It is hard to believe that the Boxing Day Trial at Howden Wood Silsden organised by the Bradford & DMC, could be the final trial to be held by this illustrious club…EVER.
The names on the membership register of theis once powerful club are legends, The entire Allan Jefferies family, Tony, Nick, and the late David, Colin and Robin Appleyard, The Lampkin family, Arthur, Alan, Martin, Harry and Dougie (and now Dougie's children) Artie Ratcliffe, Stan Holmes, Bill and Mick Wilkinson, Geoff Broadbent, Blackie Holden and Maurice Rispin. The Club have run sprints, scrambles, grass tracks, trials up to national and British Championship status such as the Allan Jefferies which was trade supported in 1947 at Long Ashes, Grassington.
The current and serious problem is manpower. The club has a strong list of workers, the people who mark out trials and observe but have just one lady who is prepared to sit in the car taking entries, in some cases observing and then on the Sunday evening do the trials results. That is the base problem - the very necessary backroom girls and boys are not forthcoming. Nick Jefferies and Kevin Feeny discussed a policy with long standing official Ron Eddings who has done a twenty five year stint with others alongside, of organising and controlling the club activities. The bottom line is Bradford and District Motor Club will suspend organising events in 2018, unless some new blood comes on the scene.