Tourism and Motor Sport in Ayrshire: a new direction

5 September 1997 | blog, motor sport, tourism

Daily Record Race Meeting, Turnberry, 1952
We were commissioned by Enterprise Ayrshire to undertake a study of the potential contribution which could be made by Tourism and Motor Sport in Ayrshire towards the tourism effort in the area. This was intended to be a broadly based study which investigated the potential for motor sport visitor attractions either as fixed venues or as events. The study would involve:

  • an overview of UK motor sport, its governing body, administration and organisation, the club structure, range of activities, venues and their ability to attract visitors
  • an overview of motor sport in Scotland, a review of venues, the popularity of particular disciplines and the competitor base
  • a review of motor sport in Ayrshire, existing venues, local clubs and proposed facilities
  • examination of achievable targets, geographical factors and locational requirements, visitor numbers and publicity
  • assessment of demand for new venues and events
  • recommendations on the way forward

Daily Record Race Meeting, Turnberry, 1952 - Prize Presentation
Recommendations were made for the support of events and facilities which at very little cost could attract an additional 45,000 visitors to Ayrshire each year. These included:

  • an annual one day historic rally, The Ayrshire Classic, to be held in May or September, visiting tourist attractions throughout the area
  • a special annual weekend event, The Turnberry Festival, at the former circuit at Turnberry
  • a dealer led garage motor event based in Ayr possibly including showroom autotests, similar to the Perth Motor Weekend
  • support for the Rally Alno but subject to the organising clubs implementing a series of visitor attraction related activities in Ayr during the weekend of the event
  • a hill climb and kart venue preferably in the Kilmarnock/Loudoun Valley area, linked to existing attractions and facilities, possibly to include a commercially run advanced driving centre
  • an organisation to run these events, obtain sponsorship and co-ordinate the work of the clubs involved

The images above were taken at the Daily Record Race Meeting at Turnberry Airfield in 1952. The top image shows the start of the main race. Mike Hawthorn is driving a Thinwall Special on pole No 54. The winner was Reg Parnell (BRM No 53), 2nd was Ken Wharton (BRM No 52) and in 3rd place was Ron Flockhart (ERA No 48).  The lower image shows Mike Hawthorn receiving his trophy in the centre of the picture. (both images and information courtesy of Bill Henderson, Photographer).