DOUG JENNINGS 1937 – 2012
Doug's involvement in motorsport harks back to the 1950s and 60s, where he was a keen Production Car trialler with the Tunbridge Wells Motor Club. He subsequently became deeply involved in the organisational side of the sport with the Club, coming up with the concept of ‘Sprintracing’, a new type of speed event that took place at Brands Hatch. It consisted of four-car, three-lap races with aggregate times deciding the award winners. During this time, Doug and the Club organised race meetings at Lydden Hill, sprints at a variety of venues, and was a pioneer of rallycross locally.
Doug's knowledge of the sport and expertise in running race meetings became much sought-after, where he was often asked to officiate as a Clerk of the Course or Steward at Brands Hatch.
Doug found time to follow his hobby while working in the printing trade. When Brands Hatch's legendary managing director John Webb decided to set up the Brands Hatch Racing Club to organise meetings, Doug was asked to join the company to plan and run race meetings, which he did with panache and efficiency from the early 1980s to the early 1990s, putting on events ranging from club race meetings to international sports and single seater series, as well as preparing definitive championship and race regulations.
After Brands Hatch's new management decided to end its race organising activities, Doug joined his beloved wife Pauline in running her engraving and trophy business, PMJ Engraving, supplying awards to many race organising clubs locally and nationally, particularly the BRSCC.
By no means ending his links with the organisational side of motor racing, Doug became the senior Club Steward for the BRSCC South Eastern Centre, organising a busy roster of officials for the Club's race meetings, as well as becoming an MSA Steward.
His detailed knowledge of the Blue Book and willingness to share this with fellow officials earned him much respect. He carried on in this role until 2008, stepping down to enjoy a well-earned retirement, also selling the business to fellow Steward David Wilkins.
He continued to show his face at BRSCC meetings from time to time, and it was a sad blow when illness struck, Doug 'passing the Chequered Flag' in the early hours of last Sunday morning.
Our thoughts are with Pauline, fighting her own health battle with determination and fortitude, and loving daughter Wendy.
