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An Unknown Occasion For The Royal Perak Motor Club And An Introduction To Perak's Motoring History.
This picture taken from the album of the Royal Perak Motor Club is of an unknown occasion, probably associated with one of their popular car rallies. It is almost certainly in Ipoh and we estimate the date as around 1980. If anyone who has more information about this picture, we will be pleased to receive it.
The Royal Perak Motor Club has its roots in Perak’s history as far back as 1907 when what is believed to be the first motoring club, The Perak Motor Union, was formed and recognized as an associate club by the Royal Automobile Club of Great Britain. This relationship is demonstrated by scrutiny of the Motor Union’s radiator badge. This was an early RAC badge modified to hold the Motor Union’s logo of a Kris in the centre with Perak Motor Union and FMS (Federated Malay States) surrounding it. If anyone has a sample of this badge we would be pleased to have a photograph of it.
At that time, thanks to the large numbers of European tin miners and rubber planters and the ubiquitous, wealthy, mining Towkays, Perak had what was almost certainly the greatest number of cars of any State in Malaya. Hence the formation of a club which prospered for many years organising meetings, motor gymkhanas and latterly grass track racing.
However, the Straits Times of 23 April 1932 reported that at the annual meeting of the Perak Motor Union on 22 April 1932 the members voted to disband the Perak Motor Union and join the Automobile Association of Malaya (AAM), the union becoming the Perak Branch of the AAM. By the start of the Malayan Emergency in 1948 the oldest motoring club in the Peninsula had completely lost its identity to the Automobile Association of Malaya.
Despite Perak no longer having a motor club, representation from the State at events in Penang proved that there was still a strong following of enthusiasts and on 28th October 1954, the Perak Motor Club was formed. In 1954 more than half the entries in cars at the March running of the Sungei Nibong Half Mile Sprint event came from Perak. This was repeated when the Sungei Nibong Kilo was held at the end of May. The need for a club in Perak was all too evident.
By the end of 1957 the Perak Motor Club had over 300 paid-up members and was one of the most active clubs with regular events throughout the year. In 1959 after five successful years, the club applied to the Sultan for a Royal Charter, under the then President Mr David Atkins. Soon after, in October 1959, the club was granted the Royal Charter by the Sultan of Perak with the official presentation taking place during his birthday ceremony on 15th January 1960. Thus the Club was renamed the Royal Perak Motor Club. Famous names from the early days of the Club include Chan Lai Hong, Lam Theng Pew, William Pillay, Dr Arnold Young and Peter Carey-Rees.
An Ipoh highlight in the early days, but no longer allowed by the City Council, was grass track racing on the recreation ground in Jalan Brash, usually known as the Polo Ground by local residents. Hill climbs, rallies and racing have continued, but today much of the RPMC activity involves international, 4WD, off-road rallying.