Torbay Motor Club Awards Evening

The highlight of the Torbay Motor Club social calendar, the Awards Evening, was held recently at Dainton Park Golf Club.

Gleaming trophies were presented to the members, who had achieved great results during the 2024 season in various motorsport disciplines, including hill-climbing, sprints, autocross and trials.

The winner of the Torbay MC Speed Championship was Shaun Tuckey, who received the Presidents Cup. It was a close battle – David Sims and Neil Tuckey completed the top three - all separated by less than four points.

The Terry Thorne Memorial Cup was presented to 15-year-old Polly Ashley, who won the ASWMC 1st Choice Finishes Autocross Championship in only her second year of competition. Her brother Luke received the Ricky Knight Tankard – he finished runner up in the Autocross Championship.

A special award was made to the Ashley family from Brixham, recognizing the contributions of Polly, Luke and their father, Simon. The Ashley’s own Central Garages Torbay Ltd and the company are a sponsor of Torbay Motor Club.

Leon Sandercock-Hunter is another young racer, who achieved good autocross results during 2024 - he collected the P Smith Cup for Most Improved Junior Driver.

In recent years, Torbay MC have revived autocross in the South West thanks to Colin Anderson. In recognition of his efforts, he was presented with the Battery Maintenance Cup.

Trial events have also proved popular, and the Phil Read Cup was awarded to the organisers, Keith Sanders and David Haizelden. Both autocross and trials events enable competitors to become involved in motorsport on a modest budget.

And it was not only the drivers who received a trophy – marshals fulfil a vital role in all motorsport disciplines, and Marshal of the Year, John Manser, received the Crispen Fuller Trophy.

Torbay Motor Club itself received recognition at the recent Association of South Western Motor Clubs Awards - it was named Club of the Year in the SW based on the number of points its members accumulated from the events they entered in 2024.

This year Torbay MC, founded in 1950, celebrate their 75th Anniversary. Many Torbay residents will have fond memories of Oddicombe Hillclimb – the event was held annually in March and October. First held in March 1961, the final event was held in March 2003.

Its demise was the result of Torbay Council becoming a unitary authority in 1998 and declaring that the hill was subject to the provisions of the Road Traffic Act and a 30mph speed limit.

After Oddicombe folded, hillclimb events were then held on a private estate at Mamhead and the Finlake leisure complex, Chudleigh, before a regular annual Club hillclimb was established at Wiscombe Park near Honiton.

This is now the principal spectator event for Torbay MC - this year’s meeting is on Saturday, May 17 with tickets available from mid-April on the Wiscombe Park website www.wiscombepark.co.uk

Torbay MC Speed Championship 2024

1. Shaun Tuckey 85.02 pts
2. David Sims 82.00 pts
3. Neil Tuckey 81.27 pts
4. Jan Yeo 77.00 pts
5. Roy Sims 71.93 pts
6. John Opie 71.69 pts

For all the latest news from Torbay Motor Club please visit www.torbaymotorclub.co.uk