UGP PROGRAMME 2013.indd - Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club

UGP SUPPORTERS’
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50 Anniversary 19 UB
63 – 2013
Words by De
rm ot Ja m
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-1963 - 2013 50TH ANNIVERSARY
UGP Supporters Club 1988
E
arly in 1963 the Ulster Grand Prix
stood on the brink of extinction
due to acute financial problems
because the Northern Ireland
Tourist Board had just announced
the withdrawal of their
customary grant towards the staging of the
race, and the outlook was bleak.
It was at this point that a small band of
enthusiasts got together and decided to do
something about the situation. Thus was
born the Ulster Grand Prix Supporters’ Club.
Difficult times still lay ahead, especially
in the early 1970`s during the worst of the
civil unrest in the province. The event was
cancelled in 1972 because of the political
situation in Northern Ireland and the U.G.P.
lost its World Championship status in 1973.
With the lobby against the dangers of pure
road-racing gaining momentum all the time,
championship status was destined never to
return. This in particular, was a severe blow
to morale and it took several years for the
club to recover from the effects of the FIM
decision. Nevertheless, along with the Isle
of Man T.T. Races and the North-West 200,
the Ulster Grand Prix is still considered to be
one of the three greatest road races still in
existence.
There have been numerous other ups
and downs and there have been many
occasions when the weather has almost
wrecked the show, so much so that there
are many who would say: “This is typical of
Dundrod’s weather.” Like the race’s hardcore
supporters, he concluded that this is not the
time to throw the head up and give-in.
Now it is time to reflect on this the
Golden Jubilee Year of the Ulster Grand Prix
Supporters Club and the famous Co Antrim
road races which owe a debt of gratitude to
the unsung heroes of this bold body. By any
stretch of the imagination 50-years is a lifetime in business and since 1963 the ‘Prix’ has
benefitted to the tune of almost £1m.
There’s no denying the fact that but for
these annual hand-outs the UGP would have
vanished without trace. But the thought of
part of Ulster’s rich heritage going under
inspired concerned followers of this great
sport to do something practical.
At the first committee meeting on 23rd
April the decision was taken to order 2,500
metal lapel badges inscribed ‘UGP 1963’ and
their subsequent arrival when mentioned in
the press led to a demand which astonished
officials. To satisfy the demand the badge
order was increased to 15,000. Throughout
1963 and 1964 the main pre-occupation of
the committee was badge sales and member
recruitment. For 1964 the badge order was
increased to 20,000 but the membership
slumped from 1,300 to 900 during critical
days which indicated a shortage of workers.
That initial badge, the insignia of a true
supporter, cost just five shillings (5/-) which
was the minimum membership subscription
at the time. The new club needed to improve
considerably and during the winter of
1964/65 there was inspiration from new
blood and fresh ideas, one of which came
from that never-to-be forgotten all-rounder
Bertie Mann who was an administrator
as well as a competitor. He suggested the
introduction of car stickers for members and
this innovation saw the membership double
in 1965 and increased further over a period of
time to 6,000.
RH Ingram undertook the job of registrar
and also dealt with a deluge of postal
applications for badges and membership
each year up until 1972. Few people were
even aware of the magnitude of his task but
his contribution to the club’s growth was
immense. The start of 1965 also brought
about new blood to the committee including
Tommy Price whose hard work and devotion
has been so vital to the club’s survival.
Despite the effects of civil unrest and the
loss world championship status the club
continued to flourish. The club subscribed
£1,000 to the 1963 race but that figure
steadily grew to £20,000. Prominent pillars
of this unique club included Roy Kenny and
Jim Ewing along with WH Spence, Alfie
Wise and Dan Jordan plus Billy Middleton,
Tom Best, Norman Windrum and Norman
Morrow who was chairman for eight years
while Windrum was in the hot seat for nine
years. All of these diehards made sure
that the successful work
of their predecessors was
maintained.
When the club celebrated
its 1988 Silver Jubilee Year it
was recalled that £270,000
had been raised by public
subscription much to the delight
of organisers such as the Ulster MCC
and Ulster Centre Promotions.
The race was plunged into crisis
once again at the end of October
2001 when Billy Nutt announced
that he was stepping down from
running the Prix in order to
concentrate on the North-West
200. “I cannot heap enough
praise on Jardin and his fellow
officials,” said Nutt. “Had it not been for
continued assistance from the Supporters’
Club there simply wouldn’t be an Ulster
Grand Prix.” At that time it was suggested
that a consortium of clubs would promote
the UGP but in the end the Dundrod club
stepped-in to fill the breach.
Just before Christmas 2002 the ‘Ulster’
was again at the crossroads! The Supporters’
Club announced that they would withhold
their financial contribution for 2003 if two
leading lights within the Dundrod club
remained in office. This situation arose from
a financial dispute after the 2002 event with
the Supporters’ Club claiming that they had
been vindicated, required an apology and
could not work with the two individuals
concerned. Neither side would back down
over the issue and soon a new Supporters’
Club was formed. The Dundrod Ulster
Grand Prix Supporters’ Club was launched
on the 30 January 2003 at a meeting in the
Ballymac Hotel, Stoneyford. The situation
was only calmed, if not resolved, when the
leading officers of the original club resigned
at the annual general meeting of the club in
April 2003.
The first and only President of that
splinter group was the Co Down based Ian
Lougher from Wales. Normality was restored
in 2003 when Andy Pinkerton became
President a year after Desmond Stewart
became Chairman, Chris McDonald was
Secretary and Paul McGovern treasurer.
“To celebrate the milestone we have
commissioned a 50th anniversary metal
badge,” explained Stewart. “We also have
UGP Supporters Club 1963
sew-on woven
badges and our
merchandise trailer
which is effectively
our shop-window
has been updated.
The Prix has made
giant strides over
the past five years,
our bank balance is
healthy and thanks
to a hard core of
members we are
still very much in
business.That said we
are always looking
for new committee
members. In 2012 we
had 1383 members and
by Easter this year we
had 720 members, I’m
confident that we can
reach 1500.”
Now that the Golden
Jubilee of this unique club has arrived it’s
time for a liberal lashing of self-praise. Since
those worrying times in the early 1960s
this club has surpassed all expectations by
donating almost a £1m and that’s why the
world’s fastest road race is still alive. People
power played a constructive role but had
there been no proper Supporters’ Club we
would not be returning to Dundrod year
after year to lap up what is one of the world’s
greatest road races.
The men and women behind that public
meeting in 1963 can hold their heads high
as they grace the history pages of the Ulster
Grand Prix which had auspicious beginnings
back in 1922. One of those men was indeed
Des Jardin who for almost 40-years was
secretary and the general driving force
behind this unique club. Incidentally, this is
the 60th year for Dundrod to host the Prix.
It was previously staged at the Clady circuit.
Robert Graham who is Chairman of the
Dundrod club has also paid tribute to Des
Stewart and his fellow committee members
for their on-going donations which have
kept this famous race ticking over. The
club’s Vice-Presidents include Ralph Bryans,
James Courtney, Ryan Farquhar, Brian
Gardiner, Ian Hutchinson, Phillip McCallen
and Brian Reid. Club Presidents were
Tommy Robb, Billy McMaster, Toby Hurst,
Norman Morrow and Andy Pinkerton who
stills holds office.
The first Chairman was Herbert Ingram
followed by Dr Smythe-Wood, Dan Jordan,
UGP Supporters Club 2013
Randall
Stewart, Norman Morrow, Norman
Windrum and Des Stewart who moved into
the hot seat in 2004 and is still leading the
way.
Des Stewart explains how he got involved.
“As a member of the UGPSC the annual
Membership renewal arrived one year, and
in the Secretary’s report they were calling
for volunteers. I was drawn to a meeting
in the Community Centre, Railway Street,
Lisburn and from that I became involved.
During the 2003 AGM the Committee
resigned on block and I found myself
being proposed for Chairman, with Chris
McDonald as Secretary, Paul McGovern
Treasurer and Andy Pinkerton President.
Leading up to that meeting, Chris had been
working tirelessly on a computer based
system for membership generation and
records and after that the new Committee
implemented these changes for annual
renewals. Sadly one of our faithful Club
members Sam Glass died and left the UGPSC
a substantial legacy. After long deliberation
it was agreed to purchase a Club trailer - a
design and build project handled by Chris
through Donnelly Easy Load. This also gave
the Club an opportunity to establish a base
at the Grand Prix, somewhere members
can call and exchange the craic. In addition
we were able to establish the Sam Glass
Memorial Trophy for the Best Newcomer in
the second UGP Superbike Race.
This has been running since 2004 and
we have a Winners’ shield in the trailer
for all to see. As we now prepare for the
2013 race, where would the Ulster Grand
Prix be without the vision of Des Jardin?
He was the brainchild behind the UGP
Supporters Club, and we pay tribute to the
way Des galvanised his Committee and loyal
Supporters over the years. We are proud
to be associated with their tremendous
efforts, as we strive to ensure that the
Ulster Grand Prix remains at the Dundrod
Circuit. This year the total donations from
the UGP Supporters Club will reach the
£1 million mark and that speaks volumes
for the volunteers behind the club. In the
immediate past racing at the UGP has been
top-drawer, let’s hope that there’s more of
the same this week when you can safeguard
the future of what is often referred to as an
institution by becoming a member of UGP
Supporters’ Club.”
By the way here’s to the next 50-years!
Visit www.ugpsc.com for a more
detailed article.