Who are we?
Events
1 Aug 2021
NEW EVENT
23 Oct 2021
OBITUARY - Bob Rutherford
We were shocked and deeply saddened to receive a telephone call from Will Rutherford on 16th June 2021 to say that his father had that morning been killed in a freak accident. Will subsequently wrote :-
"I'm devastated to write that today we lost Dad from our world. He was completing the final route recce for the Classic Marathon in Northern Spain when he fell and unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
Dad texted me yesterday to say it's great 'to be back on the road again'. He was doing what he loved but unfortunately it's a journey where he won't reach the final col or the finishing ramp. Rallying was his life passion and unfortunately it's taken him from us.
The memories and moments we've experienced will be with me and the family forever but sadly that beaming smile and happy-go-lucky approach to life will be irreplaceable. He was one of a kind and will leave a big hole in all of our hearts.
Unfortunately, I have to write this to try to comprehend what has happened. We are all in complete shock and disbelief. The only consolation right now comes with the thought that he was on good roads, working towards his favourite event, in good weather and enjoying some good banter.
We'll keep rallying in your honour Dad but sadly this time, you're OTL"
Bob was born in January 1952 and joined Tavern Motor Club in the early 1970's. He was an active member joining in all the events which the club
promoted and soon became an expert navigator. In the 1980's Bob joined the committee eventually becoming Chairman. At about that time Bob teamed up with President Martin Clark and together they won the ASWMC Road Rally Championship in recognition for which Bob was awarded an Honorarymembership of the Club. Bob became involved with Philip Young's Classic Rally Association and the organisation of many of the long distance endurance rallies and always looked to Tavern when he needed to recruit marshals. Bob even managed to persuade Philip Young to have Bristol as a starting point for one of the Monte Carlo Challenge rallies for historic cars in the early 1990's. Bob worked in the Estates and Surveyors Department off Bristol City Council until he retired and spent almost all of his spare time (and no doubt some of the Council's time) organising rallies which entailed numerous recces abroad. He was to be Deputy Clerk of the Course on the Club's forthcoming Cotswold Historic Rally and had been completing the final recce for that with Gavin only the day before he left for Spain.
We will all miss Bob tremendously and our heartfelt condolences go to his two sons, Will and Ed and also to his partner Christine and her children.
John Dando
Vice Chairman
Who are we?
Tavern Motor Club was started in 1963 by a group of Rallying enthusiasts many of who are still involved in Motorsport and Tavern Motor Club.
We are still a club based around Rallying and organise 2 Targa Road Rally events – the Exmoor Targa Rally aimed at the more experienced Road Rally competitor and the Washingpool Targa Rally aimed at Novices, although all competitors are welcome at both events.
We have competitors taking part at all levels of Rallying both in Britain and abroad.
Being an active club, Tavern Motor Club members are regularly out and about helping to organise and marshal events both locally, nationally and internationally.
If you are interested in Rallying and want to be involved come and visit us any Monday night at the
Royal British Legion at Dundry or contact Denise Desbois on
01761 233510 or at denise@desbois.co.uk for more information.
Where we meet
We meet every Monday night except Bank Holidays from about 20:00 here:
Royal British Legion Memorial Hall/106 Dundry Lane, Bristol BS41 8JE
Henri Toivonen and Tavern MC's Paul White on their way to winning the 1980 RAC Rally