Back in the late 1950’s a group of young men and women in the Stonehouse and surrounding district, in Gloucestershire, gathered together to share their interest and love of all things motoring. Thus the Enthusiasts Motor Club of Stonehouse was formed. These people, with an average age in the low twenties, were all of modest means and unable to afford a car with any serious sporting pedigree. However, they all shared an overwhelming attraction and enthusiasm in all things motoring be it social or competitive. . To confirm their serious intentions the club was immediately affiliated to the nationally respected Motor Sport arm of the Royal Automobile Club.

Right from the outside the group were seriously mature and keen enough to form themselves into a club with high standards. With this in mind, in the early 1960’s, the club affiliated to the Motor Sports arm of the Royal Automobile Club, which was the controlling body for all forms of motor sport in Great Britain. This now enabled the club to organize events of a recognizable and safe standard to which they could invite other similarly affiliated clubs.

Early meetings were casual affairs and it was immediately obvious that the club should obtain suitable facilities in which to establish its own club house. A relative of one of the members, who ran a building business in Mill End, Eastington, had a small and little used warehouse, which he thought might possibly be suitable. After many hours of hard work which involved tidying up, repairing rewiring, plastering, carpentry, and the addition of chairs, table a soft drinks bar, etc. a reasonably presentable room was formed. A committee was elected and weekly meetings held.

Talk was, of course, cars, cars and more cars. Arrangements were made to organize the clubs own motor sport events which included treasure hunts, driving tests, production car trials, navigation exercises, etc. Visits would be made to other motor sport venues either in support of one of the competing members or as a day out spectating. Film shows were a regular feature with films of motoring interest and the occasional cartoon being shown. John Kerry was the usual projectionist.

A club magazine was introduced and circulated to members. I believe that Roy Edwards, the club’s secretary was the editor. Articles, submitted by members, reflected their various interests, activities, their thoughts, event reports, news of forthcoming events, etc. Items included the editor’s comments regarding the current Formula One season and John Tolner’s thought on Christmas.

A report on the ”Meatspeed 12-Car Nav-Ex” for the club’s Mynd Rally Trophy, contrived by Messrs. Allen and Bernie took in roads and ‘whites’around NE Cheltenham. This featured 8 crews and reported the fortunes of a number of members of the time, Mike Cole, navigated by Dave Powell was first crew through followed by Roger Lavis, in Sheila’s former 850 cc mini, navigated by Douglas Gunn.. Others out that night were Dave Evans in a Cortina Mk II, Keith Oakey and Dave Nurden in another Mini and Chris Turner. Dave Darby and Nigel ‘Kafir’ Fisher masterminded a similar exercise around the Nailsworth/Nympsfield area. Allan Grant managed to crumple the front wing of his Cortina, Roy Edwards’ Sprite became bogged down in a muddy lane and Brian Gilmore suffered from ‘mal de tum’ Sim Cramer, navigated by Peter Harris, had their Mini temporally off on a bank up Frocester Hill.

A dozen members also headed off to Castle Combe for a Test Day in their Sprites, A 40’s. etc. Several cars fell foul of the scrutineers but the club’s vice-president Mr. J.V. Prytherch had a good day’s sport.

Dave Powell and Brian Gilmore organised a Practice Autocross at Nympsfield. In spite of the cold and fog many members ventured out. In later years the club also organised many Autocross Meetings at Scrubbits Farm near Newton Bagpath. Invited clubs included the long gone Telehoist, Bruern and Dursley motor clubs. A full entry of 60 kept the entry secretary, Mrs. A. Tocknell busy. The chief marshals were R. Holloway and Reg Couling. At these, I and my fiancée, Terry, would enjoy successfully mixing it with the Mini Coopers in our bog-standard 850 Mini running on deflated Centurato’s.

Gymkhanas were cheap and popular events. Together with Chris Cramer, I organised one such event at the old South Cerney Airfield. Brian Hobbs’ Renault Gordini and Jim Loveday’s Imp were the usual cars to beat unless they rolled..

The club were keen to promote the participation of ladies and a suitably inscribed cup was presented each year. One such winner was Molly Harris (Balm) who enthusiastically rallied an MG Magnet before becoming a navigator along side Vic Turner and Doug Harris who raced a Sprite before acquiring a rapid Cortina GT in blue finished with a broad white centre stripe.

After several successful decades the club, like many others began to loose its way. There were a number of reasons for this. A number of members moved away to further their studies or to seek better employment prospect. Some bought better cars, which they were less inclined to compete. Family commitments, responsibilities and mortgages were another reason and, sadly, there developed clashes of personalities. Perhaps the final straw was the fact that the club lost its meeting place, which became needed for development. Thus EMCoS Mark I ceased.

Peter S. Harris
May 2007