Short History of the Club

The Blackpalfrey Motor Club was formed in 1965, by a group of rally enthusiasts, as an amalgamation of the Black Horse (a Public House) Car Club from Tunbridge Wells and the William Palfrey Limited (an engineering company) Car Club from Rochester. 

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We formed our base in Maidstone and immediately applied for R.A.C. Motor Sport Division (now Motorsport UK) recognition, in order to promote Motor Sport at club level in the South East. We became a limited company in about 1972. In the mid '70s we became aware that not being affiliated to a town was a disadvantage and we changed the name to 'The Blackpalfrey Motor Club of Kent'. 

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In the early years we promoted annually three night road rallies; the Hughes Rally, the Hassel Rally and the Harris Rally, three Autocrosses, Production Car Trials, Grass Autotests and Social events, including Dinner Dances attracting 350 guests etc. In the 1980s we moved on to promote Slalom Autotests and Sprints on West Malling Airfield, but unfortunately these events came to an end with the development of the Kingshill complex on the old airfield. 

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In 1996, we decided that the future of the Club would be with the development of the Classic Motorsport and social scene in Kent and the annual Hughes Historic Rally, with 150 mile road section and Tests on private land, was born. In 2004 we ran our first Tour of Kent for cars 'over 20 years old and newer 'interesting' cars'.

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The Club also organises a Series of Navigational Regularity Runs, Scatter Rallies and social events and, as a member of the above Associations, Club members can enter the majority of events organised by other members clubs...and here we are today.