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20-500: The Cyclecar Club was formed in 1912, running races for the small and light motorbike powered vehicles at Brooklands as well as rallies and sporting trials . Among the founder members of the club were H.R. Godfrey and Archie Frazer-Nash . In 1919, with cyclecars on the decline, the name of the club changed to the Junior Car Club (JCC). The club was immediately successful, with regional centres being formed in 1921,

40-400: A single cylinder or V-twin configuration (or occasionally a three or four cylinder engine), which were often air-cooled. Sometimes motorcycle engines were used, in which case the motorcycle gearbox was also used. All cyclecars were required to have clutches and variable gears. This requirement could be fulfilled by even the simplest devices such as provision for slipping the belt on

60-671: A meeting of the Federation Internationale des Clubs Moto Cycliste, it was formally decided that there should be an international classification of cyclecars to be accepted by the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Austria and Germany. As a result of this meeting, the following classes of cyclecars were defined: From 1898 to 1910, automobile production quickly expanded. Light cars of that era were commonly known as voiturettes . The smaller cyclecars appeared around 1910 with

80-595: A sales boom shortly before the outbreak of the First World War, with Temple Press launching The Cyclecar magazine on 27 November 1912 (later renamed The Light Car and Cyclecar ), and the formation of the Cyclecar Club (which later evolved into British Automobile Racing Club ). From 1912, the Motor Cycle show at Olympia became the Motor Cycle and Cycle Car Show. The number of cyclecar manufacturers

100-575: The Citroën 5CV , Austin 7 or Morris Cowley . The cyclecar boom was over. The majority of cyclecar manufacturers closed down. Some companies such as Chater-Lea survived by returning to the manufacture of motorcycles. After the Second World War, small, economic cars were again in demand and a new set of manufacturers appeared. The cyclecar name did not reappear however, and the cars were called microcars by enthusiasts and bubble cars by

120-805: The Second World War , due to the demise of Brooklands, the JCC was amalgamated with the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club . The club then based itself at Goodwood Circuit , changing its name to the British Automobile Racing Club in 1949. Over the next 18 years, BARC organised at least one international meeting at Goodwood a year, notably Easter Monday Formula One races and 9-hour sportscar races—the first night races to be run in Britain. The club

140-627: The BARC organised the first ever UK round of the FIA International Touring Car series . The club had a particularly active role in organising A1 Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Masters series, both at home and abroad. The BARC is also in the unusual situation of running race circuits. As well as the home of the club at Thruxton, in 1990 they signed a 50-year lease on Pembrey Circuit in south Wales and in 2006,

160-829: The BARC organises a large number of race series. The club is the organising club for the British Touring Car Championship the Silverstone rounds of the World Sports car and Rallycross Championships and the support races at each weekend. Another major commitment is the organising of the annual Goodwood Members Meeting, Goodwood Revival and the Goodwood Festival of Speed meetings. The club also organises many smaller "club racing" meetings, featuring such classes as Classic Formula Ford , Caterhams , Clubmans and Legend Cars . As well as

180-560: The BARC took on Croft Circuit , near Darlington and so bringing the total number of circuits owned to three. The BARC runs more than just race meetings. As well as the Goodwood Festival of Speed , the club organises a number of hillclimbs and sprints. These include meetings at Gurston Down near Salisbury and Harewood Yorkshire both BARC Venues. More recently it organizes the Coventry Motofest and in 2018 it

200-693: The British motorsport industry for LGBT+ fans, employees and drivers Due to the existence of a regional 'Centre' in Ontario , Canada , the club has a role in organising Ice Racing events. In 2010 the Kendall Award for the most successful BARC-Ontario driver, in events held outside the region of Ontario, went to Robert Wickens . Cyclecar A cyclecar was a type of small, lightweight and inexpensive motorized car manufactured in Europe and

220-613: The United States between 1910 and the early 1920s. The purpose of cyclecars was to fill a gap in the market between the motorcycle and the car. It could accommodate only two passengers, often sitting in tandem . The demise of cyclecars was due to larger cars – such as the Citroën Type C , Austin 7 and Morris Cowley – becoming more affordable. Small, inexpensive vehicles reappeared after World War II, and were known as microcars . Cyclecars were propelled by engines with

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240-645: The general population. Several motor racing events for cyclecars were run between 1913 and 1920. The first race dedicated to cyclecars was organised by the Automobile Club de France in 1913, followed by a Cyclecar GP at Le Mans in 1920. The Auto Cycle Union was to have introduced cycle car racing on the Isle of Man in September 1914, but the race was abandoned due to the onset of the war. A1 Grand Prix Too Many Requests If you report this error to

260-788: The many events organised by the headquarters at Thruxton, certain BARC regions organise race meetings too. There are five centres in the UK and one in Canada. the Midlands Centre , North Western Centre , the South Western Centre , the Wales Centre and the Yorkshire Centre . As well as the BARC's own events, the club frequently is the national appointed club for visiting international series. For example, in 1995

280-413: The numerous makes were relatively short-lived, but several brands achieved greater longevity, including Bédélia (1910–1925), GN (1910–1923) and Morgan (1910–present). By the early 1920s, the days of the cyclecar were numbered. Mass producers, such as Ford , were able to reduce their prices to undercut those of the usually small cyclecar makers. Similar affordable cars were offered in Europe, such as

300-520: The pulley to act as a clutch, and varying of the pulley diameter to change the gear ratio. Methods such as belt drive or chain drive were used to transmit power to the drive wheel(s), often to one wheel only, so that no differential was required. The bodies were lightweight and sometimes offered minimal weather protection or comfort features. The rise of cyclecars was a direct result of reduced taxation both for registration and annual licences of lightweight small-engined cars. On 14 December 1912, at

320-519: The same year the 200-Mile Race at Brooklands was organised, the first long-distance race to be run in Britain . The race, a contest for 1,500 c.c. light cars, was won by Henry Segrave in a Talbot-Darracq. Captain Frazer Nash ( G.N. ) won the cyclecar race. Further long-distance races were organised both at Brooklands and Donington Park , as well as rallies and International Trophy Races. After

340-730: Was also involved in the opening meeting at Crystal Palace in 1953, and organised the British Grand Prix when held at Aintree in the late 50s and early 60s. In 1951 the BARC Eastbourne Rally was held on 30 June with the best performance by Bancroft in a Ford 10 saloon. The event featured a Midnight Concours d'Elegance. During the period 1956–1967 the BARC organised competitive events at the Firle Hill Climb in Sussex. The event held on Sunday, 2 June 1957,

360-487: Was less than a dozen in each of the UK and France in 1911, but by 1914, there were over 100 manufacturers in each country, as well as others in Germany, Austria and other European countries. By 1912, the A.C. Sociable was described as "one of the most popular cycle cars on the road, both for pleasure and for business", though another source states that the "Humberette" was the most popular of cycle cars at that time. Many of

380-646: Was run in conjunction with the BARC 11th Annual Rally at Eastbourne, a 50-mile road event held the day before, starting at the Grasshopper Inn near Westerham , with intermittent driving tests, including one at Butts Hill, Willingdon , and then on to Eastbourne, via Beachy Head. Goodwood was closed on safety grounds in 1966. The last event was a club meeting organised by the BARC on 2 July 1966. The club relocated to Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire , opening in 1968, and becoming club headquarters in 1974. Today,

400-523: Was the first event to be held on public roads since the law change in 2017. The club also has a social side, with a number of events over a year including regional dinners and the Big Night Out , the latter being held every year in February. It is the club's awards night celebrating the previous years champions. The BARC partnered with Racing Pride in 2019 to support greater inclusivity across

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