Motor sport

Down a narrow track for a car trial in 1936 - Picture Evening Post

Not long after the first motor cars and motorcycles arrived in Jersey, enthusiasts were looking to drive them competitively and a number of different sporting events were introduced

On the start line of the 1958 sprint meeting on Victoria Avenue - picture *Evening Post*

And another *Evening Post* picture of the event the following year

The Bouley Bay Hill Climb, run up a section of steep, winding road from the north coast bay, has an international reputation to this day, and has been the scene of much exciting competition over the decades.

Sand racing has proved another popular sport, and has taken place on various beaches, although in the second half of the 20th century it settled in St Ouen's Bay, where events are still held during the summer.

Other motor sports held in the island have included standing-start sprints on the Five Mile Road, motor cycle trials and scrambles, the Jersey Rally, and go-kart racing on a special track which existed foro a number of years at Les Quennevais, but has since been developed for housing, and now uses a section of closed road at Grosnez on the north coast.

The Jersey International Road Race brought Grand Prix racing to the island in post-war years, but was discontinued when cars became too fast for the circuit on public roads.

Further information

The Lees-Baker family at a sand race event in St Ouen's Bay: Mrs Lees-Baker, Jim, Ted and Mary

Terry Le Main on the start line of a Five Mile Road sprint in 1967
A motor cycle race, possibly on the beach
Entrants parked at an unknown event
Motor cycle racing on the sand dunes in 1955
A sprint event on the Five Mile Road
An earlier event
Jimmy Lees Baker, a stalwart post-war motor cycling competitor on the beach and at Bouley Bay hill climbs
Motorcross at Mont a La Brune
Norman de Gruchy leads Jimmy Lees-Baker in a scramble on the St Ouen's Bay dunes
D-Type Jaguar at a St Ouen's Bay sprint in the 1970s
The 1999 rally
Evening Post photograph of a wheel being changed during the 1956 car rally
1958 Daffodil Rally at Les Maltieres, Grouville, an altogether more sedate event than today's rally (from an Evening Post newspaper cutting)
The first Daffodil Rally started from the Weighbridge in 1958
1958 Daffodil Rally
First Daffodil Rally, a smaller entry
Tico Martini in the kart he built himself
Frank Le Gallais in the 1954 St Ouen's Bay sprint
Autumn trial in 1956
1980 sprint
The pits for the 1959 sprints on Victoria Avenue
Blanches Banques scramble, 1953 - Evening Post photograph
Blanches Banques scramble, 1953 - Evening Post photograph
Blanches Banques scramble, 1953 - Evening Post photograph
Blanches Banques scramble, 1953 - Evening Post photograph
Reliability trial, 1936 - Evening Post photograph
Reliability trial, 1936 - Evening Post photograph
Reliability trial, 1936 - Evening Post photograph
Reliability trial, 1936 - Evening Post photograph
Reliability trial, 1936 - Evening Post photograph