Hugo Holder Retires
- CSCC Staff
- May 30
- 6 min read
We would like to take a moment to share the news that Hugo has retired from the CSCC. Little will change for the club, David, Hannah and Jo have the office work under control, ably supported by the committee. Hugo is staying on for a short period in the office, to help oversee an orderly handover. Hugo's work email will be forwarded to David and any personal messages will be forwarded to Hugo. June and mid-July sees race meetings come thick and fast, after that we will have time to appoint a new director(s) to work alongside David. It will be a challenge to find someone to fill the big shoes that are left behind. The ethos and formula of what works for the club and its members won't alter.
Hugo Holder This may come as a shock to some of you, but I have retired and therefore resigned from my role as Director and Company Secretary at the CSCC with immediate effect.
I have now been living and breathing the CSCC for just over 17 years.
When I started there were just over 150 racing members in the club and there are now over 1000. We had only 2 series in those days, Swinging 60s and Tin Tops, and we now have 17 Series and Championships.
The club has now become one of the largest in the UK and it is a completely different animal from back in 2004. The club was set up as a bunch of mates who simply wanted to go racing without the hassle and politics of the big clubs. First qualifying and last race at someone else's weekend was never going to work for us.
I am extremely proud of what we have achieved since joining the CSCC. During Covid I happened to be Chairman of the Association of British Motor Racing Clubs. Through this position, working in close partnership with Motorsport UK, during lockdown, I was able to ensure that we were able to start racing again, long before other sports had begun to recover. You all demonstrated your support with record grids. How we managed to fit you all in was a miracle!
The recent retirement from the club of my great friend and mentor Richard Wos, the imminent birth of my second grandchild, the terrible motorsport losses of last weekend, and the wish to enjoy more free-time for myself, has all contributed to my decision to stop now. The removal of joint responsibility for the club will now allow me, whilst I am still in good health and can enjoy doing the things I want to do, to let someone else help ensure the successful future of the club.
Way back in 2006, Mark Barton persuaded me to buy a Peugeot 309 GTi with him and we went racing with the Tin Tops. An honest appraisal of the costs worked out at £9 a minute including everything, the car itself, tyres, insurance, petrol, entry fees etc! A season in Swinging 60s in Mark's Sabre 6 followed, where I managed to organise 2 x 1 hour practice sessions and a 150km race at the Nurburgring, with Saturday dinner, for £245!
The condition of my racing Mini Marcos that I am preparing (for the last 4 years!) has been a standing joke with many of you. I would very much now like to spend time finishing it off, so that I can go racing again, hopefully in the Adams & Page Swinging 60s. Instead of me telling you all how you ought to behave on track, I will be avoiding contact like the plague and watching flag/signals like a hawk. I am really looking forward to this, especially as my last race was in 2008!
I leave my time at the CSCC with many great memories and an even greater number of members and officials that have become friends. I thank each and every one of you for making the journey so enjoyable. Some of you will not miss the 'Headmaster' side of my job, but I shall still be seen again around the paddock, although now, any problems, please see David!
Kind regards
Hugo.
David Smitheram When I started with the CSCC, I took a gamble and joined as an assistant, on a salary cut. Hugo and Richard gave me a chance, supported me and made me a director, in what was an established racing club, but one that is almost unrecognisable now. It's my time to thank Hugo for the opportunity and for treating me as an equal. When I started 13 seasons ago, the office was run by Hugo, with support from Ros and the two Lorna's, with Richard Wos in close support. We were still in the early days of our racing database, e-tickets were a distant dream and entries were still done by form. Just six CSCC series were running then, we had limited cash reserves, a basic website and no social media to speak of, it was a very different time for the club.
Hugo and I have worked successfully to get the club to where it is now, because our different styles and skills compliment each other. That and a common love of motorsport has helped develop the club to what it is today.
Each year, when we get to November, some members assume we hibernate for the winter, when in reality there hasn't been a quiet off-season for more than a decade, it simply changes the nature of the work. Hugo and I are often busiest in the autumn/winter period, when the final race meetings and Dinner/Dance cross over with budget, calendar, regulation changes, permits and so much more. Just as it made sense for Richard to step down a month or two back, once he had signed off a previous years accounts, so this is in many ways the perfect time for Hugo to retire, with everything in place for the 2025 season, but before plans are finalised for the 2026 calendar and budget.
The topic of Hugo's succession has been talked about for some years now, age and retirement is an inevitability. I have often teased Hugo about his many unfinished car projects, but the demands of life and a busy racing club have made it hard for him to progress his Mini Marcos race car. The FIA seat I encouraged him to buy years ago, as incentive for him to finish the build, is sadly long-since out of date. I hope that this break will give him the opportunity to finish the car and get out and race again with the CSCC, after an almost 20 year break.
I will remember the good times: the laughs, the track days, Hugo's 60th birthday party, 'driving' his rusty, classic Range Rover and so much more.
I can assure all members that for old times sake I will be checking Hugo has read his final instructions when he comes back to race! :) Hugo, you can certainly look back with pride at what you have achieved, you have cemented your place in club motorsport history. Thank you, David
Tony Rushforth, Interim Vice Chairman (Chairman, John Hammersley is currently away on a cruise but echoes these heartfelt sentiments)
I have had the pleasure of working with Hugo for his entire career with the Club and can only echo his words that he lived and breathed CSCC. The Club has grown so much during his time, driven by his passion for Motorsport.
I wish Hugo a long, happy and exciting retirement and look forward to seeing how he manages to achieve fitting his rather long body into a Mini Marcos when it eventually comes out to race.
Best wishes, Tony
Malcolm Johnson, Interim Treasurer
Hugo’s presence in the paddock was always a sure sign that you were at CSCC event. As soon as you caught a glimpse of his Khaki Chinos, clip board in hand, striding towards you, the first instinct was to run for cover just in case you were parked in the wrong area, had the wrong size tyres or worst of all had an illegal duck tail spoiler.
Hugo’s contribution to the Club over the last 17 years has been immeasurable. It has grown & blossomed into one of the UK’s leading motorsport clubs & we will be forever grateful to him for all of his hard work.
But there is a lot to commend retirement. Time at last for tinkering in the workshop & long overseas biking adventures with your mates - what’s not to like.
Thank you Hugo for your valuable contribution on behalf of the Committee & all the Members & enjoy the free time which no doubt will soon fill.
Best wishes, Malcolm.
