Samantha Stevens

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

News, SMSP News

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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.”

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VALE: ARTHUR HAYES, MEMBER #1

ARDC News, News

y name is Arthur Hayes and my membership number is one”.

That is the way ARDC founding member and long-term president Arthur Hayes chose to introduce himself when I first saw him at an ARDC AGM in the early 1990’s. It was an introduction that gave him instant credibility no matter what type of gathering he was speaking at. Sadly, Arthur died on August 1 this year at the age of 92.

Soon after World War Two, Arthur took up racing with a Fronty Ford initially, then an MGTC and finally a modified Morris Minor. He raced at local Sydney circuits like Marsden Park, Parramatta Park and Mount Druitt. He even raced the MGTC at Bathurst once, in 1951, where he finished third in a Production Sports Car handicap. However, it was not behind the wheel of a race car that Arthur was to make a huge contribution to Australian motor racing in general and New South Wales motor racing in particular.

Belf Jones held the lease of Mount Druitt which he ran with the help of his silent partner George Bell. A gravel road was formed connecting both ends of the Mount Druitt air strip to form a circuit. The surface of this road was liquid tar covered by chunks of blue metal. It was very thin and broke up during race meetings so that after every meeting volunteers (mainly drivers) had to repair the surface as best they could.

Arthur and several other drivers thought it was unfair that the drivers were providing the entertainment plus maintaining the circuit and in return were only receiving minimal prizemoney. Arthur drew up a basic agreement giving the drivers a bigger slice of the spectator fee pie. Belf Jones signed the agreement but George Bell refused. It was Jones who counted the gate takings so the “new deal” was implemented. Bear in mind Arthur was only twenty five years old at the time.

The drivers needed a proper organisation. A meeting was called in Surry Hills for anyone interested in racing at Mount Druitt to attend. Fifty or sixty people turned up and the Australian Racing Drivers Club was formed. Larry Humphries was elected president, Arthur Hayes was elected secretary and the name was inspired by the British Racing Drivers Club. Arthur was given membership number one because he expressed the initial idea of a fairer deal for the drivers.

The ARDC ran their first meeting at Mount Druitt on Boxing Day in 1951. It was quite successful with races run strictly on time and about 3000 spectators attending. Races were run for closed cars, sports cars and racing cars. Spectator fences were placed at a safe distance from the track (no legislation in those days) and 44 gallon drums were used on the straight airstrip to introduce some curves.

Arthur took on the position of Clerk of the Course at ARDC meetings which were scheduled about six weeks apart. The ARDC was incorporated as a not for profit company in 1952.

After about six months president Larry Humphries resigned and Arthur was elected to replace him. Arthur was to serve the ARDC as president from 1953 to 1960.

The Royal Automobile Club was delegated by the FIA to run motor sport in Australia until the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) was formed in 1953. Ten or so NSW clubs formed the State Council and Arthur was elected its initial chairman – a position he occupied for seven years. Arthur was also the NSW delegate to the National Competition Council. He lobbied hard for advertising on racing cars but was not successful. CAMS did allow drivers names in small letters on the sides of cars, however. He was successful in agitating for compulsory seat belts and tough medical examinations.

When the Australian Sporting Car Club fell out with the Bathurst City Council and moved its race meetings to Gnoo Blas (Orange NSW) Arthur was at the forefront of negotiations to have the ARDC take over running races at Mount Panorama. The ARDC did so from 1954 to 1998. In 1954 Arthur was part of a joint committee from both the ARDC and the Blue Mountains Sporting Drivers Club which mapped out the circuit that was to become Catalina Park. Future world champion Jack Brabham was a fellow committeeman.

When Oscar Glasser drew up plans to build Amaroo Park circuit, hillclimb and short circuit he asked Arthur for comments. After a site inspection Arthur made a few suggestions which to his credit were adopted in the final design.

In 1960 Arthur resigned from the ARDC and the National Competition Council. He became a commercial pilot and moved to Bathurst for six months or so before accepting a two week job in Rockhampton. He stayed for 20 years.

Plans are in place to retire Arthur’s membership number so we can safely say there will never be another member number one. And that is how it should be.

– Brian Goulding

Shannons Nationals Round 4 Preview

News, Race Meetings, SMSP News

OFFICIAL RELEASE: The Shannons Nationals heads north of the Australian border to New South Wales for the first time this season, as part as the fourth round on the 2017 schedule.
Racing at Sydney Motorsport Park for the first time this season, this round will feature a few firsts—with the introduction of a new race format and a fresh-faced category.
Amongst those changes is in the Australian Production Car Series, which will see the series run four one-hour races, a completely different format to their last round where two endurance races completed the event.
The battles will go down to the wire this weekend, as the current series leaders are ‘on leave’ racing in Townsville, so expect to see some surprise winners and intense class battles.
The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge will run their fourth round for the season, with this year’s title fight proving to be one of the most exciting yet.
Jordan Love currently leads the Professional class and the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy—but it hasn’t come easy, with Anthony Gilbertson claiming pole at Winton, former Olympian John Steffensen winning the first round of the Professional class, Brenton Grove taking debut race wins and Sam Shahin taking the outright round win at Sandown.
As well as the Porsches and Production Cars, two of the most exciting sports car series in the country return to Sydney, thanks to the company of the Australian Prototype Series and Radical Australia Cup.
Arguably delivering the most exciting racing at Winton, Jason Makris will be looking to continue his winning-streak at Sydney after taking three wins at the previous round.
Peter Paddon currently leads Radical Australia Cup and will be one busy steerer, competing in both the Radical and Prototype series’ across the event.
Notable mentions to Oliver Smith and Michael Shaw in Radical who will both be looking at taking race wins on home-soil.
A new category also joins the Nationals this weekend, with the Alfa Romeo Challenge featuring a field of over 20 Alfa Romeos, ranging from Group S to Under 2 Litre.
The Nationals TV Livestream also returns this Sunday 9 July, with the action live and free at thenationals.com.au/live

Sydney Classic Speed Festival entry list

News, SMSP News

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Sydney Classic Speedfest Schedule is now live!

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Feature F5000 race honours – and features – Gold Star champion

News, SMSP News

This weekend, the feature race of the F5000s at Sydney Classic Speedfest will be named in honour of one of its era’s most recognisable drivers – a man who will also feature in the race itself.

The large field will be racing for line honours over the weekend, and for the top spot in the feature race named after Alfredo ‘Alfie’ Costanzo, a famous F5000 driver who won four CAMS Gold Stars as Australia’s National racing champion.

Costanzo will be racing for his original mentor and Melbourne car owner Alan Hamilton in a McLaren M10B, who remembers his early days of Alfie’s driving:

“At the Australian Grand Prix held at Sandown on September the 10^th 1978, I crashed rather heavily in my F5000 Lola T430 whilst running second with only two and a bit laps to go,” says Hamilton.

“My injuries left me an insulin-dependent diabetic which, at that time, meant that my circuit racing days were over. Earlier, I had purchased the two Lola T430’s from Team VDS so whilst my crash had totally destroyed the Lola I was driving, there was another in the shed.

“I instructed my team to rebuild the second car to exactly the same condition and settings that the car I was in, prior to the crash. I then began to seek the services of someone to drive my car.

“My thoughts rapidly focused on Alfredo Costanzo who’s talent had always impressed me whilst disappointing results were largely attributable to a lack of budget to compete at the level he was seeking. Alfie accepted my offer graciously and we continued apace with the reconstruction of the second Lola.

“Our entry for the Sandown meeting in February 1978 for the !st Gold star event of that year was accepted and we arrived at the first practice session with a high level of trepidation….new car and a new driver. Alfie proceeded cautiously, trying each corner individually but not putting a full lap together. As he came in at the end of practice, the mechanics rushed up to hear what might need adjusting.

“Alfie sat quietly in the Lola and then said ‘donna touch the car!’

Following the next practice session, Alfie had pole position and went on to win the race the following day.

“His first gold star followed at the end of the year and this performance was repeated the following year with our new F500 based on an M26 Formula 1 McLaren… But dark clouds were massing,” says Hamilton.

“There had been considerable agitation, originally from NSW but quickly adopted by others, for a change in the Formula. I was against the change. We had a new car that threatened rewrite the record books wherever it ran; at Sandown it set a lap record that has never been surpassed. However, Bob Jane stepped in and purchased my McLaren allowing me to buy a pair of Tiga Formula Atlantic, Pacific, Mondial cars with which to compete against the most successful Ralt RT4’s

“Although most thought that Alfie might not be able to transition from winning in 500 horsepower cars, he and our head engineer won the next two gold stars championships. He also was leading the Australian Grand Prix against many of the top F1 stars from Europe until gearbox failure sidelined him.

“Undoubtedly, Alfie was of international standard when he drove for me and this was recognised by the Italian Government who effectively Knighted him for his achievements.”

The F5000s are scheduled to hit the track this weekend for practice, qualifying at 9:50am Saturday, and races on Saturday at 1340 and Sunday at 0955 and the feature finale at 1415. The Sunday’s racing will be co-commentated by John Goss, and he along with F5000 Patron Fred Gibson will be presenting the winners trophies o the podium in the main paddock. Three more F5000 vehicles will also be on display in the main paddock, and their owners will be on hand to chat about their cars’ history for any spectators wanting to know more about this fantastic era of aero motorsport.

[table “15” not found /]

http://www.speedfestival.com.au/program-schedule/

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Samantha Stevens

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