My home town's place in Motorsport history

This panoramic view of the beach north of Mablethorpe hasn't changed since the days of the race in 1905

Anyone who was born and raised in the Lincolnshire seaside town of Mablethorpe, like me. Will tell you that the beach has probably the finest stretch of sand in the entire United Kingdom. A fact that did not go unnoticed by early Motor racing enthusiasts. 
Though the draconian “red flag” act that had limited a cars speed to 4mph with a man carrying  a red flag walking in front of a car had been repealed, the speeds on public roads were still limited to 14 Miles per hour and many motorists desired places to stretch the legs of their vehicles. 
When, in July 1905 the Lincolnshire Automobile club (itself the first motor club in England) announced in Autocar magazine their intention to hold a race on the wonderful Mablethorpe sands, there was great interest.
 Remember, that at this time, there were no motor racing circuits. Brooklands, the very first purpose built circuit, wasn’t completed until 1907. So enterprising “speed kings” had to resort to racing on private estates or, as in this case, the beach.There was to be two events, one over a flying kilometer (1,094 yards) and the other over a standing kilometer. It’s interesting to note that even at the height of the British Empire, the event was held over the “continental” kilometer distance rather than the imperial mile. The sands at Mablethorpe could certainly support the longer run. 
The races were to be handicapped to give all entrants a fair chance.The Mablethorpe Amusements committee put up prizes totalling 25 guineas, Including a 10 guineas cup for each race winner. The incentives must have worked because 28 competitors entered for both of the events. 
Perhaps they, and the spectators that lined the sands, were also there to rub shoulders with the famous Selwyn Francis (SF) Edge (1868-1940) He was a Lewis Hamilton of his day. Born in Australia, he came to England with his parents when he was three. He grew to be a talented sports man and businessman. He was a member of the team that won the Paris-Bordeaux cycling race in 1891 and ran a car importing and improvement business before moving on to motor racing. 
By the time of the Mablethorpe event he had already won the famous Gordon Bennett trophy race and was something of a star. When he announced his intention to attempt a speed record on our sands, a huge crowd was assured, with the Great Northern Railway laying on extra trains in expectation. 

Edwardian Motoring hero Selwyn Francis Edge.

Edge was a big attraction and many photographers, (or snapshotists as a contemporary journal described them) were trying to get pictures of him at the event. 
Edge had been joined on the sands by his cousin Cecil, who would ride as his mechanic during record attempts, and his good friend Clifford Earp, another well known motor ace of the day. In the end the weather conditions were against the attempt and it didn’t take place. Though Mr Earp expressed an interest in coming back to attempt some records at a later date.

Mr. Clifford Earp at the wheel of his Napier.

Though there could be no record breaking attempts that day, the racing went ahead on Saturday August 19th. The sands were described in all the automotive journals of the day as being in perfect condition, aside from a small patch at the start where a stream had run through the sands making for a small hollow spot. With 28 competitors, cars were run in pairs, in a head to head elimination format like modern drag racing, until they got down to three cars for the finals.

Dr. Gilpin's Richard-Brasier, is seen here easily beating Mr. Crow's Rexette which being a three wheeler got stuck in the sand. Note the huge crowd lining the entire length of the race course.

The cars were handicapped based on the published performances of the vehicles, the big 30/40 HP Daimler of Capt. H E Newsum and the 24 HP Wolsey of Sir H B Bacon the only 2 cars running from scratch in either event. In the standing kilometre Newsum would give up 400 yards of the 1,076 yard strip to some slower competitors. In one heat he gave a 250 yard start to  Mr. T M Winch in his 10HP Century beating him by over 500 yards according to one report. In the “flying” race Newsum gave up 32 seconds to some competitors. But it didn’t matter, Captain Newsum was an accomplished motorist and comfortably ran out winner. He bested Mr. C W Pennell in a Martini and Dr. E Crabb in his Baby Peugeot, in the standing kilometer final. While in the flying kilometer he got the better of Mr. W E Wadsley on his Orient Buckboard and Dr. Gilpin in his Richard-Brasier. But as the competition committee had written a meeting rule that the same person could not win both trophies, the prize for this race went to Mr. Wadsley. 

Mr. Wadsley's Orient Buckboard, leads home Mr. N. Isle's 8HP Rover. The size of crowd is amazing.

With such a successful meeting you would think that a future would be assured for this event. But the next year the meeting scheduled for Saturday July 21st 1906 only received 12 entries. So the committee reluctantly cancelled the meeting and it was never repeated. Wether it was because SF Edge and Clifford Earp would not be there or the competitors didn’t want to be beaten easily by Capt. Newsum we won’t ever know. But a letter to the editor of The Motor Car Journal from a person with the nom-de-plume “Mablethorpe” wrote extolling the virtues of Mablethorpe over Skegness as a year round resort and Motorsport centre. So the organizing committee were working hard to drum up support to run a second event. But it just didn’t work out.

"Mablethorpe" writes to the editor of "The Motor Car Journal"

What became of the Lincolnshire Automobile club, the first car club in the country? It’s still around and active, with it’s headquarters not so far away from our seaside town. With a slight change of name it is now known as the Lincolnshire Louth Automobile club.
All this history gives rise to a great what-if in English motor racing. What if SF Edge had been able to set a new speed record at Mablethorpe on that August day? Or what if Mr Earp if had come back and broke the hour record here instead of at Daytona Beach? Would people have come to the Lincolnshire coast for their attempts on Motorsport speed records? Perhaps the Mablethorpe sea front today would have memorials to those early racers on it. We can only wonder.

A Daimler 30/40HP of the type driven to victory by Capt. H E Newsum

The Orient Buckboard, similar to the one driven by Mr. Wadsley. Note the tiller steering.