The East Midland Racing Association became a part of Real Motorsport Ltd, the management team at Mallory Park, on 1st November 2020.
EMRA was formed by the members of the East Midland Centre of the ACU in 1983, which a brave decision was given that the circuit had been closed down at the end of 1982 by Grovewood Securities, who also owned Brands Hatch, Snetterton and Oulton Park at that time. Fortunately, Chris Meek, a Leeds businessman, and a very successful sports car racer (who started out racing bikes in the 1950s, but switched to four wheels, believing he would spend less time in hospital racing cars) bought the circuit and the Overend family took over the management of the circuit. As the 1980s progressed EMRA not only ran regular club meetings but also national championship meetings, MCN Superbikes, and the Supercup, (which gave birth to BSB), as well as the revived Race of the Year – not many British clubs have an entry form from Fred Merkel in their files!
Over the past 38 racing seasons EMRA has run over two hundred race meetings, putting on close to five thousand races providing racing for somewhere round forty thousand riders in that time – taking racing and practice laps into account that must be close to a million miles on the Mallory Park track. The change of ownership will ensure that EMRA will continue to do what it was originally set up to do - to provide great racing and a thoroughly enjoyable day out for riders and spectators alike.
The reason for the change is to ensure continuity, given that, sadly, none of the organising team are getting any younger, EMRA secretary Mark Jessup announced his retirement, after having just completed his thirty-third year as the man in charge, (and has been involved in racing at Mallory in one way or another since he was a teenager) and feels that the best way of passing on that responsibility is for the Mallory Park organisation itself to run the meetings.
The new entries secretary will be Claire Read – e-mail address emra@mallorypark.co.uk, telephone 01455 360260, but Iain and Joyce Rankin, who have done such a brilliant job over the last twelve years will continue to be involved behind the scenes, and will remain part of the office team on race days, which is good news for all their many friends in the paddock.
Stuart Hicken, Real Motorsport Limited “We’re thrilled to be taking over such a well-established and successful racing club such as EMRA. As a Mallory only Championship, it’s almost as though we’re bringing it home, with all the race admin now being undertaken in-house. The new website launches today (Wednesday), and for the first time ever, riders will be able to apply and pay for their membership online. Online race entries will follow too, keep an eye out for that! We can’t wait to see the club continue to go from strength to strength, and look forward to a fantastic 2021 season.