1954 - 1958    Michael Archer

It is a privilege to be able to look back 50 years to the start of something as successful and vibrant as the Motor Enthusiast Club is today and to know that you had some small part in nurturing it throughout the early years.

"Enthusiasm" was the key word and that is what kept us going.
Whereas most of us involved were fanatical followers of every branch of Motor sport that was available to us at that time, most of us were too young to have had much experience in the organisation and running of events.

We learned quickly and the hard way and apparently convinced the "establishment" that we were capable of doing it on our own.    Once affiliated to the M.C.U.I and R.I.A.C., we set about organizing every type of event from bike "trials" for road machines, grass tracks and mud plugs, test trials, hill climbs and eventually, road races at Rathdrum for cars and bikes.

The organisational abilities of Peter, George, Jimmy et al, together with the support of Gerry and the Freeman Family, all contributed hugely to the early growth and on-going successes of the Club.

I recall that some of the social events were far more hazardous than any competitive activities and the professional entertainment was usually "out entertainment" by the members.

A Robin Rhodes after dinner speech and some of the home grown topical "ditties" bring back fond memories of good times and sore heads! ......Here's to the next 50

Mike Archer
Past President
'At the Office! July 2004'

Above Right Margin, D & D Veteran M/C Run to Mosney 1955 (Photograph by Peter Jenkins) Click to enlarge

1959-1970    Jimmy Cleary

1971-1972    Pat Naismith

Most of my social life has revolved around the MEC.   My good friend Johnny Blennerhassett introduced me to motor sport in 1959, where I got the taste for adrenalin rushes, navigation rallies and Guinness.

Soon after that I was invited to become a committee member of the MEC; I recall many wonderful times.   The trips to Kirkistown, returning via Kirkcubbin; trips to the London Motor Show with the "Dad" Robin Davies and John Gibson.   My close friends Pat Minto and Paul Empey, both MEC members, who have sadly passed on.

The ever daper Jack Callen, his bowler hat, umbrella and the ubiquitous Fiat 1100; the Old Stand on Friday nights; the back bar in the Wicklow Hotel on Saturday nights; Matt Smyth's after closing time, the home of MEC for quite a number of years; Mount Erroll where it all started in the loft, by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Freeman and Gerry. They welcomed us with open arms. They let us into their home for those special occasions with Sterling Moss, Rivers Fletcher, Jacky Stewart and oh so many other famous people.

Fond memories of the Annual Stag Nights, where only the strong dared venture.    "Puff" Powderley making his entrance through the window dressed as a gorilla; A well known comedian making his exit in tears.   Most definitely a "not to be missed" event

Then there was the trip to Karlskoga in Sweden to support Billy Bradshaw in his Lotus. He raced and we towed, - Harry, Jenks., Junior, and I, but we did get the opportunity to rub shoulders with the late Formula 1 ace Jim Clark.

Call me a name dropper if you will! See if I care!

Pat Naismith
Past President

I forgot to mention Maurice Roche who has just retired from running a brewery in Oz, - Some people have all the luck! Don't they.

1973 - 1974 1986 - 1987    Cecil Sparks

1975 - 1976    Peter Brian Jenkins    (1937 - 2007)

Peter Brian Jenkins - 1937 - 2007

1977 - 1978    Bob Elliott

1979 - 1981 1983    David Pain

1982, 1988-1990, 1992-1996    Stuart Ferguson

It was a great pleasure to serve the Club for the past 35 years.  The Club was founded the same year as I was born (1954).    I was elected to the Committee in 1970 when the Committee met in the Step Inn just around the corner where I lived.  I have served as Club Secretary, Editor of the MEC Newsletter, Social Secretary and 9 years as President till 1996 when I became Hon. Vice President.  My happiest memory was when I was COC on three occasions for the Circuit of Wicklow Rally, in the days when it was run on the closed Public Tarmac Roads and then for two years I drove Peter Jenkins when he acted as RIAC Steward at the Circuit of Ireland Rally.

My main interest were Sporting Trials when I acted as Secretary and Clerk of the Course, those were the days when I took a half day from work, spent the afternoon laying out the course in Tittour and then Frank Nuttall would look over my work and maybe change one or two Stakes!!  I wish the Club every success for their 50th Anniversary.

Stuart Ferguson
Past President

1991    Alex Wright

1991    Roy Stewart

I first met the MEC at the Phoenix Park in 1976 when I was posted to Ratra corner to marshal. The previous year I had been persuaded to marshal in The Park by the then COC Brian Palfrey, with whom I had been working.

My early interest in the Sport was in racing and I followed the career of my namesake intently as he clocked up 3 world championships from 1969 to 1973.  After I started driving myself, I found my interest turned primarily to Rallying where it remains to this day.  I am lucky enough to be able to get to a number WRC events each year.

If there is one person that I have to thank (blame if you ask Ruvé!) for getting me involved in MEC it is Reg Plunkett who I met for the first time in The Park in 1976.  Reg got me involved in helping at MEC events and in particular the Circuit of Wicklow Rally.

How times change, back in the seventies I considered it an honour to be asked to marshal and help at events.  Now we are almost pleading with people to come out. I was first elected to the Committee in 1982 but I had stood for election in the preceding 2 years without success.  To find new people to go forward for the committee today is not the work of a moment.

In the course of the past 22 years I have done a stint as President, Treasurer and I have been Secretary since 1997, but I am probably most associated with the Circuit of Wicklow Rally which I have run to a greater or lesser extent since 1981.  During the period I have had a number of terms on the Rallies and other RIAC/MI Committees and was instrumental in setting up the National Forest Rally Championship with Ed Colton in 1990. and while all this has been going on I have been competing in Mudplugs; yes it was Reg Plunkett who gave me my first drive and sold me my first car.

Roy Stewart

Past President