Cambridge University Automobile Club
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The Cambridge University Automobile Club or CUAC is a motor club for members and alumni of the University of Cambridge[1].
It is recognised by the RACMSA. CUAC is also a member club of the London Counties Association of Motor Clubs (LCAMC) and the Association of Eastern Motor Clubs (EAMC)[1].
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[edit] History
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The Cambridge University Automobile Club was founded in 1902[1].
In 1946 the club organised the first motor race in Britain after the end of the World War II at nearby Gransden Lodge airfield[2].
Its members have competed in speed trials, rallies, economy runs and kart races.
In 1983 members of CUAC contested a fuel economy run in Austin Maestros against members of the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club (Oumdc)[3].
[edit] Roles and responsibilities
CUAC is run by students, with one exception. In line with the university’s rules governing societies its chief treasurer has to be a member of the university faculty.
The present committee of CUAC is as follows[4]:
| Role | Name | Responsibility |
| President | Alex Norman | Ultimate responsibility for the society |
| Vice-President and Secretary | Jon Griffiths | Assists the President in managing the society |
| Treasurer | Philip Williams | Day-to-day responsibility for the society’s finances and preparation of the annual accounts |
| Chief Treasurer | Responsible for approving the societies’ accounts (see above) | |
| Competitions Secretary | Graeme Leese | Generally assists the rally secretary in arranging rallies |
| Rally Secretary | Dave Manning | Arranges rallies |
| Karting Secretary | Martin White | Arranges karting events |
| Social Secretary | Helen Makey | Arranges social events such as dinners and the annual 'squash' to recruit new members |
| Veterans’ Secretary | Martin Lewis | Liases with former members who have left the university but wish to remain in touch with the society |
| Webmaster | Jon Griffiths | Runs the website |
[edit] Membership
Any member of the university can become a member of CUAC. Membership gives discounts on attending most CUAC events.
Membership for a student costs £10 per year or £25 for the duration of their time in Cambridge.
[edit] Activities
[edit] Weekly meeting
The CUAC committee meet at the Castle Inn, Castle Hill, Cambridge from 9.30pm until closing during the university’s term time (and occasionally outside of term time).
[edit] Rallying
CUAC runs several road rallies which involve navigating from checkpoint to checkpoint on public roads within a time limit. The onus of the competition is on decoding the navigation clues as quickly as possible, rather than fast driving.
Annual rallies include the Mindwarp and the Ariel. CUAC and the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club (Oumdc) take turns at organising the Varsity rally between the two universities.
[edit] Karting
CUAC runs its own series of karting races, collectively known as the CUAC Karting Championship, and sends a team representing the University of Cambridge to the British Universities Karting Championship.
CUAC and the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club (Oumdc) take turns at organising the Varsity Kart Race between the two universities. This year's varsity race was won by Oxford University.[5]
[edit] CUAC Karting championship
The number of rounds in the CUAC Karting Championship tends to vary from year to year with demand.
Races take place most frequently at the nearby Caxton, Red Lodge and Rye House circuits, but there have also been visits to Whilton Mill (Daventry), Daytona (Milton Keynes) and Buckmore Park (Kent).
[edit] British Universities Karting Championship
CUAC enter the University of Cambridge team in the British Universities Karting Championship.
[edit] Annual events
CUAC’s annual events include attending the Cambridge University Students’ Union’s Societies Fair, a Freshers’ Squash for new members and an Annual Dinner usually held in Easter Term.
[edit] Trivia
- The 1996-7 CUAC Karting Championship was jointly won by two drivers: Steve Brumpton and Carolyn Pursell[6].
- The 2001 CUAC Mindwarp Rally was cancelled due to the ongoing foot and mouth crisis[7].
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Cambridge University Automobile Club website. Cambridge University Automobile Club (2006). Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
- ^ Gransden Lodge track details. GEL Motorsport Information Page (2006). Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
- ^ Maestro economy run. The Unofficial Austin Rover Web Resource (2006). Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
- ^ 2006/2007 CUAC Committee. Cambridge University Automobile Club (2006). Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
- ^ Varsity Karting 2007 Results. Oxford University Motor Drivers' Club (2007).
- ^ 1996/7 CUAC Karting Championship - Final Positions. Cambridge University Automobile Club (1997). Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
- ^ Mindwarp Rally 2002. Cambridge University Automobile Club (2002). Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
