Watch out CAMS, here comes Australian Autosport Alliance!

[Duncan]

Hey All,

I saw some info in Motorsport news the other day, Bob Jane has set up an organisation called "Australian Autosport Alliance" in competition.

From what I can find out it offers track and competitor licenses, the same as CAMS, and has insurance backing. And of course, they are cheaper

I guess they are not part of the international FIA since CAMs are the official body for Aus.

Should be interesting to see what happens. Garry from Wakefield park is apparently the secretary/treasurer, I'm going to try and catch up with him tomorrow to find out more.

Their (empty) website is here: www.aaa.org.au

[Duncan]

And here is their launch press release:

AUSTRALIAN AUTO-SPORT ALLIANCE INC.

BRINGING THE FUN-FACTOR BACK INTO CIRCUIT-BASED MOTOR SPORT. REDUCING BUREAUCRACY, REDUCING FEES AND CHARGES

The President of the Australian Auto-sport Alliance Inc, Mick Ronke, said today that the Australian Auto-sport Alliance Inc, an incorporated, non-profit association, had been established as a service provider, dedicated to joining with the Car Clubs and motor sport enthusiasts to put the fun-factor back into circuit-based motor sport.

Mick Ronke said that the Australian Auto-sport Alliance has been formed by motor racing enthusiasts, to reduce the cost of participation in circuit motor sport, to substantially reduce the bureaucratic red tape associated with running such events and to provide an efficient and fair deal for all motor sport stakeholders. The Australian Auto-sport Alliance is providing a new structure for motor sport clubs and competitors, which will be a viable alternative when making the choice in organising and conducting circuit events.

He announced that the Australian Auto-sport Alliance Public Risk, Personal Accident and Professional Indemnity Insurance scheme was now in place and that the Australian Auto-sport Alliance was ready to offer a substantial alternative to the Australian motorsport community. In announcing this, he advised that major UK insurers, Marketform (Lloyds of London Syndicate 2468), Catlin (Lloyds of London Syndicate 2003) and CNA (Europe) (Company Market) in the UK and, in Australia, QBE Mercantile Mutual were involved in providing the various insurances.

Australian Auto-sport Alliance circuit members will provide Car Clubs with a convenient, simple and economical "One-Stop-Shop" for Clubs to organise their events, with substantial savings on permits, insurance, licences, fuel passbooks, and the other necessary documentation, rules and regulations for their events.

Mick Ronke said that the Australian Auto-sport Alliance policy, announced last week, was to offer permits for events at Australian Auto-sport Alliance member circuits, which were 33% cheaper than the alternative and licences which were, at least, 50% cheaper for motor sport participants.

Mick Ronke said, as President he was fortunate to have Bob Jane as Vice-president, with his substantial background in motorsport championship competition, ownership of Calder Park Raceway and Adelaide International Raceway and successful franchisor associated with the Bob Jane T-mart chain. Mick Ronke was also pleased to have Garry Willmington as Secretary/Treasurer. Garry is a long-time and continuing competitor, former mechanical and re-build workshop proprietor and now the incredibly successful Manager of the Wakefield Park Racing Circuit in NSW.

Mick Ronke said that circuits and car clubs have a common and vested interest in increasing the usage of circuits. Without an active club and enthusiast support base, circuits will become economically unviable and cease to operate, Clubs will lose their appeal and the opportunity to use circuit venues.

The Australian Auto-sport Alliance Inc. Board is committed to a policy of transparency and a fair go for Australian motor sport. Full details on insurance and competition rules and regulations will be available for inspection, by all competitors and officials, at circuit members’ offices.

For further details, please contact Mick Ronke, President, on 03.5766.4235 or Phillip Smiles, CEO, on 02.9975.6866.

[Silver-Arrowz]

so can you have both? Like cams and AAA license? be good to have both.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Is the AAA only for NSW, or they planning on having branches elsewhere?

[Duncan]

AAA is national, and you can hold both AAA and CAMs licenses....I think most ppl would have to since there aren't many AAA events....

As I understand it AAA was formed when Calder Park's track license was revoked, they would have had to close it unless they found alternative source of insurance.

But the real opportunity is for running "club" type events.

For example, if we want to run a skid pan day by the club in NSW we need insurance (so execs aren't personally liable for a problem.) To get insurance we get CAMS affiliation. To get a CAMS permit, we need a Clerk of the Course and 2x Stewards, which we aint got......

On the other hand, when HCC run their days down at Wakefield park, they use a "Wakefield permit" - the track already had their own, non CAMs insurance. So they didn't need the CoC, stewards etc to run the day.

Bottom line is, as long as they can keep the insurance backing, this can make it *heaps* easier to run a basic motorsport event

[GTRgeoff]

Good to see something done about Cretins Against Motor Sport (CAMS) and their empire building, V8 Supercar loving attitude. You would think no-one else races. I've had CAMS licencing on and off since '86 and I begrudge them every penny 'cause they just make it harder and harder. Only do club speed events now.

[Duncan]

skylinegeoff, I agree totally, those guys sure look after the big boys at the expense of all other racing, clubs get bugger all support putting events together. The main bonus as a club is the insurance is still relitively cheap.

[red900ss]

It's still expensive for a small club like ours Duncan.

Maybe AAA is what we need when CAMS gets even more expensive. Do you know if it's acceptable at E/Creek and Oran?

[RallyMad]

Yeah and all we need now is for someone to start something up for all of us small rally clubs.