A Brief History |
In 1946-47 rural Herefordshire was trying to recover from 6 years of war, rationing was even tougher than war time but there was a new found optimism that life could get back to normal despite the shortages. |
The area had a long tradition of hosting both car and motorcycle events with miles of unsurfaced roads and countryside. The motorcycle clubs in the area, including several from the recently disbanded Home Guard, decided to run an off road Grand Prix at Bringsty. Supported by local land owners, whose families are still there, the clubs organised the event that would appeal to the new generation of military motorcyclists with experience of traveling cross country at speed. The event with its steep up and downhill, ledges, bogs and water splashes was intended to test rider and machine. Petrol was rationed, new machines and tyres unobtainable so the event format was two lap heats and a fifteen lap final with prizes including one for "best performance on road tyres"! |
The clubs included the Home Guard and a number which still exist [WVAC, Hereford, Cotswald and others], machinery was a mixture of the usual makes [BSA, Triumph, AJS Matchless, Velocette, Rudge and others] and was whatever people could lay their hands on, it's the first time we've seen an Excelsior Manxman being used off road. |
In 1946 the overall winner was RW [Bob] Foster the pre-war TT winner, on both occasions the most successful club was Cheltenham Home Guard still in existance in 2017 despite being disbanded in 1944. |
The event was a success but after 2 years the external pressure of war was growing, conflicts in Palestine, Greece and Korea meant that shortages became greater and the Bringsty GP was a casualty. The 1947 event was memorable notonly for the racing but for the large public rally held on the common to sound of competition to protest at the loss of basic fuel ration for private motorists because of the state of the economy and the stark choice between paying for imports of fuel or food. |