ONE of the region’s longest-running motor clubs is returning to its old home.

Durham Automobile Club was founded in 1952 in the Cock ‘o The North Hotel in Durham by a group of motoring enthusiasts who included veterans of the Monte Carlo rally.

In 1964, the club moved to The Salutation, in Framwellgate Moor, where it held its monthly meetings for the next 27 years.

At its height, the club had more than 350 members, with competitors winning rallies across Europe.

On one occasion, the club entered no fewer than nine crews for the RAC Rally, the British round of the World Rally Championship.

At various times the club has had four national rallying champions: Steve Petch, Russell Close, Fred Henderson and Guy Wilkes – and it currently boasts the British Auto Test champion, Richard Pinkney among its members.

The club moved away from The Salutation in the 1980s when the pub was undergoing refurbishment and has since struggled to find a permanent home, being held at different venues in Durham, Shincliffe and, most recently, Willington.

Members are now set to return to the Framwellgate Moor pub on July 30.

Longstanding member Fred Henderson, himself a two-time British rally champion, said: “The members are delighted that we are returning and a lot of former members have been in touch to rejoin."

The club, which has 130 members, meets every Wednesday at 8pm where members can reminisce on what has been happening in motor sport over the previous seven days.

The club will hold its next informal Auto Test meeting in a field near Finchale Abbey caravan park on Wednesday, July 23 at 7pm where members will be demonstrating their skills and inviting guests and potential new members to have a look.

For further information, visit www.durhamautoclub.org.uk