Bourne Motor Racing Club

The greatest changes which have occurred in Bourne during the past century have arisen from the development of the internal combustion engine. The sight of a motorist was comparatively rare prior to 1914 and his modern successors have turned even a quiet country town such as this into a restless and even hazardous place to live.

In his book A History of Bourne, published in 1970, J D Birkbeck wrote that a recent survey had shown that the county of Kesteven [one of the three administrative counties of Lincolnshire prior to the boundary changes of 1974] had the highest proportion of households with cars and also a greater proportion of such households than the country as a whole.

Motoring in those early 20th century days was still an experience reserved for the very few and it was not without its hazards and inconveniences. Apart from the temperamental nature of the internal combustion engines of the times, the roads themselves were often the subject of complaint from motorists with bumpy surfaces in many places and danger spots which had been of little concern in the quieter days of horse traffic. Already, before the Great War of 1914-18,  there were signs of the modern road problem because the police had started using speed traps to catch reckless drivers.

Nevertheless, motoring has been a major attraction in Bourne since the early days on the road and the activities of pioneers such as Dr John Gilpin and his friend Thomas Mays from the end of the 19th century when the motor car was beginning to appear are well documented elsewhere in this history.

Their interest was a major influence on Thomas’s son, Raymond Mays, who went on to found the BRM at workshops in Bourne that not only put the town on the map but also achieved world fame.

The first motor club was dedicated to the car owner and was known as the Hereward Auto Club, formed after the Second World War of 1939-45 when family cars were becoming popular and more readily available but little is known about its activities and no records of its meetings or officials survive other than a car badge from 1954 which is on display in the Heritage Centre.

The present Bourne Motor Racing Club is dedicated to motor sport and was founded in 1996 with the aim of providing enthusiasts with the chance to hear guest speakers talking about their favourite activity, to visit companies connected with motor racing and to meet other like minded individuals on a social basis.

Meetings were originally held at the Angel Hotel but a change of circumstances forced a move to its current home at the Red Hall in 1999.

Over the years, the club has welcomed many influential guests from the world of motor racing and in the early days interest was centred around Formula 1 and particularly the town's links with BRM. More recently, interest has broadened and it now covers all aspects of motor sport, from go-karting right through to F 1.

See also    

Bourne Motor Club     Dr John Gilpin     Thomas Mays     Raymond Mays