Lincolnshire
Automobile Club
And Louth Motor Club
A
BRIEF HISTORY
The Lincolnshire Automobile Club was formed in 1900 by a group of
early motoring enthusiasts in
Lincolnshire
with the club now recognized as the oldest motor club in
Britain
. In the early days, it was mainly concerned with fighting for better road conditions for motorists, and even that far
back was promoting motor sporting events such as hill climbs and endurance
runs with over 300 club members.
The club also played an important part in
co-operation with the Lincolnshire Police Force in siting a
number of road signs at road junctions and dangerous places in the early
years of motoring.
The club had many eminent members including
doctors and professional people. For example Sir Archibald Weigall of
Woodhall Spa, Sir Hickman Bacon and
the Earl of Ancaster, all elected as Club Presidents over a total period
covering 67 years.
After World War II the club began to get back into
the organisation of competitive events, and in 1956 established a new and active
committee. By 1961 it was regularly promoting rallies, trials and auto
tests.
The club played a leading part in the formation of
the Lincolnshire Association of Motor Clubs in 1961, which later became the
Association of North East Midland Motor Clubs after affiliation with the
RAC Motor Sport Association.
In 1972 however, the Lincolnshire Automobile Club decided to
promote a special stage rally. Not having sufficient experienced members to
promote this on its own, it joined forces with the Louth Motor Club. Thus
a new
and enthusiastic club was formed in 1972, and this led to the first Tour of
Lincs Stage Rally. This has grown from strength to strength over the
years, winning a number of awards and accolades.
In 1976 the event was invited to be in the BTRDA
National Championship. Over the years the Lincolnshire Louth Motor Club flourished and
grew in strength , with the club winning the coveted Clubman's
Award for three club crews finishing the 1976 Lombard International RAC
Rally. Club members also won the 1977 BTRDA Rally Championship, a class
win on the 1991 International Lombard RAC Rally and in 1993 the sought
after Shell Rally Scholarship. Since 1989 the club has run four stages on the
Lombard
and Network Q RAC Rally, winning 'stage of the day' a number of times.
The club enjoys an unrivalled record in the history
of motor sport.
Road runs are still a feature in the club's calendar
of events.
The Classic Car section was formed in 1990 and has
rapidly grown into a popular and active part of the club, supporting shows
and rallies over a wide area of Lincolnshire
. The club now has an extensive
classic show season. Members can be out most weekends showing their classic cars.
John
Wilkinson
Chairman of the Lincolnshire Louth
Motor Club