Motorsports

Singapore Rare Books, 2009

This is page reflects a selection of Singapore and Malayasia's motoring heritage through automobilia. All the material presented here come from private collections.

The Lim Peng Han Trophy Collection

Singapore Motor Club

Formed on the evening of the 25^th February 1948 at a meeting at the Adelphi Hotel. The club’s first committee consisted of Messrs V.F. Kendall, J.N.K. Moncrieff, H. Marriott, L.E.G. Seagroatt, E.I. Williams, K. Hopkins and J.W. Jones with C.F. Pope as President. Initial membership consisted of 10 persons. The objective of forming the club was “for sponsoring events to interest owners of all types of motor vehicles.” Affiliation was with the Automobile Association of Malaya, at the time the Malayan authority on running motor club events under the rules and regulations of the Royal Automobile Club of Britain. At that initial meeting it was decided to hold the club’s first event on 21^st March 1948. Membership to the club would go through its Secretary, Lim Peng Han, care of Singapore Motors. The Chairman of the newly formed Singapore Motor Club was P.J. “Paddy” Darnell. In April 1951 he was elected Chairman of the Automobile Association of Malaya. In November 1951 he became the first Chairman of the Automobile Association of Singapore, an office he held till March 1954 when he retired and returned to the UK. He was also Editor of the AAM’s official Journal, the A.A. News Bulletin.

The Singapore Motor Club was eventually merged with the Forces Driving Club in 1969, creating the Singapore Motor Sports Club (SMSC). The old SMC were organizers of “big events” like the Singapore Grand Prix, the Gap Hill Climb, Thomson Road Sprint and Boon Lay Sprint. The FDC, on the other hand, organized more grassroots events for people using everyday transportation to compete. The merger between the SMC and FDC made the SMSC a stronger, more balanced club. The SMSC's status as a club was raised to that of Non-Government Organisation when it was converted into an Association, becoming the Singapore Motor Sports Association (SMSA) in 1994.

Other links: Singapore Motor Club, Singapore Motor Sports Club, Singapore Motor Sports Association

The Forces Motoring Club

A fairly unique club in Malaya and counted over 4,500 members from the various branches of H.M’ British forces around the world. In Southeast Asia there were two groups of the F.M.C. The Singapore branch was formed in September 1956 and within three years had 108 members. Within a year of formation the Club held a Circuit Meeting on the airfield at Changi. The Malaysian Group was based in Kuala Lumpur and was formed in October 1957.

Other links: Forces Motoring Club, Forces Driving Club

Selangor Motor Club

The club was formed on the week of Friday 10^th March 1950 – called together by Capt. C.O. "Mick" Jennings of the Kuala Lumpur Municipal Office. A temporary committee was appointed to carry out the initial organisation and membership drive and a second general meeting was held within a fortnight. The first event was a Motor Gymkhana and Concours de Elegance. Jennings elected President, Mr A. de Silva Hon. Secretary, Mr. S. Mitchell treasurer. The committee was made up of J.Ross, C. Rees, A. Nixon, E.C. Asplen, H. Woods, H. Woodhouse. J. Lavers as secretary. It was officially known as the Selangor Motor Sports Club. Subscription for car owners was $1, and motorcycle owners 50c. Entrance fees for car owners was $5, motorcycle owners $2. The formation of the Selangor Motor Sports Club in 1950 meant that it now assumed the responsibilities of racing from the AAM. The club’s manifesto was to organise sporting events and to improve the sport in the state. It was soon transformed into the Malayan Motor Sport Club.

Malayan Motor Sports Club

The newly formed Malayan Motor Sports Club ran the Lornie Mile speed trial on 5^th July 1953. MMSC President was C.O. Mick Jennings.

Other links: Selangor Motor Club, Selangor Motor Sports Club, Malayan Motor Sports Club, Malaysian Motor Sports Club, Shah Alam Motor Racing Association (SAMRA)

Malaysian Motor Sports Club - The First MMSC Clubman’s Meeting was held at the Selangor Racing Circuit on 6^th October 1968 with 9 races held. A number of very interesting cars were in attendance, from a Aston Martin DB5 to a Works-prepared Cortina to a Ginetta G4. The MMSC had yet to formulate the classification of racing cars by that date but with the number of events it was holding at the circuit, the club were forced to look at grouping of cars, modifications entertained and other major issues concerning racing cars participating. The Malaysian Motor Sports Club or MMSC was also referred to in the lingua franca as Kelab Sukan Motor Malaysia.

Shah Alam Motor Racing Association (SAMRA) - A non-profit consortium consisting of key sponsors of motor racing in Malaysia but in particular, racing at the Shah Alam Motor Racing circuit in Selangor. SAMRA's debut as promoter of the Malaysian Grand Prix was in 1978. SAMRA were given a 10-year lease on the Shah Alam Circuit with the objective of providing facilities at the circuit, managing and organising events at the circuit. The five founding members included Fraser & Neave (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Goodyears Malaysia Bhd., Rothmans of Pall Mall (Malaysia) Bhd., Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd. and The Wearne Group of Companies. Nippon Paint (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. were also in the core group, a new entrant into Malaysia. A further two joined later and these included Syarikat Guan Hoe Suzuki Sdn. Bhd. and The Inchcape Group. The MMSC continued to run the events but without the burden of administration, publicity and financial duties which were borne by SAMRA. Most of these sponsors were also behind Phase One of the creation of the Batu Tiga circuit at Shah Alam (the track was ready by August 1967). The original backers of the Batu Tiga circuit were Rothmans, Wearne Brothers Group, Goodyear, Fraser & Neave, Omega, Tiger Balm, Nestle's, Sime Darby, Cold Storage and Philips.

Perak Automobile Club - The oldest club in the Peninsula was the Perak Automobile Club, established in 1907. By the Emergency (1948-1960) it had lost its identity to the Automobile Association of Malaya. Representation from Perak at events in Penang would prove that there was still a strong following of enthusiasts and on 28^th October 1954, the Perak Motor Club was formed. In 1954 more than half the entries in cars at the March running of the Sungei Nibong Half Mile Sprint event came from Perak. This was repeated when the Sungei Nibong Kilo was held at the end of May. The need for a club in Perak was all to evident. By the end of 1957 the Perak Motor Club had over 300 paid-up members and was one of the most active clubs with regular events throughout the year. The club was granted the Royal Charter by the Sultan of Perak in October 1959 (official presentation during his birthday ceremony on 15th January 1960).

Royal Perak Motor Club

The Perak Automobile would eventually before the Royal Perak Motor Club in October 1959, one of the most active clubs in the region. The first Royal Perak Circuit Race was held at Tasek, Ipoh in 1969 but it was the second event, held on 29-30^th August 1970 and one week before the Malaysian Grand Prix that is worth recording. The event was held on a specially closed circuit in Ipoh. Considerable commercial sponsorship was forthcoming as was a generous prize fund for the motorcycle and car event. The main event was a 200-mile Saloon car race.

Other Links: Perak Motor Union, Perak Automobile Club, Perak Motor Club

Perak Motor Union - In 1907 the Perak Motor Union was formed. This was followed later on by similar organisation in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Penang and Singapore. Until the early ‘thirties, these “State” organisation functioned on more or less parochial line and devoted their attention more to the interests of the private motorist than to any organised sport. The rapid extension of the road system gave impetus to the formation of a more “all-Malayan” organisation, and a nucleus was formed in 1932 with the formation of the Automobile Association of Malaya (AAM) resulting in the demise of the original Perak Motor Union.

Penang and North Malaya Motor Club

Formed before the mid-1950s the PNMMC, together with the Penang and Kedah branches of the AAM, organised the first Sungei Nibong Kilo Sprint in May 1953. The club had already organised a rally in April that year. The club would eventually hold sprints and hillclimbs at Sungei Nibong, the Vale of Tempe, Quarry Drive and other locations in the north of Malaysia. The club continued to exist until 1967.

Penang Motor Sports Club - In April 1968 the Penang Government began on its plan to construct a permanent track on Penang Island for motor racing and other events. Then Chief Minister, Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee's objective was to boost Penang’s tourist development program. By early 1970, the course had been selected, albeit a street circuit for annual events. The Penang Motors Sports Club thus organised their first ever circuit race at the Esplanade on 10-11^th January 1970. The PMSC were also known as Kelab Sukan Motor Pulau Pinang.

Penang Automobile Club

The Penang Automobile Club had already been in existence by 1907 as suggested by correspondence between the club and the Singapore Automobile Club. The Penang Motor Club held a committee meeting on 21^st August 1907 and its team consisted of a cross-section of Europeans made up of Messrs Robert Young, a consulting engineer; William H. Rose, previously of the Public Works Department in Singapore; Otto Schule, a manager with Katz Brothers; Alfred Zeitlin, a merchant, Hermann Jessen, an assistant with Behn, Meyer & Company, Alexander Bowers Smith, a broker; Charles Gall May, previously superintendent of Works and Surveys, Public Works Department Singapore; and David Alexander Murray Brown, general manager, Pinang Gazette Press. Robert Young was Chairman, voted in at a public meeting held on 8^th April 1907. The Penang Automobile Club continued to function until circa. 1909 before going into hibernation until resurrected on 17th January 1911. Like the Perak Motor Union, the Penang Automobile Club was integrated into the AAM in the early 1930s.

Singapore Automobile Club - in Singapore, the first official meet of the newly formed Singapore Automobile Club took place on Sunday 18^th June 1907. The association was formed on Friday 22nd March that year with H. E. Sir John Anderson, K.C.M.G., Governor of the Straits Settlements, as President. The first committed was made up of some fairly high-ranking officials as well. Sir William Taylor, its first Vice President, was Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements from 1902-1904 and Resident General of Federated Malay States 1905-1910; Sir Walter John Napier, Freemason and joint founder of the firm Drew & Napier, and Attorney-General of Singapore from 1907-1909, Edward George Broadrick, the British Resident of Selangor from 1913-1919; William Andrew Cuscaden, Inspector-General of Police in the Straits Settlements from 1906-1914); Dr. David James Galloway, the first President of the Straits Medical Association, ; K.A. Stevens, long-serving manager of the firm of Calbeck, MacGregor and Co.; and J.H. Garrett. K.A. Stevens was the first Hon. Secretary. When the first annual report was issued, membership stood at a respectable 56. Although the event in Singapore was not a circuit or a speed event, it merits inclusion as the first officially recorded motoring event held on the island. Contestants gathered outside the Singapore Club for a photograph session (which later appeared in the Straits and FMS Annual published in November 1907). The owners then drove their cars to the Sea View Hotel at Tanjong Katong for refreshments with the Governor and H.R.H. The Sultan of Johore, Major-General Paduka Sri Sultan Al-Hajj Sir Ibrahim Iskandar Al-Masyhur ibn Almarhum Sultan Sir Abu Bakar, GCMG, GBE, (17 September 1873-8 May 1959).

Notes on the role of the AAM - 2^nd Dec 1931 - Motoring interests in Malaya were finally organized on a national basis from 1st January 1932 when the Malayan Automobile Club, with a full-time secretary, was inaugurated. The decision was made at a meeting of the delegates of motoring bodies held in Kuala Lumpur. The new club amalgamated the interest of the Penang and Kedah Automobile Club, the Perak Motor Union, the Selangor AA, the Negri Seremban Motor Assn and the Singapore Automobile Club. The club’s badge was the RAC badge but with a tiger’s head in the centre. Headquarters for the first year was in Kuala Lumpur.

Other Malaysian & Singapore Clubs