The Mellano Trophy

First held in 1925, the "Hutch" was a 100 mile track handicap event open to all who cared to enter, and apart from yearly variations the pattern of the fourteen races held at Brooklands until 1938 remained unchanged, any size of engine up to 1,000 c.c. was eligible, any type of fuel and even supercharging could be used, most riders used alcohol fuels and some also used supercharging. Machines of 350 c.c. won seven events, 250 c.c. won three, 500 c.c. won two, 1,000 c.c. and 175 c.c. 1 each. Sidecars were allowed to compete for the first time in 1931 but it was 20 years later before a Sidecar outfit won the Mellano Trophy

Since the war a change in the character of the race has been brought about by different circumstances. The "Hutch" became a Road Race  as Brooklands had been lost, Bemsee was homeless when it was reformed post war in 1947, and for a time race meetings were organised at Dunholme airfield in Lincolnshire for 2 years, and also at Haddenham Airfield Buckinghamshire until 1949 when it move further up the road to a even larger airfield called Silverstone, where they stayed for 17 years. Then  in 1966 the event moved to Brands Hatch, race organisers had the idea to differentiate it from all other race meetings in the UK and the Hutchinson 100 was run for the very first time in the reverse direction of the course, the only International meeting with a special Auto Cycle Union dispensation to do this. A whole host of famous riders came out to contest the event. Kel Curruthers, Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, Ray Pickrell, Derek Minter, to name but a few.

From 1947 to 1952 the Mellano Trophy was awarded to the winner of a sealed handicap, the riders competing in separate races. The 1950 race was notable for it being the first time the Mellano Trophy had been won by a Three-wheeler. After 1952 Sealed handicaps were abandoned and a new formula used until 1972 — the trophy being awarded to the rider whose average race speed exceeded by the greatest margin the then present class lap record, or if no rider exceeded the class lap record, the rider whose average speed came nearest to it.

From 1973 to 1976 the Mellano Trophy has been awarded to the winner of the Hutchinson 100 kilometre Solo Championship riding a machine, the capacity of which was over 250 c.c. and not over 1,000 c.c. these being International riders of World class status, riding by invitation at the event. It wasn't until 1975 that the event was held on the full GP circuit in reverse direction. From 1966 it had always been held on the Club circuit, renamed the Indy circuit when Indy cars came over to race in 1978

In 1977 with date changes for other International events the Hutchinson 100 became sandwiched between the Formula 750 and British Grand Prix World Championship meetings, this with an increasing demand for "Start money" by international riders, it was decided for financial reasons to abandon the event, as club director Bill  Rose explained “ As a club we couldn't risk the cost of promoting a meeting when only running one international a year. If a loss was incurred there was no way of recouping any money. Basically as costs rise each year such as ever increasing start money, if for instance it pours with rain prior to and on the day of the race and only a small crowd turned up then the club took a fair chance of bankruptcy”   
 

Only 2 men have won The Mellano 3 times

Cecil Charles Sandford 1953, 56, 57 and Barry Sheene, 1973, 75, 76, whilst everyone knows a great deal about Barry, Cecil's past may be a mystery to some.
Cecil first started to race in 1950 at the Ulster GP he became a World Champion in 1952 riding a works 125cc MV Agusta, there were also 2 wins at the Isle Man TT, he then went on to win the 1957 250cc World Championship as a factory Mondial rider. He retired from racing that year to Shipston-on-Stour, where he still lives with his wife Pat.  A wonderful interview  obtained by Mat Oxley with Cecil recalling his lifetime achievements can be found HERE

After a hiatus of 14 years the trophy reverted back to being presented, as was its original intention,  to Bemsee club members who's outstanding achievements during the season were identified by the members of the current board.