The Ceylon Motor Sports Club, the oldest one in Sri Lanka was inaugurated on September 4, 1934, at the Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya and celebrates 75 years this year.
Their first meet was a Hill Climb at the Mahagastota Estate in Nuwara Eliya on September 28, 1934, and is now a regular feature in the Motor Sports calendar.
The first Mahagastota Hill Climb was successful although there were only ten cars and two motorcycles.
1935 saw Gordon Graham as the first lady competitor, beating several male competitors. Then in spite the World War II affecting motor racing there were advantages like the development of air fields at Ratmalana and Katukurunda, used for motor sports. Wally de Zilva along with the suggestion of the CMSC, formed the Ceylon Motorcycle Club in March 1947.
In 1958 the CMSC became an affiliate member of the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA), the world controlling body for Motor Sports. The Club set out its General Competition Rules and Standing Regulations by which Motor Sports events were governed.
Up to 1958, cars were classified by cubic capacity of the engine but the CMSC initiated a new system of classifying cars on the weight and power of the car – the weight/power ratio. Government import restrictions in the ‘60s led to innovations and re-appearance of home-built “Specials.”
In 1981 the records held for both cars and motorcycles were broken, Bri Ponnambalam in his Renault Special and Kingsley Smith on a Yamaha DT 400.
The Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1984. T. S. Jinasena, a founder member, was elected President. The Mahagastota Hill Climb was held on September 9, 1984, 50 years after the inaugural event.
The Mahagastota Hill Climb will be held on April 11 and 12, 2009 with a parade of Cars from the past 75 years on April 11. The 75th Anniversary Celebrations will be held on September 19 and 20, 2009. |
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