Monday August 22, 2005 at 12:00am
The first meeting was in September 1965, held in conjunction with the MCI sponsored motorcycle show at the Hotel Metropole. Farmer, Albert West allowed us “local boys” to use his field for one event each year, for the Brighton Scramble.
We started with Open to Centre events, but under the guidance of Bob Badman, these were soon to be of “National” class as the likes of Jeff Smith, the Lampkins, and their peers were invited to ride as guest Brighton Club members.
In the late seventies we were elevated to British Championship status, and consequently the local boys lost out on a ride at what was considered one of the best tracks in the country.
At this stage we approached Albert and his son David West to see if they would allow us the use of an extra weekend, but even after offering to double the rent the answer was always the same. “You boys can have it for one weekend, an’ that’s all”. A situation that has prevailed until now.
In the eighties David West took over the farm, and the burden of fighting local, national and EEC bureaucracy. The council, who own the farm, want to open it up as part of the right to roam. DEFRA have designated the whole farm an ESA, Environmentally Sensitive Area, ESA’s and motorcycling do not go together, and the DEFRA grant available for the 80 or so acres that make up the Piddingworth Circuit is far in excess of the income from running even 10 Moto Cross events.
So an era draws to a close, but don’t let us be sad! Let us says “thanks” to Albert and David West who never wanted to profit from the events, but allowed us to promote sport, for sports sake, and therefore giving days of enjoyment to hundreds of competitors, and a lifetime of memories for others. The club would like to thank everyone who has been part of this period of our history, whether organising, officiating or competing, rain or shine they have been happy days.
Roger Brown.