Events Introduction
As the Hants & Berks Motor Club is not a one-make club, and does not focus on a specific area of motoring, we can offer our members a much broader variety of events to participate in, catering for those with interests in classic cars, rally marshalling and social gatherings or activities.
The Club is affiliated to Motorsport UK which is the governing body for all motor sport in this country. This affiliated membership authorises the Club to promote and run motoring events and enables its members to enter not only our events but those organised by other affiliated motor clubs.
To discover more about the kind of events and activities that the Hants & Berks gets involved in, please refer to the more detailed sections below.
To view our forthcoming events, please visit our calendar pages by clicking on the link buttons below or using the dropdown tabs above.
Events and activities listed under our Public Calendar page are open to all, welcoming non-members to attend or participate alongside members of the Club, their friends and family. There are however, some events and activities run, or supported, by the Club which are restricted to members only. These events can be found listed under our Members Calendar page, accessible by password provided to existing members upon renewal of your annual membership or to new members upon joining us.
All events run within the Hants & Berks Motor Club rely very much on our members’ time, dedication and commitment. The Club welcomes and supports any member who wishes to organise or suggest an event, meeting or activity which may be of interest.
We are also happy to hear from external organisers of local classic car shows, rallies or other such motoring events, who perhaps require assistance or support from the Club and our members.
Please contact our Club Secretary, Bill Bonney, to discuss any proposals.
Classic Car Events
The Hants & Berks Motor Club first ventured into classic car events back in the early 1990s. At the time a national slump in motor sport events compelled the Club to expand its interests and with several members already owning classic cars this seemed the most natural progression.
Today the Hants & Berks are seen as a strong element of the classic car scene, organising and supporting numerous events both locally and regionally, and by not focusing on one particular era or marque we have been able to welcome a broad range of enthusiasts and expertise into our Club.
Our classic car tours are one of our most popular events and are not only well supported by our members, but non-members also. The aim is to encourage enthusiasts to come together and head out on the open road for a leisurely day’s drive, following a pre-set route through scenic countryside until finishing at a destination of interest, such as a heritage attraction or museum.
In conjunction with our tours the Club also organises and supports a number of traditional static car shows during the year, ranging from evening based informal gatherings to large public displays at national or local events, including the annual Woodley Community Carnival held in June.
We of course understand that not everyone who enjoys heritage motoring has access to a classic car of their own, and besides offering the chance to compete on our tours in modern cars (at the organisers discretion) we like to encourage all our members to support us on events in some way, whether as marshal, representative or spectator.
Social Activities
At the Hants & Berks we understand the importance of providing members with a variety of informal events and gatherings alongside the more vigorous activities. The opportunity to meet up and socialise with fellow members, family or friends on a regular basis, and in casual surroundings, always proves a popular alternative.
The Club’s main social gatherings take place in the evening at the end of most months (the exceptions being December and August) where members are free to come along to socialise, be entertained, enlightened or just have some fun.
Although the exact subject of events can vary on an annual basis, our evening socials can include film shows, invited speakers, quizzes, treasure hunts, skittles or team exercises – some are motoring based and others are not. Click HERE to discover more about our regular meeting venue.
For those members available during the week there is the additional opportunity to meet up with members at one of our lunchtime gatherings held on a monthly basis at various public houses and restaurants across the Berkshire and Hampshire regions.
Besides our in-house meetings, members can also benefit from a variety of daytime activities and competition events that occur mostly during the weekends. These may include navigation rallies, nostalgic classic car runs and shows, riverboat cruises, a skilful summer gymkhana and occasionally, if demand dictates, weekend breaks and visits to transport related institutions, collections or factories.
Rally Marshalling
In the early 1980s the Hants & Berks Motor Club began to bring together a group of members with the purpose of creating a competent marshalling team, the intention being that the Club would be in a position to organise and run rally special stages or events, independently or aiding other clubs.
Today the Hants & Berks is recognised as one of only a handful of motor clubs in the South of England that can offer a complete marshalling package providing support and management for local, national and international status events over the years, including the British round of the World Rally Championship, the British Rally Championship, the Mini Tempest and the Wyedean Stages Rally.
Working in all conditions, a marshal’s duties or responsibilities may include acting as timekeepers, start/finish controllers, sector marshals (who manage groups of marshals covering several junctions), stage safety officers, deputy stage commanders or even stage commanders. Marshals may also be required to assist with stage clearance, setting up signs, barriers and equipment, organising competitors and spectators, and clearing up at the end of the day.
We welcome any member who wishes to join the Hants & Berks in-house marshalling team, those who do can expect to receive full training, professional qualifications, work alongside fellow motor sport enthusiasts and get close to all the day’s action – so much better than just watching it from afar or on television!
If you are interested in joining, or wish to learn more about what’s involved, then do contact our chief marshal, Bill Bonney, for further information.
The Club's Monthly Meeting Venue*
The Raven
Located in the Hampshire village of Hook, the Raven hotel and public house serves as the Club's principal venue for its indoor evening meetings (*unless noted otherwise in the events calendar).
The Raven is a modern establishment consisting of a large combined bar and restaurant area which offers a range of traditional meals and drinks, ideal for those who wish to dine and socialise before the start of a meeting. Club meetings are held within the venues adjoining conference room, accessed through the main entrance.
The Raven has on-site parking and can be found only a few minutes drive from the A30 or M3 (junction 5). Hook railway station is also located directly opposite.
The Raven, Station Road, Hook, RG27 9HS
Ordnance Survey Map Reference : SU 725 540
