Mar 18, 2021
EVENTS 2021
BARC SW – Gurston Down are pleased to announce that we plan, subject to the UK Government and Motorsport UK guidance, to run the following meetings in 2021:
April – Sunday 18th – Test Day – a single day for BARC SW Members only
May – Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th – Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship Weekend, TWO one day events being the four rounds of the championship Gurston Down usually hosts. There may be an Interclub (formerly Nat B) meeting for BARC SW Centre members at this event. Entry numbers are limited.
June – Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th – The Tony Marsh Memorial Weekend – Two One Day Events
July – Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th – Two One Day Events
August – Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th – This event is a two day event. Saturday will be a practice day and Sunday will have a single morning practice followed by two timed runs.
We expect our online entry system to start taking entries, for all events except the April Test Day, on the 5th April 2021.
The March meetings and the April meetings have been cancelled. The Sunday of the April meeting being replaced by our Test Day.
TEST DAY – Sunday 18th April
Sunday 18th April’s meeting has been replaced by a Test Day. Applications are limited and priority will be given to those who have previously registered for our March Test Day. This date is restricted to BARC SW members. Details of how to register for the April Test Day will be published in the next seven days.
SPECTATORS
The current UK Government laws do not allow spectators to attend any of our events.
Once spectators are permitted, we will not be permitted to give spectators access to the paddock and / or the startline area. Drivers and spectators must be held in separate bubbles. Access will only be available to the Hollow Bend and Carousel Complex spectator areas. Availability of refreshments will be limited too.
Spectator numbers will be limited and you will be required to book in advance. There will be NO access without a booked ticket.
COVID-19 restrictions, regulations and guidance change regularly. This information is current as of today.
PLEASE CHECK HERE AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EVENTS.
Feb 28, 2021
It is with deep regret that we must report the sad passing of our long time Gurston colleague and friend Nick Howard.
Nick will be remembered having started his Gurston life as part of our renowned team of Marshals out on the hill, in later years forming a formidable partnership alongside Grahame running a smooth operation in the Bottom Paddock, both on event weekends, and also when supporting our School Days. Always a friendly welcome to be had.
In later years Nick assumed the role of BARC SW Steward, and kept a close eye on event proceedings, and over the past 2 seasons could be found supporting and encouraging our Gurston Chairman, and his dear wife, Sarah Howard in her 3 wheeled pursuits.
The BARC SW Committee were indebted to Nick for his commitment and efforts in maintaining our wonderful venue, and being at the centre of set up and set down proceeding all year round. Nick’s presence and dedication was always welcomed wherever he volunteered his time, including Thruxton, Wiscombe and Manor Farm to name just a few.
Nick’s funeral will be held on Monday 8th March at Bournemouth Crematorium at 9:30. Spaces will be very limited due to Covid restrictions and Sarah has asked that any enquires regarding this be privately messaged to her.
Feb 24, 2021
Following the UK Government’s Roadmap Out of Lockdown and Motorsport UK’s Restart statement we have been forced to cancel a number of events.
Motorsport UK have withdrawn all event licences until 29th March 2021 so we have been forced to cancel the following events: Test Day – 7th March 2021; Saturday 27th March and Sunday 28th March 2021.
Additionally we have cancelled the April Drivers School and May is looking doubtful due to the restrictions imposed by the UK Government’s Roadmap Out of Lockdown.
BARC SW Centre’s committee is currently waiting for the additional advice and guidance promised by the MSUK in their recent statement. Once we have received that and our Covid-19 Team has been able to assess the information and advised the committee of it’s recommendations, we will make further statements regarding events beyond March 2021.
Nov 23, 2020
British Automobile Racing Club Limited South West Centre
Notice of Annual General Meeting – Monday 14th December 2020
As you will be aware the Club is obligated to hold an Annual General Meeting but clearly, current
restrictions on both travel and gatherings make holding such a meeting somewhat problematical, to
say the least. Ideally I would like to postpone the meeting to a later date but our rules do not grant
us the ability to do this. To this end the “meeting” will be held on Monday 14th December 2020
In the circumstances the meeting will have to go ahead effectively behind closed doors. I would
respectfully suggest that there is nothing of exceptional note within the Agenda to cause members
concern. I should be most grateful therefore, once you’ve considered the Agenda, if you would
kindly complete and return the Proxy form to the email address shown in the proxy form
gurstonchairman@outlook.com
If you have any questions do please feel free to submit them via e-mail prior to the meeting and we
will do our best to answer them. One would hope that the answers will be available at the meeting
and can therefore appear in the Minutes. If this all seems a bit unusual please forgive me
Yours sincerely
On behalf of the British Automobile Racing Club Limited South West Centre
Sarah Howard
Chairman
Agenda:
1. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
2. Accounts & Hon Treasurers Report
3. Chairman’s Report
4. Election of Officers and Committee
a. Chairman
b. Vice Chairman
c. Secretary
d. Treasurer
5. Under Rule 12 John Davey, Nick Revels and Simon Purcell retire from the Committee and
being eligible offers offer themselves for re-election.
6. Under rule 10 Tony Record offers himself for election onto the Committee
7. Any Other Business
8. Close
AGM PROXY FORM – WORD
AGM PROXY FORM – PDF
Oct 4, 2020
Gurston Down Drivers School 2021 – Dates Available NOW
Applications for places at our four planned Drivers School events in 2021.
Get your application in NOW and save £10.00. You can enter online HERE or fill the application form in and post it to us.
Sep 8, 2020
Gurston Down has been put to bed for 2020 and returned to the shoot.
Thank you to all those who helped with the set-down.
Here are a few pictures.
Sep 5, 2020
As many of your know the camping fees collected at Gurston Down’s events are donated the village of Broad Chalke.
We collected £1375 in 2018 and £2015 in 2019. That’s £3390 collected to be donated to village organisations.
The following donations were made: £1500 to Chalke Valley Sports Centre; £1000 to Broad Chalke Village Hall and £340 Chalke Valley Football Club £340. The balance of £550 is yet to be distributed.
Aug 28, 2020
It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that Joan Hitchings, aged 88, has died on the 15th August 2020.
All at Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb offer our thoughts and most sincere condolences to her children, Robert, Philip, Janette, Melanie, Barbara and Frances and to her grand-children.
The family memorial service and cremation service are being held today.
Aug 10, 2020
These are the dates that BARC SW Centre plan to run events in the 2021 season. The exact decision on whether events are one day or two day meetings has yet to be agreed. Full details, including invited clubs, will be published here as soon as they are available.
Test Day – 7th March – BARC SW Members
March – Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th
April – Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th
May – Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th – expected to be the Motorsport UK British Hillclimb Championship Weekend. There will be an Intercub (formerly Nat B) meeting for BARC SW Centre members at this event.
June – Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th – The Tony Marsh Memorial Weekend
July – Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th
August – Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th
Note: Full details of the invited clubs for each event will be available soon.
ALL DATES ARE PROVISIONAL AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Hill Climb School Days – 2021
There will be at least FOUR school days in 2021:
Tuesday 6th April
Tuesday 4th May
Tuesday 8th June
Tuesday 13th July (FULLY BOOKED)
There may be a school on Tuesday 3rd August – but this has not yet been confirmed
ALL DATES ARE PROVISIONAL AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Jun 30, 2020
August 2020 – Club Meeting
After an exhaustive Committee meeting on the 29th June 2020, BARC South West Centre have to announce that we will not be running an event on 30th August 2020.
As many of you already know, as a consequence, there will be no hill climb events at Gurston Down Speed Hill Climb for the 2020 season. The Turbo Dynamics Gurston Down Hill Climb Championship and the Cavendish Ships Store BARC SW Top Ten Challenge have both been cancelled as has our Annual Awards Dinner in November.
The Committee heard from all of those involved in the running of the event, discussed the safety and financial implications, as well as views from each of the committee members.
The primary concern of the Committee was driver and stakeholder safety. The Committee, by majority vote, decided that the event could not be run taking into account all of the current guidance issued by Motorsport UK, BARC, HM Government and the other stakeholders.
Our Competition Secretary, Nick Revels will be in touch with all competitors over the next few weeks to arrange refunds. These refunds will be processed as quickly as possible.
BARC SW, 1st July 2020
