The ARDC is not only our strategic Partner at Sydney Motorsport Park but also the landlord. The Club’s commitment to growth in the interests of the motor sport community has already brought big beneficial changes. Think of the terrific night racing! And it has been a generous host to us since 2019, a social good. Now we see the large new developments at the eastern end of the grandstand near our home building, the ‘AMIP’.
The new Australian Motorsport Innovation Precinct or AMIP is a very visible feature of our landscape and will be fully operational very soon. Our congratulations and thanks go to ARDC President Andrew Leithhead, his co-Directors and the great executive team led by CEO Glenn Matthews.
We were guests at the ARDC’s ‘Stakeholder Forum’ on 24th March when Glenn Matthews, Peter Larum and John Moore introduced the detailed plans for the AMIP and for the newly designated Club Zone. This will be a very large area around the western parts of the Sydney Motorsport Park. It was, and is, exciting for our Foundation to be in the frame not only as a participant in the AMIP programs. By design we are located at the very gateway of the Club Zone. Stay tuned.
Another big shout-out to our recent guest Eli Solomon, one of our international colleagues from Singapore. Eli was down under for the Phillip Island Classic then spend many days in Sydney and one in Dubbo. He addressed our Volunteers at our home base on Wednesday 15th March and told us just why he was visiting Dubbo the following day — to check on a rather special race car which he has under restoration in that fair city. Surely we need an article from Eli on that one. He is a great contributor, you can read his stories on the website, and he gave us a copy of his major book on the history of the Singapore Grand Prix. He is a racer, we may see him here again this year.
About some books we have that might be new to you. There are reviews on our site from Volunteers in our AMHF’s aviation community who populate our ‘Nancy Bird Walton Room’. Ian Debenham has written on the recently published history of the Empire Flying Boats operated in the 1930s by QANTAS. He has also reviewed a book on the people who restored the Lockheed Constellation now held by HARS at Albion Park – the only flying Connie in the world at present. Then our new-ish Volunteer Garry Pritchard has taken the lead in reviewing the life of the pioneer Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos Dumont. That brave man in the Victorian era developed powered balloons and later some of the first heavier-than-air planes. All very much part of the motor heritage we now study.
As we have the Easter break and then autumn and winter in view, I do hope to see more of our Supporters coming to our home base to contribute skills and time as Volunteers. Help is wanted in the many different things we are doing. Maybe working up our new online database, or assisting Tom Wheelwright get around our many clubs on the important independent study of the value of our classic and heritage industry. Perhaps working with Andrew Moore and friends on the unique Graham Howard collection. Reviewing books or magazines or brochures for our supporters. Or getting with Phil Whitton sorting our big library of bike materials ….. whatever suits your passion. We do reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic. So please come help.
Hugh King
Chairman
April 2023
