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Our Club History
A Short History of the New Era Club
The New Era Club was formed in 1960, with a base in Stevenage, and
its original objective was the promotion and development of racing for
50cc machines which were then gaining in popularity.
The club flourished for a while as enthusiasts found satisfaction in
home tuning the relatively simple two-stroke engines of the Itom, Demm
and Maserati machines that were available at that time.
It was a sport that was really cheap and attracted a dedicated band of
followers. Gradually, better and much more expensive machines became
available such as the 8 speed DOHC Honda CR110, (which cost 323 then but
if you find one today it will set you back around 30,000!) the Tohatsu
and, later, the Garelli. There were still the dedicated 50cc enthusiasts
of course but gradually as the costs increased riders migrated to larger
and faster machines which they found could be raced for about the same
price.
In order to keep the 50cc class alive as numbers diminished, the Club
began to include races for the other classes in their meeting during the
mid 1960's. By a process of evolution the other classes gained
ascendancy over the next several years until, eventually, New Era became
a racing club catering for all classes. Parallel to this, the Racing
Fifty Club, which had a similar pattern of development and, indeed some
of the same officials, was facing the same problems and eventually the
two clubs effectively merged.
Over the years New Era has developed apace and is justifiably proud that
it has provided a training ground for many riders and officials who have
become leaders in their respective fields. During the 1980's, the Club
and its officials staged just about all of the Country's National
Championship events and provided officials for the Grands Prix and all
the other British World Championship Road Racing events.
Current Chairman of the ACU, Jim Parker, is also the New Era
President and has been a leading light and driving force throughout the
whole of the Club's forty-eight year history.
The Club's special Bill Ivy Trophy Meeting, (held in memory of the first
member to go on to become a World Champion) often included rounds of the
British Championships during the thirty years in which the race was
organised.
From administration which started literally on a kitchen table, the
Club has today grown into a large organisation with six staff and
occupies pleasant offices located alongside the river Lea in Ware,
Hertfordshire. It has over a 1,000 racing members and for 2008 has a
massive programme of thirty-two race days, catering for all Classes,
and, especially Novice Riders, on such famous circuits as Brands Hatch,
Caldwell Park, Donington Park, Snetterton, Oulton Park, Mallory Park,
Anglesey and Castle Combe
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