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BURNHAM-ON-SEA MOTOR CLUB

Burnham-on-Sea Motor Club - Formed in early 1953, for the enjoyment of motoring and its associated activities. The founder members included Highbridge garage proprietor and local racing driver, John Buncombe. John competed far and wide in such cars as a Dellow and HRG. His son Jonathan was a successful Saloon car racer in the 60’s & 70’s and was part of the Esso Ford Capri team, that competed in the Tricentrol saloon car races, which were a forerunner of today’s touring cars. These days Jonathan’s sons Chris and Alex are now keeping up the family traditions in formula Renault.

Other notable members over the years include, the late Henry Liddon, who co-drove the works Mini Coopers, with Paddy Hopkirk in the 60’s, and Simon Taylor, known to many as “Throttle” who regularly still writes columns in Motor Sport and Classic and Sportscar. In fact Simon tells me that Burnham was the first motor club he ever joined.

Over the years the club has been involved with many events, and were pleased to be one of the Five clubs, who inaugurated this event almost 30 years ago. As well as this event the club also helps to promote the “Somerset Stages Rally”, the “Wildlife Hillclimb” here at Wiscombe, the “Andy Simm Classic Tour”, in addition to a full calendar of 12 car rallies, autotests and several social events throughout the year.

Some of our senior (older!) members tell me that they can recall standing on Wis corner and watching the cars rounding Martini!