Needless to say that the Triumph Supersprint was well supported by our members!
Thanks Mike!
We are very pleased to announce that Mike Basquil, CLA Motorsport Competition Secretary, CAMS Delegate and all-round good man, has been awarded the CAMS NSW Official of the Year award, as well as a CAMS Service Award for his contributions to the motorsport community.
The awards were announced at a function held by CAMS on Saturday evening, the 22nd of November, 2014, at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia in Sydney’s Circular Quay.
They recognise a sustained long-term dedication to the motorsport community and contributions which go above and beyond the call of duty.
Two independent nominations were submitted recommending Mike for the award, sponsored by Keith Edwards, Rex H, Barry Mather, Stephen Perry, Syd Reinhardt, Brian Sutton and Adrian Wuillemin.
“We originally put the nominations together for Mike because we are so conscious of the huge amount of effort and time he puts into the set up and running of so many events. It’s easy for this work to go unrecognised by many of those involved and we wanted to make sure that this was not the case!”
“I am absolutely thrilled that CAMS saw fit to award not only the Service Award, but also the CAMS Official of the Year, fully recognising the input Mike has to our favourite pastime! Thank you so much Mike!” – CLA President, Ashton Roskill
We’ve known for a long time that Mike is the Official of All Time, worldwide, and a man of utmost magnificence, so we’re thrilled to see him recognised by Australian motorsport’s official governing body.
Volunteers like Mike are the lifeblood of grassroots motorsport, and it is their unflinching selflessness and dedication to the sport which make it tick, and provides us with opportunities for us to get together and enjoy our cars in a safe and competitive environment.
Mike – we’re lucky to have you and are eternally grateful for the hard work and talent you dedicate to the club!
Mike had the following to say about all of the fuss.
“Ashton rang me up told me that he was getting a table together for the award night. I was in the car at the time and I didn’t gather exactly the meaning behind what he said.”
“I was already going because I get a ticket via the Super Sprint panel, so I said OK. He replied with “OH, that’s good!” and again I didn’t think more of it. So I was quite surprised when I got two gongs!”
“I was a bit embarrassed by it all. You just do what needs to be done. I’m in the fortunate position where I can award it the time that other people can’t.”
“You just want people to get out there and have a good time. That’s the reason I do it. When I first started doing track days there were good events and ordinary events. The ordinary events were really ordinary. I couldn’t see why they all couldn’t be good?”
“You want to make the days good because you’re spending your own hard-earned and you want to give people good value for money. If you don’t like something your only choice is to fix it!”
“In our series we’re lucky because everyone has been running together for such a long period of time and everyone knows everyone else, even across the various clubs. So it’s very much a social thing with competition thrown in just to make it just a bit more interesting.”
“When I took on the job of Competition Secretary I had no idea it would become the vehicle for meeting and working with so many great people, all of who I am proud to call friends. It has and will continue to be a fun ride, and I’d like to send my sincere thanks to all who have joined me in having a great time mucking about with cars!”
Images by Barry Mather
THE PRESERVE NOVEMBER 2014 AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
‘The Preserve’ is the newsletter of the Council of Motor Clubs. It’s made available to members of CMC-affiliated clubs, and that means you!
The November 2014 edition is the final edition for the year. In it, we catch up on motoring news and look forward to the Shannons Sydney Classic, National Motoring Heritage Day, Australia Day 2015 and more, go back in time to visit Burwood, enjoy the story of a Volvo in the Desert and a whole lot more.
If you’re a Club Lotus Australia member, head to the members page here to download your copy.
And if you’re not, head here, and take a browse around the website to see why you should be!
Brian Caldersmith’s Lotus Art at the Turramurra Artisans Trail
The Turramurra Artisans Trail is going to be held this weekend at various locations throughout Turramurra and it looks quite lovely. We, however, are interested in what’s going to be nestled away in location D.
Brian Caldersmith has commandeered part of the location at the His & Hers Gallery and will be selling some of his lovely Lotus cartoons and paintings along with his other motorsport art.
Brian is heavily involved in historic motorsport and Lotus, and is an extraordinarily talented artist. If you’re going to be around Turramurra over the weekend, or are looking for something fun to do or some appropriately-themed art, make sure to check it out!
Turramurra Artisans Trail will be held over the 29th and 30th of November, 2014 from 10AM to 4PM at various locations throughout Turramurra. Brian Caldersmith’s art will be displayed at the His & Hers Gallery, 18 Burnley Avenue, Turramurra.
Take a look at the works below to get an idea for Brian’s work. Images by, and thanks to, Brian Caldersmith.
SSC Lotus Only Day Winton Raceway Video Wrap-Up
Image thanks to Mark O’Connor
Dim the lights, break out the popcorn, prepare a movie-sized serving of your favourite beverage and settle down to catch up with the action at Simply Sports Cars’ Lotus Only Day at Winton.
Supplementary Regulations and Entry for Round 7 2014 CSCA Championship
Supplementary regulations and entry for the final round of the 2014 Combined Sports Cars Australia Championship are now available at CAMS Motor Event Entry.
Hit this handy link to head over there, check ’em out and enter if you haven’t already.
Please read the regs COMPLETELY as there are a few changes, including those imposed by the ARDC. We are confident they will have no effect on the enjoyment available!
Check your vehicle details and make any edits and additions as necessary as this is a massive help to the volunteer staff at the Sprite Car Club of Australia.
We’re looking forward to the final round of the year, and it’s fair to say that it might be a bit crowed at the top, apart from the Club Championship which is firmly in our grasp!
2014 CSCA Round 6 Wrap-Up and Point Score Update
Round 6 of the 2014 CSCA championship was held at Wakefield Park on the 26th of October and standings are close as we head to the final round of the year!
Club Lotus Australia has bolted from the pack in the club championship, leaving TSOA and MGCCN equal on points for second place with the last round to sort it.
MGCC and JDCA are separated by two points for 5th, with a slim chance of catching SCCA. As it’s SCCA’s round, one would hope they have plenty of their own runners to keep them safe in 4th.
There are still a number of classes undecided.
The drivers championship looks safe for Mark Alexander, but if he has a problem and gets pushed down a few places in class, Rex Hodder and Syd Reinhardt are in with a chance. It’s even mathematically-possible to have a three way tie!
If any of the ladies in marque cars who have run previously this season run again in the final round they are in with a strong a chance of winning that trophy. At present we have no representative in the Ladies Championship. Someone must have a wife girlfriend daughter who is trusted to drive their Lotus!
Entries are open for the final round, which will be held at Sydney Motorsport Park on the 14th of December, 2014. Head to the CAMS Motor Event website by clicking this handy link and enter – it promises to be an interesting event!
Mike Basquil
Download the updated scores below.
2014CSCA Pointscores as at Round 6
2014 CSCA Drivers Pointscore as at Round 6 [PDF]
The Preserve October 2014 Available for Download
‘The Preserve’ is the newsletter of the Council of Motor Clubs. It’s made available to members of CMC-affiliated clubs, and that means you!
The October 2014 edition catches up on motoring news, goes back in time to visit Sydney roads as they were in years gone by, provides a brilliant report on Goodwood 2014, recounts the Great Lakes Historic Automobile Club Comboyne Festival and more.
If you’re a Club Lotus Australia member, head to the members page here to download your copy.
And if you’re not, head here, and take a browse around the website to see why you should be!
Lotus Photos: Rohan Hodge at Historic Winton
Rohan Hodge enjoys Historic Winton in his beautiful little Elan in these photos from the 2014 event.
Club Lotus New Zealand Edition 54 Available for Download
Our friends from Club Lotus New Zealand have recently kicked their newsletter back into gear, and we’re happy to share the latest edition with you right here!
This edition includes a look at all the news in the world of Lotus before checking in with CLNZ’s members, scoping out the Classic Trials, getting to know the Westfield Eleven and Flintstone Lotus 23 and a whole lot more.
Download it from the following link, and enjoy!
Club Lotus New Zealand Edition 54 [PDF]
Please also make sure to head to their official website here, their Facebook page here, and their YouTube channel here to keep in touch with everything they’re up to.