MADRAS MOTOR SPORTS CLUB

If Chennai can boast of having the only international racing circuit in the country at Irungattukotai, which hosts at least 14 racing events every year, the credit goes to the Madras Motor Sports Club.

The result of a chance meeting between an Englishman and an Indian in the summer of 1953; the idea to establish a Motor Sports Club for Madras came, when Rex Strong and K Varugis chased each other in their 'Made in England', MGTD’s from Chesney Hall to the Catholic Centre and probably concurred that racing on a track was much safer than on the roads. 

Rex Strong who had been a member of the Calcutta Motor Sports Club, joined hands with Varugis to look around for more motor racing enthusiasts to start a club.  A formal resolution was passed on the formation of the Madras Motor Sports Club at the Madras Gymkhana Club one evening, following which a constitution for the club was drafted with the guidance of M A Chidambaram and S V B Row who was then the legal advisor of the Automobile Association of South India.

The first President of the Club was G M Donner, the Treasurer being K V Srinivasan and the Secretary K Varugis.  The first members of the committee along with these three were the Rajkumar of Pithapuram, Raja D V Appa Rao, J H Dye, P Matthen, K A Sillick and R A Strong. The club at that time, had a strength of 40 founding members.

The first regular motor sports event was held in August-September of 1953 at the Sholavaram airstrip.  This was the post independence period in India, when there were a lot of deserted airstrips from the Second World War in India.  Sholavaram boasted of one such airstrip, which was seen by racing enthusiasts as a perfect answer to their racing needs.  The first event had only two classes of cars, the MG’s, which had popularised racing in the United States and other stock cars.  The first All India Race Mmet was also held at Sholavaram on February 17th, 1957. The Sholavaram track has since then seen hundreds of races and thrilled thousands of spectators and racers alike. 

Some of the prominent members who have played a pivotal role in the development of the club are J D Jones, D J Hopley, Srihari, Rayi Sharma, Ven Sillick, R De’ Souza, Clubwala, K P Ranganatha Rao, N Jones and K V Srinivasan.

The main events of the Madras Motor Sports Club are the South India Rally and the All India Motor Race Meet held at the Club’s own race track at Irungattukotai.  The track, which has been approved by the Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme (FIM) and the Federation Internationale du Sport Automotive (FISA) is licensed to race up to Formula III for cars and all classes of two-wheelers.  There is also a dirt track for auto cross events. Membership to the club entitles concessions for all racing events conducted by the club. The members will also be kept informed about racing events to be held.

Address: Madras Motor Sports Club, Guru mansion, 1st floor, 123 / 1, TTK Salai, Alwarpet, Chennai – 600018.
Phone: 4990998
Fax:  4993984

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