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Britain By Car - A Motoring History


Created Date:

31 August 2018

Last Modified:

21 December 2023
Grimsthorpe

Grimsthorpe Park Speed Trials

The setting for an early motor trial, first organised by the oldest motoring club in Britain.

Location
Grimsthorpe Castle, Grimsthorpe, nr Bourne, PE10 0ND.

Date
1903 – c1923, and 2018.

  • A1924 Amilicar completes the course on a very wet Sunday in August 2018, © Tony Thorpe
    A1924 Amilicar completes the course on a very wet Sunday in August 2018, © Tony Thorpe
  • The Austin raced by Sir Francis Hickman Bacon is now in the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, © Tony Thorpe
    The Austin raced by Sir Francis Hickman Bacon is now in the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, © Tony Thorpe

Commentary
The first motor meeting at Grimsthorpe was held on the 8th August 1903.  The fastest time of the day (FTD) was achieved by a Richardson, driven by Capt. H E Newsom, who once played for Lincoln City and later became Sherriff and Mayor of Lincoln.

The trials were organised by the Lincolnshire Automobile Club, one of whose vice presidents was the then owner of the Castle, Lord Willoughby-de-Eresby, the Second Earl of Ancaster. 

The next trials to be held in the Park were on Easter Monday in 1905.  They were a much smaller event, organised by the Peterborough and Counties AC, and due to the shortage of entries, included motorcycles as well as cars.

Further meetings were staged at Grimsthorpe in 1907, 1909, 1910 and 1911.  The FTD at the 1909 trial, on 19th June, was achieved by Sir Francis Hickman Bacon in his 100 h.p Grand Prix Austin, which he had bought from his friend, Herbert Austin.

The 1911, speed trials took place on 27 May, with classes open to amateurs and trade.  R Wright’s 20 h.p Singer achieved the FTD, and the fastest amateur driver was Tom Mays, father of Raymond Mays, in his 20 h.p Vauxhall. 

It is not clear whether motor speed trials continued at Grimsthorpe after this date, although motorcycle trials were held in the Park in 1921 and 1923.

In August 2018, speed trials were once again held in Grimsthorpe Park, a further event is planned in 2019.