TDMC was formed by Donald and friends in 1922 – Donald Healey CBE is best known for many motor racing, speed records and designing the big Healey’s in the 1950’s, including the Healey 3000 so famous in rallies. He also went on to design the Sprite in the 1960s and the Jensen Healey in the 1970s. Donald owned what is now Riley Garage in Perranporth. Back in 1920 little known fact – he transmitted the first radio air to ground message and in the same year his Austin Healey was the first car to reach 100 mph.
Donald was for many years the President of TDMC. One of the first events run by TDMC in 1922 was a Hillclimb/sprint run on a piece of road (public highway) between Truro and Perranporth, as Geoff Healey says in his book ‘in those days the police turned a blind eye to that sort of thing’.
The club ran events through the 1920’s and 30’s up until the start of the second world war when it was put into mothballs for the duration of the war. The exact date of the reforming of the club post war is not known but thought to be in the late 1950’s early 60’s. Donald Healey was a supporter of TDMC on its reformation and was president during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s until his death in 1988.
Austin Healey 3000, Austin Healey Sprites – can be viewed at the Healey Cyder Farm.
During the 60’s & 70’s the club held numerous events including the successful sprint course which was held at Predannack. In those days the sprint course was held around airfield buildings on the opposite side of the road to the airfield we know now. This event was probably bought about by Mike pollard of Cherry Tree Garage at Ruan Minor just down the road from the venue. The 1963 event was won by Willy Cuff in a Cooper Jap in a time of 26.49 seconds. Other notables competing on that event were Eric Preston, Mike Bennett, David Morrish, Geoff and Heather Millar, Geoff and John Blewett, Alan Roberts, Don Statton and Ed Scobey. The club also ran many Autocrosses at Laniley near Truro with entries in the 60’s and 70’s.
In 1967 TDMC managed to secure the Tregrehan hillclimb venue near St Austell, where we still run events today. The track has changed very little from the first event. That first event was won by John Hosking (known as farmer John) in a time of 27.51 seconds, driving an Austin Cooper S 1275cc. Other notable entries to that first event are Alan Roberts, Paul Dillow, Dennis Greenslade, Derek House, Mike Phillips, Mike Trenoweth, Peter Blewett and Peter Johns.
The club ran many road rallies in the 1960’s and 70’s; rallies being the starting point for many competitors before transferring to bigger events. In 1972 the club ran the ASWMC Championship City of Truro Rally, this consisted of a 200 mile all night road event, followed by several stages on the Sunday in daylight hours. The first car left Moorfield car park at 23:01 on Saturday night and finished at about 16:00 on Sunday afternoon and was won by Chris Wathen and Frank McKenna. Other local drivers on that event were Mike Tregoning, Derek House, Bob Eddy, Alan Beattie and Chris and Joanna Cock all of whom are still around.
Images below of Competitors on 1977 City of Truro Rally – Ponsanooth stage.
n the mid 1970’s the club started running 12 car navigational events mentoring drivers and navigators on how to compete, sounds familiar? Tregrehan Academy!
At that time the club were running four one day hillclimbs at Tregrehan, Easter Sunday, May Bank holiday Sunday, early June and August Bank Holiday Sunday. The three bank holiday events were all ASWMC speed Hillclimb championship events and the June event was a ‘closed to club event’ where the clerk of the course and secretary of the meeting were both ‘newcomers’ to organising and were being trained to take over bigger events. The club did not run motorcycles in those days, but we had as many as 105 entries on one particular event and despite two big accidents the event finished at 17:05 after two practice and two timed runs.
Photos Tregrehan 1977.
Other events being run were two stage rallies – the City of Truro and the Carrick Stages. Some of the venues used were Penhale, Portreath, St Eval, Predannack, Wheal Jane, United Downs and many others. Two or three other all night road rallies, plus a number of other 12 car events. In the late 1970’s the club managed to gain access to RAF Portreath when Nanskuke closed and ran a single venue stage rally and the first of the sprint courses on that venue. The venue is still in use today.
Two of our committee members came up with an idea to organise a special stage rally to raise money for Mount Edgcumbe Hospice. In 1987 with support from other Cornish motor clubs, the Tour of Cornwall Rally took place. What was meant to be a one off event grew to become one of the top ten national tarmac championship rallies in the country. This event raised much needed funds for the hospice. On one of the tour events, we had 25 6R4s Metro’s, the most 6R4s to compete on any event during its history.
The club have been involved in many events, helping run stages on the RAC/Network Q rallies in the 1980s and 90s. In 1980 the club entered a team of three cars on the then Lombard RAC Rally a four-day world championship event, Mike Tregoning/Roger Langford, Ivor Pengelly/Bob Challacombe and Steve Hunt/John Lee.
The club using its expertise returned to Predannack using the venue as a stage on the City of Truro and later as a single venue on the Frostbite rally. This venue with its different surfaces proved excellent for all forms of motorsport.
Autocrosses were run at Watergate Bay in the early 1970’s using the field currently used as the paddock on the Watergate Bay sprint. The club then moved the Autocrosses to Killigrew farm near Trispen in the late 1970’s running up to seven events in any one year, the club even ran two evening events and again were innovative in organising a Mini 850cc Challenge. This was restricted to 850cc minis with a 12G295 cylinder head and inch and a half SU carburettor being the only mods permitted.
The club ran four road trials, The Roseland, The Trispen and the January trial, all very good fun but often cold and wet, as they were run during the winter months, using venues such as ‘Old Stoney’ currently used on the Lands End trial and run by TDMC. We also run classic tours –
Other events – Autotests, Treasure hunts Gymkhanas and entering a float in the Truro Carnival. Most years the club ran up to twenty-six events in any one year, remarkably busy!!
Every year we get together and have an awards evening, a few drinks some food and a chat on the previous year’s events and presentation to the winners.
