ROD Brereton has clocked up as many happy memories as he has miles in his 30 year association with the Pendle and District Motor Club.

Whether it has been as a driver, navigator or in his current role as chairman, Rod likes nothing more than hitting the road with his fellow Pendle petrol heads'.

Rod - along with vice chairman Alan Shaw and president Ray Duckworth - are original members of the club that was formed back in 1974.

The club, the amalgamation of the old Rolls Royce Motor Club and Pennine Range Motor Club, was launched partly because Rod and his fellow enthusiasts could start up their own rally.

Rod said: "We were looking at ways of launching our own rally but to have enough people we decided it was best to merge the two clubs."

The South Valley Trophy Rally was the result, a 12-car road rally that was held on the roads around Nelson, Colne and Clitheroe in the dead of night.

But it wasn't a case of jumping in a car, getting the map out and tearing along the roads of East Lancashire. For starters, all drivers strictly abide to the speed limits and secondly, they take a lot of planning.

"People who aren't involved probably don't realise how much work goes in to organising a rally," explained Rod. "We have to carry out a PR exercise with the neighbourhoods that are affected by the rally and, if there are certain things they are not happy with, you try to oblige to make sure you don't upset people."

To the uneducated, the thought of rally racing conjures up imagines of high speed pursuits through woodlands in Wales. While that is one aspect of the sport it is not the full story.

"When you take part in night rallies you have to stick to the speed limits and abide to the traffic laws" added Rod. "It's not what most people expect when they think of rally driving.

"These events are not about speed but about using navigational skills. Drivers have to plot and negotiate a certain course, going through a designated number of checkpoints along the way."

The South Valley Trophy Rally ran from 1974 to 1988 before taking, what Rod described as a sabbitical.' However, it's not the only race on the Pendle DMC Calendar.

The club has run the Lee Holland Memorial Stage Rally on the Anglesey Circuit for the past 13 years. It also holds the Autumn Hillclimb takes place at the Scammonden Dam hillclimb venue in Yorkshire "The hill climb is a great day out for all the family," added Rod. "Basically anyone can turn up in any type of car and it is all about who gets from the bottom to the top in the quickest time."

The club is also holding the Ribble Valley Road Rally for the first time in September.

"We are currently in the process of carrying out PR in houses along the route of the course but we are looking forward to that."

The club, which has around 40 members, is very much involved in the grassroots of the sport. But it has tasted its fair share of success along the way.

In fact, Pendle holds the record number of victories in the SD34 Championship - named after all the clubs that fall under the Ordnance Survey grid reference.

The club won the title for five consecutive years between 1990 and 1994 and then made it a record breaking sixth win in 1996. And for good measure, Pendle added a seventh title in 2004.

Winning for the first time is always a memorable occasion and Rod certainly made sure it was a day to remember.

"I wanted to get someone special to present the award to us," recalls Rod who wrote to and got replies from Frank Williams and Eddie Jordan.

He also contacted Dennis Nursey at Williams Brabham who sent a young test driver by the name of Damon Hill.

"I picked him up from Leeds Bradford Airport in my Renault 5 Turbo. Damon said it was the scariest ride of his life. I supposed I was trying to impress him."

Impressed or not, Hill went on to win the World Championship the following year. It was the start of a list of impressive guest from the world of motor sport which also included touring car driver Alan Menu, rally drivers Robbie Head and Tim Harvey and Tony Jardine from the world of Formula One. While Rod revels on the roads and circuits on the local scene, you have to go north of the border to find his favourite event - the Tour of Mull Rally.

Rod will be competing in the Tour of Mull for the 14th time in October having driven or co-driven the event with Alan Shaw, Dave Blackburn and current club treasurer, Les Eltringham."I've enjoyed a few successes as a driver or co-driver but finishing the Tour of Mull is the best of the lot. It's my favourite race and one I don't like to miss. In fact, going to Mull coincides with the family holiday!"

Rod was first introduced to the sport while serving in the RAF. He took part in a few 12 car rallies while stationed in Norfok and has been hooked ever since.

His list of cars include a Ford Anglia, Hillman Imp, Talbot Sunbeam, Ford Escort, his beloved Renault 5 Turbo and a Renault Clio which he has been working on for the past eight or nine years.

"It's a great club to be involved in with a good social life and so smashing people."

Something tells you there are plenty more miles left in Rod's tank!

Anyone interested in joining the Pendle and District Motor Club can contact Rod Brereton on 01282 859103 or 07952 377880.