STEWART Harrold, president of the Ross and District Motor Sports Club, came to a recent meeting of Ross Rotary Club to talk about the early days of the Motor Sports Club and its development. Before starting his talk Stewart took the opportunity to present Ross Rotary president, Phillip Dazeley, with a mug he had won in a motoring quiz some 40 years ago but never collected.

Stewart's talk began by exploring a time when motor sport was very different from that enjoyed today.

He explained that trials events took place with both specially designed minimalist cars and those in daily use, on steep muddy banks, adding that the cars used to get very muddy as did the driver and the passenger.

Equally muddy, was grass track racing for motorbikes using courses marked out in a friendly farmer's field.

Rallies on the other hand took part on the narrow lanes of rural Herefordshire and up into the Welsh mountains.

He said that today the sport is very different in a number of ways, but the owners of modern cars and bikes are still able to enjoy the sense of achievement gained from competition.

Stewart also spoke with pride of the nationwide reputation the Ross and District Motor Sports Club has for both staging and marshalling national events.

Ross Rotary Club meets every Monday evening 6.30pm for 7pm at the Chase Hotel and as a guest or a potential member or if you just want to find out more about us you'll be made very welcome. Please visit our website at rossrotary.com