The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Appeal for sand racing memorabilia
IT IS no stranger to having the eyes of the sporting world upon it. But while 2013 marks the centenary of the beginning of an important series of championships held in St Andrews, perhaps, surprisingly, this competition did not relate to golf but to motor sport.
The forthcoming centenary has been highlighted by Douglas Turner, a partner at Fife-based legal, financial and property company Pagan Osborne.
As a keen vintage motor vehicle enthusiast, MrTurner is trying to trace photographs and programmes from The Annual Scottish Speed Championships, which were first held at St Andrews in 1913.
Mr Turner, who lives near St Andrews, said: “It must be remembered that, with the exception of Brooklands Track in Surrey, there were no purpose-built motor sport venues in Great Britain at the time.
“Instead, motor clubs looked for other venues, such as beaches, estates and public roads, on which to hold events as motor sport grew in popularity in the early years of the 20th Century.
“In 1913, the West Sands in St Andrews was identified as a potential venue for motor cycle racing and a preliminary meeting was held in June 1913, with permission of the town council.
“The meeting proved to be a success and in September of the same year, the inaugural Scottish Speed Championships were held on September 6 1913. There were three classes of competition for the championships, namely lightweight, medium weight and heavyweight, as well as other non-championship events for sidecars and cyclecars.
“The winners were Hugh Mason on a 2.75hp N.U.T., S Crawley on a 3.5hp Triumph and Ray Braid on an 8hp Martin.
“The course tended to start at the St Andrews end of the beach and the competitors raced down the sand and round a barrel at the far end, for a total distance of 20 miles.
“The Christie Brothers from St Andrews were instrumental in the early meetings and built special racing machines in their St Andrews workshop. Other competitors included the three Braid Brothers Ray, Ozzie and Herbert, the former two of whom rode Works Nortons in the Isle of Man TT in 1914. After the First World War, competition resumed in 1919 and once again, the Braid Brothers were to the fore. The brothers’ father’s cousin was James Braid, the famous golfer, so perhaps there was a link with golf after all!”
The annual Scottish Speed Championships at St Andrews became a fixture of the British Motorcycle racing scene and wellknown riders from all over the country made their way to St Andrews on an annual basis to compete.
The Second World War brought a second halt to the championships, which resumed again in 1947 and continued until 1950, when the last meeting was held.
Mr Turner added: “After the Second WorldWar, there were numerous redundant airfields all over Britain and these provided the first opportunity in Scotland for competition on a proper tarmac surfaces. As well as motorcycle competition, there were also numerous events for cars, both before and after Second World War.
“The last car meeting was held in 1950 and among those competing was Ron Flockart, later to win Le Man in an Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar.
“Programmes and photographs of sand racing at St Andrews are somewhat scarce and if any reader has any such information or items relating to the races, I would be very pleased to hear from them.”
Mr Turner can be contacted on 01334 472559 or dturner@pagan.co.uk.