Nothing is sacred for AVESCO and CAMS anymore

[RaceTime]

To all HISTORIC WINTON Competitors, Officials, Supporters & Fans of Historic Motor Sport,

A couple of days ago the V8 Calendar was released showing a V8 round on the last full weekend in May, at Winton. Most of you will realize that the Austin 7 Club has run HISTORIC WINTON on that date for the past 26 years.

As a result of Winton Raceway accepting that date, we will have to change our date to, probably, the following weekend, ie the 31st May & 1st June. Nevertheless we are still working on it and might I suggest everyone keeps their bookings for the last 'full' weekend, but book for the following weekend, just in case.
We are not in the slightest bit happy with this situation and we are very proud of our achievement in running this event for so long on the same date. Gladly many others see it the same way. Unfortunately, it seems we can do absolutely nothing about it. We have appealed to Winton Raceway, CAMS and AVESCO. The circuit must fit in with the AVESCO calendar, AVESCO have settled their calendar and will not review it, & CAMS will not get involved.

We can understand the dilemma for the circuit as a V8 round is obviously essential for their well being. It is very disappointing that AVESCO do not have to consider any other race meeting, but it is reprehensible that CAMS can wash their hands of the whole thing. We expected 100% support from CAMS, mostly in consideration of our long & successful history and the status we have achieved, and partly because we have an assurance from CAMS, dated August 6, that "Traditional Historic events have priority when it comes to dates and the time line" (??). No interest had ever been shown before for that date at Winton, CAMS know that, but will not even appeal to AVESCO on our behalf.

As a matter of interest, the Austin 7 Club, more so than any other club can claim a long history of association with not only CAMS but Winton Raceway as well. Founding members of CAMS, Maurie Monk, Don Thomson, John Pryce & Graham Hoinville were all members of the Austin 7 Club. As well as HISTORIC WINTON the Austin 7 Club also ran the 6 Hour Relay at Winton from 1967 to 1973 after moving that event from Fishermans Bend & then Calder where we ran it from 1962.

The Austin 7 Club's achievements, have all been done in what most would regard as the true spirit of motor 'sport'. We have always set out to run the best possible events we can, including the Arthurs Seat Hillclimb, just because we can. Not for the money, glory or any reason other than to enjoy motor sport. As an aside; just the other day someone remarked to us, in regard to Historic Winton, 'It's not what you do, it's how you do it'.
At this stage we are not all that confident of getting anyone to change their minds, but hope springs eternal (even if loyalty, integrity and ethics are put on the back burner!), so keep an eye on our website www.historicwinton.org or www.austin7club.org

We'll be in touch.
Grant Campbell
Event Director "HISTORIC WINTON"

[Flaggie]

What a disgrace.... 26 years of tradition pi**ed up the wall by Avesco and their cronies.

[RaceTime]

- I think we agree on something today

[flaggie1]

Definately a disgrace Avesco scheduling a date a winton in the middle of winter as well as taking a traditional race from Vic to Qld and screwing it up. Thank god for people like RossP.

[Flaggie]

We do Racey??? Geez hang on while I find something to disagree with you about.....

[RaceTime]

Don't wait too long - otherwise we'll spoil the atmosphere in here !

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by flaggie1
Definately a disgrace Avesco scheduling a date a winton in the middle of winter as well as taking a traditional race from Vic to Qld and screwing it up.

Have to agree, absolutely pathetic, do AVESCO have no class at all??
Makes you wonder just how far they will be allowed to rape and pillage...

[racer69]

Shows that they really don't care about the lower profile forms or motorsport or the future of the sport

I wouldn't thought AVESCO would have known about the Winton Historic or cared, so where is the great protector of Australian Motor Sport, namely CAMS in all this?

[Flaggie]

And while we're at it, pretty gutless of Winton to knuckle under to Avesco and allow it to happen. The almighty dollar strikes again....

[RaceTime]

Never thought I'd stick up for Winton - but knowing the way AVESCO run themselves, I don;t think Winton would have been given much of a choice..

Having said that - IMHO this shows the absolute stupidity of AVESCO in putting the Winton event in late May. Whilst it may be fine, the probability is in favour of cold and even wet weather.

It shows, again IMHO, that these dates are NOT made with potential weather in mind for the public - if anything it appears they are trying to force an issue with bad weather so it can be used against the track if things start going sour.

[RaceTime]

While on this subject - just looking at the dates for the Konica series - and this seems to back up my previous comment:

Ph Island - July 5-6
Winton Aug 2-3 (From memory the ONLY race meetings ever cancelled because of wet weather have been in August)

But like it or not - the Konica series is almost exclusively now a winter series - 4 races from May to Aug, Bathurst (Spring), Wakefield Feb (Summer) and Adelaide (Autumn)

[Crash Test]

I remember a couple of seasons ago when most of the Konica series was finished best the bulk of the Shell Series, and I think that worked well. On the other hand, getting it on some big programs earlier in the year might get people pumped up and make them go to later rounds. How come PI still gets a Konica round when it continually draws pathetic crowds??

[RaceTime]

Not just Ph Island is it?

And not to make too fine a point of it, but most likely $$$$ - has to be some in it for someone...

[Amaroo Park]

What the hell is Colin Osbourne and his friends at CAMS doing these days, cause they are certianly not running or administering motorsport.

The only way the rot will stop is if members of car clubs and CAMS licence holders start to make a pest of themselves at every oportunity at things like State Council Meetings etc......... Only by demanding answers and making these people accountable may we be able to wrestle control of the sport away from SEL and Cochrane and get a fairer system for ALL Motorsport competitors, Officals and fans

To use an old well warn saying

IT"S TIME

[RaceTime]

OK update on Wakefield Park.

I was wrong - turns out it IS now being run under a CAMS permit - but the feedback from some drivers is that they were 'approached' by CAMS and advised what might happen to them if they run at a non-CAMS sanctioned event!

I personally don;t give a fig what people do to themselves, but this is straight outright bloody bull****!

CAMS - what the hell are they doing now by BLACKMAILING competitors?

$17,000 for a TWO DAY PERMIT FEE!

How the hell can they justify that?

[Amaroo Park]

Originally posted by RaceTime
OK update on Wakefield Park.

I was wrong - turns out it IS now being run under a CAMS permit - but the feedback from some drivers is that they were 'approached' by CAMS and advised what might happen to them if they run at a non-CAMS sanctioned event!

I personally don;t give a fig what people do to themselves, but this is straight outright bloody bull****!

CAMS - what the hell are they doing now by BLACKMAILING competitors?

$17,000 for a TWO DAY PERMIT FEE!

How the hell can they justify that?

Bob Jane has taken CAMS to the supreme court because of things like this in the past and look what happened there. CAMS LOST because what they where and are doing was amounting to Restricive Trade

IT'S TIME

[RaceTime]

Yes but Bob had this sort of thing in writing - this time there ISN'T anything in writing - just verbal threats errr I mean comments...

[Amaroo Park]

Originally posted by RaceTime
Yes but Bob had this sort of thing in writing - this time there ISN'T anything in writing - just verbal threats errr I mean comments...

Seriously nothing stopping someone asking for it to be in writing though is there.

Race are these threats coming from the NSW State office????

[RaceTime]

Not 100% sure - I believe they could be coming from National as well - three names in particular were mentioned to me (for obvious reasons not going to state them here) - one of which I recognised as being 'close to the top' i National office.

But no - it isn't easy getting these cowards to put this sort of thing in writing - ask those that were caught in the figth between Bob and CAMS - Bob played it very fair - he had his cards laid on the table - everyone knew what he was doing and what he was after. The ones with little or no intestinal fortitude worked for (and still do it seems) CAMS.

[275 GTB-4]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RaceTime
[B]OK update on Wakefield Park.

I was wrong - turns out it IS now being run under a CAMS permit - but the feedback from some drivers is that they were 'approached' by CAMS and advised what might happen to them if they run at a non-CAMS sanctioned event!

I thought Wakefield were running a mixture of NSW Sport and Rec sanctioned/CAMS/whatever sanction was appropriate for the particular meet? (BTW no criticism or offence meant here)

[RaceTime]

When I spoke to Garry on Thursday he said the meeting was now under a full CAMS permit - the regs which I received last night, state in large, bolded and underlined words: THIS EVENT WILL BE A CAMS PERMITTED EVENT. Permit number is 802/2909/02.

Given this meeting, and the charges CAMS are making car clubs pay for ordinary sprint meetings now ($3,500 per event - so read per DAY!) - CAMS can go, IMHO, shove it where the sun don't shine as they have proven they are simply money grabbing idiots.