Formed in 1960's
The Bridgnorth Motocross Club was formally known as
the 234 Club in the late nineteen sixties, became the Bridgnorth Motorcycle
Club with affiliation to the AMCA (Amateur Motorcycle Association) in 1969
and with the majority of events being Motocross (scrambles) the current name
of Bridgnorth Motocross Club was adopted in the mid 1980's.
Famous for staging international meetings, the first of which was held at Lye Farm, Morville in 1975 for the
250cc class, the Bridgnorth Club have in total run 14 European Championship
events for solo and sidecar classes.
Since the club started nearly 400 riders from the Bridgnorth area have been riding in
membership of the club and currently 30 riders are competing regularly in
weekly events in the West Midlands.
First Meeting
The club ran its first Motocross (scramble) on September
2nd 1973 at Ousley Farm, Aston Eyre and two more in 1974 plus an event at
Lye Farm, Morville. In 1975 they used the track at East Underton Farm, thanks
to the late Sam Childe and continued at the same venue until 1992. During
this period they also ran meetings at Lye Farm and used Mill Farm, Harley.
In 1984 they tried a meeting at Higford and later in the year at Homer near
Much Wenlock by permission of Mrs Brassington.
Wig Wig
The Wig Wig track was
first used in 1985 for a two day meeting and altogether the club ran 7 events
that year. They organised 6 in 1986 and 1987 including Internationals at Underton
plus the annual Wig Wig two days on August Bank holiday. In 1993 they moved
to the Kings Nordley track after they lost the use of Underton following the
death of Sam Childe and the subsequent sale of the farm.
After three years they moved to Brickyard Farm, Aston Eyre thanks to the Anson
family, still using the Wig Wig circuit every August and they have currently
organised almost 150 meetings in the area.
IMBA record
The Bridgnorth Club is proud to be the only club since
the AMCA joined the IMBA (International Motorsport Bond for Amateurs) in 1967
to hold races for all three Championship classes on the same day at the same
venue - Aston Eyre. This achievement looks set to remain alone in the history
books of local and national Motocross because European officials have decided
that they will not allow all the top riders to compete together at the same
venue again. The final international meeting held on the superb highly acclaimed
Aston Eyre circuit on August 29th 2004, was also to be the final event staged
there. A noise abatement notice was issued by Bridgnorth District Council
after complaints by a minority of local residents and it was the opinion of
Emma Waites, the council official involved that saw the cessation of the family
sport of Motocross at Aston Eyre due the noise levels slightly above the accepted
criteria.
International riders
Several Bridgnorth club riders have had the honour
of representing their club and country at international level, the first being
the popular Mark Wilkes of Highley in the 125cc class. More recently in 2003,
the local riders John Price and Darren Dobson raced for their country against
formidable continental opposition and finished in the top 10.
Fund raising
Besides staging Motocross events and formally motor-cycle
trials in the area, the Bridgnorth club have also raised many thousands of
pounds for charity. In 1987 Robin Camps was persuaded to have a sponsored
hair and beard shave which raised over £7000 for the Oswestry Orthopaedic
Hospital.
Pictured with
Ken Dodd at Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital from left to right are;
Graham Gatt, Helen Camps, Diane Evans, Maureen Middleton(hidden), Lyn price,
Mark Sankey, Robin Camps (with freshly grown beard)
Money has also been
raised for causes ranging from local ambulance equipment, The National Trust
Wenlock Edge appeal, a bath hoist for local nurses, to latterly nearly £14,000
raised for the County Air Ambulance thanks to the efforts of chief fund raise
Thelma Price.