Presidents Prattlings

Good morning everyone. Here's my look back at 2024. For better or worse the end of the year is rapidly approaching and once again we have had a busy year.
As a Club we are beginning to find our Mojo again and so far we have to date we have three major events under our belt and a very successful 12 car rally series held throughout the winter months.

This year began with crews turning out to marshal on one of my favourite events, the Riponian. It wasn't a very pleasant day with lots of rain, but it went smoothly in the main for all crews involved, however this was not to be the case for David & John Cunningham who slid off into a ditch in their road rally Ford Focus. I have great respect for them turning up in this car, driving it there and back as well as doing the event. Well done!

This year the Taurus Navigation Rally started at Askham Bryan College once again. The route for 2024 was much larger than the first year at around 150miles, but we did run a bit close to the hours of daylight. Personally I was glad that Ken Quinn offered to shadow me and effectively run the rally due to my persistent ill health. Apart from a slight hiccup with the halfway petrol halt most crews had a great nights sport, with many things learnt to go forward for this year when Ken and his team run the Rally again (5th/6th April 2025).

The Heritage Run, in June had the biggest field of cars it had ever had and was a testament to the work put into it by Mike Brownlow, and a great tribute in its 10th year. Sadly this was to be the last for our Chairman, Ken Roberts who passed away suddenly in November. He had been instrumental in attracting the Triumph Stag owners Club Yorkshire to participate.

In June sadly we were informed that the venue for the Targa Rally was to be unavailable due to the ongoing military activity. This was a blow to all the organising team who had worked hard to put together a first class event. The Clerk of the Course, Dave Walmsley made a promise to those who had entered that he would ensure that the event ran again. So it was the Catterick Targa Rally returned on Sunday 10th November, albeit with a smaller field of runners than we had anticipated. The Organisers were absolutely delighted by the feedback from competitors and can only hope that when it returns in 2025 (20th July), that we have another full entry.

Our club members have had a good year. In particular a big shout out to Harry Walshaw was accepted onto the Motorsport UK Academy for co-drivers and throughout 2024 he has achieved success with many drivers in many different cars but he an Jake Briggs in the Ford Escort built and prepared by Jake's dad Barry have gone from strength to strength. Our Road Rallying crews also have been successful with Allan Norton and Paul Williamson taking a well deserved 4th place on the Beverley Motor Club 12 Car Championship. They continue to widen their experience on many different events in the North.

De Lacy Motor Club have managed to attract a number of new members throughout the year, so, our membership numbers continue to look healthy. I personally want to offer them all a hearty welcome to our club.
Now sadly some goodbyes. As well as the loss of Ken Roberts we also lost some old members in 2024, for example Geoff Round, who was for many years the Clerk of the Course of the Kall Kwik Rally and involved in many other events during his life.
Tony Conway passed away in the Prince of Wales Hospice in the Autumn, he was an active member of the Club throughout the 70's, 80's and into the noughties, winning the first ever Thor Hammer Single venue rally at Driffield back in 2004.
R.I.P to all our dearly departed members.

I think all that remains for me to say is, have a great Christmas and a Very Happy New Year in 2025. Come along and join us for everything motorsport in 2025.
Malcolm Higgins
De Lacy Motor Club President

2024 is the Diamond Anniversary of our Clubhouse. It continues to be the central hub of activity for all our members and this year especially we welcome everyone old and new alike. So far this year it has welcomed many visitors. We hosted the ANCC awards evening to which we had great feedback.

In the Spring the Club was represented at an open day at the Motorist, Sherburn in Elmet. This appearance was orchestrated by Mark Sherburn and I personally am very grateful for his involvement, with DLMC appearing front and centre.

The Taurus Rally ran again only this year we went "full fat" running a route on Maps 105/100/101 /106 which meant that finishing within daylight hours was a bit touch and go, but we got away with.

My personal thanks to Ken Quinn, Clerk of the Course together with is deputies Simon Boddy and Arthur Heaton for taking on the bulk of the work due to my ongoing ill health. I retired my services after that point and look forward to passing it to a group who can take this event to the next level.

The 10th Anniversary Heritage Run was the best attended we have ever had and is testament to Mike Brownlow building a great and well deserved reputation. Once again the weather was kind and the now familiar start and finish location was packed to the gunnels with people plotting routes whilst tucking into breakfast. I have to admit to partaking!
The Targa rally scheduled for July was unfortunately pulled in May when the MID made it clear that our date could no be accommodate. But the Organising Team are working hard to bring it before the endo of the year, with plans at the draft stage to bring more events in 2025.
For me, there has been a brief (for now) to the map board taking part in two club twelve cars. the second of which turned out to be a disaster getting hopelessly lost at one point, a shame as once this was rectified Dave Walmsley and I put in some respectable times and would have a better finish. I trust that this heralds a return later in 2024/2025.
On a much sadder note I find myself counting the passing of regular club members this year , losing Chris Lord, Geoff Round and latterly Tony Conway. All of them have taken their final times at the flying finish. Long may they rest in peace.
Well, the kettle calls, but I hope to be back soonest with more random thoughts.
Tata for now

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As I sit looking out from the study looking our into the garden for once it's a pleasant view. But reflecting on the last few week is not as pleasant. Because in the last month De Lacy lost two members who have sadly passed away; Alan Smith and Frank Hill.

Alan was a longstanding active rally man when I first joined back in the 1970's when I was 16. He had rallied a variety of cars in his active motorsport career, but will probably be best remembered for his Mini, in which he did many events.
Frank Hill a long standing member Frank could always be relied upon to turn out and marshal on any type of event. He just loved cars, running a garage in Garforth for many years. For those who don't know, his funeral service will be held at Pontefract Crematorium at 10:20 4th August.
The Club's condolences go to both of their families and friends.

On a happier note, the Club has been having some work carried out on the fabric of the clubhouse to try and smarten it up ahead of the autumn, however with so few of us able bodied anymore we managed to accrue about a half a dozen helpers and had to abandon the second planned day on the 30th July. The committee would like to get more work done before the weather turns in the autumn. So if you can help then please please come along and give a couple of hours to improve the building if you can. There's painting cleaning and generally tidying up required.

The prospects for 2024 will be be discussed by the events sub committee shortly and we will have some dates announced before the end of the year.

Good afternoon friends and fellow members. It has taken me a while to get around to updating this page as I was rather disillusioned following the Taurus Half Night rally. The day of the 29th April was pleasant and the set up in and around Askham Bryan College went great. Competitors arrived on time .Scrutineering and documentation was well planned and executed with the help of the students from the motorsport course, who were engaged in the process. What followed was somewhat upsetting and as a result of something which happened prior to the start we unfortunately lost a competitor, meaning that we started one short of our planned total.
The evening was cool with fog up on the moors, but our small army of marshals were unperturbed by this and reportedly had a great nights sport.
At the final MTC I was relieved that it was all done with, almost everyone who made it to the last control agreed that the rally was taxing with a route taking in both old favourites and new roads not often utilised. There were gripes, and I was expecting some feedback for us to work with for the future, but i did not expect some of the backlash which the event received from certain quarters. I have had a frank and honest discussion with our local RLO and subsequently with MSUK, who are still investigating certain aspects of the rally. Unfounded in my opinion, but that's the name of the blame game apparently. The team has had a full honest feedback session with a number of key recommendations to be implemented fort 2024. So please watch this space for news.

So to happier news. 4th June saw the return of the full Heritage Run post pandemic, with a route of approximately 80 miles once again plotted and organised by Mike Brownlow. Sunday morning and an ensemble of some 41 cars both old and new assembled at the Sherburn Aero Club for breakfast. (see Heritage Run page here) before the run out on OS Maps 105 and 106 and back to the club early afternoon for a social gathering. Well done Mike and thank you to everyone who helped this event continue to be a great success. Next year will be the 10th Anniversary event and also the 60th Anniversary of De Lacy Motor Club opening the clubhouse at Brotherton, so expect lots of social events in 2024. The next couple of months will be the return of Le Mans and the British GP so sit back and enjoy a summer of excellent motorsport.

See you all soon

Malcom

Well, that's been a hectic start to the year [and the rest]. The ALL NEW Taurus Navigational Rally, which was suggested last year as and end of season wash up of the 12 car series, has taken from before Christmas to plan and get through the planning and authorisation process. Now we stand on the eve of the event almost with entries finalised and start venue raring to go. We are a little disappointed by the relatively low number of cars taking part. But this is our first year and we as a Club need to get "Back out there" .
So fingers crossed for this new event. It also seems likely that the Targa rally will return too at Catterick after the years hiatus imposed by the MOD on the use of the venues, which we had earmarked for use. So watch this space, because we will need all the help we can get. I'm going now for a lie down in a darkened room. But I will hopefully see you at the start at Askham Bryan College next Saturday 29th April.
Malcolm

So, the festivities are over for another year and we move forward into 2023 with renewed vigour. We have been lifted by a very successful twelve car navigation series, which came to its final round on Friday 30th December. The organisers have started form nothing and built a solid reputation for a friendly testing event for both crews and marshals. I as the Club President m very proud of their achievements through sheer bloody mindedness and hard work, I salute every one of them and wish them well moving forward into the 2023 season starting Friday 27th January 2023.

Unfortunately it does appear that the Targa Rally might not workout at Catterick again this year due to the ongoing busy military activity, but we have not given up on the concept as we consider new venues for this year.
The Club has a half night road rally scheduled for April [29th/30th April], of which we hope to bring more very exciting news shortly.
The AGM is this month so please come along and support the Club and maybe even volunteer for the committee, let's get this Club back to where it belongs, as force to be reckoned with instead of just ticking over in mediocracy. We are lucky to still have our own building but the continuation of this could be in the balance as numbers attending dwindle. Let's not lose a tremendous asset.
Meanwhile, Happy New Year to you and yours and good luck with whichever motorsport you follow in 2023.
Regards Malcolm Higgins - Club President

Short Round Up 2022

Short Round Up 2022

Good morning everybody and on behalf of the Club I want to wish all of you the best of the seasons greetings for Christmas 2022. This year has been one of ups and downs, we had the disappointment of having to cancel the Targa Rally which should have been held on the ranges at Catterick once again. My thanks go to David Walmsley and his team who were within touching distance of the rally running when due to operational requirements the venue was "pulled" by the MOD.
On the plus side we have had a resurgence of crews competing on a variety of rallies this year, both road and stage. The year started with Harry Walshaw co-driven by John Cunningham competing on the first ever closed road stage rally in Yorkshire, unfortunately they had an argument with a chicane and damaged the faithful little Ford Ka. Mark Jones with his grandson Corey have finished 4th overall in the ANCC road rally championship, well done to them. Pip Coulson has continued to compete in his lovely Ford focus and Barry and Jake Briggs have been campaigning their Ford Escort MKII. Next year the club has a road rally well in the planning stage, so get the diary open and make sure you add the 29th/30th April. We will need lots of help!!
In the meantime enjoy the Christmas period with family and friends
Malcolm