Derek Kessell - Maguire Mini Cooper S - Wiscombe Wildlife 2024_edited.jpg

Welcome to Downton Motor Club

Downton Motor Club is more than just a car club - our heritage can be traced back to the days of the world famous Downton Engineering Works, who were responsible for providing tuning services, preparing race cars and building special engines during the golden age of British motoring.

Throughout the year we also have our own fantastic set of 'Speed' Championships with qualifying events run at major motorsport venues across the country - these championships offer an affordable range of motorsport thrills and all at a reasonable cost.

Downton Motor Club - the home of fun, friendly and competitive motorsport.

(Photo - 2024 Speed Champion Derek Kessell)

DOWNTON News

70F373B2-FCC7-44E6-A5A9-DD27483A6B63_edi

Slark Race Engineering

SRE was formed in late 1973, when Bryan Slark left Downton Engineering. Neil (his son) joined him in 1986 and the business has continued to expand. Bryan started the business primarily modifying cylinder heads, eventually moving on to engine builds, Neil brought interest in the tuning side and ran the engine dynamometer before making the investment in a modern rolling road. SRE can supply cylinder heads and engines from fast road to full race specifications. Rolling road tuning for all types of classics, road, track day and race cars.

Our thanks to SRE for supporting the Club.

Discount for Club members !

Slark Rolling Road Tuning - Tel: 07980 939133

Downton Motor Club - A New Season !

Thanks to everyone who has already applied for membership - early indications suggest we will increase our membership numbers in 2025.

Click on the membership tab to apply now for club membership and an option to enter our Speed Championship.

The 2025 Speed Championship regulations have now been approved by Motorsport UK (download a copy - click on the Speed Championship tab).

Downton Motor Club - AGM and Speed Championship Awards

The annual awards presentation for Downton Motor Club was held late November 2024 at the Woodfalls Inn, Downton. The premier award was for the annual Speed Championship – a motorsport championship running from March through to October and based on 30 sprint / hillclimb events held at famous and historic venues across the country.

The championship was very well supported in 2024 by local motorsport enthusiasts and provided some low cost but very exciting competition.

This year we saw another hard-fought season with plenty of lead changes throughout the year ..... keeping us guessing until the very last meeting as to who would win what trophy!

Congratulations to Derek Kessell for lifting the overall ‘Speed Champion’ title and also two other awards - the Wiscombe Park Challenge and the Richmond Trophy!

The Clubman Cup was also a very close run thing with just 2 points covering the first 4 places. We had competitors in different types of cars from 3 different classes – the very essence of club motorsport and reflecting the sporting heritage of Downton Motor Club. The Clubman Cup was won by the Club Chairman, Adam Holland.

Our thanks to Brenda Harris for presenting all the awards and to the Woodfalls Inn for looking after us so well.

Looking to try some Motorsport?

Downton Motor Club is synonymous with the name ‘Mini’ and for 2025 we have special classes in our Speed Championships for road legal R50 and R53 BMW Minis (Class 4 and 4A). As we are running in a ‘road legal’ format there are no need for fire extinguishers, cut off switches, roll cages or full harnesses.

We have Downton Classes at 30+ events throughout the year - starting in March and going right through until the end of October. The ‘Speed’ calendar includes Sprints at famous circuits like Goodwood, Pembrey, Llandow and spectacular hillclimbs at venues like Wiscombe Park, Shelsley Walsh and Prescott - something for everyone.

Check out the Speed Championship tab for more details