Clubs unite to build motorsport archive

A long overdue initiative to establish a central historical archive, with the aim of protecting and furthering Britain’s extraordinary motorsport heritage was agreed in principle by interested parties at Silverstone on February 29.

The British Motorsport Central Archive Association (BMCA) was enthusiastically endorsed by representatives of the Motor Sports Association (the sport’s national governing body), organising clubs BARC, BRDC, BRSCC, Bugatti OC, HSCC, VSCC and 750 MC, circuit operators and independent bodies such as The F1 Register and Haymarket Publications.

It was proposed that the archive — an extensive library of books, magazines, race programmes and reports, plus photographs, posters, film, video, sound recordings and promotional material — be set up at Silverstone, alongside study rooms allowing those wishing to conduct research to have access to its material.

By utilising existing records, and linking with private researchers and archives around the world, it is anticipated that an unparalleled facility will result. A web site, www.bmca:co.uk, is currently under construction and the BMCA plans to make the archive accessible through member sites at a future date. MP