PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CLUB CONCOURS By the Photography Group During the second part of August, the Photography Group is showing a selection of over 80 photographs taken at the recent inaugural Royal Automobile Club Concours. These images were taken specifically to record and celebrate this important event in the Club’s history. At Pall Mall, the photographs are spread across the Picture Gallery, the upper rotunda, and the entrance to the Long Bar. They have been chosen to reflect the vehicles that were displayed and to capture the fantastic atmosphere of this wonderful event. A further selection of almost 50 different Concours photographs is being shown at Woodcote Park just outside the Cedar Room, in a display that changes weekly during August and September.
Pall Mall Sports Area Refurbishment Dear Member, PALL MALL SPORTS AREA REFURBISHMENT As promised, I am writing to update you on the refurbishment of the Pall Mall sports area, which was scheduled to take place this year but has had to be postponed until 2026. Firstly, I am pleased to be able to confirm that that the Club has now received the listed building consent which was required before any work could start on site. If you would like to see the detailed plans which have been approved they are available on the Westminster City Council planning portal (reference 25-01371-LBC) The project will now take place next summer and early autumn, which is the quietest part of the year for these facilities and for matches and competitions. We will, as previously announced, be arranging a range of alternative facilities for members while those in Pall Mall are closed. We will be able to confirm the exact dates for the work and the detail of the alternative arrangements later this year and we will of course keep the website fully up to date. We have carefully considered whether any of the work could be undertaken in advance of the main project. Unfortunately there is very little which can be done without the widespread and prolonged closure of facilities, which we are keen to avoid given the closure taking place next year. However, I would like you to note the following: As is usual each summer, the Turkish Baths will be closed for two weeks for maintenance – this year from Monday 18 August until Sunday 31 August inclusive. We will use this period to complete as much work as possible. For three weeks from Monday 18 August the treatment rooms and exercise studio will be closed to enable some of the behind-the-scenes work to be undertaken. Treatments and classes will still be available throughout this period, although they will take place in Pall Mall bedrooms and banqueting rooms respectively. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to address the concerns some members have raised again recently about the impact on the Frigidarium. To clarify, the size, shape and décor of the central open area of the Frigidarium will not be affected, other than some historically appropriate redecoration. The number of cots will be reduced – but only by two. This will be as a result of the cots on the right hand side as you enter the Frigidarium being reorientated to allow the neighbouring changing room to be extended. I am very much looking forward to seeing the Pall Mall sports area restored to the condition it deserves, as I am sure you are also, to the benefit of the thousands of members who use it each year. Daniel PereiraChief Executive & Club Secretary
Turkish Baths Annual Maintenance Closure Monday 18 to Sunday 31 August As is usual each summer, the Turkish Baths will be closed for two weeks for annual maintenance. This year it will be closed from Monday 18 to Sunday 31 August inclusive. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Long Bar Live Enjoy live music in the Long Bar each month. Each month a different musician will perform live in the Long Bar. These evenings are complimentary for walk-ins and no booking is required. The usual Long Bar food and beverage offerings will be available throughout the evenings. Jazz SambaFriday 12 September, 8.00-10.00pm Jazz Samba was the first fully-fledged bossa nova album by American jazz musicians, topping the charts and producing the hit single ‘Desafinado’. This special performance features saxophonist Mark Crooks, guitarist Nigel Price, percussionist Demi Garcia Sabat, bassist Marianne Windham, and pianist John Cervantes – each bringing a rich blend of jazz, Latin and world music influences. Together, this exceptional line-up celebrates the timeless sound of bossa nova with passion, swing and flair.
Club Concours 2025 Over 200 of the world’s finest road and track cars were showcased, spanning pioneering models to modern-day supercars and Formula 1 legends. The inaugural Royal Automobile Club Concours, held on Wednesday 9 July, has been widely celebrated as a resounding success and a welcome addition to the Club’s prestigious motoring event portfolio. This portfolio also includes London Motor Week, the St James’s Motoring Spectacle on Pall Mall, the Club’s Historic Awards and the world-famous RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Set against a backdrop of glorious summer sunshine, this brand new motoring event took place in the stunning grounds of the Club’s historic Woodcote Park estate, adjacent to Epsom Downs in Surrey. In a first for the Club, members of select car clubs were invited to the picturesque parkland estate, enjoying a truly wonderful garden party atmosphere alongside Club members. With gleaming paintwork and shining chrome under clear blue skies, the elegant new festival was officially opened by Club Chairman Duncan Wiltshire and event hosts Amanda Stretton and Will Smith. The centrepiece of the event was the prestigious Club Concours, accompanied by six stunning Feature Displays, the dazzling RM Sotheby’s Supercar Boulevard, and the eclectic Lockton Members’ Paddock – a spectacular motor show treasure trove in its own right. The Club Concours featured seven distinctive classes: Grand Tourers, Riviera, Coachbuilder’s Art, Limousines, Mille Miglia, Pioneers, and Motorcycles. A panel of expert judges – including five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell MBE, esteemed car designer Peter Stevens, and beloved television presenter and classic car enthusiast Alan Titchmarsh CBE – selected winners for each category, as well as the highly coveted Best in Show. The top honour was awarded in front of the imposing Clubhouse to a unique 1927 Bentley 3-litre Boat-Tail Speed Model, owned by the Jaques family. Adorned with its exquisite Martin Walter body, the car is well known to the Royal Automobile Club, having previously taken joint first prize in the Restoration category at the Club’s Historic Awards last year. “I’m absolutely delighted with the jury’s decision,” said Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Judges. “This is a stunning example of 1920s coachbuilding, when owners would purchase a chassis, engine and gearbox, and then choose a body style. Bentleys of the era are usually associated with Le Mans, yet this boat-tail body – complete with ensign flying at the stern and sculpted wings – is very different. “The car also carries a powerful family story: it underwent nearly a decade of restoration, during which time its owner Chris Jacques passed away. His son has seen the project through to completion. I’m sure Chris is looking down on us all today, smiling.” Other notable winners included the iconic Rolls-Royce Phantom V once owned by John Lennon, Carl Fogarty’s 2000 Ducati 996 F00 Superbike, and the extraordinary 1936 Packard Twelve by LeBaron – featured in The Godfather movies. A full list of winners appears below. Several Feature Displays paid tribute to the Club’s key contributions to motoring and motorsport history. In 1900 – 125 years ago – the Club organised the 1000 Mile Trial, a pioneering event traversing the UK. This allowed early manufacturers to demonstrate their innovations and gave many spectators their first glimpse of motor vehicles. Among those early cars was an 1899 Wolseley 3.5hp Voiturette cherished by the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, proudly shown among the other Victorian and Edwardian vehicles at Woodcote Park. Five years after the ground-breaking 1000 Mile Trial, the Club launched the first Tourist Trophy road race in the Isle of Man. In 1950, it oversaw the first points-scoring Formula 1 World Championship race at Silverstone. Both milestones were honoured with dedicated displays, including the iconic Tourist Trophy and the golden British Grand Prix Trophy – newly engraved with Lando Norris’s name following his stirring win last Sunday. Additional displays celebrated the 75th anniversaries of both British Motoring and BRM. The British Motoring showcase featured exquisite Aston Martins and Jaguars. The BRM tribute included the notorious BRM V16 F1 from the 1950s, Graham Hill OBE’s 1962 title-winning ‘Old Faithful’ BRM P578, and the gas-turbine Rover-BRM that raced at Le Mans in 1965 with Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart OBE. To mark 100 years of the Phantom – the longest-used model name in automotive history – a breath-taking assembly of these illustrious Rolls-Royces was also on display. This included the one-of-a-kind 1928 17EX Phantom prototype, complete with its original boat-tail design. For lovers of modern exotica, the RM Sotheby’s Supercar Boulevard offered a rare chance to admire limited-edition Ferrari Monza SP1, SP2, and Daytona SP3 models – all showcased together in resplendent style. “I could not be prouder of what’s been achieved here at Woodcote Park,” said Club Chairman Duncan Wiltshire as the event concluded. “The fabulous grounds lend themselves perfectly to an occasion like this, and everyone embraced the spirit of the event magnificently. That includes our enthusiastic partners, the groundskeepers, banqueting staff, the owners of these incredible cars, our brilliant judges and, perhaps most of all, the Motoring Committee and team here at Woodcote Park. I thank and congratulate them all.” Royal Automobile Club Concours Winners Grand Tourers: There and BackJudges: Vanessa Marçais & Andrew Hall Winner: 1958 Bristol 406S owned by Gale Barton Riviera: Great Rays of SunshineJudges: Michael Squire & Alan Titchmarsh CBE Winner: 1938 Talbot Lago T15 cabriolet owned by Felix & Toby Ross Mille Miglia: 1000 Miles on the ClockJudges: Katarina Kyvalova & Marc Newson CBE RDI Winner: Ferrari 166 MM/53 Spider owned by Lord Anthony Bamford Coachbuilder’s Art: Handmade PerfectionJudges: Georgina Wood & Derek Bell MBE Winner: 1932 Bentley 8-litre by HJ Mulliner owned by Mihai Negrescu Limousines: The ‘Being Driven’ Big BeastsJudges: Georgina Wood & Derek Bell MBE Winner: Rolls-Royce Phantom V owned by Jody Klein Pioneers: RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran CarsJudges: Allan Winn & Peter Stevens Winner: 1902 Napier D45 Tonneau owned by Clive Boothman Motorcycles: Looks a Pillion DollarsJudges: Maria Costello MBE & Michael Quinn Winner: 2000 Ducati 996 F00 Superbike
Trail Changes to Tee Time Bookings From Tuesday 1 July to Friday 31 October As we seek to improve the golf experience at Woodcote Park, we have continued to monitor the usage of tee times and the opportunities available to members to book them. Tee times remain highly utilised but there are often spaces available due to two and three-ball bookings within peak periods. For example, between 1 July and 31 October 2024, although 97% of tee times were used, 2,200 spaces within these tee times went unused in the peak periods of Friday to Sunday between 7.30am and 11.00am alone. It is clear from the recent Golf Survey that the main area of concern for members is the difficulty they have booking tee times, particularly at the weekend. As a result, the Club’s Management Team and the Golf Committee have carefully considered how to maximise tee time utilisation in a way which is efficient and fair to all members The minimum three-ball booking rule was extended to the Coronation Course during peak times earlier this year and, whilst this has improved usage, there remains an opportunity to further improve tee time efficiency. With this in mind, from Tuesday 1 July until Friday 31 October 2025, a trial period will permit ‘booking with other bookings’ to take place, which allows members to book the remaining available spaces within an existing tee time. When you book your tee time, if you are not already a four ball, a fellow member will be able to book alongside you. As a result, it is important that the complete details of your playing partners are included at the time of booking. In instances where bookings are made for ‘anonymous’, these will be deleted to allow members access to these times. During peak periods from Friday through to Sunday, we ask that you book alongside fellow members if possible so that there is more availability for those members looking for four-ball tee times. We will continue to review the tee sheet in order to ensure bookings are accurate and in keeping with the booking rules. Bookings will be removed 72 hours before the tee time if they remain incomplete and we will charge members the appropriate green fees for players who ‘no show’ for booked tee times. The success of the trial will be assessed by the efficiency of the tee sheet, particularly where it provides members with greater access to golf, and by feedback on members’ experience. The information gathered during the trial will be reviewed by the Golf Committee and Club Management. During the trial period we encourage members to share their experiences by emailing the Golf Team. Please view further details on each of these changes before they come into effect. We thank you for your understanding and support with this initiative.
