Amazing anniversary year for the speed seekers at Torbay Motor Club

In the world of motorsport, it is the time of the year for reflection and recognising success. For Torbay Motor Club, 2025 was a particularly special year, celebrating its 75th Anniversary.

The Club was formed in 1950 and many locals will still have fond memories of watching the thrilling spectacle of Oddicombe Hillclimb, for many years Torbay MC’s headline event. The speed hillclimb was held twice a year from 1961 until 2003.

The chequered flag fell for the final time on this popular event following local council changes and the introduction of a national speed limit on the hill, deemed in 2003 to be a public road.

The inaugural event in March 1961 was won by Roger Christmas in an NSU Prinz with a time of 46.45s for the tortuous 750-yard course carved into the red sandstone cliff face below Babbacombe Downs.

Cornish racer Kevitt Payne established the final Hill Record - 34.90s - in March 1986, driving an Ensign LNF3 single-seater racing car.

For Torbay MC members, hillclimbs and sprints are still the main focus, and in this year’s Speed Championship, which combines both disciplines, Andy Stoddart was crowned Champion in his very rapid Vauxhall Nova.

It was an intensely close battle with members of the same family filling the next three Championship positions – Neil, Shaun and Nathan Tuckey – all in different models of Ford – Fiesta, Escort Mk1 and Escort Mk2.

Andy Stoddart also finished runner-up in the Fusion Fostering Association of South Western Motor Clubs Sprint Championship, only losing out to eventual champion Johnny Hollier at the final event.

Mike Lee, in a Force LM, finished runner-up in the Fusion Fostering ASWMC Hillclimb Championship, missing out on the top spot to Ed Hollier by just four points. It was an incredibly competitive season - 2nd to 6th places were separated by just 0.9 points!

Ed and Johnny Hollier from East Devon achieved a “regional first” - the brothers winning both the SW region hillclimb and sprint titles in the same season.

Taking national honours, Dawlish Warren golf professional Jon Langmead won Class A(i) of the British Hillclimb Cup for the third consecutive year. He dominated the Class with 10 wins and 3 records in his Lotus Elise 135R, finishing a magnificent 11th overall out of 106 competitors.

In recent years, Torbay MC has been at the forefront of the revival of autocross under the leadership of Series Co-ordinator Colin Anderson. This off-road motorsport discipline originated in the Westcountry. Taunton Motoring Club organised the first events in 1954.

The sport has proved an ideal route into motorsport for junior drivers with the series open to competitors from the age of 14. Amongst young Torbay MC members who have found success are Brixham based racing siblings Polly and Luke Ashley – Polly was crowned ASWMC 1st Choice Finishes Autocross Champion in 2024, aged just 15 – and Leon Sandercock-Hunter finished Runner-up in 2025.

Torbay MC is very much focused on attracting young competitors, and in the last 12 months Alfie Sinden, Murray Murray, and Henri Gosney have all made their motorsport debuts, with Henri being named Wiscombe Park’s Young Driver of The Year.

The Club initiated a Junior Driver Award Scheme in 2020. This financial incentive - £80 for the 2026 season – is open to junior competitors competing in the sprint, hillclimb or autocross disciplines. TMC’s Financial Director, Rupert Barker, overseas the Scheme.

And if you do not want to compete, you can still get involved as a marshal. These volunteers are vital to motorsport events – without them, there would be no motorsport. No previous experience is necessary – all training will be provided by Torbay MC’s Chief Marshal, John Manser.

Although the action is on hold during the winter, the very popular monthly Torbay MC Sunday Morning Breakfast Meets held at Dawlish Warren Golf Club are a great way to meet up with other motorsport enthusiasts, including Club Chairman Roy Sims.

The next meetings are on February 15 and March 8 – 9am-noon. Everyone is welcome – a great opportunity to find out more about Torbay MC and its activities. Keep up to date with all the latest news which is available on their website www.torbaymotorclub.co.uk

The new Torbay MC season starts with the Torbay Trial – a classic reliability trial – usually held in mid-March (date to be confirmed) and the TMC Wiscombe Park hillclimb on May 16.

The speed hillclimb season gets underway on the weekend of April 25 and 26 at Wiscombe Park – full details are available on the website www.wiscombepark.co.uk and FB page.

Torbay MC Speed Championship 1. Andy Stoddart – Vauxhall Nova 83.26pts 2. Neil Tuckey – Ford Fiesta 82.62pts 3. Shaun Tuckey – Ford Escort Mk1 81.33pts 4. Nathan Tuckey – Ford Escort Mk2 80.40pts 5. John Opie – OMS PR 79.56pts