Rosemary Smith
Rosemary Smith (1937-2023) – Past President of the Imp Club (1988-2024)
The Imp Club was deeply saddened by the passing of longstanding Club President, Rosemary Smith, in December 2023. In her role of Honorary President Rosemary supported the Imp Club for many years.
Rosemary accepted the position in 1988 and attended the Club’s first weekend National at Capesthorne Hall the same year. She was a regular attendee at the Club’s annual National Event until poor health prevented her attendance.
In 1990 Rosemary sponsored a new award known as the ‘The Rosemary Smith Perpetual Award‘. This Waterford Crystal Trophy has been awarded annually since 1990 to her favourite Imp attending national.
When Rosemary was unable to attend National her prestigious award continued to be awarded. The Imp Club will continue to present this award in her memory.
Over the years the award has been presented to a diverse range of models.
| Year | Model | Venue | Year | Model | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Hillman Super Imp | Capesthorne Hall | 2008 | Sunbeam Stiletto | Malton Rugby Club |
| 1991 | Hillman Super Imp | Longleat | 2009 | Sunbeam Imp Sport | Impulse ’09, Reading Rugby Club |
| 1992 | Singer Chamois | Beale Bird Park – Reading | 2010 | Hllman Californian | Bridgwater |
| 1993 | Chrysler Imp | Imp 30 Duncombe Park | 2011 | Sunbeam Stiletto | Imp Cymru – Bangor |
| 1994 | Singer Chamois | Banham Zoo – Norfolk | 2012 | Hillman Imp Rally Car | Cromford Meadows, Matlock |
| 1995 | Sunbeam Californian | Elvaston Castle – Derby | 2013 | Bevan Imp Replica | Perth Racecourse |
| 1996 | Chrysler Imp | Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum – Sussex | 2014 | Hillman Husky | Huntingdon Racecourse |
| 1997 | Chrysler Imp | Hutton Moor Leisure Centre – Weston | 2015 | Hillman Imp Super | Darlington Rugby Club |
| 1998 | Singer Chamois | Craigtoun Country Park – St Andrews | 2016 | Imp Van | Hatton Country World |
| 1999 | Hillman Imp Rally Car | Hatton Coutry Park – Warwick | 2017 | Rawlson Imp | Hole Park, Rolvendon |
| 2000 | Ginetta G15 | Blenheim Palace – Oxfordshire | 2018 | Hillman Imp Californian | Prestwold Park |
| 2001 | Police Replica Imp | The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood | 2019 | Singer Chamois | Preston Rugby Club |
| 2002 | Sunbeam Rallye Imp | Hawkstone Park | 2020 | – | No National |
| 2003 | Sunbeam Sport | Imp 40, Thornton Hough | 2021 | – | No National |
| 2004 | Sunbeam Stiletto | Letchworth Rugby Club | 2022 | Hillman Imp Mk1 | Alton Rugby Club |
| 2005 | Sunbeam Stiletto | Kingswood Farm, Swanage, Dorset | 2023 | Hillman Husky | Perth Racecourse |
| 2006 | Sunbeam Stiletto | Stirling Rugby Club | 2024 | Singer Chamois | Ellesmere Port |
| 2007 | Chrysler Imp | The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood |
After the presentation a base was added to the vase and each year a small plaque is engraved and added to the base to commemorate the winner.
Rosemary is pictured here alongside her 1966 Monte-Carlo Rally Imp, FRW 306C.
The photo was taken at Imp 2012 at Matlock shortly after her car had been restored.
FRW 306C retains the same bodyshell and drivetrain with which it contested the 1966 Scottish Rally.
More About Rosemary Smith
Rosemary Smith
A female pioneer in a notoriously male-dominated sport, she drove in the Monte Carlo rally eight times, as well as most other iconic rallies all over the world, including an outright victory in the 1965 Tulip Rally, beating all the male drivers to the finish.
Rosemary came from Dublin and rallied Imps in the 1960s, read much more about her here.
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In 2013 Rosemary won an Irish Times Sportswoman Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2022 she was recognised by FIVA as one of nine heroes of motoring history to join its Heritage Hall of Fame. See the following press release:
PRESS RELEASE
New name joins the FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame
FIVA, the International Federation of Historic Vehicles, has announced nine new heroes of motoring history who will join its Heritage Hall of Fame, launched last year to celebrate both world-famous figures and unsung heroes in automotive history.
Gaby von Oppenheim, one of the judges, explains: “FIVA clubs around the world were invited to nominate their own motoring heroes, regardless of whether these individuals are household names or relatively unknown. The primary criterion is that they choose men or women who have made significant contributions to our automotive heritage. From among the nominations, a prestigious international panel of judges selects the final inductees.”
For 2022, the list includes Rosemary Smith from Ireland
Rosemary is world renowned for her outstanding achievements in international motor sport, which includes the London-Sydney Marathon in 1968, the World Cup event two years later, the Safari Rally, the Shell 4000 as well as competing in the Monte Carlo Rally eight times and winning the Coup de Dames on several occasions. She has competed in the 24Hr Daytona Race and the 12 Hr Sebring event as well as the Irish Land Speed Record. Her name has been linked with the Hillman Imp (in which she won the Tulip Rally outright in 1965), the Sunbeam Tiger together with Ford Cortinas and Escorts, and the Porche 911T, invariably beating the male counterparts in her path.
Such recognition for Rosemary is heartedly acknowledged and reveals the status in which she is held internationally
