The origin of the BMSC
One cold Canberra winter’s night during 1970 in the Corin Motors showroom (at their original premises on the corner of Newcastle and Collie Streets Fyshwick) the Renault Car Club of Australia – Canberra Branch (RCCC) was born. Seven years later, in July 1977 this club underwent a name change to become the Brindabella Motor Sports Club (BMSC). The club is still running strongly today and, over the years, has produced a number of local, state and national champions in the fields of Rallies, Motorkhanas and Hillclimbs, as well as many successful circuit racers. It therefore seems somewhat ironic that the birth place of the BMSC now houses a bicycle shop!
Background
During early 1970 Corin Motors, the Renault agent in Canberra was selling quite a number of the new Renault R10 sedans. While modestly powered, these cars had good performance with very sporty handling and braking for their day. With four wheel discs, rack and pinion steering and four speed floor shift, combined with good economy and light weight, their performance was well ahead of the mainly drum braked, three speed column shift, sloppy steering boxed opposition of the larger and more ungainly Holdens, Falcons and Valiants of the day.
Understandably customers wanted to take advantage of the sportiness of their new Renaults by using them in motorsport events in conjunction with other like-minded owners. Thus, with the assistance of Corin Motors and a few enthusiastic owners, word was circulated that a new car club was to be formed.
A couple of my mates had purchased new Renault R10s at that time and they encouraged myself and several other friends to attend this inaugural meeting. I think the meeting may have been chaired by a representative of the Renault Car Club of Australia (RCCA) with whom we became affiliated. Each of the forty attendees was required to stand up, introduce themselves and describe their choice of vehicle. All was going well – “I’m David Coles and I drive a Renault 10”, “I’m Terry Sellwood and I drive a Renault 10”, “I’m Wally Pywell and I drive a Renault 10” etc., until my mate next to me got up and said “I’m Geoff Philpott and I drive a Volkswagen”!!!! When the booing and hissing had finally died down it was my turn – “I’m John Stewart and I drive an FJ Holden”!!!!! This was followed by “I’m Russell Stenhouse and I drive a Holden Monaro GTS 350! Perhaps not exactly what Corin Motors and the RCCA had in mind. Anyway, vehicle variety was introduced on the first night of what became informally known as the Renault Car Club of Canberra (RCCC). That variety of vehicles and motorsport interests continued to diversify within the club and ultimately led to the name change to the Brindabella Motor Sports Club (BMSC) seven years later in July 1977.
Motorsport
Initially the RCCC ran treasure hunts, economy runs and navigation events but soon became very strongly motorkhana oriented. Rallying followed, initially in the form of novice events, which could be entered in road cars on road tyres using the standard trip meter in the original speedo to measure distance.
The first rally I entered was in my supercharged EH Holden complete with road tyres and drum brakes! The now well known motoring writer, Paul Gover, was heard to ask at the time if this was Harry Firth’s secret weapon. Needless to say it didn’t turn out to be any secret weapon, but we had a lot of fun before it expired with mechanical problems. I also seem to recall that we headed Gover on the road at one stage before our eventual DNF.
The RCCC, under the direction of Peter “Flash” Flanagan, introduced the concept of a Dawn Motorkhana held on ANZAC Day each year. This event continued to be run very successfully for many years by the BMSC as well. Sometimes, while standing around the fire waiting for dawn so the event could commence, it was necessary to partake of a warming beverage (not always coffee) and this occasionally led to some silly ideas such as blindfold motorkhana. It was still dark, the driver was blindfolded, the navigator was not necessarily sober, and only verbal instructions could be given. The driver felt certain that his infallible sense of direction would assist. But after the first flag he became disoriented and had to rely totally on the navigator, in whom he had little faith anyway. A recipe for great fun and also potential disaster, as a few near misses against the fence could testify. Eventually the day finally dawned and the real motorkhana competition could commence on the still frosty grass.
The motorsport calendar for the first six months of 1971 was listed in Spokes as follows:
Jan 17 - Motorkhana
Jan 30-1 Feb - Renault Interclub Challenge at Jugiong
Feb 7 - Economy Run
Mar 7 - Lap Dash
Apr 22 - Novice Trial (i.e. a Rally in today’s terms)
May 23 - Treasure Hunt
Jun 5-7 - Motorkhana, Trial, Concours, Lap Dash, Social event.
Jun 13 - Motorkhana.
It seems that we had more events at that time than we do now.
The event at Jugiong involved competing against Renault car clubs from around Australia over three days during the January long weekend. The club that scored the most points won the event. Unfortunately some clubs were a bit more purist and took it more seriously than others so they were a bit surprised to find V8 Holdens and other assorted non-Renault machines running in the same event as a beetle backed Renault 750cc or a Dauphine. I distinctly recall noticing a number of deckchairs being hurriedly moved backwards out of range as I appeared sideways out of a cloud of dust taking a very wide line in a motorkhana in my 5 litre Holden.
After all the motorsport events had been completed for the day we often adjourned to the Jugiong Pub and took up our positions on the upstairs verandah with a cool drink. Now Jugiong only has one street, so in order for the local lads to “do laps” in their vehicles they had to do a U-turn opposite the pub. This resulted in some good natured heckling from the upstairs verandah which was not always taken in the spirit in which it was intended. One time the locals returned a few minutes later with a rifle and aimed it at us from the opposite park! Only one of our number was drunk enough to continue heckling so we quickly subdued him as we lay on the floor out of sight of the potential shooters - if not actually out of range! Fortunately the locals quickly moved on, apparently satisfied that they shown those city folk a thing or two about life in the bush.
Spokes
The very first SPOKES magazine of the RCCC was dated October 1970 and advised that CAMS affiliation had been granted in principle on 23 October 1970 so motorsport activities could officially commence. The magazine of the Renault Car Club of Australia, of which we were the Canberra sub-branch, was and still is entitled “THE HUB”. If my memory serves me correctly, we therefore concluded that our magazine should be the spokes of this hub. This also enabled the editor to call himself the “Spokesman”. It all seemed quite clever at the time.
The October 1970 issue of Spokes also contains the names of the forty foundation members of the club. To my knowledge, at least seven of these members are still actively involved in motorsport in 2010, 38 years later. In fact, three of us are currently still competing as drivers in hillclimbs and lap dashes, while two or three are currently planning a comeback to the driver’s seat. In addition, there are many more early members of RCCC/BMSC still competing today as members of SDMA (the Hillclimb club) and other clubs such as Bathurst Light Club.
The first SPOKES magazine of the BMSC was dated August 1977 and contained the Minutes of the General meeting dated 5 July 1977 at which the name change was proposed and carried.
I hope readers of this brief history of the BMSC can also continue to enjoy motorsport nearly forty years after they have commenced their participation.
John
Foundation Member of RCCC/BMSC
Life Members
Neal Bates
Mike Bell*
Sarah Bell
Adrian Dudok
Beb Fox*
John Malycha
Fiona McCubbin-Mee
Stephen Mee
Sharon Pratt
Wally Pywell
Jon Waterhouse
Phil Thornburn
Martin Holberton
*Deceased
BMSC Patrons
Len Cummine*
Bill O’Brien
Neal Bates
*Deceased.
Honour Roll
1978 – Greg Carr – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
1983 – Mick Harker – NSW Rally Champion (Co-Driver)
1987 – Greg Carr – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
1987 – Fred Gocentas – Australian Rally Champion (Co-Driver)
1989 – Greg Carr – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
1989 – Mick Harker – Australian Rally Champion (Co-Driver)
1989 – Ron Cremen – NSW Rally Champion (Driver)
1993 – Neal Bates – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
1994 – Neal Bates – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
1995 – Neal Bates – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
1996 – Tony Brandon – Australian Formula 2 Rally Champion (Co-Driver)
1996 – Rick Bates – NSW Rally Champion (Driver)
1998 – Rick Bates – Australian Formula 2 Rally Champion (Driver)
1999 – Col Trinder – NSW Rally Champion (Co-Driver)
2004 – Mitch Heffernan – NSW Rally Champion (Driver)
2008 – Neal Bates – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
2009 – Matt Sosimenko – NSW Clubman Rally Series winner (Co-Driver)
2009 – Stephen “Fro” Horobin – NSW Hyundai Excel Rally Series winner (Driver)
2009 – Kirrilee Gentleman – NSW Hyundai Excel Rally Series winner (Co-Driver)
2010 – Kate Murphy – NSW Hyundai Excel Rally Series winner (Co-Driver)
2012 – Mick Harding – NSW Rally Champion (Driver)
2012 – Kirrilee Gentleman – NSW Rally Champion (Co-Driver)
2012 – Rhys Pinter – NSW Hyundai Excel Rally Series winner (Driver)
2014 – Meng Chung – NSW Rally Champion (Driver)
2014 – Josh Hyde – NSW Hyundai Excel Rally Series winner (Driver)
2016 – Molly Taylor – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
2017 – Stephen Mee – Australian ARC2 - 2WD Champion (Driver)
2017 – Matthew Harriott – Australian ARC2 - 2WD Champion (Co-Driver)
2017 – Jim Gleeson – NSW Rally Champion (Co-Driver)
2017 – Trevor Stilling – Australian Classic Rally Challenge winner (Driver)
2017 – Tony Brandon – Australian Classic Rally Challenge winner (Co-Driver)
2018 – Andrew Penny – Australian Rally Championship ARC2 winner (Driver)
2018 – Rhys Llewellyn – Australian Rally Championship ARC2 winner (Co-Driver)
2019 – Jim Gleeson – NSW Rally Champion (Co-Driver)
2019 – Harry Bates – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
2022 – Lewis Bates – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
2023 – Harry Bates – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
2024 – Harry Bates – Australian Rally Champion (Driver)
2024 – Peter Dimmock - Australian Rally Championship Classic Cup 2WD Champion (Driver)
2024 – Paul Bennett - Australian Rally Championship Classic Cup 2WD Champion (Co-Driver)
2024 – James Thornburn – East Coast Classic Rally Series 4WD Champion (Co-Driver)
2024 – Zach Bates – Dunlop Super2 Supercars Champion
Notable achievements of members:
1997 – Rick Bates – Winner of the Panama to Alaska Rally
2004 – Peter Taylor and Trevor Stilling finished 10th Outright (and 8th in Class) in the London to Sydney rally
2006 – Rick Bates – Winner of the Carrera Sudamericana Rally (South America)
2007 – Neal Bates – Winner of the Phil Irving Award (for engineering excellence)
2008 – Colin Trinder – Appointed Chairman of the Australian Rally Commission (ARCom)
2010 – Adrian Dudok – Awarded the CAMS Service Star
2014 – Neal Bates – Winner of the Peter Brock Medal (for his contribution to motor sport in the community)
2014 – Meng Chung – Meng is the first NSW State champion to have won the title in a 2WD car since 1991
2016 – Phil Thornburn – CAMS NSW Official of the Year
2016 – Molly Taylor – First female to win the ARC driver’s title
2017 – Harry Bates – youngest driver to win a round of the Australian Rally Championship
2020 – Harry Bates – Winner of the Peter Brock Medal (for his contribution to motor sport)
2022 – Maisie Place – Winner of the Motorsport Australia Coral Taylor Award for most outstanding achievement by a female in NSW/ACT
Brad Mansfield Club Person of the Year Award
The Brad Mansfield Club Person of the Year Award is voted on by BMSC Club members to recognise a member that they believe has done a lot for the club, not only for the current year but for their time with the club.
1977 – Chris Heaney
1978 – Chris Heaney
1979 – Andy Millett
1980 – Greg Lawrence and B Douch
1981 – Wally Pywell
1982 – Kevin Lovatt and Brian Reynolds
1983 – Bob Woolcott
1984 – Wayne Kenny
1985 – Mike Morris
1986 – Sharon Pratt
1987 – Dallas Dogger
1988 – Ted Faulds
1989 – Lyndall Drake
1990 – Ron Hall
1991 – Andrew Struik
1992 – Ivan Matthews
1993 – Lucy Glendhill
1994 – Adrian Dudok and Duncan Payne
1995 – Fiona McCubbin-Mee
1996 – Chester Crozier
1997 – Dougal Wilson
1998 – Col Trinder
1999 – David Stephens
2000 – John Green
2001 – John Malycha
2002 – Adrian Dudok
2003 – Fiona McCubbin-Mee
2004 – Martin Holberton
2005 – Michael Barrett and Thomas Barrett
2006 – Julie Lucas
2007 – Martin Holberton
2008 – Cheryl Holberton
2009 – Beb Fox
2010 – Beb Fox
2011 – Adrian Coppin
2012 – Michael Taylor
2013 – Martin Holberton
2014 – Martin Holberton
2015 – Peter Taylor
2016 – Phil Thornburn
2017 – Adrian Dudok
2018 – Martin Holberton
2019 – Martin Holberton
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2022 – Cheryl Holberton
2023 – Cheryl Holberton
Peter Bamman Memorial Shield
The Shield is named in honour of rally navigator, Peter Bamman who was killed in a road accident in January 1979. Peter had been a regular navigator for Bill Palmer. Both had rallied in the eastern States and the ACT. Peter had been highly regarded in motor sport circles and had directed many rallies in the ACT, NSW, Tasmania and Victoria.
Awarded to the highest placed all BMSC crew, in the highest profile BMSC event. These have been ACT Regional Rally Series events, NSW State Championship events, Australian Championship events and FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship events.
1979 – P Gaudron / G Pigram
1980 – P Clark / M Harker
1981 – B Terrill / W Brocklebank
1982 – P Clark / M Harker
1983 – I Greenwood / R Greenwood
1983 – H Roppola / M Harker
1983 – P Lonergan / D Jorgensen
1984 – P Clark / M Harker
1985 – P Clark / W Kenny
1986 – N Belfield / M Taylor
1987 – N Bates / D Jorgensen
1988 – T Stilling / M Harker
1989 – M Morris / W Kenny
1990 – Not Awarded
1991 – L Gill / M Harker
1992 – Not Awarded
1993 – T Stilling / T Brandon
1994 – T Stilling / F Brookhouse
1995 – J Waterhouse / A Crawford
1996 – G Vaughan / S Causer
1997 – P Taylor / C Trinder
1998 – K Willett / T Batten
1999 – T MacFarlane / D MacFarlane
2000 – M Banyard / N Vardos
2001 – K Willett / G Austin
2002 – R Nunn / M Gentleman
2003 – J Stilling / D Stephens
2004 – J Stilling / D Stephens
2005 – J Stilling / M Gentleman
2006 – T Barrett / M Barrett
2007 – M Barrett / T Barrett
2008 – M Barrett / T Barrett
2009 – M Barrett / T Batten
2010 – J Stilling / A Crawford
2011 – P Taylor / M Taylor
2012 – J Parker / T Batten
2013 – M Patton / B Webb
2014 – A Coppin / T Batten
2015 – M Patton / B Webb
2016 – M Patton / B Webb
2017 – M Patton / B Webb
2018 – S Collison / J Burgemeister
2019 – M Patton / B Webb
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2022 – M Harding / J Thornburn
2023 – M Harding / J Thornburn
Sportsperson of the Year
In 2010, the Club introduced a perpetual trophy for the Sports Person of the Year Award. It is awarded for Dedication, Commitment and enthusiasm for competing in their sport, without losing vision that they are doing it for fun, and compete with a firm sense of camaraderie and goodwill. Historically to the person who has done a lot of events at all levels of competition.
2008 – Julie Boorman
2009 – David Stephens
– Mick Gentleman
2010 – Jim Gleeson
2011 – Ray Baker
2012 – Mick Patton
2013 – Mick Harding
2014 – Meng Chung
2015 – Harry Bates
2016 – Harry Bates
2017 – Stephen Mee
2018 – Andrew Penny
2019 – Lewis Bates
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2022 – Zach Bates
2023 – Zach Bates
Inflight Service Award
The Award was initiated in 2002 by Michael Gentleman as a way of recognising the people who work in the service park and have gone beyond the call of duty to make sure that people are always out there competing. The trophy is a spinner off the engine to a DC-3 Dakota aircraft.
2002 – Ian Moon
2003 – Paul McLean
2004 – Peter Kobold
2005 – Michael Plasto
2006 – Michael Taylor (Snr)
2007 – QWRX Motorsports Team
2008 – Matt Searle
2009 – Steve Nightingale
2010 – Stephen “Fro” Horobin
2011 – Tim Batten
2012 – Sam Elliot
2013 – Lance Arundel
2014 – Russell Battisson
2015 – Russel Winks
– Stephen Hodgkin
– Jean Pappilaud
2016 – Matt Bender
2017 – Steve Millar
2018 – Jon Waterhouse and Peter Taylor
2019 – Neal Bates Motorsport Team
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2022 – Peter Taylor
2023 – Lance Arundel
Rookie Co-Driver of the Year
This award was initiated in 2005 by Matt Sosimenko as a way of recognising new co-drivers in the sport.
2005 – Julie Boorman
2006 – Renee Jeffery
2007 – Damien Hawkes
2008 – Kate Murphy
2009 – Ed Lee
2010 – Michael Taylor (Jnr)
2011 – Rhys Pinter
2012 – Dave Ballard
2013 – Harry Bates
2014 – Reece Lee
2015 – Ellie Yates
2016 – Tom Lavis
2017 – Peter Hellwig
2018 – Julia Clark
2019 - Luke Laffan
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2022 – Sebastian Pierce
2023 – Zac Thornthwaite
Rookie Driver of the Year
This award is for new comers to the sport who have taken on some new challenges and have impressed.
2008 – Chris Hellessey
2009 – Adrian Coppin
2010 – Julie Boorman
2011 – Andrew Buerckner
2012 – Janelle Ballard
2013 – David Wright
2014 – Harry Bates
2015 – Kim Day
2016 – Peter Lavis
2017 – Lewis Bates
2018 – Shane Fahey
2019 – Chris Stilling
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2022 – Jason Thornthwaite
2023 – Jason Thornthwaite
Co-Driver of the Year
Historically this is awarded to the co-driver that’s done the most events, or something outstanding or unusual - but also for being part of the ‘crew’ aspect of rallying.
1998 – Lyndall Drake
1999 – Col Trinder
2000 – Paul Bennett
2001 – Tim Batten
2002 – Paul Bennett
2003 – John de Sousa
2004 – David Stephens
2005 – Ray Baker
2006 – Tristan Kent
2007 – Julie Boorman
2008 – Kate Murphy
2009 – Kirrilee Gentleman
2010 – Carolyn Wilson
2011 – Tim Batten
2012 – Tim Batten
2013 – Ray Baker
2014 – Bernie Webb
2015 – Bernie Webb
2016 – Kirra Penny
2017 – Jim Gleeson
2018 – Rhys Llewellyn
2019 – Rhys Llewellyn
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2022 – James Thornburn
2023 – James Thornburn
Official of the Year
The Official of the Year Award could go to all the officials who get out in the dust, the wind, the cold and the heat, but that’s not possible. Members are asked to nominate the officials that they see constantly putting in the hard work to ensure the rallies we run are well organised and to the highest standards possible. In 2011, the BMSC Committee initiated a perpetual trophy in recognition of the years of service given to the motorsport community by Beb Fox.
2007 – Martin Holberton
2008 – Jack Hoogland
2009 – Kirsti Murdoch
2010 – Paul Marando
2011 – John Malycha
2012 – Chris Cunningham
– Bill Murphy
– Vicky Murphy
2013 – Julie Lucas
– Jane Ward
2014 – James Clark and family
2015 – Di Stephens
2016 – WICEN (ACT)
2017 – Mick and Helen Nicholls
2018 – Kirsti Murdoch
2019 – Phil Thornburn
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2022 – Tycho Petrie
2023 – Phil Thornburn
Encouragement Award
The Encouragement Award is presented to someone who’s shown a glimmer of hope, to a person who wants to be around for a long-time, but needs a bit of encouragement to keep them going.
2008 – Tristan Kent
2009 – Andrew Buerckner
2010 – Adrian Coppin
2011 – Sean Creegan
2012 – Janelle Ballard
2013 – Tim Baxter
2014 – Kim Day
2015 – Simeon Turk
2016 – Scott Simmonds
2017 – Julia Clark
2018 – Ed Krisenthal-Hunter
2019 – James Dimmock
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2022 – Daniel Smith
2023 – Chris Stilling
– Jason Thornthwaite
Canberra Times ACT Rally Champions (Gold Cup)
1973 – P Lonergan / A Denney
1974 – W Pywell / P Bowers
1975 – G Bevan / S Stewart / J MacDonald
1976 – P Gaudron / G Pigram
1977 – S Grigg / L McGrath
1978 – C Gabriel / J Willis
1979 – T Vince / G Pigram
1980 – C Gabriel / G Wolff
1981 – P Cole / G Norman
1982 – Not Awarded
1983 – J Waterhouse / T Brandon
1984 – N Belfield / M Taylor
1985 – 1990 – Not Awarded
1991 – J Waterhouse / R Whitty
1992 – P Taylor / C Trinder
1993 – K Somers / M Gentleman
1994 – T Stilling / M Gentleman
1995 – J Stilling / M Gentleman
1996 – J Boucher / T Batten
1997 – J Boucher / T Batten
1998 – K Willett / P Bennett
1999 – G Croker / J Stilling
2000 – C Waller / N Vardos
2001 – P Skinner / D Lane
2002 – R Nunn / M Gentleman
2003 – J Stilling / D Stephens
2004 – J Stilling / D Stephens / T Batten
2005 – K Dirickx / T Barrett
2006 – J Stilling / F Brookhouse
2007 – R Leitis / R Mules
2008 – R Day / M Forbes
2009 – M Barrett / K Martin
2010 – J Eastman / T Caldwell
2011 – B Cullen / M Cullen
2012 – J Parker / K Gentleman
2013 – M Harding / J Boorman
2014 – P Vlandis / S Hodgkin
2015 – R Winks / E Yates
2016 – R Winks / S Hodgkin
2017 – B Cullen / M McMinn
2018 – M Harding / M McMinn
2019 – A Penny / R Llewellyn
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – B Cullen / M McMinn
2022 – M Harding / L Pierce
2023 – B Cullen / M McMinn
ACT Clubman Series
1992 – John Holster
1993 – Karl Somers
1994 – Michael Barrett
1995 – David Cook
1996 – Matt Dyne
1997 – Jason Wall
1998 – Gavin Croker
1999 – Campbell Waller
2000 – Robert Sharp
2001 – Geoff Stewart
2002 – Peter Ewing
2003 – Russel Winks
2004 – Nathan Senior
2005 – Bede Austin
2006 – Peter Jeroe
2007 – Matt Thompson
2008 – Ian Jeffery
2009 – Dave Boyd
2010 – Mike Behnke
2011 – Andrew Buerckner
2012 – Darren McLanders
2013 – Denis Stevens
2014 – Meng Chung
2015 – Nathan Breese
2016 – Neil Roediger
2017 – Richard Thomas
2018 – Stephen “Fro” Horobin
2019 – Kelly Caruana
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – James Dimmock
2022 – Blake Stevens
2023 – Neil Roediger
ACT Novice Series
2000 – Guy Brown
2001 – Matthew Austin
2002 – Matt Thompson
2003 – Stephen “Fro” Horobin
2004 – Russell Battisson
2005 – Andrew Doyle
2006 – Kate Bowler
2007 – Ian Wilson
2008 – Ryan Price
2009 – Damien Powell
2010 – Julie Boorman
2011 – Andrew Buerckner
2012 – Rhys Pinter
2013 – David Wright
2014 – Josh Hyde
2015 – Simeon Turk
2016 – Kim Day
2017 – Andy Pierce
2018 – Wayne Borman
2019 – Chris Stilling
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – James Dimmock
2022 – Jacob Umback
2023 – Jason Thornthwaite
ACT Silver Cup
Award is open to two-wheel drive vehicles only.
2003 – Mark Sessions / Martino Ellero
2004 – Brett Wright / Roberts Edwards / Lucia Werner
2005 – Claude Murray / Lucia Werner
2006 – Claude Murray / Matt James
2007 – Claude Murray / Lizzy Ferme
2008 – Matt Thompson / Kirrilee Gentleman
2009 – Russel Winks / Kirrilee Gentleman
2010 – Jon Waterhouse / Carolyn Wilson
2011 – Andrew Buerckner / Nick Vardos
2012 – Russel Winks / Stephen Hodgkin
2013 – Russel Winks / Stephen Hodgkin
2014 – Meng Chung / Stephen Hodgkin
2015 – Russel Winks / Stephen Hodgkin
2016 – Russel Winks / Stephen Hodgkin
2017 – Russel Winks / Leigh Brimson-Pierce
2018 – Stephen “Fro” Horobin / Michael "MT" Taylor
2019 – Russel Winks / Stephen Hodgkin
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 – Mike Behnke / Ellie Yates
2022 – Meng Chung / Peter Stringfellow
2023 – Neil Roediger / Alison Lawarik
Nathan Walker Memorial Award
Nathan was going to rally events from around 3 years of age, basically officiating with his family on road closures to start with, then occasionally on controls when he could.
On Saturday, 25 March 2006, Nathan (aged 13 1/2) was with his family while they manned the flying finish on a stage at the Captains Flat Rally, after being sick with the flu for a week. He wanted to go out with them (knowing that they'd be leaving at silly o'clock) and helped at the control, and his last words were "I had the best day ever". Nathan was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident later that day.
In December 2006, a Perpetual Award was created by the ACT Rally Community to honour Nathan. The criteria for the award are that the recipient has consistently provided a positive contribution to the sport; they have not previously received this award; and they are not recipients of other major awards for the year (both series and club).
2006 – Mike Behnke
2007 – Martin Holberton
2008 – Simon Leigh
2009 – Paul Marando
2010 – Matt Thompson
2011 – Charles Wannop
2012 – Adrian Dudok
2013 – John Malycha
2014 – Mick Patton
2015 – Neal Bates
2016 – Mick and Helen Nicholls
2017 – Christine Bethwaite
2018 – Russel Winks and Kim Winks
2019 – Mat Boorman
2020 – Kirsti Murdoch
2021 – Dave and Janelle Ballard
2022 – Debbie Quirk
2023 – Geniene Webster
Rallye Des Femmes
The event is an Introductory Special Stage rally and is the only rally in Australia organised specifically for female drivers. The event was first held in 1977 and has been held most years since. As an Introductory Rally, the event is timed to the whole minute – which has resulted in multiple winners in 2007 and 2016.
The 2016 Australian Rally Champion, Molly Taylor, is a past winner of the event. Local driver, Cath Donohue, has won the event for the last seven times that it has been held. The rally has regularly attracted a large field of all-female crews. A perpetual trophy has been kindly supplied by Capital Steering and Suspension, Fyshwick.
1977 – Judy Scorpecci/Terry Bain
1978 – Jenny Whitting/
1979 – Barbara Beveridge/John Fraser
1980 –
1981 –
1982 – Jenny Belfield/Mike Taylor
1983 – Linda Stevens/Denis Stevens
1984 – Jenny Belfield/Mike Taylor
1985 – Jenny Belfield/Col Trinder
1986 –
1987 –
1988 – Shirley Clarke/Peter Clark
1989 –
1990 – Jayne Annabel/Peter Vincent
1991 –
1992 –
1993 – ** Event didn’t run **
1994 – Jo Cadman/Kim Martin
1995 – Lindsay Atkinson/Judy Jesse
1996 – ** Event didn't run **
1997 – Lindsay Atkinson/Shaun Atkinson
1998 – ** Event didn't run **
1999 – ** Event didn't run **
2000 – Cathy Donohue/Fiona Crimmins
2001 – Terrie Hornby/Jody Newett
2002 – ** Event didn’t run **
2003 – Lizzy Ferme/John Paul De Sousa
2004 – Jo Cadman/Colin Hill
2005 – Molly Taylor/Mick Ryan
2006 – ** Event didn’t run **
2007 – Cathy Donohue/David Stephens
2007 – Kate Bowler/Rodger Pedersen
2007 – Kelly Caruana/Rob Moran
2008 – Cathy Donohue/Kate Bowler
2009 – Cathy Donohue/Renee Jeffery
2010 – ** Event didn’t run (weather)**
2011 – Cathy Donohue/Michael Barrett
2012 – Cathy Donohue/Kate Bowler
2013 – ** Event didn’t run **
2014 – ** Event didn’t run **
2015 – Cathy Donohue/Kate Heydon
2016 – Cathy Donohue/Kate Heydon
2016 – Bethany Cullen/Mel McMinn
2017 – Bethany Cullen/Mel McMinn
2018 – Cathy Donohue/Michael Barrett
2018 – Bethany Cullen/Mel McMinn
2019 – ** Event didn’t run **