Cambridge University Automobile Club
Encyclopedia
The Cambridge University Automobile Club or CUAC is a motor club for members and alumni of the University of Cambridge
.
It is recognised by the RACMSA. CUAC is also a member club of the London Counties Association of Motor Clubs (LCAMC) and the Association of Eastern Motor Clubs (EAMC).
In 1946 the club organised the first motor race in Britain after the end of the World War II
at nearby Gransden Lodge airfield.
Its members have competed in speed trials, rallies, economy runs and kart races.
In 1983 members of CUAC contested a fuel economy run in Austin Maestro
s against members of the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club (Oumdc
).
The current President of CUAC is Edward Bellamy (2011-12).
President: Edward Bellamy
Secretary: Lee Phillips
Karting Secretary: Chris Powell
Social Secretary: Alex Thewsey
Treasurer: James Ross
BUKC Captain: Richard Morris
Previous annual rallies have included the Mindwarp and the Ariel. CUAC and the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club (Oumdc
) have also taken turns at organising a Varsity rally between the two universities. Unfortunately, economic and university pressures have in recent years kept regular CUAC races confined to kart circuits.
The 2001 CUAC Mindwarp Rally was cancelled due to the ongoing foot and mouth crisis
.
CUAC and the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club (Oumdc
) take turns at organising the Varsity Kart Race between the two universities. The 2010 varsity race was won by Cambridge University.
Races take place most frequently at the nearby Red Lodge and Rye House circuits, but there have also been visits to Whilton Mill (Daventry
), Daytona (Milton Keynes
) and Buckmore Park
(Kent
).
Inter-college 'cuppers' races are also organised each year.
.
’s Societies Fair, a Freshers’ Squash for new members and an Annual Dinner usually held in Easter Term.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
It is recognised by the RACMSA. CUAC is also a member club of the London Counties Association of Motor Clubs (LCAMC) and the Association of Eastern Motor Clubs (EAMC).
History
The Cambridge University Automobile Club was founded in 1902.In 1946 the club organised the first motor race in Britain after the end of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
at nearby Gransden Lodge airfield.
Its members have competed in speed trials, rallies, economy runs and kart races.
In 1983 members of CUAC contested a fuel economy run in Austin Maestro
Austin Maestro
The Austin Maestro is a compact-sized 5-door hatchback car that was produced from 1983 to 1994, initially by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and from 1988 onwards by its successor, Rover Group. The car was produced at the former Morris plant in Cowley, Oxford. It was initially...
s against members of the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club (Oumdc
Oumdc
The OUMDC is the karting and motorsport club of the University of Oxford. It is one of the university's Blues sports teams as recognised by the Oxford University Sports Federation. The Club's main activity is competing in the BUKC and related Club100 events...
).
Roles and responsibilities
CUAC is run by students, with one exception; in line with the university’s rules governing societies its chief treasurer has to be a member of the university faculty.The current President of CUAC is Edward Bellamy (2011-12).
2011-12 Committee
The society's current executive committee comprises 6 members:President: Edward Bellamy
Secretary: Lee Phillips
Karting Secretary: Chris Powell
Social Secretary: Alex Thewsey
Treasurer: James Ross
BUKC Captain: Richard Morris
Membership
Any member of the university can become a member of CUAC. Membership gives discounts on attending most CUAC events.Weekly meetings
The CUAC committee meet at various pubs in Cambridge on Sundays during the university’s term time (and occasionally outside of term time).Rallying
CUAC has in the past run several road rallies involving navigating from checkpoint to checkpoint on public roads within a time limit. The onus of the competition is on decoding the navigation clues as quickly as possible, rather than fast driving.Previous annual rallies have included the Mindwarp and the Ariel. CUAC and the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club (Oumdc
Oumdc
The OUMDC is the karting and motorsport club of the University of Oxford. It is one of the university's Blues sports teams as recognised by the Oxford University Sports Federation. The Club's main activity is competing in the BUKC and related Club100 events...
) have also taken turns at organising a Varsity rally between the two universities. Unfortunately, economic and university pressures have in recent years kept regular CUAC races confined to kart circuits.
Notable Rallies
The 1996-7 CUAC Karting Championship was jointly won by two drivers: Steve Brumpton and Carolyn Pursell.The 2001 CUAC Mindwarp Rally was cancelled due to the ongoing foot and mouth crisis
2001 UK foot and mouth crisis
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 caused a crisis in British agriculture and tourism. This epizootic saw 2,000 cases of the disease in farms in most of the British countryside. Over 10 million sheep and cattle were killed in an eventually successful attempt to...
.
Karting
CUAC runs its own series of karting races, collectively known as the CUAC Karting Championship, and sends a team representing the University of Cambridge to the British Universities Karting Championship.CUAC and the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club (Oumdc
Oumdc
The OUMDC is the karting and motorsport club of the University of Oxford. It is one of the university's Blues sports teams as recognised by the Oxford University Sports Federation. The Club's main activity is competing in the BUKC and related Club100 events...
) take turns at organising the Varsity Kart Race between the two universities. The 2010 varsity race was won by Cambridge University.
CUAC Karting championship
The number of rounds in the CUAC Karting Championship tends to vary from year to year with demand.Races take place most frequently at the nearby Red Lodge and Rye House circuits, but there have also been visits to Whilton Mill (Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
), Daytona (Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
) and Buckmore Park
Buckmore Park
Buckmore Park Kart Circuit is a 1,200 metres MSA approved outdoor kart racing circuit located just off the M2 in Chatham, Kent, England.The circuit currently hosts hundreds of events yearly, with over 100,000 annual visitors and over 1,000 corporate events. It caters for nearly everyone, with...
(Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
).
Inter-college 'cuppers' races are also organised each year.
British Universities Karting Championship
CUAC enter the University of Cambridge team in the British Universities Karting ChampionshipBritish Universities Karting Championship
The British Universities Karting Championship is an annual University-based kart racing competition in the United Kingdom, organised by 3T Racing Ltd in association with Club100 Racing Ltd.-The BUKC:...
.
Annual events
CUAC’s annual events include attending the Cambridge University Students' UnionCambridge University Students' Union
Cambridge University Students' Union is the university-wide representative body for students at the University of Cambridge, England...
’s Societies Fair, a Freshers’ Squash for new members and an Annual Dinner usually held in Easter Term.
External links
- Cambridge University Automobile Club Official site
- Oxford University Motor Drivers' Club
- Buckmore ParkBuckmore ParkBuckmore Park Kart Circuit is a 1,200 metres MSA approved outdoor kart racing circuit located just off the M2 in Chatham, Kent, England.The circuit currently hosts hundreds of events yearly, with over 100,000 annual visitors and over 1,000 corporate events. It caters for nearly everyone, with...