Winton Confirms it’s involvement in the 2006 VMRC

[Matthew Ronke]

Media Release

7 December 2005

Winton Confirms it’s involvement in the
2006 Victorian Motor Racing Championship

Misleading statements have been circulating in reference to the status of Winton Motor Raceway’s involvement with the Victorian State Race Series and its Victorian Motor Racing Championship. Winton Motor Raceway reaffirms its commitment to the 2006 Victorian Motor Racing championship of which 3 rounds will be held at its venue in 2006.

Winton Motor Raceway Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Ronke stated “We have been approached by the Victorian State Race Series to conduct rounds in 2006 by a member of their committee but have not had any meaningful discussion.”

“We have a commitment to Calder Park to continue with the Victorian Motor Racing Championship and we intend to honour this.” Said Ronke

The 2006 Championship is being conducted under the auspices of the Australian Auto-Sport Alliance (AASA). The Australian Auto-Sport Alliance in its third year continues to grow at a rapid pace to fulfil a void previously held in the motorsport industry.

“We have indicated to the Victorian State Race Series, that we are open to discussions to assist them with the concerns they have with their series, through the use of the AASA. This offer remains open and on the table if they wish to pursue it.” Said Ronke

The 2006 Victorian Motor Racing Championship is set to be bigger and brighter than ever before as the series enters its third year. The Victorian Motor Racing Series was created by Calder Park and Winton Motor Raceway to add State based circuit racing to their venues. With the inaugural series taking place in 2004 it was a year of development and identifying the needs of motor racing competitors. In 2005 the series has seen rapid growth doubling its entry number by years end.

2006 will see some new categories added to the list including the Victorian Championship for Group A Sports Cars and Group B Clubmans. This will tie in with current championship such as the ever-popular HQ’s, 2 Litre Sports Sedans, BMW E30, Porsche 944, and Improved Production, Saloon Cars and Sports Sedans as well as Open Wheeled cars.

The 2006 season will be conducted over 6 rounds with 3 rounds at Calder Park and 3 rounds at Winton Raceway. These two circuits both recently announced that their involvement in motorsport will be extended long term and have planning and government support to do so. Therefore the series will adopt the slogan “Victorian Motor Racing Championship, The Future of Victorian Motorsport.” The series will build on this support and will soon release Expressions of Interest of people wishing to become involved in the series in the coming days.

The series dates for the 2006 Victorian Motor Racing Series are;

Round 1 Calder Park Raceway February 26th & 27th
Round 2 Winton Motor Raceway April 8th & 9th
Round 3 Calder Park Raceway June 17th & 18th
Round 4 Winton Motor Raceway July 29th & 30th
Round 5 Calder Park Raceway September 16th & 17th
Round 6 Winton Motor Raceway November 11th & 12th

The 2005 Series Champions are;

HQ Holdens Mario Gaffiero
BMW E30’s Neil Anderson
Saloon Cars Geoff Brown
2 Litre Sports Sedans Anthony Koch
Sports Sedans Brian Edhouse
Formula Ford John Connelly
Formula Vee Steven Murray
Improved Production Daniel Vereker
Porsches Ken Knight
AUSCAR Eddie Woods

[PVDA]

Originally Posted by Matthew Ronke

Winton Motor Raceway Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Ronke stated “We have been approached by the Victorian State Race Series to conduct rounds in 2006 by a member of their committee but have not had any meaningful discussion.”

That's got to be one of the most positive paragraphs seen during this whole VSCRS vs VMRC debacle.

At least someone is talking about returning to Winton which is all the competitors, remember them, want. Now if we can get Calder into the series again they can get rid of the Mallala round and it can return to being a true Victorian Series

[silver 2]

Why have there not been " meaningfull" discussions with the SRS. What misleading statements?

[storyline]

The blunt answer is because of stubborness in some people connected with the series.

[Kerri]

Originally Posted by PVDA

Now if we can get Calder into the series again they can get rid of the Mallala round and it can return to being a true Victorian Series

????? I'm confused, doesn't it say Calder for 2006?

[storyline]

He's talking about the Victorian State Series not the VMRC (which the press release is all about). Because VSRS (or whatever they call themselves) have aligned themselves so rigidly with CAMS, and CAMS won't issue Calder with a CAMS track licence, they won't include Calder in their series (and similarly because a few don't get on with Mick they won't include Winton).

So you have a CAMS backed Victorian championship that runs at 50% of the available Victorian circuits and a South Australian circuit (nothing against SA from me btw).

The solution - get rid of the people who have personal vendetta's that cloud their judgement, put in some people to run the CAMS aligned championship who have real business acumen and you would probaly see things get back to normal.

BTW - doesn't it strike anyone (especially those that so doggedly support CAMS) as odd that they won't issue Calder with a CAMS track licence, yet CAMS endorse OLT's to be conducted there whilst many, many, many CAMS licence holders use the track for testing? Or is this being a cynical view of things?

[Guest]

OLT's call me stupid but what are they?

[Kerri]

Thanks for that Storyline, didn't read the topic descritiption
I was hoping that there was a round still at Mallala next year so our State Series can have 5 rounds. But at this point I haven't seen it on the SA CAMS Calendar.

Observed License Test (I think)

[storyline]

OLT - correct - at most race meetings they are held on the Friday immediately before a race meeting to allow those hoping to upgrade their licence a chance to take part in the rce meeting.

As to what happens if they are entered for the race meeting conditional on their OLT being favourable and they fail to pass their OLT - do all circuits fully refund their entry fee?

[Guest]

How does that work out? How can CAMS hold their licence tests at a circuit they refuse to issue a licence too?? Good work to Calder, I would say it would seem that Calder have CAMS over a barrel.

[silver 2]

OLT rarely held in Victoria prior to race meeting (CAMS sanctioned) due to commercial arrangements with John Bowe Institute contractual obligations to do OLT's. Other States you are able to do for example - on the Friday open practice day and then race on that weekend, presuming you pass. It means there is not as many opportunities in Victoria to get licence and it effectively cost more.

[Matthew Ronke]

Kerri the Mallala round is not happening next year. Next years Calender looks like this

VSCRS

Sandown April 22-23
Phillip Island June 10-11
Sandown 22-23 July
& possibly cup day at Sandown

VMRC

Round 1 Calder Park Raceway February 26th & 27th
Round 2 Winton Motor Raceway April 8th & 9th
Round 3 Calder Park Raceway June 17th & 18th
Round 4 Winton Motor Raceway July 29th & 30th
Round 5 Calder Park Raceway September 16th & 17th
Round 6 Winton Motor Raceway November 11th & 12th

[PVDA]

Originally Posted by storyline

BTW - doesn't it strike anyone (especially those that so doggedly support CAMS) as odd that they won't issue Calder with a CAMS track licence, yet CAMS endorse OLT's to be conducted there whilst many, many, many CAMS licence holders use the track for testing? Or is this being a cynical view of things?

Yes, you can go to Calder for your OLT to get your CAMS Licence with John Bowe and the day is run under AASA Insurance

Amazing how people still throw insurance up as an issue in the AASA vs CAMS debate but CAMS licences are issued at an event under AASA Insurance in Victoria

Has anyone seen a copy of the FULL CAMS Policy yet

[Matt H]

only 4 rounds of the vscrs ??? they lost 2 rounds???

pvda, its funny that in regards to licensing.... :P too much politics for mine, thats why i hardly official anymore...

[storyline]

Matthew - did VSRS stuff up the date of their first round? Don;t they usually hold out allocating dates until everyone else has announced their so they can schedule the VSRS rounds a week before any other meeting?

[Matt H]

storyline, sounds about right actually, from what ive seen in the past, the dates as a whole get released late dont they ?

also, dont they release island magic dates around the same time as vsrs dates too ??

[storyline]

The VSRS and Island Magic are all PIARC dominated aren't they - so that would be about right.

[Kerri]

Originally Posted by Matthew Ronke

Kerri the Mallala round is not happening next year. Next years Calender looks like this

VSCRS

Sandown April 22-23
Phillip Island June 10-11
Sandown 22-23 July
& possibly cup day at Sandown

VMRC

Round 1 Calder Park Raceway February 26th & 27th
Round 2 Winton Motor Raceway April 8th & 9th
Round 3 Calder Park Raceway June 17th & 18th
Round 4 Winton Motor Raceway July 29th & 30th
Round 5 Calder Park Raceway September 16th & 17th
Round 6 Winton Motor Raceway November 11th & 12th

Thanks for clearing that up Matthew.
Means I still have the problem of finding another meeting in Adelaide for our series.

[silver 2]

Storytime & Mathew Ronke-- you do yourseves a great disservice in publishing an incomplete draft of dates for the SRS that is not accurate-- either ignorance ,stupidity or malicious intent to mislead , you would know that 4 dates are actually set-- Cup day is not on the agenda for next year( it has been programmed the last 2 years) . Since when do you Publish the SRS dates with any authotity -- let alone accuracy. 2 rounds are yet to be finalized-with no plans to go backto Mallala or Cup Day. It is normal to be in the air at this time depending on other events, so that is not unusual, even if it is not desirable.
It is about time you got off the PIARC bashing rubbish- the SRS is not dominated or contolled by PIARC- for those that do not know-- SRS is amalgated group of 5 clubs that pool resources and organizing to create the Victorian State Race Series Inc. Their previous name the VMRC was pinched when that group of clubs allowed the name to lapse and those that think themselves clever jumped in and registered the name. The net result is the VMRC is the mickey mouse club illusion(delusion) with 40-60 showing up (more rubbish bins than spectators) and the State Race Series continues with 100's (250?) per round and has real racing with classes ( not a whole lot of leftovers with no where else to go) . The SRS looks like a race meeting,sounds like a race meeting and is a race meeting .By way of comparison a glorified practice day -Is the VMRS any more?
It is about time the motorsport world got the point -- it is Wintons choice to stand outside of the SRS- all that has to be done is a written agreement with a Winton entity that will (or is capable) of honoring the agreement made. Competitors want to race at Winton-- it is Wintons choice to pursue the AASA line for some oblique aims of there own. Instead of blaming everybody else for the problem you pick up the phone and say-- we are prepared to compromise to get a SRS round. Have in independent set the ground rules. Stop the rubbish and help everyone to help you.

[storyline]

silver 2 - you must be seeing something no one else has - maybe you can show me (and others) where I published/used any dates for the VSRS? Matthews posts are the only ones so far to include dates as far as I can see.

And yes - you are correct, the group is made up of an amalgamation of 5 clubs - but you cannot deny that Geoff Bull (PIARC is one of the most vocal amongst its 'members' against even attempting to work with Winton (and just to set the record straight, Michael Holloway should also be included).

However - that aside - and I'm not going to join you in your own bashing of motor sport - I said before, and will stand by my comment that a few of the organisers of the VSRS (and VMRC) need to be totally and completely removed from the scene - then, just maybe, everyone can get back together and organise race meetings for the people that they are supposed to be run for - the competitors, not the ego's of a few that currently organise them. As to numbers attending the race meeting - believe it or not, more does not always equal better - more can just as likely equal less (time on track). Not everyone chases the almighty dollar or higher number.

Finally - the name VMRC, whilst it may have been used by the VSRS, was never protected - something they should have done but didn't. Anyway - like it or not, that is now all water under the bridge and about time people forgot about the past and tried to work towards the future.

[Uncle Cranker]

Originally Posted by silver 2

It is about time the motorsport world got the point -- it is Wintons choice to stand outside of the SRS- all that has to be done is a written agreement with a Winton entity that will (or is capable) of honoring the agreement made. Competitors want to race at Winton-- it is Wintons choice to pursue the AASA line for some oblique aims of there own. Instead of blaming everybody else for the problem you pick up the phone and say-- we are prepared to compromise to get a SRS round. Have in independent set the ground rules. Stop the rubbish and help everyone to help you.

Big Trev, come quick, somebody other than me said a nasty thing about Winton,


Trev ?

Trev ?

[Guest]

This CAMS vs AASA and VMRC vs VSRS is all ****ing bull****!

silver 2 get your head out of the sand and start looking at the big picture. Why does it concern you if there is another series, you have just made yourself and the VSRS look like fools and that you are in some kind of trouble maybe threatened by the other series?? And who said anything about PIARC?

Lets get on with Motor Racing not Politics!!!

[storyline]

Guest - actually I did (say something about PIARC).

You are correct though - get rid of the poitics and get the sport back into motor sport.

[Guest]

Just like Mathew Ronke I dont have authority from VSRS or VMRC or CAMS or AASA or PIARC to post the last thread, just wanted to make that clear.

[Guest]

Sorry storyline, I stand corrected!