When the Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club launched its Targa Rally Support Grant earlier this year, the aim was simple: to give local clubs a boost in keeping grassroots motorsport alive and thriving.
One of the first clubs to benefit was Spadeadam Motor Club Ltd., who used the grant to help safeguard the running of their long-established Blue Streak Targa Rally in August 2025.
Spadeadam MC has been a cornerstone of the northern rallying scene since 1959, with members marshalling, competing, and supporting events from the Malcolm Wilson Rally to the Roger Albert Clark Rally. Like many grassroots clubs, however, they faced a significant hurdle when their regular test venue at Carlisle Airport was suddenly withdrawn by new owners.
Combined with the loss of another long-standing venue, the future of the Blue Streak Targa Rally looked uncertain. Without new ground to run on, there was a real risk that the 2025 edition simply couldn’t happen.
That’s when perseverance, and a little help from the JCMMC grant, turned the tide. Thanks to support from landowner Roly Webster, Spadeadam secured three new tests near Haltwhistle, Northumberland, totalling five miles of competitive mileage. Though this came at a cost to the club, the grant eased the pressure and gave the organising team the confidence to press ahead.
The event grew from strength to strength, relocating its start to Haltwhistle East Industrial Estate and expanding to feature 16 tests over 20 competitive miles, with venues including Plenmeller Common, Kingswood Common, Plumpe Farm in Gretna, Hallburn Airfield, and even the brand-new Junction 45 Lorry Park at Gretna.
From a near cancellation, the 2025 Blue Streak Targa Rally became one of the club’s most successful editions yet. Over 80 marshals, blistering summer weather, and enthusiastic competitors combined to create an event that was widely praised by all involved.
What began as a year of uncertainty ended with a rally that demonstrated the strength of teamwork, volunteer spirit, and the difference a small grant can make to grassroots motorsport.
For the Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club, this was exactly the purpose of the grant scheme: to help clubs face the challenges of venues, costs, and logistics, and to ensure motorsport remains accessible for organisers and competitors alike.
The Blue Streak Targa Rally continues its legacy into the future, and the JCMMC remains committed to backing local clubs who are the heartbeat of British motorsport.
