RALLY fan Karen Spencer is blazing a trail for women in motorsports.

Karen is the first woman president ever elected by Slaithwaite Motor Club.

She leads the clubs 50 members in their rally driving and go-karting activities.

Some of the members are drivers, while others are navigators.

They compete in rally events all over Europe and the club holds its own event every July at Manby showground in Lincolnshire.

However, there is room for non- competing members with tasks such as vehicle servicing or event marshalling.

Karen joined the club nine years ago and is a navigator.

She said her presidency proves that motorsport is now a pastime fully open to women.

She said: "I have been accepted as a female, no problem, and there is room for men and women in the club."

Although the club is called Slaithwaite Motor Club, members actually meet at 8.30pm each Tuesday at The Grange pub in Grange Moor.

Members also come from all over the West Yorkshire district.

The club was originally called Slaithwaite Motor Tourist Club when it was formed 47 years ago at the Olive Branch Inn at Slaithwaite, by a group of motoring enthusiasts.

It was an era when few people had cars and the aim of the club was for car owners to use their vehicles to take people on trips to attractions which had previously been too far away to visit.

Karen, of Halifax, said: "The club has changed from what it was when it started, which was effectively a social club for motorists.

"Then you were lucky if you had a car but now it's different. People have more disposable income and it's more sport orientated.

"You can compete to a high level. With this club we compete at events all over the world. You can progress as much as you want."

Some might see rallying as a risky pastime.

But Karen says it is an extremely safe sport - thanks to a huge amount of rules, regulations and special equipment.

She said the club has experienced marshalls on hand to monitor the races and it uses the rally events to instil safe motoring values into drivers for when they go back to public roads.

She said: "We teach people how to run a rally safely. Safety is a big part of the sport and we try to promote it within the club.

"We have to be responsible if we are moving vehicles extremely quickly.

"In a recent survey, motorsport only ranked as the 13th most dangerous pastime. Number one was fishing!"

The club's own rally at Manby is known for being well run and won Slaithwaite Motor Club the "best single venue/ multi-use rally" award in the recent East Midlands Championship.

Karen said: "It is an honour which reflects the hard work we put in."

To celebrate the award, the club invited ex-British Touring Car Championship driver Patrick Watts to give a speech at one of its meetings.

Patrick, who now drives a Sunbeam Tiger rally car in historic vehicle championships, was so impressed with the club that he has now joined himself.

* Anyone who wants to join the club or find out more can visit the website www.slaithwaitemc.co.uk or call at their weekly Tuesday night meeting.