The Australian Racing Drivers Club

For members and guests

Ian Hansen

FUELLING THE DRIVE FOR CHANGE          

OFFICIAL RELEASE 04/11/2017: The not-for-profit community aid organisation One Meal – It Makes A Difference launched in Blacktown this month, and is driving change in Western Sydney for the homeless and people in need with the help of the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC).

One Meal – It Makes A Difference is a 100% volunteer based community organisation that helps to feed, clothe and support the homeless and underprivileged across Sydney, from Macarthur through to the Sutherland Shire and the Northern Beaches, and on Saturday November 4 it served up its first meals in Blacktown.

Founded in 2014 with a one-off street service to provide “One Meal” to the needy at Christmas, One Meal – It Makes A Difference has grown into an organisation that provides hundreds of meals to the needy each week across Sydney. Our meal service patrons are provided with breakfast packs to take away and further assisted where possible with clothing items, blankets, toiletries etc.

One Meal – It Makes A Difference works to foster community and positive relationships between individuals, and of course it relies on the generosity of a great many volunteers as well as a number of individual and business sponsors. The expansion of One Meal into the Blacktown area would not have been possible without the amazing support from the local business community.

“Being the operator of Sydney Motorsport Park, which is part of the Western Sydney Parklands, the Australian Racing Drivers Club is always proud to be able to support our local community,” says ARDC CEO Glenn Matthews.

“One Meal is just one of the many ways we can give back to the community, and our new on-site fuel bowsers allow us to provide the fuel for the One Meal van as a means of supporting this great initiative.”

One Meal – It Makes A Difference is also grateful to Heartland Hyundai, who have generously provided a Hyundai i-Load van to run the service, and Right Property Group, a major sponsor for the Western Sydney operations.

MORE ABOUT ONE MEAL – IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

One Meal’s mission is to provide healthy nutritious meals and a range of human services to the homeless, destitute, impoverished and underprivileged people in our community and to assist in advancing their well-being, outlook on life and prospects for future independence – and to do so with strong ethics and integrity.

For further information, to get involved or to offer your support, please email info@onemeal.org.au – Alternatively, contact us via our website, onemeal.org.au or our Facebook Page http://facebook.com/onemeal14

Moffat and Bond honoured at SMSP

The Great Race, which was started by the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club in 1962 and run by the club for many years, has seen so many amazing motorsport moments, but Ford’s legendary 1-2 finish in the 1977 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 is remembered as one of the greatest.

The #1 Falcon of Allan Moffat paired with Jacky Ickx, and the #2 Falcon of Colin Bond and Alan Hamilton famously paired up to take the chequered flag in first and second place, cementing the moment in history.

The ARDC recognises this great moment in motorsport, and the achievements of former ARDC Board Member Allan Moffat and former ARDC President Colin Bond, with the naming of two turns in their honour at the Club‘s current home, Sydney Motorsport Park.

From October 2017, Turn 1 will be known as Moffat Corner, and Turn 2 as Bond Bend.

Their names join those of Peter Brock, Wayne Gardner and the late Sir Jack Brabham, who have Turn 5, the Gardner GP Circuit, and both the Brabham Extended Circuit and Brabham Straight named after them as a nod to their contributions to the ARDC and to Australian motorsport.

SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK’S GP CIRCUIT A SHINING LIGHT IN 2018 VASC CALENDAR

OFFICIAL RELEASE: Supercars has finalised plans to race under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park next August.
The confirmation follows a lighting test held ahead of the Sydney SuperSprint this year and will mark the first Supercars night race on Australian soil since 1997.
Dubbed the Red Rooster Sydney SuperNight 300, the August 4 event will feature a single 300km race run in a three-hour window from 7-10pm.
“We’ve made no secret we wanted to stage a night race next year and I am delighted to say it is now a reality that we will hold this race under lights in Sydney,” said Supercars CEO James Warburton.
Sydney Motorsport Park CEO, Glenn Matthews, praised Supercars’ determination to make a night race at the venue a reality.
The Supercars event will run with temporary lighting as the circuit continues to lobby the New South Wales State Government for funding to erect permanent lights.
“Sydney Motorsport Park is already open 360 days of the year, and the introduction of circuit lighting and extended operating hours would introduce a whole new level of access for all motorsport and automotive enthusiasts, from after-work racing and spectating, endurance racing, driver and rider safety programs, corporate hospitality, job creation, education, exhibitions, and much more,” said Matthews.
“The Red Rooster Sydney SuperNight 300 is the first exciting step towards making this as a reality.
“Sydney Motorsport Park is one of the busiest sites in Western Sydney, hosting more than 600 events with more than 330,000 visitors coming through our gates annually.
“We want to make Sydney Motorsport Park the premier destination for the industry in Australia – not just for motor racing and motorsport, but for automotive technology, innovation, education, tourism and community engagement.
“We are committed to working with our partners, promoters, and the NSW Government in realising this vision.”

MEGA MUSCLE CAR LINE UP ANNOUNCED

The Australian Muscle Car Masters (MCM) on October 28-29 is a celebration of our country’s Muscle Car heritage and a tribute to the drivers that raced.
MCM is a race down memory lane for those that grew up spending the October long weekend viewing the Great Race on TV or spectating trackside on Mount Panorama.
As a return to the gutsy glory days of Bathurst, the MCM is a horsepower heaven for motorsport fans! Unlike other motorsport events, fans can get up close to the machinery and chat with the drivers and their mechanics.

OFF-TRACK ENTERTAINMENT
Off-track attractions include ‘meet and greet’ sessions with legend race drivers, a mega show n’ shine (what we call the Pit Straight Car Club Corral) for road registered muscle cars and merchandise alley. Our 2017 Feature attractions include:
– Recreation of the Ron Hodgson Toranas on a fully loaded Transporter, immortalised at Bathurst 1973 with the original car, and both Bob Morris and John Leffler on site!
– Gil Tucker, the TV Star of Cop Shop, plus Mad Max 1 and the face of Torana Hatchback from the 70’s. Gil will be joined by a collective of old and newer NSW Highway Patrol Cars!
– A Collection of Bo Seton racecars, plus an on track tribute including his son Glenn and Grandson Aaron (Sunday only)
– A selection of GTR XU-1 road car Toranas celebrating this year’s Torana-only race, with special guest Don Holland to present Awards to placegetters.
– John Goss to unveil his 1976 Bathurst Concept Car surrounded by a collective of Falcon Coupes.
– Significant cars from the 1979 Repco Reliability on display, along with HDT Team Members.
– Ray Kaleda Static Display and on track Parade (Sunday only).
– Australian Beach and Outback Display with Palm Trees, Surfboards and, of course, Panelvans!
– Tickford / Prodrive Transporter with the new 77 Moffat Ford Dealer-inspired Mustang on display.
And more to be confirmed!

ON-TRACK ACTION
Six categories are now confirmed for the Masters weekend/ The full line-up is:
– Heritage Touring Cars (Group C/A)
– Historic Touring Cars to 1964 (Group Nb)
– Historic Touring Cars 1965-72 (Group Nc)
– Sports Sedans (National level)
– Kumho V8 Touring Cars (superseded V8 Supercars)
– Production Touring Cars
– Historic Touring Cars of NSW Torana Challenge, celebrating 45 years of Bathurst
– Master Blasts demos featuring 30 of the countries historic and significant races from the last 50 years
Other track sessions will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Every year we dip our lids to a handful of muscle car milestones – the big events and most famous models that shaped our
country’s legendary heritage of homegrown high
performance. This year we celebrate:
– 50th anniversary of XR Falcon GT
– 45th anniversary of Brock’s 1972 XU-1 win
– 40th anniversary of the Torana A9X
– 40th anniversary of Ford’s 1977 1-2
– 30th anniversary of Bathurst’s 1987 WTCC round and the hard-fought ’87 ATCC.

Spectators are admitted free of charge to the competitors paddock and undercover grandstand, and kids 15 and under are FREE!
Buy your tickets today!

SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK SHINES UNDER LIGHTS

18/08/17: Supercar night-racing at Sydney Motorsport Park could be a permanent fixture, following successful lighting tests at the Eastern Creek venue last night.

Sydney Motorsport Park CEO, Glenn Matthews, said he had held positive discussions with the NSW Government over the installation of permanent floodlights at the park, providing year-round, site-activation and serving a host of motorsport and industry uses, including Supercar racing.

“Last night’s testing highlighted the potential of night-time racing and activities here at Sydney Motorsport Park and we’re very hopeful that this is a sign of things to come,” Mr Matthews said.

“Full-time, permanent lighting will not only add a whole new level of excitement to motorsport racing, and the spectator experience in this country, but open up a range of commercial and tourism opportunities at Sydney Motorsport Park, including driver safety programs, corporate hospitality packages, and more track access for all levels of racing.

“We’ve held some preliminary, and positive, discussions with NSW Government which is supportive of our long-term vision for Sydney Motorsport Park, and we’re looking forward to continuing to collaborate with all of our partners to set the benchmark for Australian motorsport facilities.”

The 92ha Sydney Motorsport Park precinct is one of the busiest sites in Western Sydney, hosting more than 600 events and over 300,000 visitors annually, and is nearly fully booked a year in advance.

Mr Matthews said the Park’s proximity to the proposed Western Sydney Airport, as well as one of the fastest growing populations in the region, are two of its key strategic drivers.

“Our long-term plans are focussed on making the most of our central location and looking at the opportunities to leverage Western Sydney’s growth as a visitor destination, and provide jobs and education for its vast, and diverse skilled labour,” he said.

“We’ve looked closely at the UK’s integrated education, industry and innovation facility at Silverstone and see no reason why Sydney Motorsport Park can’t adopt a similar model – one that’s heavily focussed on partnerships, education and innovation for Western Sydney.”

“The introduction of permanent lights is the first step towards establishing the necessary infrastructure to support our long-term vision for the site, and we’re committed to working with Government and our partners to make it happen.”

For further information, please contact the ARDC on (02) 9672 1000 or email media@ardc.com.au.

TWO WORKS OF AUTOMOTIVE ART HIT SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK

Two unique sculptures have just been delivered to the ARDC by automotive sculpture artist James Corbett to commemorate and celebrate Australian motorsport at SMSP.
The two sculptures, based on a vintage three wheeled Morgan racecar and a racing motorcycle of the same era, were commissioned by the ARDC to celebrate the passion and community spirit of both the two- and four-wheeled enthusiast.
“For a while now, we have been wanting to bring some fun, creativity and artistic flair to the Park,” says Glenn Matthews, ARDC CEO.
“We have been searching for a project that could encompass all of this, and found this world-renowned artist in our own backyard. He has not only delivered on our idea, but created two automotive masterpieces for all enthusiasts to enjoy and admire.”
The two sculptures will be officially revealed and launched at Sydney Motorsport Park on August 12, 2017 at the Morgan Supersprint and first day of the CMC Shannons Sydney Classic.

About the artist: James Corbett, originally from Ningi, Queensland, has been creating uniquely lifelike sculptures since 1998. Back then he was the owner of an auto recycling business and found himself transfixed by old car parts and metal objects. It wasn’t until he was gifted a sculpture made from welded gears that he had the idea to build his first car part sculpture.
“Sydney Motorsport Park is a fitting permanent home for some of my work,” says Corbett.
“I am hoping that their patrons will get a bit of a kick out of my racers. The two pieces go together to portray a race between an early vintage three wheeled Morgan, and a similarly early era racing motorcycle. These pieces are at the same time both very different to my normal subjects, yet are still very much my signature style of subject. Early Bikes and Three Wheelers are some of my favourite subjects, but this is only the second time I have done a car sculpture even close to this scale, and the motor bike is a first.”