Dukeries Motor Club was formed in 1954 with the aim of "promoting, encouraging and organizing motor sport". It took its name from the area of rural North Nottinghamshire known as 'The Dukeries' which was once home to five Dukes. It is one of the regions leading motor clubs with an excellent reputation for the organisation of its events. In the past the club has organized up to six rallies each year, but efforts nowadays are concentrated on two major events, the Dukeries Rally which runs in June and the Premier Rally in October.
The very first committee meeting for Dukeries Motor Club was held on Friday 24th
September 1954 at the Swan Hotel, Mansfield. The following Officials and Committee
members were elected:-.
President - M Royce, Vice President - J E Flintham, Secretary - T McHugh,
Competition Secretary - F C Kynaston, Treasurer - W H McMahon.
Committee members - I Maclean, W Calladine, G Mills, G W Edwards, P Robinson, B Rose.
It was decided that subscriptions would be 7/6d [37.5p] over and above ORMA subs and Mr F C Kynaston was to arrange affiliation to the ACU. The rules of the Club were to be drawn up by Mr Kynaston and W H and J A Draycott and these would be discussed at the next meeting.
These were duly put forward and adopted by the Committee on 9th December 1954. A few
of the rules and objectives of the club were:-
a. To cultivate and encourage the use of motors of every description.
b. To act as a motorists aid in motoring matters, one member to another.
c. To assist in the defence of the interests of the members so far as lies within
the power and means of the club.
Every candidate for membership had to make application on a prescribed form to then be duly elected (or not) by the committee.
In January 1955 a proposal was put forward and accepted to create a reduced subscription rate for ladies of 5/-. During February and March of that year the committee then began the organisation of fuel economy runs, Treasure hunts and Night Navigational Trials. The first ever event held was a Treasure hunt which took place on June 19th 1955. There was a three way tie for first place of Mr D Bend (Hillman Minx), Mr J S Fowkes (Simca Aronda) and Mr G W Edwards (Singer 9 Roadster). A grand total of £2-7-0 was raised for club funds. There then followed a series of successful Scavenger Hunts in September and October and Dukeries Motor Club was born.
It was a fairly short lived affair as petrol rationing came into being and caused the
Club to go into hibernation from February 1956 to May 1957. According to the minute book
the Club was re-formed in May 1957 "with new Officers, a new Committee and a new spirit".
Unfortunately the minutes from May 1957 to Jan 1958 have gone missing but at the AGM held
in May 1958, the then Chairman Mr John Taylor clearly states that "the resumption of
activities was largely due to the efforts of Mr J E Flintham and Mr S Fowkes" A new
constitution was presented and accepted at the AGM when the main objectives of the Club
were changed to:-
a. To bring together people who are interested in motoring activities.
b. To promote social and competitive events at regular intervals.
Membership subscriptions were raised to 10/6d, with no mention of a reduced rate for ladies. It was during this time that a lot of the Clubs trophies were presented which are still in use today - the Kings Mill Trophy, Flintham Trophy, Henstock Trophy, Margaret Evans Challenge Bowl, Churchman Trophy and Maclean Trophy etc.
Events were being organised every month with "50% serious and 50% social", running under such titles as the January Jaunt, the Spring Double, the Little Ladies Run, the June Social Safari and the Miniature Monte.
Over the next 6 months there are a lot of minutes about applying for affiliation to the RAC, until in November 1958 it was minuted that the Clubs application would be considered by the Competitions Committee of the RAC once neighbouring clubs had been circulated for objections. The Secretary duly wrote back to the RAC and told them that the cheque which had been sent with the application would be cancelled and re-issued when affiliation was granted! This was actually passed in December 1958 and it was at this time that the Club also applied for membership of the East Midlands Association of Motor Clubs (EMAMC). This didn't take so long to come through and was granted in February 1959.
It was at the May 1959 Committee meeting that it was proposed that the October rally
should be called the Dukeries Rally and the top award should be called the Dukeries
Trophy which was being donated by Alderman J B Jenkins. The RAC were asked to observe
the event as a restricted event and is was considered so important that it was agreed
that the Committee themselves would organise it. Secretary of the Meeting was J E Flintham,
Clerk of the Course D Henstock with S West and S Fowkes as Stewards. An observer was duly
appointed by the RAC (Mr A Knowles from Nottingham Sports Car Club) and the event took
place with 24 entries each paying 7/6d entry fee.
1st Mr A O Worthington/R Palmer
2nd J W Adams/G P Lennox
3rd D P Palmer (no mention of a co-driver!)
Other significant happenings in 1959 was that Mr Stan West proposed that the League tables for events should be split between a Rally League and a Social League. This was seconded by Mr Ken Perkins and so the Dukeries Rally Club Championship came into being. And last but not least, our current President and one of our Vice Presidents (Mr & Mrs G Kellett) joined Dukeries Motor Club - Gordon in June and Iris in September. I'm sure that there cannot be anyone else who has such a marvellous record of loyalty to our Club and possibly to any Motor Club in the country.
From September 1960 a series of Gymkhanas were held at Broomhill Grange.
Throughout the 60s various events continued to be organised and supported on a regular basis. These included autocross, gymkhanas, social rallies, night rallies, road safety events, driving tests, 12 car rallies as well as a Summer Dance and annual Dinner Dance.
In January 1967 Mr John Nuttall remarked that there seemed to be a shortage of rallies available to club members at present and suggested the possibility of joining another Association. This was accepted by the committee and application was made to join the Association of North East Midland Motor Clubs (ANEMMC). It was put forward by ANEMMC Secretary Mr Dick Newsum on March 21st 1967 and Dukeries Motor Club was accepted into the Association.
The association with EMAMC was proving very fruitful and after having come second in 1964 and 65 the club finally won the championship for the first time in 1966. This success has continued for many years - in fact with hardly a gap through the 70s, 80s and 90s.
In June 1971 the club applied for and were accepted into the Association of Northern Motor Clubs. (ANCC)
During July 74 the first serious discussions took place about making the Club a Limited Company. This was to give protection to the members of the Committee who would have been held personally responsible for any debts the Club may have incurred. The transition came into being on 5th June 1975 along with a new constitution which is still in use today.
1987 was the year of a remarkable chain of coincidences. The BTRDA decided to resurrect the Clubmans Championship and Howard Wilcock became the BTRDA Championship Liaison Officer. The Dukeries Rally was selected as a round of this championship, and then the Rallies Committee decided that the main award for the Championship should be the superb Graham Lepley Trophy which was first presented to BTRDA in 1975 by one of our most successful Dukeries members. This was then followed by the inaugural championship being won by longstanding Dukeries member Brian Bell and Ray Chapman, followed the next year by Bob Morley and Geoff Moss.
Club membership rose to over 300 in 1969, but in the late 70s this started to drop very gradually. In the early 80s the Club was still running monthly treasure hunts, 2 road rallies - the Mini Monte and YSTRA, a summer and winter single venue rally and 2 multi stage rallies - the National Dukeries Rally and the Premier Stages. The late 80s saw a decline in membership and a decline in events promoted by the Club. The change in life styles, work patterns and the availability of more varied social and leisure activities took their toll. Night Rallies became unpopular with the general public (although there has been a resurgence in the last few years) and the last road events put on by Dukeries Motor Club were in the mid 80s. Single venue rallies became ten a penny, but the venues were starting to disappear. This led to a steady decline in the early 90s because competitors were fed up of using the same venues.
Stage Rallying is still popular, if somewhat expensive, due to the ever increasing forestry rates, and Dukeries Motor Club still run the two most prestigious stage rallies in the East Midlands. Club membership has decreased to 150, but this has been consistent now for the last 8 years and is very healthy in comparison with other clubs.
But what about the future of rallying in general - a question which is raised a lot these days. Will the Club still be here in 45 years time? I would like to think so, but I somehow have my doubts.
Val Moss