TWMC Chairman Norman Redhead at a National PCT in Hartfield

History 1950’s – 1960’s

John Mew was also competing at National level in a Lotus, Alan Kemp was another rally man, Dick Mullis, Syd Welfare, Jim Mackinnon and Norman Redhead flew the flag in autotests and Harry Deakin, Karl Heim and Doug Jennings were keen Production Car Trialers.

TWMC organised the Second Horseless Carriage Exhibition in 1961 to celebrate its Golden Jubilee. The original exhibition was the first ever in this country and was held on the Agricultural Show Grounds in Tunbridge Wells in 1895, organised by Sir David Salomons. Back in 1895 it was a display of a new-fangled form of conveyance, in 1961 the aim was a celebration of the motor car. The display, on the Pantiles, had a car from each year of the club’s life. The exhibition was so successful and generated so much interest that to celebrate the club’s 55th year it held the Third Horseless Carriage Exhibition in 1966. Also held on the Pantiles it was opened by Donald Campbell.

From the 60s and into the 70s TWMC were also organising Rallycross events that were televised by London Weekend Television ‘World of Sport’. We organised the first International Rallycross meeting which was held at Lydden. We were also organising Race Meetings at Brands Hatch and Stock Car meetings for Spedeworth again at Lydden and the Kent and Sussex Trial. TWMCs Doug Jennings was the brainchild of ‘Sprintracing’ a new type of speed event that took place at Brands Hatch. It consisted of four car three lap races with aggregate times deciding the award winners. As well as Roy and Rod entries came from Jack La Fort in his Ferrari GTO and Don Harris in a DMF Special.

Norman Redhead in trouble at the Valence Hillclimb in Sevenoaks.

In 1967 TWMC held its first Autocross at Pembury, later that year a second Autocross was organised at Lamberhurst Quarter. The event attracted a Royal visitor when Princess Anne dropped in with some of her fellow students.

In November 1968 TWMC opened a club house, above the Grosvenor Garage at Grosvenor Bridge. It ran well and provided income, but sadly it attracted the wrong kind of attention and was eventually closed.