About Sutton and Cheam Motor Club


Sutton & Cheam Motor Club
Sutton & Cheam Motor Club (the “Club”) is a small, friendly organisation based in the south of London. Established in 1959, it may not be one of the oldest clubs in the region but it is certainly the most active.
The Club meets socially twice each month and arranges a number of ‘Special Evenings’ with Guest Presenters and visits. Club membership over the years has boasted many motor sport notables such as James Hunt, Gerry Marshall, Richard Burns, Tony Pond and Tony Fall all appearing on club trophies and Roles of Honour. Currently renowned motor sport journalist Martin Holmes (Pirelli Book of World Rallying) is a life-member and he is joined in that illustrious group by former champions George Polley (Hot Rod World Champion), Ian Roberton (Rally National Champion) and Pentti Airikalla (RAC Rally Winner).
In recent years Club membership numbers have varied between 150 and 200, having seen it’s lowest point in the late 1990s. At present over 230 members appear on the listing and this number is growing at around 5% per annum. The membership consists of a good mix of locals and competitors from further afield with some members having been with us for more than 25 years. The Club boasts a high ratio of competition licence holders with over 50% of its membership list competing in some form of motorised activity. These cover a range of disciplines including Circuit Racing, Rallycross, Sprinting, Rallying and even such diverse sports as Hovercraft racing!
The stated objective of the Club is to support motor sport in all its guises - This is achieved both by organising events and by supporting competing Club members.
The Club provides a ‘Competitor of the Month’ award and culminating in a prestigious ‘Competitor of the Year Award’ which also carries a £200 Cash Prize. Whilst nominees are selected for the monthly award by the Executive Committee, the Overall title is voted for by the members.
The Club is probably best known for promoting a wide range of events over the season (7 permitted / 3 Closed-to-Club in 2003), largely catering for the clubman competitors. This culminated in the South of England Tempest Rally, which has recently joined the Pirelli British Rally Championship. This former clubman event has fully met the challenges placed upon it by the very top level of UK motor sport and this year we promoted an event, which provided a competitive platform worthy of the final round of the series. 100 cars contested the near 60 stage mile route without serious incident, public complaint or technical difficulty, something of an achievement in itself considering the density of the population in the South East.
In recent years the Club has:
Introduced Stage Rallying to The Longmoor Army Camp (near Bordon) through the organisation of a “2 Wheel-drive” tarmac rally. Introduced Sprinting to the Longross Testing Track (near Chertsey) by offering two, different course, clubman level sprints. As part of the development of the Tempest Rally, secured the use of 5 new stage venues, varying in length from 2 to 8 miles. Maintained and nurtured a very successful relationship with Forest Enterprise to such a level that they recently funded venue improvement in order to retain the stability of the event against extensive ecological pressures. Introduced and successfully promoted a 2-day Motor Sport CAR-nival at the now disused RAF Abingdon, in the face of stiff local opposition and following ‘a ban on all motors port’ after a very disruptive event in the mid-90’s. Developed strong relationships with many local clubs to such an extent that 4 out of the Club’s 7 permitted events are ‘co-promotions’. Provided both support and physical involvement in Regional Association Training Incentives and Promotions such as the successful ‘Beginning in Motorsport’ in 1998. Acted as the principal club running stages on events such as the Rally Sunseeker, Rally of Kent and the MSA Classic. Provided staffing and personnel for the running of 4 Regional Championships including the hugely successful ACSMC Speed Series and the Rally 2000 – 2003 Championship.
The real ‘Jewel in our Crown’ is the aforementioned Abingdon Motorsport CAR-nival which, this year, saw more than 310 entries contesting a unique 2-Course Sprint, a Championship Autotest, an Off-road Driver Training Course and a 100-mile Stage Rally. More impressive than the enthusiasm of competitors for the event is the £80,000 raised for charity over the events’ relatively short 7-year history.
The Club refuses to rest on its laurels with current investigations including the establishment of a new Southern-based hill climb venue, an alternative Sprint venue in the event of the potential closure of Longcross and an Autocross venue for more ‘grass-roots’ type of motor sport.
New members are encouraged to take part in all of the clubs' various activities, especially those when we are helping out on other events up and down the country - some members even venture across to Ypres in Belgium every year for a taste of European Championship rallying. There is normally something happening every month at the Club.
For those who are just starting out in motorsport and want to some good, solid advice then Sutton & Cheam Motor Club is the place to begin with a broad spectrum of experienced competitors and organisers alike.
In addition to the monthly magazine, membership of Sutton Cheam Motor Club entitles you to take part in any RACMSA authorised event in the country as well as, admission tickets and discounted specialist services and parts. It costs just £20 per year for a single membership or for a married couple, or £10 for a junior or student membership (on production of a valid NUS card). Payments can also be made by standing order, to ensure thatyou never miss out on the benefits of being part of the club. Click here for a membership form!!
We meet every 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of every month at 8.30 pm at the Downs Lawn Tennis Club, Holland Avenue, Cheam, Surrey. O.S. Map Reference - 187/242626. Please come along and meet us, it's free and its friendly. click here for map Look forward to seeing you there!