60 years of the Antelope Motor Cycle Club Ltd

The Antelope Motor Cycle Club celebrates sixty years as a limited company on the 17th January 2012. Formed in 1944 by members of the Signals Platoon of the local Home Guard who wanted to continue riding motor cycles after the platoon was disbanded, the Antelope Motor Cycle Club celebrated its 65th Anniversary in 2009.

During the early years, the club organised sporting events including motorcycle football, scrambles, grass track races, trials and road rallies. Road racing was organised at Ansty, the site of the Rolls Royce factory.  In those early post-war years large crowds turned out to see riders, who were later to become world famous, such as Geoff Duke and John Surtees.

The original clubhouse was in Barkers Butts Lane, Coventry.  In 1952 the club moved to Whitefriars Lane, Coventry and became a limited company, owned by its members and run by an elected board of directors.  By 1969 the club had progressed from wood and concrete huts to purpose designed premises in Hertford Place. The headquarters featured a lounge, two bars and a dance/concert room as well as committee rooms. 

For the next fifteen years the club continued with its sporting programme and expanded its range of social activities. ‘The Rocking Goose Disco’, held up to four times a week, became a magnet for the young people of the city.  Live music was also a feature and ‘Jazz at the Antelope’ was a firm favourite.  Jasper Carrott appeared at the club – entry cost three shillings (15p)…

As more and more venues opened nearby during the 80’s, membership declined and the club was unable to maintain the premises as a business. In 1985 the clubhouse was sold.

The club is still going strong, with the highest percentage of road riders for many years. Now running from a local pub, The Old Dyers Arms in Coventry, the club has a committee that meets monthly to organise events including weekly Sunday ride outs in the summer months, meets, annual holidays including camping weekends to Jersey and trips to the Nurburgring, annual club rallies and social events.

The Antelope Club is still alive and kicking and there is always a welcome for members old and new, young and not so young.

Contact email@antelope-mcc.co.uk or visit www.antelope-mcc.co.uk