Wayne Maxwell Racing at Winton Page 27 Photo by Optikal

Pitstop

Edition #629 Sept/Oct 2020 Free for Members Non-Members $2 AUTHORISED PRINT POST NUMBER PP100001045

Pitstop The official publication of the Benalla Auto Club Inc. Edition #629 Sept/Oct 2020

BENALLA AUTO CLUB INC 41 Fox St Winton Vic 3673 Phone: 03 5760 7100 Contents [email protected] www.benallaautoclub.com.au Page

COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT President: Barry Stilo 5. Wakefield Park Track Days Vice-President: Daryl McHugh Treasurer: Geoff Calvert 6. ASBK at Wakefield Secretary: Gary Gourlay 9. Dream Revived at Winton John McBride, Murray Edgar, Rob Hoskins, Willie Van Wersch, Michael 10. Tasmanian Drift booms with AASA Tabe, Bruce Robertson 11. AASA Drives Against Depression ENCOMPASSING: 12. Oz Enduro Winton Motor Raceway 41 Fox St 13. Aust Tarmac Rally Winton Vic 3673 Ph: 03 5760 7100 15. Rusty’s Garage Podcast [email protected] www.wintonraceway.com.au 16. Facebook

Wakefield Park Motorsport 20. BAC AGM 4770 Braidwood Road Goulburn NSW 2580 21. Hugh Barter at Winton Ph: 02 4822 2811 [email protected] 22. Race Chix Motorsport www.wakefieldpark.com.au 27. Wayne Maxwell Racing Australian Auto Sport Alliance 79 Rowan St 28. HSRCA Spring Festival Wangaratta Vic 3677 PH: 03 5721 7800 [email protected] www.aasa.com.au

Cover Photo: Wayne Maxwell Racing at Winton—photo by Optikal

Wakefield Park Track Days – Testing the Limits Safely Wakefield Park has always been a popular venue for drivers to explore the limits of their street cars in a safe and controlled environment or test and tune their race cars in preparation for upcoming events, and Wakefield Park Track Days continue to be well attended by motoring enthusiasts.

Wakefield Park’s publicly accessible days have gone by various names over the years, including Speed off the Streets and Test and Tune, but in the interests of minimising confusion, they are now simply de- scribed as “Wakefield Park Track Days.”

Some of the most common enquiries received by the Wakefield Park office relate to requirements for Track Days, so we’ve put together the following “cheat points” to make the process of booking and attending a track day as easy as possible:

A valid track licence is part of your insurance cover and is extremely easy to get – all you need to do is fill out an online form, which you can do via the AASA website HERE. Ensure your clothing meets the requirements. You need to wear wrist-to-neck-to-ankle clothing (e.g. a long-sleeve shirt, long pants and enclosed shoes) and a helmet that meets Australian Standard 1698 or higher. Book online and save! Pre-booking through www.wakefieldpark.com.au prior to attending a Track Day will save you $45.00 and also make the sign-on process faster. Track Day participants are placed into similar speed groups. You will be on track with cars and drivers of your level and as you become faster, you can be moved into a different group. For those wishing to improve their driving skills, driver training is available (at additional cost) through one of our recommended providers. Some of these providers also offer race cars for hire. 98-octane fuel is available for purchase on-site. Carports are free for all Track Day participants, with enclosed garages available for hire. The minimum age for drivers at Wakefield Park Track Days is 14. Cars participating at Wakefield Park Track Days must adhere to a strictly-enforced noise limit of 95dB at 30 metres. Any vehicle exceeding this limit will be removed from the circuit, with the driver given one opportunity to make a mechanical rectification and re-enter the track. If you think a Wakefield Park Track Day is something a friend or family member would enjoy, gift vouchers are available – contact us on (02) 4822 2811.

Wakefield Park manager Dean Chapman said Wakefield Park has characteristics that make it suitable for a wide variety of participants at Track Days.

“We attract a lot of owners of road cars who want to see how fast they can go in a safe environment, ra- ther than on public roads where they’re putting themselves and others at risk,” Mr Chapman said.

“Because the circuit has a relatively low speed and generous run-off areas, it makes it suitable for less- experienced drivers to explore their limits without a high risk of personal injury or vehicle damage. This also makes it a good environment for people who are learning to drive a race car for the first time.

“Also, it has a mixture of corners so it’s good for understanding race car setup and assessing how different adjustments will change the car’s handling or behaviour in high and low-speed corners.”

Wakefield Park track days are held regularly, with dates, prices and booking options all available on www.wakefieldpark.com.au.

For more information about Wakefield Park Track Days, give the crew a call on (02) 4822 2811.

ASBK Grand Finale Is GO!

Wakefield Park along with ASBK Management Team are thrilled to announce that the ASBK Grand Finale – Round 2 and 3 is now confirmed to go ahead as planned on December 3-6, however due to limitations to some state borders, the event will now be staged at Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW.

After recent announcements by State Premiers, opening of borders and ongoing restrictions in Victoria, Wakefield Park Raceway located in Regional NSW, now be- comes the only venue capable of hosting the Grand Finale Double Header rounds of the 2020 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.

While the event has now shifted North up the highway only a few hours drive, the event date, Double Header event format, and event specific regulations all remain unchanged from the Winton planned event.

‘’It’s been a long wait for the ASBK Paddock since Round 1 back in February, and a tough year for the sport and its riders,” said Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle. “However, we are extremely pleased to be finally heading back to the track to fin- ish off the ASBK Championship and crown the 2020 champions.

“Our thanks go to the Winton Motor Raceway, Wakefield Park Raceway and Be- nalla Auto Club Group, owners of Winton and Wakefield Park for their flexibility with the adjustment to the location. “Both Winton and Wakefield have been long time hosts of ASBK and the conclusion to this year’s championship wouldn’t be possible without them.’’

With the ASBK final showdown now confirmed for the first week of December, sad- ly ASBK Race Fans will be unable to attend the event in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, fans can catch all the action live via ASBK TV partners SBSHD, Fox Sports Australia and Fox Sports Asia on both Saturday and Sunday.

ASBK rider entries will open at 5pm today (Friday Nov 6) via Ridernet, and riders are advised that due to COVID-19 restrictions entries will be limited to approxi- mately 100 riders for this event. It is recommended to get your entries in early to avoid disappointment.

Again, due to COVID-19 restrictions, each rider will be restricted to a limited number of crew personnel for each class. More information can be found in the Addi- tional Supplementary Regulations (ASR) via ASBK.com.au or Ridernet.

Following a stop/start year for ASBK and due to some riders being able to ride, practice or race in different states across Australia. ASBK Management Team ad- vises in reference to ASBK Sporting Regulations 2.6 – Unofficial Practice; that Un- official Practice will not be allowed at this round venue for the period commencing 30 days prior to the event. This 30 day rule replaces the 8 day rule for these double header rounds.

Finally, all in the ASBK Paddock are again reminded that COVID-19 is a rapidly changing pandemic and the event and its conditions are subject to additional Gov- ernment COVID-Safe regulations or changes without notice, which are beyond the control of ASBK Management.

All ASBK Paddock personnel attending the event must follow ASBK, Venue and State Government regulations. Failure to follow may result in sporting and/or government penalties and enforcement.

Teams and riders will be provided with additional information on COVID-safe plans and requirements for this event. Further information will be sent out in the coming weeks. Keep up to date with further announcements on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul via www.asbk.com.au or www.wakefieldpark.com.au and following ASBK and Wakefield Park on Facebook and Instagram.

Photos by Russell Colvin

A Dream Come True At Winton Tasmanian Drifting Continues to Boom Under AASA

The drifting scene in Tasmania is continuing to explode in popularity under AASA sanctioning, with organisers of the Drift Tasmania Series thrilled with the display from competitors in Round 2 at Symmons Plains, despite some challenging weather conditions.

The opening round of Drift Tasmania was held in late August, attracting a field of 60 competitors, but the weekend’s second round was even bigger with 65 enthusiastic drifters and a capacity crowd of spectators flocking to the Launceston circuit.

The round was won by experienced drifter Matt Harvey, with Tate Vanderfeen finishing second and Dan McKinlay completing the podium.

Series organiser Mikayla Szycman said the drifters were able to put on an entertaining display, which was appreciated by the crowd.

“We had some wet weather in the morning, but it cleared up in the afternoon and all the drivers were able to give the fans a great show,” Szycman said.

“We’re still only allowed to have a limited number of spectators, but those who attended thorough- ly enjoyed themselves.”

The success of the first two Drift Tasmania rounds has promoted Szycman and the organising team to start planning for future events.

“Our third round is in December and we’re hoping by then we’ll be able to have some more spectators,” she said.

“Our plan is to make it a family-friendly event with some amusement rides and continue to have a helicopter taking people on flights above the circuit.

“There’s also the possibility we’ll have a high-profile guest driver from the mainland.”

The Performance Driving Australia motoring education and services organisation, which promotes Drift Tasmania, is also looking at some other types of events.

“There’s been some interest in us hosting rallycross-type events, so that’s something we’re looking at for 2021,” Szycman said.

“We’re very grateful to the AASA for their support, they’ve made it very easy for us to deliver high- quality drifting events in Tasmania and we’re looking forward to continuing our relationship with them.” AASA Continues to Drive Against Depression

Mental health is a topic that has been thrust into the spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many people struggling for wellbeing due to isolation from others during lockdown, or becoming anxious due to the economic and employment challenges emerging as a result of the crisis.

The official charity partner of the AASA and its parent organisation, the Benalla Auto Club, is Drive Against De- pression, an organisation aimed at bringing together participants with a shared passion for motoring and creating judgement-free, non-confrontational environments where people can have conversations about mental health issues.

Last year, Drive Against Depression (DAD) facilitated social drives on public roads and used the AASA connection to form a relationship with the Australian Tarmac Rally Championship, enabling the creation of fun and exciting events for motoring enthusiasts.

However, as DAD co-founder and director Sarah Davis explained, 2020 has presented unique obstacles which have been difficult to overcome.

“Looking after people’s mental health and wellbeing is more important now than ever before, but because of the lockdown situation in Victoria, our opportunities to create social drives and other environments for people to connect have been extremely limited,” Davis said.

“However, there have still been some processes to put in place for those with specific requirements. We have three qualified mental health practitioners, who have been able to support the people who need it most.”

While 2020 may not have gone according to plan for DAD, Davis said the relationship with BAC and AASA yielded excellent results in 2019 and will continue in 2021.

“Our involvement with AASA and BAC was a huge part of 2019; it gave our participants the chance to enjoy different types of motoring and motorsport activities and gave people a whole new level of joy,” she said.

“Looking ahead to 2021, we’ll be starting our social drives again and we’ll be looking to dovetail those occasions with some events at Winton, such as the Friday Test and Tune sessions where some people might like to enjoy the experience of driving their car around a race track.”

The AASA is committed to continued support of the DAD cause.

“There is an overlap between the demographics of motoring enthusiasts and the demographics likely to suffer from mental illness, so there are some synergies with our involvement with DAD,” AASA business manager, Ste- phen Whyte said.

“We’ve been promoting DAD to our competitors at a variety of events, especially circuit racing and tarmac rally and in 2021 we’re aiming to raise awareness of the cause in other disciplines such as off-road and speedway.

“DAD continues to provide terrific support in the mental health space and we’re proud to be asso- ciated with them.” ONTIC SPORTS ESTABLISHES OZENDURO CUP First event to be held in November, 2020 Three events planned for 2021, additional dates to be confirmed Ontic Sports is pleased to announce the addition of its OzEnduro Cup event concept to its growing motorsport portfolio. The OzEnduro Cup has been designed for budget-minded competitors who are interested in competing in endurance events around the country which are focused on fun; low-cost vehicles; and comradery on and off the track. OzEnduro Cup events will feature an endurance Regularity style format on the track under Australian Auto Sport Alliance (AASA) sanction, while competitors enjoy a relaxed and social atmosphere in the pits. Participating vehicles will be limited to those that have been mass produced and which have a redbook trade in value of $2,000 or below. Following recent changes in the availability of these kinds of events, including the recently announced cancellation of the ‘Lemons Australia’ concept for 2021, Ontic Sports hopes the establishment of the OzEnduro Cup will help fill a void for budget-minded enduro competitors. In 2020, the first OzEnduro Cup event will be held at Queensland Raceway across November 28-29. Entries will open soon and regulations will be published in the coming weeks. For 2021, Ontic Sports plans to bring three OzEnduro Cup events to Queensland, with event dates to be published in the near future. Ontic Sports is also speaking with facility managers in other states regarding the possibility of hosting OzEnduro Cup events at their venues in 2021 and looks forward to publishing additional dates in the future. “Ontic Sports is very excited to announce the establishment of the OzEnduro Cup and looks forward to bringing a range of events to those enthusiasts who are interested in low-cost yet professionally-run motorsport, firstly in Queensland and hopefully eventually, around the country,” Ontic Sports Director, Iain Sherrin, said. “At Ontic Sports we believe it is vital that grass roots motorsport is supported and that competitors are able to truly enjoy and exercise their low-cost cars at professionally-run events.” “OzEnduro Cup participants will be competing to win, but they will also be treated to a relaxed and social atmosphere off the track with barbeques, social events and a focus on comradery,” Ontic Sports General Manager, Troy Williams, said. “This concept has been trialled by Ontic Sports recently and the feedback we received was phenome- nal – the participants really enjoyed spending time on track in their low-cost cars without the distraction of novelty inclusions, while keeping the fun atmosphere in the pits.” AASA Business Development Manager, Stephen Whyte, said he was looking forward to seeing the new OzEnduro Cup concept in action. “We are very excited to be involved with Ontic Sports and its fantastic new OzEnduro Cup concept,” Whyte said. “Grassroots racing is so important in the Australian motorsport landscape and so we are very pleased that we can support Ontic Sports in providing this opportunity for competitors who love these kinds of events. We very much look forward to growing this relationship around the OzEnduro Cup and other Ontic Sports projects into the future – it is a very exciting time.” For more information about Ontic Sports or to receive information about the 2020 OzEnduro Cup event entry process and regulations, please contact Troy Williams on 0483 035 466 or [email protected]

Australian Tarmac Rally Championship Blossoms Under New Ownership The new managers of the AASA-sanctioned Australian Tarmac Rally Championship are determined to en- rich the experience for competitors, enthusiasts and regional communities as part of their plan to rejuve- nate the domestic tarmac rallying scene. Earlier this year, passionate event organisers Pam Stables and Brittany Smith formed the Australian Tarmac Rally management company and purchased the rights to the championship from the Peter Washington- owned Mountain Motorsports organisation. Both Smith and Stables have a wealth of experience and knowledge in the tarmac rally scene. Smith for- merly worked for Targa Australia (which promotes Targa Tasmania, among other events), working across a variety of roles including competitor administration, event promotion and community/government liaison, while Stables has competed in tarmac rally events as both a driver and a navigator as well as working as the competitors manager at Targa Australia. Smith and Stables are both committed to taking Mountain Motorsports’ proven tarmac rally events – Great Tarmac Rally, Mt Baw Baw Sprint, Lake Mountain Sprint and Snowy River Sprint – and improving on them. “I left Targa Australia last year and I saw an opportunity with Pete’s events – he’s created a popular prod- uct so there are some solid foundations for us to build upon,” Smith said. “Pete has had a lot of experience running these events and we still rely on his expertise for some of the operational aspects, but we’ve identified areas we can improve. “We want to ensure there’s consistency of staff at each event, so we’ve employed some full-time personnel who will attend all of our tarmac rallies – a clerk of course, an official photographer and a competitor rela- tions officer.” “We also wanted to lift the presentation and professionalism with our digital platforms,” Stables added. “We’ve created a new website and refreshed our social media channels; we’ve also set up a new online entry system to make it simpler for competitors to enter our events. “There are other things we’re working on, such as Australian Tarmac Rally merchandise, to ensure we’re professionally presented.” In the past, the Australian Tarmac Rally Championship has taken place over a financial year-based calen- dar, but Smith says that will change for 2021. “Because of the COVID situation and the fact that a lot of people are unable to travel interstate due to border closures, we’ve decided to make the 2020 Great Tarmac Rally a non-championship round. Our 2021 championship will consist of four events, starting with the Mt Baw Baw Sprint in February,” she said. “We are 40 per cent up on team entries for Great Tarmac Rally compared to last year, which is excellent considering the circumstances. “We do have some plans for some other events moving forward, including the revival of an older event. “In the meantime, it’s a good opportunity to look at our current events and see what we can do to revital- ise them. There are some improvements we can make by rejigging some of our courses to allow more competitors to attend, as well as setting up safe areas for spectator viewing.” Stables said one of the challenges of running tarmac rally events is balancing the economic benefits for regional towns with the inconvenience of public road closures. “We like going to country towns because it’s great for their local economy in terms of tourism; one of our considerations is managing the closures of public roads to minimise disruption to residents, but we’re fortunate to have a lot of support from the relevant authorities in this regard.” Australian Tarmac Rally will continue its affiliation with the AASA, extending a previously existing relationship from when the championship was managed by Mountain Motorsports. “AASA has been fantastic – (business manager) Stephen Whyte and his team are very accommodating of all our requests and have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to tarmac rally events. We’re very pleased to continue working with them,” Stables said. The Great Tarmac Rally will be held on 5-6 December.

BENALLA AUTO CLUB Inc No A0000743H PO Box 249, Benalla Vic 3672 41 Fox St, Winton Vic 3673 Phone: 03 5760 7100 Fax: 03 5766 4249 ABN 14 586 452 297

It is my duty to inform you of the 2020 AGM Notice of Annual General Meeting To be held at the Winton Motor Raceway Corporate Centre, 41 Fox Street Winton Saturday 12th December 2020 @ 5:30pm The Retiring members of the Committee are: Barry Stilo, Rob Hoskins, Daryl McHugh, A Vacancy left by Lachlan Mansell, Therefore, there will be (4) vacancies.

Any BAC member is able to nominate for the committee that has been a continuous member of the BAC for the previous 12- monthly period. The term of office for a committee member is (3) years. Each candidate will be given the opportunity to address the members present prior to voting taking place. The Executive of the Committee is also required to be elected, as they only hold office for one (1) year. To nominate for the Executive of the Committee you must be a member of the committee. Each candidate will be given the opportunity to address the members present prior to voting taking place. Please bring your 2020 BAC membership card with you to the meeting as you will be asked to present it to receive your voting papers.

Please note: Nominations for both Committee and Office Bearers closes Friday 4th December 2020 @ 5pm.

There will be drinks and a BBQ after the meeting, could you please reply with attendance numbers for COVID and catering purposes to [email protected] or call/text Glenys on 0481 740 311

There will be the BAC’s current Corona Virus strategies in place, and we will ask you to abide by them.

I look forward to seeing you at the Annual General Meeting Thank You

G.A. Gourlay Gary Gourlay Secretary, Benalla Auto Club

Race Chix Motorsport The AASA is proud to play a role in increasing female participation in motorsport through its support of Race Chix Motorsport, an organisation committed to connecting women across all different avenues of the sport.

The brainchild of Rachelle Stirling, Race Chix Motorsport was formed to connect women with a need for speed, providing them with the resources and guidance to make entry into the sport as easy as possible.

Stirling is a racer herself, competing in hillclimb and circuit events, and says many girls do not know how to start their racing journey.

“We’re still very much at the awareness stage – not a lot of girls realise they can participate in track days in their road car and get a taste for driving at an unrestricted speed,” Stirling said.

“There are a lot of women interested in becoming involved in motorsport, but are not really sure where to start – we’re aiming to guide them through the journey while also supporting the ones who are already active in the sport.

“One of the other things I’ve discovered is there hasn’t been much cross-pollination between motorsport disciplines – this is something we also want to change.

“For example, I’ve had girls involved in circuit racing who are interested in rallying or drag racing. By providing a community where women can network with one another, we can increase knowledge across the different types of motorsport.

Race Chix Motorsport facilities networking events (many of which have been held online this year due to COVID-19), focusing on specific subjects such as nutrition, sponsorship and media.

“We will often be asked questions about particular topics, so we’ve organised online Q and A sessions where we’ve invited expert guest speakers. So far, they’ve been popular and our participants have provided overwhelmingly positive feedback,” Stirling said.

While the networking sessions are useful, ultimately the goal for many women is to experience the thrill of driving at speed; enter the Race Chix Race School.

The three-stage (101, 102 and 103) program educates participants on both the theoretical and practical aspects of motorsport participation.

In stage 101, participants are taught essential motorsport theory, while gaining valuable car

control techniques on a skid pan. Competitors then progress to stage 102, where they learn about timed events such as supersprint and regularity competitions. Finally, those who are aiming to become involved in door-to- door car racing complete stage 103, where they are taught about race craft and how to engage in combat with other cars.

“We’ve started with our stage 101 courses and we already have women looking to move up to the next level,” Stirling said.“ Our goal for 2021 is to hold these courses all over Australia.”

It’s not just competitors who can benefit from the Race Chix Motorsport network, with the organisation also providing valuable resources for officials.

“Officials are an essential aspect of motorsport and we couldn’t go racing without them,” Stirling said.

“We’ve created a mentoring network for officials all over Australia and we’ve produced some videos showcasing different officiating roles.

“The AASA has been very supportive in this regard, especially in the assistance they gave us for our officials virtual networking event earlier this year.”

Stirling said the AASA is also improving accessibility to motorsport for newcomers.

“A lot of our fresh participants are competing in AASA-sanctioned events and the process of obtaining a racing licence is hassle-free and easy for us to explain,” Stirling said.

Historic Motorsport Back on Track at HSRCA Spring Festival

The NSW historic motor racing scene will roar back into life this weekend at the nation’s spectator track, Wakefield Park Raceway, which will host the HSRCA (Historic Sports and Racing Car Association of NSW) Spring Festival.

The event marks the first HSRCA race meeting since March and according to event organiser Richard Cardew, the infectious enthusiasm of competitors has resulted in high entry numbers for every category.

“With the current border closures, many of our regular interstate visitors have been unable to attend but the eagerness of the local drivers has made up for it – the entry numbers are marvellous,” Cardew said.

“It will be on for young and old – there are plenty of familiar faces returning to the race track but there are also some new competitors, which is good to see.”

In typical historic racing style, the HSRCA Spring Festival will showcase cars from different eras, ranging from purpose-built sports and racing cars to production-based touring cars.

Categories on the program include historic Formula Ford and Formula Vee (both home to early versions of cars that continue to race in modern categories), Group K, L and M (1931 -65 Sports and Racing), Group O, Q and R (1966-post ’77), Group N (Historic Touring) and Group S (Production Sports).

Saturday afternoon will also feature the BMC Challenge, a six-lap race for cars fitted with the BMC A-Series engine, such as Minis, MG Midgets and Austin Healy Sprites.

In addition to the racing categories, there is also a Supersprint category (for drivers to race the clock for the fastest time around Wakefield Park) and Regularity, in which drivers nominate a lap time and attempt to match that time as closely as possible.

Some notable names will line up at this weekend’s meeting, including Harry Bargwanna – father of Bathurst 1000 winner Jason – who will race a Mustang in Group N.

Other prominent inclusions on the entry list include 1976 Australian Formula Ford Cham- pion Richard Carter (driving his Renmax 23 in Supersprint), motorsport safety pioneer Mi- chael Henderson (also in Supersprint) and acclaimed international race car designer Mal- colm Oastler (Group R).

The last HSRCA meeting in March saw a couple of lap records broken and both record holders – Wayne Seabrook (Group S) and David Stone (Group N) are entered in their re- spective categories.

While spectators are not permitted to attend this weekend’s race meeting, Cardew said historic enthusiasts will still be able to immerse themselves in the character of the meeting through photos published on the HSRCA website.

“We’re fortunate to have some excellent photographers attending this weekend’s meeting, including our website manager Seth Reinhardt who does a magnificent job of taking photos that really capture the atmosphere and character of the event,” Cardew said.

“Photos and race reports will also be available in our Oily Rag magazine, which we publish shortly after each event.

“Wakefield Park is a terrific venue– it has the right mixture of informality in the paddock and enjoyment on the track. Hopefully, we’ll be able to welcome spectators back to our meetings in 2021,” Cardew concluded.

Full entry lists and schedule for this weekend’s HSRCA round are available on the HSRCA website.

BENALLA AUTO CLUB ISOLATION SALE Shirts are available for $10 each (plus postage)

Get yours now—they won’t last long at this price Call into the Winton office and speak to Glenys to bag your bargain or phone 0357 607102