Anyone who lives in glorious Gloucestershire is pretty much aware that Cheltenham Racecourse is the best jumps track in the country.

Most people also know that the Cheltenham Cricket Festival is the best of its kind in county cricket and that Gloucester Rugby Club are among the handful of top rugby clubs in England.

But how many people know that Cheltenham Motor Club can lay claim to being one of the oldest motor clubs in the country? Probably not too many.

Formed in 1906 by a group of garage owners and motor car enthusiasts, Cheltenham Motor Club have been at the centre of motoring and motorsport in area for over 100 years.

Cheltenham Motor Club’s clubhouse can be found in Upper Park Street off Hewlett Road in the heart of the town and it’s something of which the club’s members are very proud.

“We moved to what was the Crown Inn in 1998,” said Cheltenham Motor Club chairman Kevin Smith. “We’ve have about 50 active members who take part in motor sport and we also have some 300 social members.”

Those social members are drawn to the club in part because of the real ale that is served in the clubhouse and the motor club host an annual beer festival in September which they call, wait for it… The wheel ale festival! The club were voted national club of the year 2013 and 2017 by CAMRA.

And while the beer is obviously good, so is the motorsport.

Smith has always been into his motorsport. He moved to Cheltenham some 35 years ago and has been a member of Cheltenham Motor Club for 30 years.

The 64-year-old was originally a member of Phoenix Car Club in Swindon, which is his home town and the self-employed driving instructor has been chairman of Cheltenham for the past nine years.

“I’m a car rally man,” he said. “I take part in navigational scatter rallies.

“It’s a winter sport – October to March – and they take place on the third Friday of the month.

“We go out after dark and we’re given a set route and have to find our way round.

“It’s based on navigation and time, you have to get to all the control points at your due time and cover the correct route.

“There are usually about five of them. The rallies take place all over the Cotswolds and are over about 50 miles and last about two hours.

“We go down lanes you wouldn’t believe!”

Smith declines to say what speed he gets up to in his Vauxhall Corsa but one thing he will confirm is that as a driver he needs a very good navigator and in Martin Saunders – better known as Ted – he certainly has one.

So how do they get on?

“We do win quite a few,” he said. “ We work well as a team.”

And what happens if one of them makes a mistake?

“If I make a mistake, we have to go that bit faster and if Ted makes a mistake, we still have to go that bit faster,” laughed Smith.

“We never argue. He’s in charge when the car is on the ground, I’m in charge when it’s in the air!”

Smith and Saunders, who has competed at the top level, have been pals for a good number of years.

“I was part of his service technician crew for 10 years,” explained Smith. “I’d get the car ready, change the wheels, that sort of thing. His driver was Gary Midwinter.”

Smith clearly loves anything and everything to do with cars and is a major player when Cheltenham Motor Club organises its major annual event.

That’s the Get It Sideways Stage rally and it takes place on a disused airfield at Down Ampney near Cirencester.

“We attract about 75 entries which is the maximum number,” said Smith. “There must be 500 people on site during the day.”

And that’s not all that Cheltenham Motor Club organise.

“We run a summer series for novices who want to get into the sport,” continued Smith. “We put cones in a field – Burley Fields in Leckhampton. Drivers must go round them in a set pattern against the clock. This event can be done in any ordinary car and we organise five of those.”

Members of Cheltenham Motor Club have been promoting all things motorsport for many, many years of course.

“We were one of the earliest motor clubs,” added Smith, “there weren’t many before Cheltenham.”

They have a proud history and have been enriched by the many good people who have served the club over the years.

Dave Cooper is the current president and Smith said: “He’s been a member of the club a lot longer than me. He’s been president for a long time and still competes in road rallies.

“Our treasurer Phil Cork is another. He hasn’t been competing for a while but he’s always there helping out.”

Like all clubs, Cheltenham Motor Club would love a few more members and Smith says the club have plenty to offer.

“We want grassroots people,” he said. “They can come out and marshal events. We have members who marshal on Rally GB and at the British Grand Prix.”

The great thing about marshalling is that you don’t have to have a car but if you do and want to get involved there are plenty of opportunities for wannabe drivers and navigators in classic cars, rallies and races.

And the club also boast a good number of people who have been there and done it regarding competing at the top level.

“Nick Elliott and Dave Price have been British champions for the Historic Rally,” said Smith.

“Dave was the navigator, but he is also a driver and his daughter Emily is now navigating for him.”

And there are other top competitors too.

“Phil Harvey has been going circuit racing in his mini for years, he’s very good,” said Smith.

And for those who prefer two wheels rather than four, Cheltenham Motor Club can accommodate them too.

“We have a motorcycle section,” continued Smith. “The Cheltenham Home Guard meet at our club, they do motorcycle trials.”

Smith prefers cars to bikes of course and is the proud owner of three.

“I’ve got a Corsa which I use for my driving school,” he said. “I’ve also got a modified 1.8 Corsa which goes quite quick and I’ve also got classic Porsche which I use in classic rallies.”

Smith’s wife Pauline has done navigating for him in the past and he insists they never have a cross word.

“Yes, she does come out with me and she does very well,” he said. “Mind you if I do go a bit too fast, she can get frightened!

“I have had the privilege of working with some world class drivers like Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Carlos Sainz, have driven cars like an Escort Cosworth, Audi Sport Quattro and Lancia Rally 037, driven around Silverstone and Castle Combe circuits and at Prescott Hill climb.”

And for the future?

“Still going out competing and organising events,” said Smith.