1900 Nottingham and District Automobile Club

Note: This is a sub-section of Nottingham and District Automobile Club

November 1900

The members of the Nottingham and District Automobile Club, by way of celebrating their birth, decided, in spite of the season and the weather, to have an inaugural run, and their initial outing was attended with the unqualified success which has up to the present waited on all their meetings and justified their existence.

The meet took place at headquarters, the Black Boy Hotel, Nottingham, on Thursday week, and by 1.30 p.m. there was a good array of motor vehicles, ranging in type from the stately Daimler to the modest tricycle. The president of the club, Mr. R. M. Knowles, J.P., of Colston Bassett Hall, headed the procession, and when the start was made over twenty motors of varying types followed his lead. Up to 10 a.m. the rain had descended in torrents for hours, but subsequently the sun made amends.

The earlier stages of the ride to Newark were extremely pleasant, but the promise of a fair day was not fulfilled, and a heavy storm overtook the members ere the destination was reached; whilst the wind on the return journey was somewhat cold. The greasy and dirty roads also made the travelling none too easy, but despite all these disadvantages the drive was keenly enjoyed. As testifying to the vitality which has already been imparted into the club, and to the rapidly growing popularity of the pastime, the run could scarcely have been more valuable or effective.

Following the president came the three vice-presidents of the club. Messrs.

• G. H. Kirk (on a twelve horse-power Peugeot),
• E. W. Wells, (Daimler)
• G. Cowen (Daimler)

• G. Rimington, H. Rimington, and A. Watts drove vehicles of similar construction;
• Mr. S. Harvey, an Orient Express;
• R. Harbidge and M. Ross Browne, De Dion voiturettes;
• Mr. P. Huskinson, a Gladiator voiturette;
• Mr. R. Cripps, a Progress voiturette, which had made the journey from Coventry during the morning;
• Mr. Collins, a Mayfair;
• R. R. Latham and C. L. Stevens, a Benz;
• Mr. H. Stevens, a De Dion tricycle;
• Mr. A. R. Atkey (the hon. sec. of the club), an Ariel quad; and
• J. G. Hamerton and A. Marwood on Eadie quads.

The "whipper-in" was a public service Daimler car, kindly placed at the disposal of the club for members' friends by Mr. P. Huskinson, of the Nottingham Autocar Co.

The assembly was witnessed by a large crowd, and the procession along the route to the Trent Bridge was watched with the liveliest interest, whilst at several points along the journey to Newark - which was accomplished in exceedingly creditable time-small knots of spectators gave the party an encouraging reception. At the Red Lodge the members had to part with their president, who was returning to Colston Bassett, but a halt was made, and the accompanying photograph taken.

After leaving the Red Lodge some heavy showers were met, but compensation for this inconvenience and discomfort was waiting at Newark, where, after a brief and informal reception by the Mayor, a high tea was served at the Ossington Coffee Palace, the company numbering fifty-four members and friends.

At the conclusion of the repast, the Chairman (E. W. Wells) expressed the gratification of the members that their inaugural run had been so well attended; and in response to a call, A. R. Atkey said that it had been felt that, although the weather was scarcely auspicious at this time of the year, they ought to mark the commencement of the club, and it might be claimed that the experiment had been fully justified. He was pleased to say that already there were thirty-one fully-paid members of the dub, including one at Leicester, and they were hoping that their old friend, R. M. Wright, would induce some of his Lincoln colleagues to join also. It was their hope to have an occasional meet during the summer, and perhaps one or two week-end tours; but they did not by any means intend to organise regular Saturday afternoon runs.

They had already arranged an attractive programme for the winter session, and hoped to have lectures and demonstrations on automobilism by S. F. Edge, J. W. Stocks, and other leading men in the motor world. The Hon. C. S. Rolls had kindly promised to come amongst them some time in the New Year, whilst Mark Mayhew had expressed a desire to join in one of their winter functions.

The work of the club would be constructive and instructive, and they hoped to enlist the sympathy and support of all who were interested in the development of the motor movement and industry.

The return journey, in spite of pitch darkness and bad roads, was safely accomplished by every member of the party, and all voted the occasion an unqualified success.

The first general meeting of the club took place at headquarters last Tuesday. There were present Messrs. –

• G. W. Wells (in the chair),
• M. Ross Browne,
• H. Rimington,
• J. G. Stafford,
• A. Watts,
• R. Harbidge,
• R. Cripps,
• George Rimington,
• A. Mamood,
• W. D. Wells,
• S. Harvey, senior,
• J. Huskinson,
• R. R. Latham,
• W. Hugh Warburton (Leicester),
• O. Cowen,
• G. H. Kirk, and
• A. R. Atkey (hon. secretary).

The hon. sec. read a letter from Mr. R. M. Knowles, J.P., of Colston Bassett Hall, accepting office as first president of the club.

The suggested rules of the club, which had been compiled by the sub-committee and printed in draft, were then considered amended and adopted.

The committee of management was elected by ballot, the following gentlemen being chosen: Messrs. –

• W. D. Wells,
• G. Rimington,
• H. Rimington,
• S. Harvey, senior,
• M. Ross Browne,
• R. Cripps,
• R. Harbidge, and
• P. Huskinson.

It was resolved to hold monthly meetings during the winter session, at which papers be read and discussions take place of matters interesting to automobilists.

Letters were read by the hon. sec. from the Hon. C. S. Rolls, Henry Sturmey, H. W. Staner, Bird, and Mark Mayhew, relative to visits from these gentlemen to the club during the winter months.

---

See Also

Loading...