Rushden Argus, 13th March 1914, transcribed by Kay Collins
Motor Cycling - New Club Formed for the District - Meeting at Rushden
A meeting, called to form a motor cycling club for Wellingborough, Rushden, and the surrounding district, was held at the Waggon and Horses Inn, Rushden, on Friday, and was largely attended.
Mr. A. F. Knight was voted to the chair and opened the meeting with a few remarks as to the desirability of organisation among the motor cyclists of the district. After some profitable discussion it was unanimously decided to form a club, the principal object of which should be to promote sociability among motor cyclists and to advance the interests of the sport in the district by protecting the public and motor cyclists from mutual annoyance.
It was proposed by Mr. H. Allebone (Rushden), seconded by Mr. C. N. Clark (Wellingborough), that the club be called "The Wellingborough, Rushden, and District Motor Cycling Club," and unanimously carried.
The meeting then appointed Mr. W. A. Fathers (Rushden) hon. sec., and the following gentlemen as a committee:—Messrs A. F. Knight (chairman), H. Allebone, C. N. Clark, A. Tomlinson, A. Bonham, J. T. Sudborough, A. J. Watts, A. Allebone, S. Leach, W. Harrod, A. Shortland, and C. W. Newton.
It was decided to affiliate to the A.C.U. and that the first run should be fixed at the next meeting to be held at Rushden on Tuesday week. It was also decided the secretary should write various gentlemen regarding the positions of president end vice-presidents, and that meetings should take place alternatively at Rushden and Wellingborough.
|
Rushden Argus, 20th March 1914, transcribed by Kay Collins
Motor-Cycling
Wellingborough, Rushden and District Club Meeting
On Tuesday, at the Waggon and Horsos Hotel, Rushden, a well-attended meeting of the Wellingborough, Rushden, and District Motor Cycling Club was held to appoint officers and arrange fixtures.
Mr. A. F. Knight (Rushden) presided. The secretary (Mr. W. A. Fathers) read a letter from Dr. H. S. Baker (Rushden) accepting the presidency of the club. The meeting then decided to appoint an Executive Committee of eight members, to hold office for a month, to draw up the first month's fixture list, and the following were appointed:—Messrs. A. F. Knight, T. Denton (Rushden), C. M. Newton, W. H. Mason, P. Knight, Parker (Wellingborough), G. E. Quincey (Overstone), and B. W. Pebody (Olney). Mr. Quincey was unanimously elected treasurer. An informal discussion followed, and the wishes of the members were freely expressed.
Afterwards the committee met, and drew up a list of fixtures. The first run was decided upon for Sunday next to Bedford, Wobum Sands, Olney, and Wellingborough. During the evening 36 members were enrolled.
 |
|
Members
|
|
Rushden Argus, 17th April 1914, transcribed by Kay Collins
Hill Climbing Competitions
Wellingborough and Rushden Motor-Cycle Club at Doddington
 |
|
The officials
|
The first sporting event of the newly-formed Wellingborough, Rushden, and District Motor Cycling Club took place on Saturday, when a flexibility trial was arranged, and took place at Hardwater Hill, Doddington.
The weather was fine, and there was a large attendance of the public. There were 33 entries. The hill was measured for a half-mile test, the first quarter of a mile being a slow test and the last quarter a fast climb.
The rain of the morning made the surface greasy, and so rendered the hill more formidable. The rider making the greatest difference between the fast and slow time was to be adjudged the winner. No cork-screwing, clutch slipping, or braking were allowed, and competitors were only allowed to use one gear.
The slow times were as follow:—Class 1 (for machines up to 2¾ h.p.): H. Sudborough, 3min. 24 2-5sec. (Douglas); E. G. Palmer, 2min. 52 2-5sec. (Douglas); G. D. Moore, 2min. 14 3-5sec. (Ivy); G. P. Jessop, 2min. 2 3-5sec. (Douglas); C. M. Newton, 2min. 2 2-5sec. (Douglas); the other competitors "counted" out. Class 2 (for machines up to 3¾h.p.): B. Pebody, 2min. 15 4-5sec. (Douglas); W. Parker, 2min. 56 2-5sec. (3½ New Hudson); A. J. Watts, 2min. 16sec. (3½ Triumph); G. E. Quincey, 2min. 03-5sec. (3¾ Scott); C. W. Ette, 2min. 28 1-5sec. (3½ Premier); E. G. Palmer, 2min. 39 3-5sec. (2¾ Douglas); G. P. Jessop, 1min. 39 4-5sec. (2¾ Douglas); the others "counted" out. Owing to the stop-watches not synchronised, the fast times could not be accurately worked out, so the committee decided to arrange a further trial for those competitors who finished the course, to take place on Saturday next.
The committee responsible for the arrangements were Messrs. A. F. Knight, B. Pebody, W. Parker, G. E. Quincey, and W. A. Fathers (hon. secretary), with the very valuable assistance of the assistant secretary (Mr. C. M. Newton), upon whom the actual carrying out of the arrangements made chiefly fell.
|
Rushden Echo, 14th August, 1914, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Rushden Motor Cycling Club
The Rushden and Wellingborough District Motor Cycling Club have for the present abandoned their fixtures in consequence of the war.
|
Rushden Echo, 19th September 1919, transcribed by Kay Collins
Speed Trials—Mr. F. Wheeler, son of Mr. R. A. Wheeler, of Rushden, won second prize (two silver medals) in motor cycle open speed trials, on Saturday at Luton, promoted by the Luton and South Beds Automobile Club. Mr. Wheeler rode an 8-10h.p. J.A.P. and attained a speed of just under 70 miles an hour. This speed was 3 seconds better than all the other riders, including the cracks of the country, except the first prize winner, who, riding the same make and power engine, lowered Mr. Wheeler’s time by three-fourths of a second. Mr. Wheeler’s machine made the fastest time of the day at the recent Northamptonshire Motor Cycling Club’s “Hill Climb,” doing a mile a minute.
|
|
