Eastside breakfast - Sunday 7th May

Sandown MSCA sprint - Sunday 7th May

Westside breakfast - Sunday 21st May

Usual spot: The Nook in Sunbury.
Usual time: 8am onwards.
Usual bunch of car nuts.


Maling Road Autoclassico - Sunday 21st May

Here's a perfect destination for a post-westside cruise.

A lovely range of classic cars + bikes + enthusiasts will be found in the shopping district in Maling Road, Canterbury.
Rob Nethercote promises our own club will be well represented, along with an Elfin + ex-Frank Matich racer.
These last two make the day worthwhile all by themselves!

In the words of the organiser:
We can't wait to see the Clubman, Elfin & Matich in action at the upcoming Maling Road Autoclassico on Sunday 21st May 2023!

We have you in the spot previously allocated and my next reach-out will be in April 2023/1st week of May 2023 - as we have you all sorted.

We want to see a diverse mix of members, families, and partners, all proudly displaying your club banners and representing your unique style.

We're shaking things up this year, with an event that's fun for the whole family. This isn't just for the boy's, so please bring along your wives and partners, like you have done in past years, because we've got something for everyone. We're planning a dynamic and engaging event, with children's entertainment, roaming performers, movie-themed cars, fashion parades, and loads of community engagement.

Maling Road Shopping Centre is anything but ordinary. With over 70 businesses ranging from trendy fashion boutiques to quaint homeware stores, toy shops, and specialty retailers, there's something to capture the interest of everyone. And with more than 14 cafes and restaurants, you won't go hungry while you're exploring the Autoclassico.

The stunning historical buildings, complete with large verandas and charming village square, make for a truly unique environment that will transport you to a bygone era. And with the road closed for the Autoclassico, you'll have plenty of space to relax and take in the sights and sounds, whether it's checking out the displays from local traders (many of whom are offering special deals), or grabbing a bite to eat with the family.

 Be sure to share the information pack and brochure with your club members and encourage everyone to come along and make this a day to remember.

- Peter Barclay
 

Evening meeting - Wednesday 31st May

Last night of the month - may as well come out for some uplifting clubbie company.

Plenty of table thumping + harumphing to be had in the formal meeting from 7:30 onwards.
A riveting presentation on Aussie salt lake racing will be part of the program.
If you're not into all that, just come for a feed + beer earlier.

Manningham Hotel, Bulleen.

Introducing new members

Please welcome these good folk who have joined us recently.

Kenneth Muscat of Lethbridge

Thanks you for accepting me to your group.  I'm 48 years of age and live out in Lethbridge near Bannockburn. I'm a landscaper.

I have a few potential projects like a MBA and MGB that I want to continue building but I want to start with the clubman. Yes I'm building a Locost 7  - well I have the frame + body + motor a 7AGE turbo or still deciding to take my Honda Odyssey 2.4 engine out and use that.

I'm actually wanting to use it as a weekend vehicle and come out to the meetings with the group.  I'm new to this build and will need  extreme help.  I'm trying to find local members around Geelong area.

There are parts I'm chasing. 
i.e. Full Ssspension kit and control arms etc
I'll get a chance to send a picture when I get it gack from powder coaters.  Any way that's where I'm at hopefully we can meet up in the meetings. 

- Kenneth

Stuart Morrison-Jack of Phraran

I hope to introduce you to Stuart more fully soon.
 

Proposed new racetrack at Avalon

https://motorsport.org.au/media/news/detail/2023/04/14/location-selected-for-victoria-s-home-of-motorsport

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/rustys-garage/id1355538998?i=1000609039865


Properly Rogered

On Saturday the 18^th I made my way out to Sandown for the MSCA sprints. There were five Clubmans entered, Joel in his Amaroo, Mark Berryman in his Caterham, Rob Nethercote in his Elfin, Arie Wetsteyn for his first time on track in his Elfin and myself in the Birkin. Also Ian Rusch for the first outing of his ICV RA20.

As it was going to be a very hot day I thought I would do my best times in the first session particularly as the event was to be 3 sessions of 10 laps, so plenty of time to settle in.

We were all starting to settle in when the session was ended after 3 laps with a Red flag. Joel had decided to park the Amaroo across the centre of the track

After two hours we were out again for the second session. We were only out for two laps when a  BMW decided to attack the armco, again resulting in a red flag. After a delay for the track to be cleared we were out again. The Birkin was starting to feel good and times were coming down when I had a moment at the end of the main straight. The throttle stayed half open requiring a lot of brake lockup and a change of jocks. I returned to the pits where Peter Shone located the problem. The nut on the throttle adjustment had come lose and jammed the cable. At this point I should have gone home but decided to go out again.

At 2:30 I went out for the third and final session. After about three laps the car felt strange and started to wobble at the rear end so I decided it was definitely time to pack up and go home. I was coming in and just about to pull into the pits when the car locked up and wouldn’t move. I jumped out to see oil dripping out of the rear end.  The general opinion was the diff had just gone and I would have to drag the car onto the trailer. I started the long walk back to the garage thinking how I would go about a diff rebuild.

When I walked into the garage I was surprised to see a cap sitting on the floor. My surprise tuned to horror when I realised it was the cap for the speedo drive on the gear box and the oil wasn’t from the diff but the gearbox. “The gearbox must have run dry and siezed.”

With four helpers I managed to drag and winch the car onto the trailer. On the way home all I could think about was the pain removing the engine the gearbox.

The next day Peter Shone came over to help me asses the problem. While under the car he noticed that a bolt had fallen out of the rear calliper. This caused the calliper to move and jam between the disc and the wheel. It was the jammed wheel that had locked the car not the diff or the gearbox. I was finally starting to smile. The gearbox still had enough oil in it to lubricate and all the gears could be selected. The calliper the pads and the disc have to be replaced but that’s easier then replacing the gearbox.

How or why they both happened on the same lap is impossible to understand but it was the brake failue that saved the gearbox and a lot of pain for me.

On a positive note both Rob, Arie and Ian had a good day.
It was rewarding to see Arie on the track for his first time. He drove there put up good times and drive home,

Rob was his consistent as usual self, Ian had the new RA20 going well and Joel is coming to grips with the green beast.

Times for the day: Rob 1.36, Arie 1.39, Roger 1.35, Joel 1.27, Ian 1.32

- Roger Kerr


Properly screwed

After many missed sprints due to COVID, PRB 033 not ready, parts being updated and "whats the point when it's pouring rain?", I decided to enter the last Winton Raceway sprint meet which was held the weekend before Christmas. Winton do like to mix it up a little so the sprint meet was a Time Attack format which means a standing start and 3 flying laps. Brilliant sunny day with the ambient temps in the mid range so you could attack very early and still have grip at the end of your run. Sort of not too hard on the PRB but gets the heart rate up.
 
The first run was diabolical. The PRB had many changes over the COVID years so there was plenty to dial in. The changes.....new coils and shocks, new 2.2 steering rack, LSD diff reset and ramped up, new close ratio dogbox, newish A050 tyres which really had no real heat put to them so they were basically green. Same green for me as it’s been a while since I’ve put the uniform on.
 
After the first run the PBB felt way too loose, soft all round, and the new dogbox proved to be very different compared to a standard T50 gearbox. Front felt good but rear was way off. Added 2psi to all tyres, 4 clicks on the adjustable shocks for the rear, 2 clicks on the fronts. Out for the second session which proved to be much better.
 
This time the changes were 2 more clicks  all around and PRB felt way much better. Now for the third run.
 
For the third run there was a noticeable change in the idle speed as I waited in the dummy grid for our session to start. Not highly unusual as it has happened before and the PRB can be a little sensitive to hard running. Started the run quite well, really wanted to attack on this run as the temperature of ambient and track were beginning to rise. On the second lap I entered ‘The Cleavage’ and we drop a cylinder. Water temperature and oil pressure was stable, no disastrous sounds coming from the engine, fuel looked low but I don’t think there is much baffling in the tank, and PRB had the ability to get back to the pits under its own power.  
 
Dropped 10 litre of fuel in the tank and took the engine cover off to have an inspection. There was nothing noticeable or out of place so we fired it up. A inconsistent clack came from the front of the engine. Had a feel and a quick look but found nothing. Decided to remove plugs to discover number 1 as.....



Decided to turn it over without plugs and the inconsistent clack still there and my day was done. Early finish to the day which was disappointing as we were really progressing well. In the top ten outright all day and first in class, but that’s real easy when in effect you have the biggest cc’d clubman. Sometimes I wish it was normally aspirated just to make life interesting and drop back into the normal clubman class with the others.
 
Eventually with the heat of summer over and the need to do something we start the teardown. Interesting throttle body.....



I decided that there was something in the number 1 cylinder, so cleaned out with the vacuum cleaner and sucked out this.....



Looks like a perfect sphere of a 3mm ball bearing. I don’t believe its the throttle body screw. That is nowhere to be found. Maybe that should be the quiz for the day..What is it and where did it come from?
 
The engine required further investigations and the resultant damage of half a lap of Winton...

 
The head is currently in the workshop. 4 bent valves, surfacing work to the chamber, crack tests, pressure tests and everything to refresh. Haven’t started on the block as there has always been an underlying issue with this engine. It can be a steam engine at times, occasionally spits water out, doesn’t overheat, no water in oil or visa versa. It develops a little pressure which you can hear bubbling way. The block also has one of its gearbox mounting wings broken off so its a change of block at this stage.
 
Initial investigations of the bottom end reveals what I believe are CP pistons and most likely Carrillo rods. Bottom of the bore inside the block has milling which makes room for the Carrillo rod & bolt to rotate. The joys of working with the complexity of a turbo, bored and stroked engine......



The next challenge. The bottom end and what makes it work.

- Lyndon Millett

Photogenic flag fella
 
I recently mentioned our own Robert Williams graduating as a fully fledged flag marshall.

Motorsport Australia reckon he's a bit of handsome devil & shared this with us.




Free 4AGE parts

Give Rob Nethercote a shout.   0439 870 070




Leo Bates's cars for sale

I have been asked by Lorraine Bates to move Leo's cars on to new custodians. Leo has hung up his helmet and has retired from racing and hill climbs. 

Leo will be known to many as a prolific winner for many years taking out FTD, class records and outright records at most Victorian and interstate hill climbs. His self-built cars are under the name of Lobito (Spanish Wolf). All the cars are in very good condition and present very well. 
The cars range from F3 with log book, clubman with log book and club plates, V8 hill climb special with log book, a still to be finished project clubman type single seater, also a Series 3 Mazda RX7 on club plates. 

Any expressions of interest to be made to Ron Simmonds via  email mhs1@live.com.au  or 0427031737. 

- Simmo





Marque Sports Car Association history

Those of us who sprint with the MSCA all know Rod Vogt well.
Rod punts either an MG or Sprite, often alongside the clubbie competitors and is always ready for a friendly conversation or help.
Sit back with your favourite beverage and enjoy Rod's version of our club's first fifty years.  Thanks mate!

SHORT HISTORY OF MARQUE SPORTS CAR ASSOCIATION 1972 to 2022

INTRODUCTION

It is unusual that a group that is 50 years old does not have a formal record of its history and its activities. The Marque Sports Car Association was formed as a group of One-Marque sporting car clubs for competition reasons and no one individual or club has kept the full story. The history IS  there within the history of the member clubs and in the memories of many competitors who have been active.

This short history was compiled to celebrate our 50th Anniversary which was celebrated at a luncheon at Killara Park Winery in Seville in December 2022. A goal was  to contrast the early days of MSCA activities, and the progression through the years, with what our competitors enjoy today. It should provide memories for our older members, prompt new stories and surprise our current competitors as to how far we have come.

So far the main source of this information has come from the magazines of the Austin Healey Owners Club of Victoria plus some verbal anecdotes from Healey and Sprite Club members.  Now we must compile a full history of a unique organisation serving Club level motorsport before that history is lost. I hope all member clubs will contribute more information to add to our knowledge and provide a history that the Marque Sports Car association deserves.

FORMATION

Despite the bantering or love-hate relationship between the different British, European and Japanese sports cars, an idea was floated in 1971 to assess the benefits of running combined inter-club motoring events in Melbourne. Many of the MSCA foundation clubs were already inviting other clubs to their motrokhanas, autokhanas, navigation runs etc and “socialising” after the event was the norm. It would be reasonable to assume that the seeds were sown then after being discussed many times at such events in the late 1960’s. One certainly is that a meeting of interested club representatives WAS called at the home of Terry Wade, an active committee member of the Austin Healey Owners Club, at his home in Cotham Road, Kew in early 1971. AHOC President at the time, Jim Reddy, recalls a decision of the AHOC committee to stop discussing the idea and actually call a formal meeting to see if the idea had merit.

The response was greater than expected and representatives came from the following Melbourne based sports car clubs - Austin Healey Owners Club, Jaguar Car Club, Bolwell Car Club, Morgan Car Club, Datsun Sports Owners Association, Club Lotus, Sports Owners Club of Victoria, the MG Car Club, Austin Healey Sprite Drivers Club and Triumph Sports Owners Association.

As an outcome, the Marque Sports Car Association was formed in late 1971 and the first event was held in February 1972. The stated aim was generally accepted to be  the provision of competition events for members of the member clubs of a series of low cost competition events, speed events that may have been beyond any small individual club to run on their own, and that could struggle to meet the associated costs with venue hire.

Now all but forgotten, the Porsche Club elected not to join the MSCA. However several of their members tried to join TSOA so they could enter various MSCA events. They could not join because TSOA’s constitution stated at that time that members must own a Triumph so the Porsche owners drifted off to the Datsun Sports Owners Car Club.

Approaches were soon made from Fiat and Alfa Romeo Clubs and they were admitted as members. Alfa Romeo withdrew to concentrate on running their own events in 2012. The MG car Club also withdrew in the late 1970’s but were admitted again in about 2014. Clubmini joined in 2017 but left in 2022 due to lack of interest in competition by it’s members. The Ford Four Car Club also joined for a while in the late 1980’s. I have no record of when the Morgan Club left the MSCA.

The current Clubs forming the MSCA (2022) are Austin Healey Owners Club, Austin Healey Sprite Drivers Club, BMW Car Club Victoria, Bolwell Car Club of Australia, Fiat Car Club Victoria, Jaguar Car Club of Victoria, Lotus Car Club, MG Car Club Victoria, Nissan Datsun Sports Owners Club, Nissan Club Australia, Sports Car Owners Club of Victoria, Triumph Sports Owners Association and the Victorian Clubman Builders Group.

You may be surprised to hear that Competition was not the only topic of concern back in 1971.  The following details were printed in the Austin Healey Owners Club magazines. While acknowledging that the views expressed are of the AHOC, it would be reasonable to assume that these stated concerns would have been felt, to some extent, at all clubs.

April 1971 AHOC magazine saw the first Mention of MSCA in Presidents Report (Alex Reid)

“With the ever increasing publicity in the daily press, television and radio, road safety has become a major issue. This, coupled with air pollution caused by the motor car, could result in our daily transport being banned from further use.

As our club is basically in existence to assist with and help preserve a car that is, in the opinion of it’s owner, a Classic, how will this affect us? Will all the pressures being applied to motor cars in general to have roll bars, collapsible steering columns, anti pollution devices etc, it will be obvious that the true identity of the Austin Healey would be lost.

The only possible chance of retaining the true identity of our cars is to keep them in good condition and of good appearance so that we do not become conspicuous to some overzealous Government official who might decide to ban all “dangerous old sports cars”.

At present there are moves afoot by your committee to form an Association with some other Sports Car Clubs. The purpose of this is that if we represent a membership of 800-1000 sports car owners, we will have a better chance of negotiating on road safety, promoting events, and generally improving the relationship between the sports car owner and the general public.

This new Association will in no way affect the operation of the AHOC. We will still operate as in the past but will occasionally combine with other clubs to promote events and promote the sports car movement in general.

This new association, whose name will be announced shortly when it has been approved by CAMS, is for the future protection of all sports cars and sports car owners and will allow us to keep our own identity whilst having a large enough voice to be heard when and when necessary.”

July 1971 Magazine - second reference to formation of MSCA

“Progress reports of the formation of the Marque Sports Car Association have been given from time to time at the meetings but for those who have not heard much about the MSCA here are the details.

The MSCA has been formed following discussions between representatives of the Austin Healey Owners Club, the Triumph Sports Owners Association, Austin Healey Sprite Drivers Club, Morgan Owners Club, Jaguar Car Club, Bolwell Car Club, Sports Owners Club of Victoria, and the Datsun Sports Owners Club.

The purpose of the Association is to promote a series of events for the member clubs of the association. These events will constitute two meetings at Calder in March and September, one Hillclimb, two closed trials, one economy run and two Motorkhanas.

For our Club, the advantages of the MSCA are that we shall now be able to help run and also take part in  properly run events at Calder. The MSCA events will also provide a series of regular competition events where there will always be good competition and where our club members may compete and not necessarily have to be an official at the event.

This eases the load on the competition committee and the General Committee and means they will have to do more work for one or two events rather than a smaller amount of work for every event on the calendar. We hope that perhaps one of our members may well win the class and in doing so help promote the Austin Healey Owners Club.”

JUNE 1973 AHOC MAGAZINE - PRESIDENTS REPORT BY Iain McPherson.

The formation of the Marque Sports Car Association was initiated in 1971 by the AHOC with the basic aim of getting all sports car clubs together so that with a combined membership of around 1000 sports car owners, so that a united front could be presented to the general public. The idea behind this being that the general public, including politicians and government officials, have the preconceived idea that sports cars are dangerous and could demand that roll bars and other safety devices be made compulsory.

A secondary benefit was the possibility of running events that would be beyond the capabilities of the individual clubs in terms of entrants and cost of hiring venues such as Calder Park. This year there are a total of 8 MSCA events including Hillclimb, sprints, motorkhanas, trials and the ball at Luna Park. Each event is organised by a particular member club of the Association and the success depends entirely on the number of entrants and the support of the other member clubs.

The committee of the Association is made up of representatives of the member clubs, which gives each club a voice in the direction in which the Association goes. Terry Wade has been our representative the last 2 years but will not be seeking re-election in July. Our new representative will be Mike Kirby, so any ideas you may have on the future running of the MSCA may be presented to the committee through Mike. Remember the Association was formed for you and your Austin Healey.

I feel the MSCA is very important for the future of ALL sports cars, and hope all our members give more thought to why the Association was formed and we then see more support from them in the future.

A key factor that lead to the final  agreement to form the MSCA was that it got around a long standing CAMS regulation which had stipulated that a maximum number of 4 car clubs could compete at any individual club event. Limited invitations from the larger Jaguar and MG car clubs to join their Calder sprint meetings had lead to a growing interest in club level speed events and this now became possible for the smaller clubs under the umbrella of the MSCA.

It must be remembered that MSCA is not a car club, but an officially recognised organising body in the eyes of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport ( CAMS ) to promote and conduct motor sport at club level. An approach was made to Ron Parkes, a CAMS official and Austin Healey owner, and Ron worked very closely with the new MSCA management and gave a lot of guidance and support in those early years regarding the complex CAMS rules/regulations and high expectations on the MSCA in conducting different types of events.

At those first meetings, whilst approved helmets and a fire extinguisher were a strict requirement of each entry; they were normally exchanged freely between club members and this greatly assisted new members, until such time that they could afford their own individual safety equipment.

Terry Wade and Mike Kirby, both from AHOC, and soon joined by Tony Bennetto of the Sprite Club, were the leading lights of MSCA at this point in time, ensuring that all MSCA events were run strictly to CAMS requirements and rules, This quickly established MSCA’s reputation as a reliable and responsible organising body. Of course there are so many who have held leadership positions and many other volunteers that naming them all is a task for another forum.

Each MSCA member club was expected to be responsible for one event, as well as supply at least three or four members to assist in the safe running of every other event manning corners, working in the dummy grid etc. In addition to that, each member club had one delegate on the MSCA management committee, which met regularly to organise the proposed events at suitable venues, scattered around the state. The delegate also put forward their clubs view on any issue, impacting on MSCA activities. This committee structure remains current, but events are now organised and run by the Executive and nominated volunteers.

THE FIRST DECADE - 1970s

This was a time of change with  a variety of events offered and a move toward  the final MSCA MODEL based on Speed Events.

Many early events were a continuation of typical events that were being run by the individual Clubs BEFORE the formation of the Association.

Motorkhanas

The first MSCA event was in February 1972 - a grass Motorkhana at Casey Fields, Berwick and organised by Sporting Car Owners of Victoria.

For this inaugural (and historical) event, the weather was reported as being near perfect for sports cars and 110 keen competitors entered to test their driving skills.

While gremlins got into the timing equipment, four runs were still achieved and the event concluded with a social drink and a BBQ at the end of the day. By then the course had unfortunately turned in to a “Dust Bowl” which cars disappearing and then reappearing from the clouds of dust enveloping the course. Despite this it was declared an unqualified success, with members looking forward to the next event.

Subsequent Motorkhanas were held on bitumen car parks of large shopping centres at High Point Northland and Arndale from 1973 to 1977.  Another was held at High Point West in 1982.

The car parks became unavailable as shopping hours extended to weekends. Interest by members was waning and the individual clubs continued to run their own events instead.

There were final offerings by MSCA in 1995/96 at Mangalore Airport in conjunction with drag racing runs on the airstrip, and in 1996/97 at Calder Park, again in conjunction with drag racing sprints.

David Langmead - recalls   “1970s motorkhanas - SOCV Ford Sprites (usually Mk 1 Cortina 1500) had Anglia rear ends because BMC would snap axles with Cortina power, but handbrake mechanism didn’t work – so to satisfy scrutineers ( and Mr Plod) we used to put a strong spring on the hand brake cable which felt like it was a working handbrake. Useless for motorkhanas however!”

Trials

Also a continuation of events run by many of the member clubs, these were long and often rough and demanding events that soon lost favour. TSOA organised day time events in 1972 and 1973 and the Bolwell Club  were well known for their “Wombat Jaunt” night time events on mostly badly pot-holed gravel roads that were very tough on low slung sports cars. Breakdowns and damage and finishing after midnight was the norm. The last “Wombats Jaunt” was held in 1976 with mainly saloons entered.

From AHOC magazine reports -

May 14th  1971 MSCA Trial run by TSOA.

Started at Melbourne Zoo. 150 miles approx. 43 entrants at 9.30am on the Sunday

The roads were in the Gisbourne area. After first stage, some cars retired. Three more stages completed before lunch and roads were getting progressively worse. Six inch deep potholes were not uncommon but worst of all were miles of extremely rough and rocky gravel/stoney roads. The rally finished at Bacchus Marsh Racecourse and Jim McConville was a welcome sight with his Ute loaded with Carlton Draught.  At 5pm only 70% of the competitors had arrived.

May 26th 1973 MSCA “Wombat’s Jaunt” Trial run by Bolwell C.C. -

JIM McCONVILLE (Austin Healey 100/4) REPORTED

“Started at Eastland Shopping Centre. The first most noticeable point was the number of Datsun 240Z’s. There must have been a dozen of them. There was no Sprites, one or two TR's, one or two Jags, two Healeys and plenty of saloons.

I was off just after dark and the first section took us up near Glenburn and Mt. Slide. Other sections were near Yea, Molesworth and Highlands. I was so busy driving through mist and mud that I have no idea how many sections we traversed but they were numerous. Every here and there we would see one of our fellow competitors over the embankment or stalled near a ford.

Twice my clutch linkage system was bashed and I had to finish a section with a slipping clutch. The time required to fix it each time had to be made up so we had no rest period during transport sections.

The Bolwell Car Club  members must have been glad to be relegated to controls when they heard of the fatality rate of the vehicles. More than ten per cent of the competing vehicles suffered minor to serious damage. No more than half the vehicles completed the whole course and almost everyone had problems of one sort or another. We were by no means last home, yet we finished about 1.00 a.m. The trip back to Melbourne was dogged by thick fog, poor lights and weariness.”

Economy Runs

Run from 1972 to 1975 with the added twist of determining the results on a M.P.G per Ton calculation! Entrants had to provide a weigh bridge certificate OR a registration certificate to prove the weight of the vehicle.

Once again, a short lived MSCA event as speed events became the priority and individual Clubs continued to organise their own Economy Runs.

Concours de Elegance

Another new MSCA outing  was for clubs to showcase their sports cars at a MSCA Concours d’ elegance - at Bundoora Park in October 1974 , when the Jaguar Car Club was responsible for the polish and wax day and charged $ 1.00 per car which part went to the George Vowell Memorial Centre for the Blind . Each Club chose it’s own entry for each class. It was open to spectators from the general public, entry for 50 cents. Proceeds went to The Association FOR THE BLIND GEORGE VOWELL CENTRE APPEAL.

Another was held in 1976 at Kew Cottages called “MSCA VICTORIAN CONCOURS” and promoted as “Every Car Club in Victoria has been invited”.

The last two were at he Flemington racecourse in 1977 and at Caulfield in 1978, but again interest and member club support was not all that encouraging, when only a small number of cars from each club were allowed in each category .

TSOA/MSCA Luna Park Balls 1972 - 1976

MSCA were on a winner with unique MSCA / TSOA balls 1972- 73 - 74 -75-76 which were the biggest events ever conducted at Luna Park. They were a huge financial success, primarily because of TSOA’s Ian Relph being the chief organiser . It was also the ideal opportunity to present all of the MSCA ‘s top awards to the individual winners for that particular competitive year. Ian was spurred on by the success of organising prior TSOA Luna Park Balls in 1970 and 1971, this despite the fears of a financial flop always lingering.

SomehowIan Relph had boundless ideas/energy to ensure the success of the Luna Park concept , which was enjoyed and appreciated by all of the MSCA member clubs.

Planning an event of this size was a big venture for the Marque Sports Car Association as the financial outlay for a Ball of this size requires that at least 900 tickets be sold before expenses are met.  But backed by the support of ten Sports Car Clubs it was felt that such an event was within the means of the Association. However early ticket sales were a little frightening to say the least, and at one stage it looked as if a loss was most likely. But a rush on tickets over the last few weeks certainly changed the picture, and by the night of the Ball close to 1300 tickets had been sold which was close to a record for such an event.

The entire Luna Park venue was closed to the general public for the MSCA events

Dinner suits or Lounge Suits were the only acceptable form of dress. Casual or fancy dress will not be permitted.

There was always plenty of supper, and ( b.y.o.) beverages in all of the 13 or 14 MSCA club marquees , set up specially for these fabulous nights . The only problem with such a successful night was that few attendees were able or capable of rolling up to work a few hours later that morning?

The final Luna Park Ball was in 1976 on a TUESDAY NIGHT!

The 21st  November 1972 promotion was - “

Tickets $10 a double.  8pm to 1am. Formal dress. BYO. Free non stop rides on Big Dipper, The Whip, Scenic Railway, Giggle Palace, Dodgem cars, Penny Arcade, River Caves, Spinner, Sky Rider, The Rotor, Ghost Train, Merry go Round.

Steak salad supper. Free hot dogs, coffee and fairy floss,

Dance to Fank Trainor and the Preachers

ESTABLISHING THE MSCA BRAND - SPEED EVENTS

1972 UP TO THE “MODERN ERA circa 2008”

1 HILLCLIMBS

These were a core event until quite recently. They were traditional events for the foundation Clubs, particularly the older British Marques.

MORWELL HILLCLIMB  was the constant from the first MSCA hillclimb in November 1972.  In the 1970’s and 1980’s MSCA usually offered TWO Morwell events each year. By the time the original course closed in about 2006  interest was low amongst the new MSCA demographic. MSCA did run an event at the new hillclimb at Bryant Park in Gippsland in 2008 but entries were low and it was no longer financially viable to offer a hillclimb. In the mid 2000-teens MSCA promoted rounds for a few years by joining the MG Car Club at one of their Rob Roy events but not as a point scoring event.

LAKELAND HILLCLIMB

One of MSCA’s major undertakings occurred in 1976, with the “re-opening” of the Lakeland Hillclimb, in Old Gippsland Road, just off the Warburton Highway, only a few miles outside of Lilydale. After striking an agreement with Mrs Jim Abbott , the then owner of the rural property, MSCA working bees cleaned up the track , drains and cutting back the overhanging undergrowth off the access and return roads to made sure that the Lakeland property would be ready for at least one hillclimb per year that the committee had hoped for. As it turned out MSCA was to make frequent use of this venue in the years ahead, including some of the individual member clubs, such as AHOC.

Many recall it as a great track. The return road made it almost like a circuit. Many a competitor and club member would rememberthe sweeper, Pattersons corner , the Carousel and the final uphill run to the finish line. The track record for sports cars over 2000 cc was around 43 secs.

Open Hillclimb events were also held, many run by the MSCA but not part of the MSCA championship.  During 1978, the venue was put up for auction and there after in the years that followed, it was jokingly said that this was to be “ the last hillclimb at Lakeland”, ...Unfortunately it did close in 1985.

The first few MSCA Lakeland meetings were conducted over the entire weekend. Saturday was used for practice, with Sunday being competition day, but eventually the CAMS permit was accepted that it was for race day only due primarily to encroaching housing.The caring MSCA committee who did not want to lose the use of this popular club venue by upsetting the residents in any way. Saturdays then became known for working bees, to clean–up the site  and test the communication cables in readiness for Sunday’s competition.

Fortunately , the Lakeland hillclimb land was zoned for motor sport by the local Lilydale Shire, so MSCA decided at one stage during their occupancy, to canvass the idea of selling $ 50.00 shares to individual club members to secure the venue, but this scheme failed to attract much interest or, the required support so the proposal did not proceed.

2 SPRINTS

Sprints, or Super Sprints as we now call them, are held at Sandown, Winton, Phillip Island and The Bend for the first time in 2022 (and booked again for 2023) and are what the MSCA is known for these days. Going to Wakefield Park, Goulburn, was seriously considered around 2010 but the financial commitment was too daunting, being uncertain about competitor interest and our financial situation was only just starting to improve.

Current competitors will be surprised at the venues that have been used since 1972 and the way the running of these events have evolved.

Early Venues

CALDER -

DRAG RACING, SPRINTS ON SHORT CIRCUIT, LONG CIRCUIT, NIGHT TIME SPRINTS (1995)  and THUNDERDOME in  1989 and 1997!

Initially at Calder with the first MSCA Sprint meeting run in April 1972 by the Jaguar Car Club.

The MGCC ran the 1973 event. These two Clubs had run sprint events at Calder for some years as their own events, extending a limited number of entries to other clubs at times.

Calder remained a key venue for MSCA with two and sometimes three events annually. The circuit and surrounds were falling in to a sad state of disrepair by 2008. Track management was difficult to deal with. The final straw was the dangerous tarmac surface applied from main straight entry down the full length of the straight for the “Street Drags” - slippery like black ice with any light shower of rain. We had to run at reduced speed down pit lane if this occurred. Our last MSCA event at Calder was November 5th 2011. End of an era.

WINTON

First event on the original layout (now called the “Short Circuit”) was May 1976.

Winton Sprint was generally a weekend event with practice available on Saturday and the Sprint on Sunday. Saturday night added another dimension to Benalla as a venue, as members socialised after practise on Saturday afternoon, with an evening counter tea at one of the local Hotels. Our first event on the recently completed “Long Circuit” was on March 16th 1997.

The “Short Track” has been used a couple of times since as a retro type experience.

The MSCA also organised driver training days for a while ( years??) on the Saturday prior to a Sunday Sprint day. More experienced MSCA drivers would give pointers to novice competitors as opposed to complete novices as now happens at our Come and Try Days. This stopped in the early 2000’s (?) as the day was run at a financial loss and could not longer be afforded as interest was waning.

HUME WEIR

MSCA ran here In August 1979  (and again in 1982?) after Hume Weir was deregistered  for racing by CAMS.

Hume Weir Sprints proved popular with MSCA members and 93 competitors competed at the MSCA meeting conducted during August 1979. This smallish Albury circuit was closed circa 1978 to open competition, for safety reasons , but car clubs used it for the occasional sprint meeting until the mid 1980’s but by then the track was starting to break-up and vandals had taken a toll on the site’s remaining run down facilities .

PHILLIP ISLAND

First appears on the MSCA calendar for a sprint meeting on August 27th 1989. The iconic International circuit is very popular now as the number of newer cars competing with us grows. In the early days it was regarded by many of the older sports car drivers, making up the majority of the field, as too fast and stressful on their cars and lowish numbers sometimes resulted in a meeting being run at a financial loss. These days we have 120 to 160 entries per event.

SANDOWN

Probably our most often used circuit now. BUT it was first visited by MSCA only back in 1997 and again in 1998 as a non-point score event. This was because it was a 75db noise restricted day (as is still the case now) with local housing being an issue, cars had to be road registered and slicks were not allowed. These restrictions ruled out many of our regular competitors.

THE BEND, Tailem Bend. South Australia.

New for 2002. Booked again for 2023. Will this become a regular event?

3 UNUSUAL EVENTS/VENUES

DECA at Shepparton (timed laps on training venue)

STANDING QUARTER MILE DRAGS (called”Sprints”!)

Calder

Mangalore Airport

Heathcote ( verbal memory tbc)

SPEEDWAY VENUES

Granite Park Speedway, Seymour.. A kidney shaped dirt track. Very rough. Sprites prone to breaking axles

Recollections by several people of speedway event at or near Alexandra.  David Langmead recalls - “Alexandra Speedway in early 80’s. My recollection is that is was dirt, rough and there were large gum trees close to the track! Sprite wasn’t suited but what the heck!”

CALDER THUNDERDOME as part of Calder Sprint

4 EVOLUTION OF “SPRINTS”

CALDER SPRINT in April 1972 - two runs down the standing quarter mile drag strip plus two timed standing 3/4 laps, single car on the track.

Sprints slowly evolved

A standing lap plus a flying lap, single car.

A standing lap plus a flying lap with 2 cars together

Multi Start Sprints started in 1981.

Multiple pairs flagged off at safe intervals - strict instructions not to catch and/or pass the  pairs in front. This was hard to control and resulted in drivers being “dressed down” as individuals or the whole field. In earlier days CAMS insisted that a “Sprint” involved NO PASSING - otherwise it was effectively RACING and this was not allowed with a General CAMS licence.

Slowly the run groups grew in size and passing on the straights was acceptable, but not in corners. Generally timing was for 2 flying laps.

As recent as 1998 there was some excitement as increased track density at Phillip Island was flagged - groups of 12 cars and a possible total field of 96 cars being 8 groups.

Manual timing with stop watches and manual recording of times was a real restriction on run group sizes. The Control tower was crowded with volunteers, one timing per car and a scribe per several cars manually writing down times being called out.  This improved a little in the late 1980’s when a member developed a system where times could be recorded on a computer - manual timing of each car with the  keyboard struck as spotter/timer called out the car number on passing the line. Timing evolved from using MSCA volunteers to using the Melbourne University Timing Crew. The advent of Dorian electronic timing and immediate electronic lap time data has transformed our sprints.

5 CAMS CLUB RACES RUN BY MSCA

MSCA ‘s record and standing in “ grass roots” motor sport enabled the Marque Sports Car Association in Victoria to conduct events for CAMS. An example of this is the CAMS Club Race meetings such as the State Racing Series initially conducted at Calder and Winton and later at Sandown and Phillip Island.

Members who volunteered as trackside and dummy grid marshalls were always extremely well looked after for lunches , and those lunches have became part of MSCA folklore.

July 18th CAMS Club Races promoted by MSCA - first time

Bob Gardiner, MSCA Chairman, wrote to all MSCA member Clubs -

“For a number of years now the Marque Sports Car association’s provided you, the average club member, with regular opportunities to compete in a variety of Speed Events which, on a cost basis, are normally out of the reach of individual Clubs. Without an organisation such as the MSCA this type of event would be denied to most.

While some Club Members are content to continue at the level provided by our events, others have developed talents and cars such that they now look to open motor racing for their Sunday entertainment. On an organisational side, experience gained by our officials has given us the knowledge required to promote a full race meeting with it’s far more demanding requirements .

Recognising this, CAMS have granted the MSCA the opportunity to wholly organise the CAMS Club races on Sunday 18th July, 1976 - the ideal stepping off point from one car at a time speed events to open racing if you are so inclined.”

June 21st 1981   MSCA Club Races at Calder - IN MEMORY OF BOB GARDINER

Each year the MSCA run one of the CAMS Club race events at Calder and this one is an important one as it will be run in memory of our past MSCA Competition secretary, Bob Gardiner.

In 1973, the Alfa Romeo Club joined MSCA. As a result, a very enthusiastic and willing Alfa club worker in Bob Gardiner became very interested in MSCA, not only as a regular competitor in his Alfa but in the organisational side of calendar events. Bob became well known in club circles as one of the tireless MSCA officials and his wife Lorraine provided assistance to a busy Bob. Bob Gardiner occupied various MSCA committee positions, including the senior role of chairman, before his untimely death competing in open racing at Sandown in 1981. As a true mark of respect, MSCA and CAMS conducted the first of the Bob Gardner Memorial Meetings on Sunday , 21 June 1981 with 24 individual races run and many MSCA members worked trackside .

CURRENT 2022

I have created an arbitrary “Modern Era” starting around  2008. The Committee at this time faced a difficult and precarious time after a heavy financial loss from a poorly attended Winton 6 Hour Relay. MSCA had given naming rights and financial support to the long running 6 Hour for some years. (It was a race event going back to  the Relays of the 1970’s run by Austin 7 Club and then TSOA, not becoming the current Regularity Relay until after this disaster when it was taken over by the Alfa Romeo Club.)

Many of our current day activities evolved by necessity and through technical opportunity and even through the Covid 19 pandemic. The changes along the way have been vast, but this is what you would expect over a 50 year period.

In 2022 you can expect four 12 to 15 minute sessions in run groups of 20 for Winton and Sandown and 26 for Phillip Island and The Bend. Permission from Motor Sports Australia has been granted on occasions to increase these densities.

In 2022 we have clear instructions via our online ZOOM Drivers Briefings - In particular,

“Respect yourself and others. Passing is allowed in corners but it is the responsibility of the passing driver to pass safely. The driver being passed must watch the mirrors and hold the line. Do not block a faster car. Indicate the passing side if possible. Diving under brakes at the end of the straight is not allowed.”

In 2008 a Regularity Class was introduced. Unique at Club level sprints, owners of older marque cars and newcomers to motorsport are more comfortable in this less frenetic group, although many have progressed to the Sprint groups since.

Hiring Dorian Timing equipment in 2008 was a game changer. No more Melbourne University timing team who were sometimes unavailable because they were doing a major meeting elsewhere. This allowed the running of maximum CAMS capacity run groups, increased our total field and additional entry fees improved our financial position. Drivers could access their times  to four decimal points via the Natsoft Race Results website and MSCA results were more  accurate for our Class Championships.

MSCA has since purchased it’s own set of Dorian Timers.

Instead of struggling for volunteer Flag Marshalls (sometimes drivers were asked to give up track time to do duty)  MSCA recruited and trained a team of uni students which we paid – worked OK but sometimes unreliable (on a Sunday after Saturday night activities!)  so we paid the Phillip Island Flag Marshalling Team and a local group at Winton. The MSCA now organises it’s  own M.A. qualified MSCA Flag Team.

Professional recovery was organised to replace volunteers - a tilt tray truck and “Fire and Rescue” vehicle which has vastly reduced lost time in the case of a breakdown or incident.

For many years the recovery vehicle was the TSOA Shaw brothers trailer – at Calder one day a sports sedan had a wheel fall off and we had about 12 drivers/crew lift it up to get it onto the trailer with much time lost.

MSCA has purchased it’s own communication gear.

MSCA now owns  it’s own Course Car which controls rolling starts etc.

All these things have incurred a cost but given us CONTROL of our events.

A significant initiative by Petrina and Bruce Astbury and immediately supported by then MSCA Competition Secretary Mark Rae, is the MSCA annual COME AND TRY DAY, quickly supported by a large number of MSCA officials. This has encouraged many novices to experience club motorsport with theory, instructor training and solo experience.

There is continuity in our administration. Check-in procedure is handled by an experienced crew of regular volunteers,  Motor Sport Australia Online Entry has reduced workload enormously for our Competition Secretary. Once it was all by paper entry and Australia Post. Early competitors can remember arriving at an event and putting themselves down in a Run Group of their choice. Run Groups are now organised by similarity in performance and car size, via lap times stored on the CAMS site, backed up by a newly developing MSCA computer program.

(Our pair of Dummy Grid Marshalls have clocked up more than 100 events each by 2022.)

Dorian timing in conjunction with Natsoft Race Timing results has enabled MSCA to start gridding run groups in a fastest to slowest order, improving safety and giving drivers a better chance of recording best lap times.

MSCA has a website, Facebook page and contacts competitors via email.

The COVID 19 pandemic presented enormous challenges but also opportunities for efficiencies which lead to a better experience for our competitors. Changes are the power point presentation via ZOOM of drivers briefing which gives a consistent message.  A short meeting of competitors prior to the first run gives a reminder of key points and a description of current track conditions.

Self Scrutineering is probably here to stay. It is backed up by random  physical checks on cars on the day.

These are substantial improvements for competitor enjoyment and value for money in a professional and safe environment. But as we head in to 2023 you can rest assured that the Executive and full Committees continue to strive for new ideas and improvements.

FOOTNOTE

ROUND ONE 2023 at Phillip Island on January 22nd.

An amazing effort by Key Officials and all other volunteers and the capacity entry of 163 competitors to run possibly our best event to date. Efficient check-in planning resulted in all 163 processed in time for the 8.40 am short Clerk of Course address to drivers and the scheduled 9am start. We had a record number of first-time entrants directly from the December 2022 Come and Try Day. Driving standards were up to the excellence required by the MSCA organisers and competitors enjoyed their full complement of four 12 - 15 minute runs with little “down time” during the day. After his attendance for the first time at an MSCA event our Motor Sport Australia appointed Gold Steward (for privacy reasons I will not include his name) emailed the following -

Hi Bruce, Petrina & Andrew,

 Just wanted to say to you all that the pre-event communication, information, briefing and other activities for Sundays Super Sprint is the best I have experienced at Club Level in a very long time and is up there with the best National Events that I have done, and far superior to many of them, and was also superior to most State Level events..

 As to the conduct of the event it was absolutely excellent in Race Control, Marshalling, Scrutineering and elsewhere.

 You are to be congratulated on the organisation and conduct of the Super Sprint.

 I would be very happy to be a Steward at any event your organise, and am available if you need a Steward.

Over fifty years many officials and Committees have taken the Marque Sports Car Association to this point, facing difficult situations and continually improving the experience for competitors in our member clubs and the many other drivers who now choose us as an organiser of choice.  They are too many to list in this brief summary but the MSCA is alive and in great health due to these many, many people.

- Rod Vogt, Austin Healey Owners Club of Victoria, Feb 2023
 

Upcoming Events

• Drive Events - 10th May - Phillip Island
• AROCA Supersprint - 13th May - Sandown Brett Bereau 0409 999 951 compsec@alfaclubvic.org.au
• Pre World War II Motoring Weekend - 19th to 21st May - Bendigo https://veterancarclub.org.au/?page_id=6771
• Cavalcade of Transport - 21st May - Trentham http://www.aomc.asn.au
• Trackschool - 23rd May - Winton
• Tampered Motorsport Track Day - 3rd June - Sandown entries here
• Drive Events - 2nd / 16th / 30th June - Calder Park
   
• FFCC Driver Training day at Sandown - Saturday 11th June (Long Weekend) - contact Paul Lechner if interested
• 6 Hour Relay Philip Island - 29th/30th July - Last year we ran a team of 6 cars; should we do the same or run 2 teams of 4 cars? If you are interested in running please contact Les Bone

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