Pitstop
EDITOR'S NOTE
Looking back over the past few months it has been a wild ride so far in 2024. From the first five sold-out rounds of our Baden Civil SEQ Khanacross series to the tight battles in the Queensland Rally Championship. 2024 has brought with it a huge number of successes and with the final rounds fast approaching, it is proving to be a year full of memories and friendly competition.
Witnessing the collective achievements of our GCTMC team in 2024 has been nothing short of inspiring The incredible returned successes of the GCTMC Khanacross series stands out as a testament to our dedication and passion for grassroots motorsports within our club With the introduction of the Yeah The Girls Khanacross this year has only further cemented the enthusiasm and passion towards the growth of grassed-roots motorsport within the local community. Introducing new drivers, further pushing seasoned drivers and helping many regain their love for the sport, it has again been a very special start to 2024.
A heartfelt thank you extends to the generosity of our sponsors, 180+ members and unsung heroes – without whom these amazing events just would not happen. The year round commitment and support for what GCMTC is achieving in unmatched.
As we embark on the final few events for the 2024 season we hope all have enjoyed participating and again thank everyone who has made it happen
We hope you enjoy the read and recap on what has been so far in 2024 and look forward to seeing you at an event soon
Zara Waller Editor-in-chief
Mark Davies GCTMC President &
BADEN CIVIL 2024 SEQ KHANACROSS SERIES
PHOTOS BY ZED PHOTOGRAPHYY & SUES HAPPY SNAPS WRITTEN BY MEDINAH WELLS & ZARA WALLER
After the great success we had in 2023 with the SEQ Khanacross series we were super excited to see it back and bigger for 2024. Now involving 3 different car clubs, welcome Ipswich West Moreton and Murwillumbah Sporting Car Club, across 3 venues, it called for a big year in 2024. Enjoy the read below to catch up on the first 5 rounds so far this year.
SEQ KHANACROSS SERIES ROUND - 1
March tenth rolled around with rain clouds in the distance threatening to put a dampener on the opening round of the Baden Civil SEQ Khanacross Series But a spot of rain never bothered these drivers. There was an excellent turn out for the sold out opening round, with more than half the field being made up of Juniors and more than 20% of the field being female competitors. Jude Livermore and his Nissan Pulsar were a forced to be reckoned with, going home with a heavy neck of medals after taking out the outright win as well as swiping class B and class G. Following very close behind was Dave Micjan in the WRX, who also took out class E. And tailing up the outright top three was John Kelly with his Pulsar Paul Pyyvarra with his Holden Gemini won class A, Darcy Oldham took class C with the Mazda SP23, followed by John Panozzo in a Mitsubishi 380 and Michelle Van Der Wilk in her Honda Civic went home with class F
SEQ KHANACROSS SERIES ROUND - 2
Round two of the Baden Civil SEQ Khanacross series was another sold out event and another stellar event full of loud cars, good friends and some healthy competition Forty two competitors over eight timed runs saw some close competition with only three seconds separating the final podium The Juniors have been making a sweep thus far in the series with Toby Musico taking the outright win in his Subaru WRX followed by Isaac art in The Evo 8 and then Dave Micjan in another WRX making for some very close competition. It was Buster Bailey who won the outright Junior field in the Hyundai Excel, followed closely by Kai Pyyvarra in the Holden Gemini and then Jude Livermore with his Nissan Pulsar
SEQ KHANACROSS SERIES ROUND - 3
July we returned to Tamborine for a show stopper weekend with the ladies taking on the YTG Khanacross and many backing it up for a double header with round 3 of the baden civil SEQ Khanacross series on the Sunday We saw back to back round wins with Toby Musico taking the outright and class E win, followed closely by Dave Micjan in his WRX and John Kelly rounded off the top three in his pulsar also claiming class B win
SEQ KHANACROSS SERIES ROUND - 4
After a postponement due to wet weather, the fourth round of the Baden Civil Khanacross took place down in Murwillumbah With the help of Murwillumbah Sporting Car Club, an excellent day of racing was pu together with the sun blazing and the weather warm We saw Andrew Bostock take out the outright win with juniors Jude Livermore and Buster Bailey chasing close behind to round out the top 3 We also saw
Michelle Van Der Wilk again claimed the top step or the ladies, Jude Livermore took the junior outright with Buster Bailey hot on his heels all day claiming the win for class A. To round off the day we saw John Panozzo taking out class D another successful run from Caitlin Mcmanus taking out the ladies category
SEQ KHANACROSS SERIES ROUND - 5
For our fifth round of the Baden Civil Khanacross club members packed and loaded up their cars and headed out to Ipswich. The Ipswich West Moreton Auto Club (IWMAC) helped us to put together a beautiful day of racing which made for a nice change of scenery and track It was Issac Heart who took out first place outright in his Mitsubishi Evo 8, followed by Alex Niven and then followed very closely by Jude Livermore in his Nissan Pulsar. Alex Niven took home his second trophy of the weekend with his overall first in the Juniors as well as Jude Livermore with second and tailing up the Junior podium was Buster Bailey. Caitlin McManus led the ladies pack in her Hyundai Getz, followed by Michelle Van der Wilk in her Honda Civic and then Ella Pyyvaara in the Holden Gemini Nathan Suchting for class A, Marcus Connelly with class B, Cassandra Garth took out class C, Andrew Pearce for Class D and his second win of the weekend was Issac Heart
BUCCINI TRANSPORT 2024
YTG KHANACROSS
PHOTOS BY ZED PHOTOGRAPHYY
WRITTEN BY MEDINAH WELLS & ZARA WALLER
The morning of the Buccini Transport ‘Yeah the Girls’ (YTG) Khanacross begins with a blazing pink and orange sunrise, a good sign of the day to unfold At 8:30 sharp, the speakers crackle to life, and the senior official calls everyone to the driver meeting.
A sea of women and girls of all ages from all walks of life make up a semi-circle around the check-in tent. As the rules for the day are explained and volunteers make their way to where they need to be, I notice the varying levels of experience evident among this crowd
There are Juniors with race suits tied around their waists, veteran drivers with race boots and helmets slung under their arms, while others sport sneakers and jeans The same can be said for the cars lined up just below the tree line. Classic Holden Geminis are lined up next to Subaru WRXs, while club cars are spotted down the way from the family CX5
The YTG Khanacross event celebrated its first instalment with resounding success, drawing an enthusiastic crowd and showcasing the talents of women in motorsport. Held in mid-july, this grassroots event provided a platform for female drivers to demonstrate their skills in a supportive and competitive environment for all.
The event featured a diverse lineup of participants, from seasoned rally drivers to first-time drivers eager to test their skills on the challenging Khanacross track. The course, designed to test precision, speed, and control, offered a series of tight turns and mixed surfaces, ensuring a thrilling experience for both drivers and spectators.
The Buccini Transport YTG Khanacross raised funds for Endometriosis Australia, a cause close to sponsor Claire Buccini’s heart and a disease that touches the lives of millions of women across the country. The club pledged all funds raised towards the foundation, ran raffles, and took donations.
Throughout the day, competitors tackled the course with determination and fierceness. There were several notable performances, including stunning runs from several young drivers and first-timers who made their debut, showcasing immense potential and promise for the future of women in motorsport. The camaraderie and supportive atmosphere were evident, with competitors cheering each other on and sharing tips and encouragement
This day couldn’t have come together without the careful planning of event coordinator Glenn Brinkman, Sue Richardson, John Keen and the help of all the volunteers and club members who brought the event together With so many competitors running in their first Khanacross, experienced drivers and club members were sought-after help. They were running between cars during runs, not hesitating to offer their guidance and driving tips
As the event concluded, trophies and awards were presented to top performers, but the true victory was the spirit of inclusion and empowerment that defined the day. The "Yeah the Girls" Khanacross continues to be a beacon for women in motorsport, inspiring the next generation of female drivers and solidifying its place as a pivotal event in the grassroots motorsport calendar
2024QUEENSLANDRALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
PHOTOS BY ZED PHOTOGRAPHYY
WRITTEN BY SOPHIE WISELY & ZARA WALLER
As we look towards our last Queensland Rally of the year, the Working Dog Rally Bonalbo, the first four rounds of the season have been filled with victory for our car club
QRC - ROUND 1 - APX SUSPENSION MANUMBAR RALLY
Queensland Rally’s first event in March, the APX Suspension Manumbar Rally saw Glen Brinkman and Jacci Hughes take outright first place in the event They were followed by the crews of Ian Menzies and Robert McGowan and Erik Johnsson and Larisa Biggar Clay Badenoch had an impressive run finishing 4th outright and taking the 2wd class win, also in the Clubman Category, club members Micjan and O’Connor came home with a third place finish.
QRC ROUND 2
QUALITY ACCOUNTING COFFS COAST RALLY
In the last weekend of May, QRC’s Quality Accounting Coffs Coast Rally had new leaders of the event with Ryan Williams and Brad Jones clinching outright victory. Next came Joshua Redhead and Raymond Winwood Smith, with the crew of Johnson and Biggar taking third again in consecutive rallies, tying with Steve Arthur and Phillip Bonser
QRC ROUND 3
ACCENT BENCHTOPS RALLY QUEENSLAND
Round 3 saw the rally move to the Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland in conjunction with the Australian Rally Championship where Calyton Hoy and Andrew Bennett took top spot, while Ryan Williams and Brad Jones scored another top three finish and Joshua Wiedman and Nick Reid rounded out the outright event podium. A notable mention also goes to Van Der Wilk and Brumley who took out second position in the Clubman Category.
QRC - ROUND 4
LAKES HYUNDAI IMBIL RALLY
The most recent rally for the year was the Lakes Hyundai Imbil Rally where Ryan Williams and Brad Jones again topped the event outright to continue their years’ success Behind them was Ian Menzies and Robert McGowan back in second place with Johnsson and Biggar taking another third place to round out the year In the Clubman Category, we saw another impressive effort with Micjin and O’Connor finishing runner-up Fellow club member Clay Badenoch rounded off the 2wd class win
This weekend we turn to the final round of the Queensland Rally Championship with our GCTMC team reviving the Working Dog Rally. With great support from Hemmet Tyres and More, the Rally will venture to Bonalbo for 2-day special with the event kicking off Saturday afternoon with a ceremonial start before getting on the dirt for a 3-heat day on Sunday
This year the event has been taken to the next level with the attraction of some big names in motorsport, such as:
Ex-Subaru Factory Driver Dean Herridege, who competed in 50 International rally events and is now a regular Channel 7 Commentator for the ARC.
‘The Voice of Rally,” Colin Clark. If you have been at the finish line in a WRC event the last decade, chances are the guy holding the microphone was Colin! It’s an honour to host Colin and I’m sure we all will enjoy his commentary throughout the event
Local Gold Coast Superstar, Toby Price, has also chosen our event to enter in where he will be debuting his first Stage Rally in our own, Glen Brinkmann’s KICKASS EVO 9. The 2x Dakar Winner, 9 time Finke Desert Race winner, and Order of Australia Medal recipient will definitely be one to watch!
With guest drivers, spectator points with live commentary, food trucks, free camping and so much more, the excitement is truly building for the final wrap up of the 2024 Queensland Rally Championship Who will we see take the top step? Be there and see the action yourself with the rally based fromm Bonalbo Showgrounds, October 5th and 6th.
The whole GCTMC Team cannot thank all of those involved enough for all the hours of work that have gotten us to where we are and look forward to seeing all the crews, spectators and amazing volunteers out on stage over the weekend.
See you in Bonalbo...
GOLD COAST TWEED MOTORSPORTING CLUB INC
CLUB EXECUTIVE
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
CLUB CAPTAIN
Mark Davies
John Sibley
Gary Reid
Stephen Davies
Greg Reckers
OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS
MOTORSPORT AUS DELEGATE
ALTERNATE MA DELEGATE MEMBERSHIP OFFICER
MEDIA COORDINATOR POINT SCORER
Steven Richardson
Mark Davies
Tony Taylor
Zara Waller
Mick Bruce
CONTACT INFO
All correspondence
Gold Coast Tweed Motorsporting Car Club P O Box 1503 Mudeeraba QLD 4213
Phone: 0433 517 165 (Gary Reid, Secretary)
Email: info@gctmc org au Website: https://gctmc org au Club Meetings: Every 3rd Wednesday - The Back Page, Carrara.