British Automobile Racing Club
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The British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) is one of the biggest organising clubs for motor racing in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]
History
The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light motorbike powered vehicles at Brooklands as well as rallies and sporting trials. Among the founder members of the club were H.R. Godfrey and Archie Frazer-Nash.[1]
In 1919, with cyclecars on the decline, the name of the club changed to the Junior Car Club (JCC). The club was immediately successful, with regional centres being formed in 1921, the same year the 200-Mile Race at Brooklands was organised, the first long-distance race to be run in Britain. The race, a contest for 1,500 c.c. light cars, was won by Henry Segrave in a Talbot-Darracq. Captain Frazer Nash (G.N.) won the cyclecar race.[2] Further long-distance races were organised both at Brooklands and Donington Park, as well as rallies and International Trophy Races.
After the
In 1951 the BARC Eastbourne Rally was held on 30 June with the best performance by Bancroft in a Ford 10 saloon. The event featured a Midnight Concours d'Elegance.[4] During the period 1956–1967 the BARC organised competitive events at the Firle Hill Climb in Sussex. The event held on Sunday, 2 June 1957, was run in conjunction with the BARC 11th Annual Rally at Eastbourne, a 50-mile road event held the day before, starting at the Grasshopper Inn near Westerham, with intermittent driving tests, including one at Butts Hill, Willingdon, and then on to Eastbourne, via Beachy Head.[5]
Goodwood was closed on safety grounds in 1966. The last event was a club meeting organised by the BARC on 2 July 1966.[6] The club relocated to Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire, opening in 1968, and becoming club headquarters in 1974.[citation needed]
Racing
Today, the BARC organises a large number of race series. The club is the organising club for the British Touring Car Championship the Silverstone rounds of the World Sports car and Rallycross Championships and the support races at each weekend. Another major commitment is the organising of the annual Goodwood Members Meeting, Goodwood Revival and the Goodwood Festival of Speed meetings.
The club also organises many smaller "club racing" meetings, featuring such classes as Classic
As well as the BARC's own events, the club frequently is the national appointed club for visiting international series. For example, in 1995 the BARC organised the first ever UK round of the
The BARC is also in the unusual situation of running race circuits. As well as the home of the club at Thruxton, in 1990 they signed a 50-year lease on Pembrey Circuit in south Wales and in 2006, the BARC took on Croft Circuit, near Darlington and so bringing the total number of circuits owned to three.[citation needed]
Other activities
The BARC runs more than just race meetings. As well as the
both BARC Venues. More recently it organizes the Coventry Motofest and in 2018 it was the first event to be held on public roads since the law change in 2017.The club also has a social side, with a number of events over a year including regional dinners and the Big Night Out, the latter being held every year in February. It is the club's awards night celebrating the previous years champions.
The BARC partnered with Racing Pride in 2019 to support greater inclusivity across the British motorsport industry for LGBT+ fans, employees and drivers[7]
BARC-Ontario Centre
Due to the existence of a regional 'Centre' in
References
- ^ BARC Gazette, April 1965, Page 2.
- ^ The Manchester Guardian, 24 October 1921, Page 3; The Times of India, 16 November 1921, Page A4.
- ^ Motor Sport, February 1949, Page 34.
- ^ Motor Year Book 1952, Temple Press, Page 194.
- ^ Joint Eastbourne Rally/Firle Hill Climb Programme, 1–2 June 1957.
- ^ Goodwood Motor Circuit Programme, Saturday 2 July 1966.
- ^ "BARC shows support for Racing Pride movement". www.barc.net. BARC. 4 February 2020.