A Potted History of
Sheffield & Hallamshire Motor Club

Although officially formed in October 1904, it is believed that Sheffield & Hallamshire Motor Club was first conceived in 1902 as the Sheffield & District Automobilists’ Club. This was an era when motoring - let alone motor sport - was in it’s infancy.  Over a century has passed since then, and in that time the club and its members have been involved in almost every aspect of motor racing.  The club was formed by a few friends to further interests of the 150 motorcycle and light car owners in the Sheffield district. During the first few years the members enjoyed trips to places of interest but from 1906 onwards more organised events at national and international level took place and the club had great success in a number of road trials. 

From small beginnings the club went forward, and by the early 1920s was represented in many reliability trials in two, three and four-wheeled classes, and by now the name of the club had spread to the continent and a challenge was put out by the Belgian Liège Motor Union for our club to send out riders to compete in sporting trials. This association was to continue until the Second World War.

By September 1945 the R.A.C. were taking an active part in post-war motorsport and the Club were invited to send a delegate to Pall Mall for discussion on the sport. By March 1946 the sporting calendar was getting full introducing such events as the Bemrose, the Victory, the Shann Cup, T.C. Harrison Park Trophy to name but a few.

By 1947 the membership of the club was over 250, and with both cars and motorcycles enjoying full event schedules the decision was taken to split the club into two sections with a controlling Management structure.  Today these two sections operate independently, but still have a management committee to take an overview of the Club’s operations.

From country-wide car trials to organising stages on the RAC Rally, racing at Gamston to the celebrated High Peak sporting car trial, Sheffield & Hallamshire and it’s members have been part of the action.  We celebrated our centenary year in 2004, and were one of the first ten MSA recognised clubs to have reached that milestone.

Today the club has a wide and diverse spectrum of members, ranging from veterans of the sport through to the city’s students, who compete in disciplines as varied as road and stage rallying, through to sprints and karting.  In addition to competing, SHMC also has a rich history of organising events which continues to this day.  Although Autotests and Classic, Sporting and Production Car Trials have been seen less and less on the Club calendar in recent years, we currently organise multi-use stage rallies, road rallies, sprints and of course, this, our annual motor show.  We have also been involved with The Rally Show at Chatsworth since its inception in 2007, where we run the competitive stages each year, and we also lend our expertise to numerous other events throughout the year.  Our marshals and radio crews are also some of the busiest in the region, with some members volunteering on events every weekend during the rallying season.

Whatever your interest in motor sport, come along to Abbeydale Sports Club on the first Wednesday of the month and introduce yourself; whether you like to spectate, or want to marshal, officiate, organise or compete, we have something to offer you.