JUNE T WENT Y T WENT Y T WO
FINKE-BOUND COMISKEY EMBRACING OFF ROAD JOURNEY
OFFICIAL PROFILE: CLAIRE BUCCINI / THE IRISH BSCC CONNECTION/ RALLY QUEENSLAND GETS GREEN LIGHT / CREWS PUT THROUGH A FUN RUN /
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Contents June 2022
10 28 12
30
34
From the Pres
4
Finke-bound Comiskey embracing off road journey
6
Brisbane Sporting Car Club 2022 annual awards
10
Crews put through a fun run
12
2022 motorsport calendar
16
Mobile comms trailer back in action
18
FIA confirms approved FHR systems
20
2022 AGM: President’s report
22
BSCC Rally Safe information night
26
BSCC Official Profile: Claire Buccini
28
The Irish BSCC connection
30
Vale Esme Gibson
34
Rally Queensland gets green light
36
BSCC buddies
38
Welcome new members
40
Contact Brisbane Sporting Car Club
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PHOTO: CH IMAGES
Hi everyone,
This issue is a little later than we had planned so apologies to everyone eagerly awaiting their bi-monthly read of everything BSCC Ltd. Since last time, the BSCC Ltd annual general meeting was held on the 13th of April and we have some new members on the board and a new Membership Officer. New to the board are Kevin Lefever who many around the club will know for his work as an official and Campbell Smith has also joined. Campbell is well known among the off road community and some of you would have seen Campbell’s work as a scrutineer. Claire Buccini has taken on the role of Membership Officer. Claire is well known to many in the rally (gravel
and tarmac) community. I welcome Kevin, Campbell and Claire to their new roles. Hear more from Claire later in this mag. The on again / off again situation this year has continued throughout April and May sadly. The forests and the roads were simply too wet and even before the rain event in May, our surveys showed that while the roads open to sunshine and wind were in reasonably good nick, those under the tree canopy and in in low lying areas still had water in them. The red clay which makes up part of the surface composition made them too slippery even for decent 4WD’s. Then the rain returned just prior to the rescheduled Test and Tune so that was it. A big shout out to our loyal partners in Lakes Hyundai, KCF Rallysport and Roo Systems Australia who have stuck by the club and you, the competitors and officials. We are looking at some potentially free dates later in the year and while some exemptions will be needed, we will try. On better news, preparations for Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland are well advanced and the work done by HQ Plantations to help us with our roads has been immense.
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
DOMIN IC COR KER ON PR ESIDEN T, BR ISBAN E SPOR TIN G CAR CL UB
From the Pres
“Esme was a tower of a lady in her dedication and work for the club”
Also, the Gympie Regional Council is pulling out all stops to ensure this will be the biggest show anyone around a rally has seen in a long time. The mayor, Glen Hartwig, is fully behind the event and the word “can’t” doesn’t appear in his vocabulary. We have been throwing around the term “Bigger than Ben Hur” to describe the event and there will be lots on. More details can be found on page 36. Just after this edition goes live, the Finke Desert Race kicks off and club member Brett Comiskey has entered his Geiser Brothers Trophy Truck. This is a beast so we wish him and Corey Cooper a successful event.
PHOTO: NEIL MICHEL
Sine our last edition, the BSCC ran another fun run for novices and more experienced map masters. Set again by Laurie Garth, I am told it was a very good
day out and you can read about that on page 12. Late in May, we lost an old friend of the Club in Esme Gibson. Many of the younger folk may not have met Esme but she was a tower of a lady in her dedication and work for the club. On behalf of the BSCC Ltd, I pass on the condolences to the family, friends and all who knew her. This is a shorter report than usual but my annual report to the club at the AGM will fill in the gaps. As always, I wish you all safe and successful fun in the forests and off road tracks. Until next time. Cheers,
Dom.
500
CLI
TROL
Air Conditioning & Heating Specialist
Designing Comfort into Living Aaron Brown
Phone: 3890 1911 Mobile: 0417 167 123 Email: aaron@climatrol.net.au 11/53 Metroplex Avenue, Web: www.climatrolairconditioning.com.au Murarrie QLD 4172 BRISBANE SPORTING CAR CLUB LTD BSCC. ASN. AU
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PHOTO: TERRY HILL PHOTOGRAPHY
Finke-bound Comiskey embracing off road journey The BSCC may be known for rally, but there is plenty of diversity throughout the club with a variety of members involved in the many disciplines of motorsport. One of those individuals is Brett Comiskey. Brett has been a member of the club for almost a decade and has been plying his trade in the off road world. A star of the BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC), Brett is currently ranked equal third on the outright standings, as well as leading the Extreme 2WD class– a class dedicated to the all-powerful Trophy Trucks. Although he is currently contesting the AORC, Brett’s career in the sport has seen him venture all around the world to take on some of the most famous international events and championships.
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
Most of that travel was completed between 2017 and 2020 where Brett competed in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In off road racing, while winning can be considered everything, finishing an event is just as much as an achievement due to the challenging nature of the conditions. For Brett, finishing those events was half the battle as he had a tough initiation during his
first campaign in the North American based UTV World Championships in 2017, but a gallant performance in the famous Vegas to Reno event that year gave Brett all the motivation he needed to continue his pursuit. That decision to continue paid off as he ended up winning the championship in 2018 and 2019 before he went on to win another world-renown event known as the Mint 400. His next challenge was the iconic Baja 1000, an event that sees hundreds of crews from around the world take on more than 1000 consecutive miles. Brett successfully finished his first attempt at the race in a respectable fourth place. Unfortunately when COVID-19 hit and changed the world, Brett only managed a few more races overseas before selling everything and coming home to Australia. “In 2017, my work was booming and I felt it was the right time to go overseas,” Brett said.
“We had a crack at the UTV World Championships but didn’t too well, but we finished and that is the main thing in off road. “After that, I made a heap of new friends and put a team together for the Vegas to Reno race. Although we broke every possible part of the car, we finished again and that got me excited. “With those same people, we did Baja but again broke a heap of stuff during the race due to a lack of preparation and struggled to make it through, but we still finished. “We then had that great run in 2018 and 2019 which was fantastic, as was finishing Baja with experienced drivers Peter Carr and Daniel McKenzie. “It was a pretty good run overseas but winning a class championship on home soil would trump everything. To finish the year with the number one plate is now my full goal so I am very happy with how I’m going at the moment.”
“Although we broke every possible part of the car, we finished again and that got me excited”
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PHOTO: GEARS AND WHEELS PHOTOGRAPHY
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This year, when he runs in Australia’s most famous race – the Tatts Finke Desert Race – in a Trophy Truck, Brett will achieve something very few have done. His seventh attempt at the event, which is considered the off road version of the Bathurst 1000, will see him contest his third different class after racing a UTV (SXS Buggy) for many years and a Pro Buggy last year. The race itself is iconic, with more than 750 bike riders and drivers tackling an unforgiving 229-kilometre multi-terrain course between Alice Springs and the small community of Aputula, more commonly known as Finke. It’s an incredible challenge for every kind of rider or driver as they spend a day going down to Finke before returning the next day. With the event being the centrepiece of the AORC calendar, it’s the race Brett always wanted to do when first getting into the sport, but now there has been plenty of other reasons that has kept him competing. “When I first started off road in Australia, the goal was always to do Finke,” Brett said. “The whoops make it an exceptional challenge, as are the logistics of getting there so it’s all about management.
“You think, why put so much effort into it? But it’s the attraction of going to Finke and it’s a very special race that has worldwide status. “As for why I love off road, I have raced motocross, odysseys, quads and now cars and it’s always the same – the people are what make it. “You can be fierce competitors on the course, but we always end up helping each other off it, as friendship is more important. Everyone is always supportive. I don’t want to be somewhere and be frowned upon and there is never any of that in off road. “The racing is also exciting. The adrenaline in my body goes through the roof and I usually can’t sleep for a few days after because I am re-living it all. “To be able to go those speeds in those trucks where it’s just you against the land - it’s very good fun and I love it.” Brett will be in action in this month’s Tatts Finke Desert Race on 10-13 June.
Click here for more information on the BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship. aorc.com.au
PHOTO: MATTHEW DANIELE PHOTO: TERRY HILL PHOTOGRAPHY
BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
PHOTO: GEARS AND WHEELS PHOTOGRAPHY
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Brisbane Spor ting Car Club
2022 Annual Awards
Club Champion: Judy Foster
Official’s Champion: Kevin Lefever
Ladies Champions: Michelle VanDer Wilk & Kassandra Brumley
Rally Champion: Rod Reid
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
Junior Champion: Alex Cherry
EXPERIENCE A
UNIQUE GETAWAY
IN THE GYMPIE REGION
Two hours from Brisbane, the Gympie region is surrounded by nature and wildlife that you can’t get anywhere else in Queensland. The coloured sands of Rainbow Beach and the charming fishing town of Tin Can Bay are our coastal playgrounds and the southern gateway to K’gari (Fraser Island). Away from the coast, you’ll find the pioneering heritage town of Gympie with elegant buildings and heritage railways. Out west, you’ll discover a beauty unmatched; the rolling hills of our western townships and the lush, fertile land of the Mary Valley. There’s more to the Gympie region than you might imagine. Gympie Regional Council is a proud sponsor of the Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland.
Visit Gympie Region
1800 444 222
www.visitgympieregion.com.au
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Last month, the Brisbane Sporting Car Club put on an event with a different kind of feel and saw eight crews take on its navigational tour/fun run throughout a number of rural towns.
Weaving their way through the Lockyear Valley and answering riddles and questions along the way, the crews visited a number of towns including Walloon, Glenore, Fernvale, Lowood and Lockrose.
Starting off in Yamanto, crews were required to follow the maps they had been given and reach a variety of checkpoints where they were to answer three questions and look out for Visual Route Checks.
In addition to the towns, there were plenty of picturesque sights that greeted crews throughout the day including the beautiful Lake Clarendon.
BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
WOR D S : L AU RIE GART H & L AR IS SA B I GGA R PH OTO S : L AU R IE GA RT H
Crews put through a fun run
PHOTOS: L AURIE GARTH
Eventually the crews made it to the end point of Laidley Loins Park, where they were able to review the day and discuss the all the fun run, including the multiple curve ball that event organisers Laurie Garth and Judy Foster had orchestrated. One of the participants in Larissa Biggar was a big fan of the navigational tour run by Laurie and Judy and thoroughly enjoyed herself. “I love these navigational events,” Larissa said. ‘It’s what started my navigation addiction and probably why I’m a co-driver now. They’re low stress, a bit of a laugh and a great opportunity for members who generally are volunteers at rallies or who don’t have a rally car to get out and have some fun. “For this event, I had one of my girlfriends navigating and my daughter in the back seat
“It’s what started my navigation addiction and probably why I’m a co-driver now” looking for VRCs because we all love puzzles and quizzes, so it was quite nerdy in the car. “Getting lost and figuring things out to get back on track are all part of the fun. The Lockyear Valley is such a simply beautiful countryside, so green with plenty of evidence of excessive rain.
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“The BSCC is blessed to have Laurie and Judy. They worked really hard for the pleasure of the members and you can really tell they are absolutely passionate about what they are doing. “It was also really nice to meet the faces I know in the forest a little more too so thank you for a great day out.” As for Laurie, he was happy that all eight crews finished and was already looking onto the next one. “Only eight crews entered but they all had a great time and All finished with various degrees of success,” Laurie said.
I think that all had a good time judging by reports and I believe they are all ready to go on to the next one. “I have already been thinking about the next extravaganza. It was suggested bakery to bakery, maybe Wamuran to Blackbutt. “I guess, I know a lot of ways to get from Wamuran to Blackbutt.”
Click here for more info on upcoming events bscc.asn.au/events
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
PHOTO: MATTHEW DANIELE
PHOTO: CH IMAGES
IGNITE
YOUR CURIOSITY
Lakes Hyundai Your Local Hyundai Dealer
1 Stapylton Street, North Lakes lakeshyundai.com.au
radneolptCs2M0 BRISBANE SPORTING CAR CLUB LTD 2022 Motorsport Calendar June - November
Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland ARC 4 / QRC 2 – 22, 23, 24/07 24/07 (Gympie)
Globe Roamer III Imbil Rally QRC 3 / ECCRS 7 – 10/09 (Imbil)
BSCC Off Road Event – 12,13/11 (Location TBA)
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
Mobile Comms Trailer Back in Action Ensuring the safety for all attendees at our events is of paramount importance to the Brisbane Sporting Car Club, so we need to improve and supplement our communications equipment on an ongoing basis for the betterment of all. Last year, Iain Robertson and Craig Porter went to Gladstone to pick up a very valuable second-hand radio communications repeater unit from Neil Sutherland, Manager of Nixon Communications, which was purchased and donated to the Club by Belinda and Tony Howard. In addition to the repeater unit, a number of other radios, supplementary equipment and a mobile communications trailer were also purchased. With the trailer left at Simon and Margot Knowles’ home in Hendra, a refurbishment was able to take place with Simon replacing the tyres, fitting new wheel bearings and rewiring the trailer.
Following the initial work from Simon, Iain Menzies’ Bespoke Engineering graciously donated their time and replaced the floor of the trailer and carried out other minor repairs before sending it off to be sand blasted and painted ready for a total fit out. The trailer was then delivered to Iain’s home where he spent countless hours fitting and wiring in the repeater unit, reconnecting to the solar panels, fitting a lighting system and completing the work necessary for the trailer to be used at our events in the future. The trailer will give the Brisbane Sporting Car Club the flexibility needed in mobility and will ensure a far better radio range of coverage at events run by the club. The BSCC Board would like to acknowledge the generosity of those mentioned who donated financially and gave their time willingly to ensure the ongoing safety we aspire to when running events.
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WWW.CRASHTAG.COM
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FIA confirms approved FHR systems The FIA has released information around the HANS and Hybrid Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) systems and how to use them. FHR systems are designed to stop a driver’s head from whipping forward in a collision but do so in different ways, therefore the FIA have highlighted how each must be worn correctly to ensure optimal performance
Click to here for more information on the HANS device and its installation. f ia.com
Click here for more information on the Hybrid device and its installation. f ia.com
Click here to watch a the FIA’s video on how to correctly use the HANS device. youtube.com/FIAOff icialVideo
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
More information about the Motorsport Australia application of the use of FHRs can be found here. motorsport.org.au/regulations
2 0 2 1 ACC ENT BENC H TOP S RAL L Y QU EENS L A N D PHOTO: CH IMAGES
2022 AGM: President’s Report 2021 was the year we commenced attempts to “Live with COVID” as it was and by hard work and a clear understanding of the prevailing health directives, the BSCC managed to conduct a number of events which would prove the club has the wherewithal to manage our core purpose in difficult circumstances.
Looking back at 2021 and the three competitive events we managed to conduct, all either grew on past success or established completely new standards. The KCF Rallysport Winter Stages in Benarkin attracted a huge entry for this type of event. 43 entrants prove the ease and fun priorities on which this event is based continues to be a winning formula. The Globe Roamer II Rally Imbil shifted HQ and Service to the Equestrian complex to establish a new standard of facilities. It was commented by the Motorsport Australia Manager of Events that our new HQ / Service Park was one of the best in Australia for any event. Lastly, the big one, Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland. From a standing start of only three months, event Clerk of Course, Brian Everitt and his team, took a blank sheet of paper and produced an event the leading proponents of Australian rallying are still taking about. I am immensely proud to have been part 22
BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
of that team, especially when the Service Park, Wheels on Mary and the welcome the ARC received from the City of Gympie were declared to be best in Australia and a standard not seen in many years. Special thanks should be extended to Glenn Brinkman, Russell Hewitt and a host of other corporate partners and the mayor of Gympie, Glen Hartwig, for the support they provided for without that, the event simply could not have happened. Aside from events, there were a number of other achievements made by the club during 2021. At the last AGM, I announced a six pillar program being my vision as President of the BSCC. Moving towards the future, the theme remains to be the best the BSCC can be. Tonight, I am happy to report we achieved most of these despite the challenges we faced. The first goal for 2021 was membership to reach Target 300. We reached 366 members in total comprising full and family members. 81 of these were new members. Second was to build on our events platform which I will cover later in my report. Thirdly, move further into the digital era with a key plank being taking BRISPORT on-line. BRISPORT has now been published twice in
2022 in the new digital format and feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive. The BSCC has engaged Motorsport Australia Media Services to provide the design and journalism you see every two months while we provide the content ideas and advertisers. But there is more to this development than simply joining the digital era. BRISPORT, via electronic mail and social media platforms, has a reach of around 2,500 readers. It forms a major component of the BSCC Partner Program which has the purpose of providing more for our partners and grow the club and the sport we love.
can under the current circumstances where we have had our events curtailed. The plan has been to field test modern digital technologies which include the ability to track operators. Apart from being new and reliable, these products provide a higher layer of safety for everyone, particularly our officials. Products have been identified.
“The importance of a strong financial position cannot be understated as it provides the club with the ability to invest in the future”
Fourthly, the Club’s finances maintained a strong position throughout 2021 despite the challenges of COVID restrictions and Rod Sams has just provided you with that detail. Plans to update some of our banking facilities are underway. The importance of a strong financial position cannot be understated as it provides the club with the ability to invest in the future, particularly property and equipment.
The fifth pillar, property and equipment, contained plans to update our in-event communications using modern technology. These plans have advanced as far as they
Now all we need are events at which to test. Once complete and we are satisfied, the club can roll out. In addition to this program, efforts will be channeled into a stock take of our existing club equipment to ensure we have a full complement of everything required to run events independent of any outside agency.
Lastly, I previewed social responsibility. 2021 was well known to be one where there was more disruption and in 2022 this has continued albeit due to different reasons. The communities in which we conduct our events have been enormously supportive of the BSCC and the BSCC acknowledges this. The hope is we can forge ahead with our event plans so we fulfill the goal of being a net contributor to the communities which welcome us. Looking forward to the remainder of 2022 and beyond, the club intends to build its
2 0 2 0 KCF S H OR T COU R S E RALLY, BENARKIN PHOTOS: STEVE SPENCER
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future on a strong foundation of events providing the best experience for entrants, officials, spectators and our partners. In late 2021, the club planned a bold calendar for 2022 to double the output of recent years. Events planned included at least one Fun Run, two stand-alone QRC events, a return to a three event club level pace noted series, an ARC event plus an Off Road event to cap off the year. So far we managed to complete the Fun Run in late January and another is in the planning stages for a yet to be determined date. Unfortunately, rallies between then and now and for the coming weeks are on hold but the calendar has given us the flexibility of rearranging events around those dates the rally community has already set aside. On this, the club has been in contact with the forestry managers and surveys have shown not all roads have been badly damaged, but some have so we are in the process of rearranging course routes before we can re-instate events we can all enjoy. The board thanks everyone for their understanding and patience. The plan is to continue into the following year and there is already sponsor support for some of that already. Beyond these, as president, I would like to see an expansion in type of event we run to fill in gaps late in the year due to restricted forestry access as a result of fire prevention. The opportunities are there but we need people. Our Clerks of Course, Course Checkers, Secretaries and Administration resources are stretched to the limit so the only way we can expand the type of event we provide is for more BSCC members and those of the rally community to jump on board and help. As we move into the year ahead, Margaret Mackay has announced her resignation as BSCC Membership Officer. The club thanks Margaret for her tremendous contribution T H E N - PR E SIDE N T P E TE R FL YNN AWA R D I N G JO H N COL E M AN THE 2 0 1 8 B S CC C L UB AWAR D
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
to the club by filling that important role. Margaret has provided a description of the duties which is available in the agenda and has also offered assistance to train the new Membership Officer. This is an important role and a great opportunity to contribute to the club. Positions of Agency Liaison and the Magazine Officer are also listed but there are also opportunities to help with equipment and the club website. If these are of interest to you please be in touch and all assistance will be provided to get you started. Tonight, we also farewell some of our board members. John Coleman has been on the board for many years and in recent times, he has acted in course car duties at almost every event we run. John has offered to do more in on-event work by volunteering to be Clerk of Course for the Lakes Hyundai Test and Tune and one of the KCF Rallysport Short Course Series rallies. Additionally, he works hard behind the scenes on our Communications and IT committee so with these added commitments and a growing
business, has resigned to concentrate on those. I would like take this opportunity to thank John for all he does for the club. Also, resigning are Tristan Carrigan and Gerard McConkey who, also due to increased commitments outside the club, have to direct their efforts there. I want to thank and wish all three the best for their futures. I know we will see them around the club so please thank them yourselves when you see them. As I stated earlier, 2021 was a disrupted year with some highs in the form of best in country events and facilities and now the lows of having our dreams of a full year of competition dashed by the rains. If this is the worst for the club, it pales next to those who have experienced flood damage and lost all they own. Perspective, a positive attitude and a willingness to help are the key factors to the balance of 2022 so if you can raise your hand I think you will find what many other helpers do and that is another level of enjoyment this sport gives. I intend to stand again as President of the Brisbane Sporting Car Club. I thank everyone for the support I have received since taking on this role and would be honoured to continue that service. MARGARET MAC KAY REC EIV ING T HE CAMS SERV IC E STAR IN 20 19 PHOTO: SHIFTING FOCUS
Dominic Corkeron President – Brisbane Sporting Car Club Ltd.
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BSCC Rally Safe Information Night With the Accent Benchtops Rally QLD being held on the weekend of the 24 of July the BSCC thought it would be a good opportunity to hold a RallySafe information night for Competitors and our Officials.
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An overview of how the RallySafe system works and its benefits
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Correct vehicle installation
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Key features and function of the in-car unit
•
Correct operation of the in-car unit
The information night will be held at the BSCC clubrooms on the 6th of July 2022 at 7:00 pm.
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An overview of the functions and correct operation of the control tablets for our officials
Unit 16/23 Ashtan Place Banyo QLD 4014. All competitors, officials and anyone else interested are welcome.
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Please RSVP by 29 June, to info@bscc.asn.au email: info@bscc.asn.au
ClaireBuccini B S C C
O F F I C I A L
The Brisbane Sporting Car Club is pleased to welcome Claire Buccini as its new Membership Officer. Claire brings a wealth of experience to the role and has been contributing to the BSCC and motorsport as a whole for a long time. Get to know a little bit more about the new BSCC Membership Officer.
BRISPORT: How does it feel to be the new Membership Officer? Claire Buccini: I am nervous that I will be able to perform the role as good as Marg who has done a wonderful job. B: Why did you take on the role?
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P R O F I L E
B: Tell us about your motorsport journey. CB: I started out with the Queensland Mini Car club as those cars are my first love - my first ever rally was in a mini too. I went to high school next door to Lakeside Raceway, so many a school day was spent at the track. I was only 15 when I got my first competition licence. I was doing navigation runs and competing in hill climbs, lap dashes, motorkhanas and various club events before I even had my road driver’s licence. Rally became my number one passion and I have been privileged to do a number of bucket list events, including the WRC backed event in Coffs in 2018, Otago Rally in 2019 and the Alpine in late 2019.
CB: It is a very important position and I am passionate about our club. I am pleased to be able to give something back.
In 2020, my husband and I began competing in Tarmac events and the Targa branded ones. It has been amazing to introduce my circuit racing husband to the world of rally.
B: Is there anything in particular you’re looking to achieve in the position?
B: Outside of competing, you have also spent lots of time as an official. Why is that?
CB: There have been great discussions and suggestions from the BSCC team, but I want to ensure new members feel personally welcomed and are informed of what the club can offer them.
CB: I have always ensured that if I wasn’t a competitor at an event, that I did some sort of official work. Even in the few years before I returned to competition, I had given my time to event organisers.
BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
“I enjoy being able to give something back and you build a fabulous relationship with those who regularly volunteer for our sport”
I have a great respect for the effort that these people put in and the sacrifices they all make.
B: What do you like about being part of the club?
I enjoy being able to give something back and you build a fabulous relationship with those who regularly volunteer for our sport. I see them at all the different events I do and they are always there to support and assist and always with a smile
CB: As a rally enthusiast, BSCC are one of the major rally event organisers in Queensland. They have a passionate core membership and provide great value for your membership dollars.
B: How long have you been part of the club for? CB: I originally joined in the early 1990s, before having a family and pausing for about 15 years. I returned in 2016.
B: What do you love about the sport? CB: It is the lifetime friendships you develop and the fabulous memories you make, spending time with likeminded people is so rewarding. They really are my rally family.
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PHOTO: CH IMAGES
The Irish BSCC Connection Australia has been built off the back of immigration and people migrating down under from other countries.
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come to Australia and escape the cold weather of their Irish homes.
Because of that, the Brisbane Sporting Car Club has plenty of diversity amongst its member base with a small portion having made their way from Ireland.
While the motivation of more sunshine may have been similar, their journeys were unique – a trait shared by their rallying background and how they found themselves contesting the roads.
Like many travellers from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Thomas Dermody, Ronnie Bustard and Cahal Carey had the desire to
BRISPORT caught up with all three and gained an insight into their stories of leaving Ireland, rallying down under and how rallying in each country stacks up against each other.
BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
PHOTO: AM SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Thomas Dermody I was brought up on a dairy farm in Ireland and left for Australia in 1983 when I was 18-years-old for some adventure and to see the world - however nearly forty years have gone by and I am still in Australia.
East Coast Classic Championship in 2018, but the FIA World Rally Championship round in Coffs Harbour in 2016 was one of my favourites because we came second to Neal Bates in the Classics.
I never actually had anything to do with rallying in Ireland and I was only racing motorcycles for a while, something I continued here in Australia from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. I did no motorsport for nearly 20 years while I developed my business before taking up rallying in 2012, for which I have loved every minute of it.
I also really like all of the Motorsport Australia NSW Rally Championship rounds and the Imbil Rally here in Queensland.
I think rallying in Ireland is far more intense with the amount of entries and quality of cars as there are more 150 entries per event. While Australia doesn’t have as many competitors, the competition is good and it’s a very friendly atmosphere with good comradery. Also rallying on the gravel in the forests is great fun. My best memory for rallying in Australia would have been winning the inaugural BRISBANE SPORTING CAR CLUB LTD BSCC. ASN. AU
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Ronnie Bustard My rally journey started back home in Ireland doing service for my brother John over a number of years. In 2002, I bought a Toyota Corolla AE86 but it sat in my shed as I didn’t really know what to do in a rally car on a stage. A few months went by before I got the opportunity to co-drive for John, which led me to driving myself in a few rallies towards the end of the year. In 2003, I entered the Northern Ireland Rally Championship where I won my class with a round to spare and for me, that was my best rallying memory as a competitor.
Having now done rallying in Australia, the big difference between here and Ireland is how far the events are located and how much longer the stages are compared to rallies back home. It takes a lot of getting used to.
“I really like doing the local KCF Rally in Jimna as it’s relaxed with the opportunity to write your own pace notes”
I had actually built a Talbot Sunbeam to compete in 2004 but decided to move to Australia instead and the company I worked for, Terex Finlay, helped me transfer to Brisbane.
The road surfaces are also very different as Ireland has a lot more stone on the forest roads which doesn’t get as slippery when it rains. In Ireland my favourite event was the local bushwhacker rally run by Omagh Motor Club. It always had a full entry list of 120 cars with some of the best forest stages in Ireland.
As for here in Australia, I really like doing the local KCF Rally in Jimna as it’s relaxed with the opportunity to write your own pace notes and you really get a chance to refine them with the amount of runs of the same stages.
PHOTOS: DAKAR PRESS TEAM AUSTRALIA
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Cahal Carey I came to Australia twenty years ago on a working holiday visa and I think like most people, I partied for a lot of the first two years. I then had to make the decision to stay and get sponsored, which wasn’t a hard decision as I loved it here - the weather and the people are what made it.
My father had done rallycross back in Ireland when I lived there and I always loved going to watch and help out where possible. As for myself, I didn’t get involved in rally here for a while as I couldn’t really afford to be doing it until a few years ago. With the help of Ronnie, I was finally able to get involved and we started off with some rallycross here, which was great but after a few events, the series we were in finished up. We then decided to have a go at rallying, so we joined the BSCC which allowed us to compete in a few local and stage events around Queensland. As these were mainly blind rallies and I wanted to learn pace notes, I decided to follow the ARC, which is where I am competing now. The main focus for me now is just getting as much time in the seat as possible and learning to take the full potential out of the car and I am really looking forward to going to Tasmania for the Shannons Rally Launceston.
PHOTOS: DAKAR PRESS TEAM AUSTRALIA
BRISBANE SPORTING CAR CLUB LTD BSCC. ASN. AU
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Vale Esme Gibson The Brisbane Sporting Car Club is saddened to hear of the passing of BSCC life member Esme Gibson.
Having been involved with the club since the early 1980s, Esme was best known for work as the Club Administrator – a position she held for two decades. First obtaining the role in 1982 after Coral Taylor’s departure, Esme embraced her role with enthusiasm despite being new to the world of motorsport.
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in the Club, she was highly skilled at enlisting people to volunteer as officials Another great quality of Esme’s was her ability to recycle anything and everything and let nothing go to waste if it could be used again. Outside of being a club administrator, Esme spent just as much time as a volunteer official and often attended events with husband John (Viv) and sons Martin and Adam, where she would take on a variety of roles.
From mastering the operation of the Gestetner to her adept skill set at organising events to becoming an expert on the then CAMS, rules and regulations – Esme was highly respected amongst the whole club.
Esme received many accolades over the years, however the most notable were receiving BSCC Life Membership upon her retirement in 2002 and receiving Legend status at the Goodyear Autocare Rally due to her contributions to the events in Gallangowan.
Her viewpoint of things being done the right way was instilled around the whole club as not only was Esme a great mentor and friend to those involved
In addition to being a well-respected and organised administrator and official, Esme was highly popular amongst the club due to her enthusiasm, patience and kindness.
BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
Left: Esme Gibson on a hike with family. Above: Esme with the winning 1974 LondonSahara-Munich World Cup Rally. The car was built and driven by owner Jim Reddiex, another long term member of BSCC. Previous Page: A younger Esme and her famous Mitsubishi van.
“I have many great memories of working with Esme on many events and in various executive roles, in particular, on the off road side of competition,” Rod Sams said about the late Esme Gibson. “I also appreciated the work she and especially Viv put into the Club’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Viv and Esme spent countless hours going through old meeting minutes and event documents to put together the first 50 years of the Club’s history.
time and financial resources for the benefit of our club and sport,” Michel said. “One of these was club stalwart Esme Gibson, her enthusiasm and focussed discipline as our administration officer helped not only individual members and new entrants to the sport but also to many Boards of Directors.
“She was patient and kind and when she rang you to help on an event or something for the club, it was impossible not to accept her volunteering you to the task”
All those who met Esme will have a special memory of her. Our thoughts are with John, Martin and Adam and their families at this sad time.” A good friend of hers in Neil Michel echoed Sams’ comments. “In my time as a member of BSCC, I have witnessed many great and generous people who have given so freely of their
“She taught us many skills in organising events and running a successful club, she was patient and kind and when she rang you to help on an event or something for the club, it was impossible not to accept her volunteering you to the task.
“RIP Esme, you were very much appreciated by BSCC and definitely by my family and myself.” Esme is survived by husband John and her two children Martin and Adam. The Brisbane Sporting Car Club passes on its condolences to Esme’s family and friends.
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Rally Queensland gets green light After plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland taking place, the Gympie based event has been given the green light.
“It has been a tough challenge to keep this event going given we have had four floods in six months - one of which was the second biggest flood in history,” Everitt said.
The event, which serves as the fourth round of the RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) season, is the Brisbane Sporting Car Club’s biggest event on the club’s annual calendar.
“The floods caused a lot of damage to Gympie township and surrounding forest areas but we have had a lot of support from the Gympie council and they have helped us put it on.
As a result of multiple flooding disasters that plagued the state in 2022, the event committee worked tirelessly to get the rally to a position where it could go ahead despite the damage sustained in Gympie and the surrounding forests. Clerk of Course Brian Everitt was looking forward to the event running despite the issues.
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
“Their enthusiasm is never ending so we’re very appreciative of their support along with the assistance of the HQ Plantations. “During May, it was looking very dicey, but we have had a couple of weeks of sunshine and as long as we don’t get a significant amount of rain, I am confident we are going ahead. “We have three new stages, as well as some of the stages we ran last year with some modifications.
PHOTO: CH IMAGES
PHOTO: CH IMAGES
“We’re looking forward to having the ARC, it will be a big boost to the economy especially after the months we had” “We have managed to scramble a good amount of distance to keep the crews challenged. “We’re looking forward to having the ARC, it will be a big boost to the economy especially after the months we had. The council are doing their upmost to help us run the event and they have been terrific and very understanding.” Taking place at the end of July, the two-day sprint rally will see Australia’s best crews complete 179 competitive kilometres over 14 stages - eight of which will make up Saturday’s 91km
schedule, while the remaining six stages and 88km will be run on the Sunday. Before the action gets underway on the Saturday, there will be a special Wheels on Mary Festival, which will see the whole of Mary street closed down in order to showcase the rally and the crews. Sharing the street will be the Winter Trees on Mary, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. Entries for the Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland open on 17 June, with the rally to also host the Acworth Recruiting Queensland Motorsport Australia Queensland Rally Championship and the Virtual Security Novice Series. The Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland event will take place on 25-26 July.
Click here to discover more about the ARC event rally.com.au/queensland
PHOTO: CH IMAGES BRISBANE SPORTING CAR CLUB LTD BSCC. ASN. AU
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BSCC Buddies
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
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98 BUCHANAN RD, BANYO BRISBANE 4014
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Welcome! On behalf of the Board of Brisbane Sporting Car Club and the Membership Officer, Claire Buccini, it is with great pleasure that we welcome the following new and returning Members to our Club.
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BRISPORT MAGA ZINE JUNE 2022
New Members
Returning
Greg Lipshus & Lisa Chaplin 5145
Lachlan Buchanan 5031
Jack Bussey 5149 Darryn White 5150
Nick Ashwin 4641
Brisbane Sporting Car Club Ltd is: Board of Directors
Brisport Magazine
President Dominic Corkeron
All correspondence to:
Vice President
Brisbane Sporting Car Club Unit 16 - 23 Ashtan Place Banyo QLD 4014
Tony Kabel
Secretary
Judy Foster
Treasurer
Peter Flynn
Board Members Barry Neuendorff Rod Sams Malcolm Bartolo Kevin Lefever Campbell Smith
Other Office Bearers Motorsport Australia Delegate
Phone:
(07) 3267 7647
Email:
info@bscc.asn.au
Website:
bscc.asn.au
Facebook: facebook.com/ BrisbaneSporting CarClub
[Vacant]
Membership Officer Claire Buccini Social Media Peter Flynn & Dominic Corkeron
BRISBANE SPORTING CAR CLUB LTD BSCC. ASN. AU
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If you’ve got something to contribute to the magazine we’d love to hear from you. All correspondence to: Brisbane Sporting Car Club Unit 16 - 23 Ashtan Place Banyo QLD 4014 Phone: (07) 3267 7647 Email: info@bscc.asn.au Website: bscc.asn.au