Teifi Autograss Club celebrates 50 years of motorsport success

WHEN a handful of unassuming motorsport enthusiasts from the Teifi Valley gathered to form their own racing club one spring evening in 1976, little did they know that their organization would still be relevant and prominent within the area 50 years on.

Ten years ago, the Teifi Autograss Club celebrated their 40th anniversary in style with a gala dinner in Lampeter, and the release of their book of history, and ten years on, the club are eager to celebrate the next chapter - the making of half a century - 1976-2026.

From their very first race meeting, in Pencnwc, New Quay, to their last just last weekend as part of the South Wales Autograss League alongside their fellow clubs from Pembroke, Swansea and Carmarthen, the members of the Teifi Autograss Club have been part of the history books within the National Autograss Sport Association (NASA) on a national level.

Autograss is the UK's largest form of amateur motorsport, with over 3,000 members nationally, racing on short oval circuits on dirt.

The club has supported and been the advocates of National, British and UK Champions within the sport, the club's members have promoted the sport at international events in Belgium, have become the "Fastest racers on Grass" at the sport's most historic and traditional long-standing meetings, whilst some members also hit the UK Music Charts as part of the Autograss Allstars charity single - raising almost £40,000 in the process.

A decade on from the club’s last official birthday celebrations, there are many achievements to celebrate, memories to be unlocked and new ones to create.

From the "swashbuckling" racing style of national hero Donald Jenkins (TA22) to the undeniably dominant Terry Brown (TA44), the Teifi Autograss Club list a number of male, female and junior national champions, most recently Fiona Thomas (TA66), Lowri Aur Davies (TA2), Carys Thomas (TA56) and Jac Owens (TA5) - underpinning the family-ethos of the sport of national autograss racing.

Champions listed on that roll-of-honour feature sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren of those who came together 50 years ago to form a club that half a century on still thrive on putting the Teifi Valley on the motorsport map.

Members from over the decades are invited to a 'black-tie' celebratory dinner at the Tŷ Glyn Hotel, Ciliau Aeron on Saturday, 3 October where there will be surprises in store for the history makers and current members alike.

"Ten years ago, we had a very successful evening of celebrations, and we've been working hard to achieve similar successes as we look forward to the next half century," said Nia Jones, current club secretary and daughter of first chairman, Huw Jones.

Current Chairman, Adrian Davies added: "We have members from across the whole of south Wales. Many things within autograss have changed over the years, but we are committed to remember all of those from the club no longer with us who formed the club we are so proud of today.

"A decade ago, we had a group photo of the club's National Champions.

“We have lost some over the last 10 years, but as a club we look forward to recreating that iconic image - with the most recent crop of successful champions stood alongside those firmly in the history books."

All enquiries for tickets and event sponsorship should be discussed with Nia Jones (07500 556615) or Nerys Reeves (07970 539507).