CLUB HISTORY
The Whitsunday Sporting Car Club (WSCC) was formed in October 1995 by people interested in Motor Sport, Dirt Racing and Rallying. Rallying was the preference, and the Club was then formed and incorporated by Peter & Lyn Miller, Lindsay Jackson and Ross Angelo.
As the Club increased in Members and events (both dirt and bitumen), it was clear they needed to secure land to host races and Club premises. In 2004, the Club approached the Whitsunday Regional Council to secure land for Motor Sport events and a Club House.
After much work and negotiations, the Council purchased land in 2006 from the Dray family in Lascelles Drive, Gunyarra. They offered up three leases to the Dirt Riders Club, WSCC and a Motor Bike Club (known today as the WMSC). The lease for the WSCC was formally signed and approved on 2 July 2007 with the option to renew for a further 20 year lease.
The Council fenced the land perimeter and installed water and power to the gate and the Club had the power and water connected to the land and the buildings. The land was very raw ex cattle land, but the Club Members’ vision soon started to bear fruit and the track was born in 2007 and continues to improve each year.
The original Club Members designed the track to house similar features to the Langley Park track in WA. The track would incorporate a bridge, an underpass, a flyover, a skid pan in the centre of the oval and a track to include a Rally Cross section for future events.
Our late Member, Rick Shute, designed and made a model of the track, which is currently on display at the WSCC Club House. From this model, the Members were able to scale the dimensions up to fit the 25 acres of land available, and promptly began making their vision a reality.
Using primitive equipment, the Members ‘drew the track’ on the land, roughened the track with a 4×4 and smudge bar and finally, cut in the track with a very old dozer borrowed from friends and created the track we see today.
In the late 1990s and mid 2000s, the Club’s fraternity grew via many strong friendships at the Townsville Club and they shared many great events and rallies on the land.
The WSCC’s facility is housed at Tonker Park, respectfully named in honour of ‘Tonker’, one of the Club’s close brothers from Townsville. Tonker was a gentle giant of a man, sadly taken far too early in a car accident while returning home to Townsville from Brisbane after a rally event.
The Club’s Magazine, Full Noise, had a wonderful editor Mim Crase, who put together a great publication (in conjunction with the Members), that looked at the fun side of Motor Sport.
The Club is now at a new point of awakening – embracing change and moving forward to build a strong Club for all it’s existing and potential Members. The iDrive Junior Training and Bitumen Driver Training Program will add interest and assist in this further growth in 2019.
CLUB TIMELINE
