Club Profile: Normandy MCC

By Andy Withers

Affiliation: ACU Area: South Eastern Centre

Key Contacts: Richard Thomas/ Mick Auger Email: info@normandy.co.uk Website: Normandymcc.co.uk

Motorcycle Disciplines: Trials, Sidecar Trials, Enduro

History:

The club takes it's name from the village of Normandy near Guildford in Surrey. The club was formed by E Coy a local Home Guard Despatch Rider towards the end of the Second World War. The first meeting of the club was in October 1944 and the first club held a scramble on War Department land near Normandy after the war. Within three years the club had 160 members and they organised scrambles, trials and enduros. In the 1960's a club motorcycle display team performed at village fetes (See photos). In more recent history the club has organised trials events and from the mid eighties enduros. 2019 was the 75th Club Anniversary.

Club Membership: The club currently has 12 life members, 88 members and 7 social members. Riding members include adult and youth members.

Ian Peberdy

Prominent Members: In 2019, Shane McKane, Steve Vass and Elliot Davies took part in the ISDE, the first ever Normandy Team to enter this event. it was a steep learning curve with many challenges but the team finished 89th out of 124 club teams with Elliot Davies achieving a silver medal.

Youth rider Jack Dance is destined for the very top after finishing a close second in the 2019 European Youth Championship. At home in 2019 he was a creditable seventh in the main expert class at the Southern Experts Trial.

The Wiffen and Peberdy families are stalwart members of the club. The current generation of top riders Phil Wiffen is a modern expert, but Phil and Ian Peberdy are regular top classic riders including the Scottish Two Day and Talmag Competitors. Phil and Dad Dave both campaign immaculate Matchless G3C's in the Talmag. Ian Peberdy took his Drayton Bantam to the 2019 Pre72, Britshocks Experts championship

Elliot Davies

The club boasts a strong sidecar contingent, regular national runner Paul Fishlock has teamed up this year with veteran Pete Pesterfield a highly successful rider in his own right. Graham and Beth Thomas, Richard and Miles Gilham and expert newcomers Elliot and Richard Tickner are all members.

Links: Normandy have made strong links with groups and other clubs. Since the early 1960's they have been part of the Thames Valley Trials Combine, giving members access to trials events organised not only by Normandy but also Hookwoods Trials Club, Surrey Schoolboy Trials Club, Twickenham and District MC and Witley and District MCC. As part of the South East Enduro Combine they link with clubs throughout the South East to provide a programme of "Hare n Hounds" and Enduro events. This year they shared the organisation of "The Hampshire Enduro" first round of the ACU Michelin British Enduro Championship with Witley DMCC.

Phil Wiffen

Key Events: In addition to the club Trials and Enduro events, Normandy have a long history of hosting highly successful major Sidecar Trial events which includes the annual Ray Thomas Sidecar Trial. This year this event was the first round of the ACU Wessex Hire British Sidecar Championship at Dunsfold. Last year they also hosted the Southern Experts Sidecar Trial at Hookwoods Trials Centre. One of the highlights on the calendar is the Goodwin Shield Pre67 Trial which is an open to centre classic trial planned for Hookwoods this year.

Main Venues:

• Hookwoods Trials Centre West Horsley, Surrey

• Sethern, Rams Lane, Dunsfold, Surrey.

• Hungry Hill, Aldershot, Hampshire

• Warren Heath, Yateley, Hampshire

• Yateley Heath, Blackbushe, Hampshire

• Frensham Vale Nr Farnham Hampshire

Information: Normandy's website is kept fully up to date and provides comprehensive information. The club does not run a facebook page. The club events are very well run at local, centre and national level running at some of the top venues in the South East. Richard Thomas is a driving force but his mantra "Team work makes the Dream Work" is born out by how the club is run and it's current success.