the organisers or officials over all the years could have been so efficient without the full support of their wives, girlfriends and families whose help is always invaluable.
Over the years, many great times have been had at club social events, the latest of which is the 60th anniversary celebration which I hope will be well supported.
The date is Saturday, January 19, and will take place at the The Hilton, Farlington, Portsmouth, PO6 1U, kicking-off at 7pm.
If you require more information or tickets, please contact Graham or Laura on 02392-486855 or Julie on 0239-2643017.