LISMORE VENUE SANCTIONS AMCA NATIONALS

LISMORE VENUE SANCTIONS AMCA NATIONALS IN 1996

BY ANN CLARKE

Australian Motor Contest Association (AMCA) Nationals were inaugurated as a legitimate racing class in Australia in 1996.

At the time of the AMCA Nationals evolution, founder Dale Matthews from Melbourne took naming rights to the new category and owned it for several years. Current AMCA owner Michael Reidy started racing AMCA Nationals in 1998 and bought the division in 2004.

The AMCA Nationals car shape and design was based along the lines of the American IMCA race car which was similar in appearance.

In Australia, though, it was decided to run with a Holden 253 cubic capacity engine (instead of the American 350 Chevy engine) with a HQ to WB front clip.

When AMCA Nationals were introduced in Australia, Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway was the first track in Australia to sanction AMCAs and so the story of AMCA Nationals in this country had its beginning. AMCA Nationals still support Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway to this day.

In 1995  when talk of the new class was on everyone’s lips, George Everingham and Norm Marquiette {former promoter of Lismore Speedway} went to America and imported roofs, bonnets and other parts and built two cars ready to race at the season opener, while Jim Knight also built a car at the same time. The car Jim races today is only his third car that he has built for himself; he has, however, constructed several cars for other drivers.

A  media day was held at Lismore Showground on December 5, 1996 heralding the arrival of AMCAs.  Lismore track announcer and driver Bruce Maxwell, along with American Sedan Test captain Gene Welch, drove the two cars in a strong hit-out. Their performance impressed and a number of drivers began building cars.

The first race was set for (almost straight after the media day) on December 7 in Lismore but was washed out and their initial appearance was then held at Grafton the following week.

AMCA Nationals became very strong in Lismore and produced some great drivers from the area.

In 1999 the Australian AMCA Championship was held at the Newcastle track. Lismore was represented after local drivers Jim Knight and Shane Newstead made the trek south to race in the title. It was a very hard contested race with Jim Knight winning his first Australian Title, while Shane Newstead came home in third position. Both Jim Knight and Shane Newstead are still racing at Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway in AMCAS.

Over the last few years as Holden parts have been getting scarce, AMCA Nationals have developed further to help the class and, through a decision made by AMCA administration,  are converting over to the 350 Chevy engines, along with new front ends and quick change differentials. However drivers can still compete with the 253 engines as well and, with that, it is going to be a slow change over time frame before the supply of 253 Holden parts diminishes.

Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway has produced some of the best AMCA champions – be it Australian or state – in the country, namely Australia 1: Jim Knight; NSW 1: Shane Newstead, Nick Stubbs, Jim Knight, Stuart Hall; Victoria 1: Paul Smith; Northern Territory 1: Shane Newstead, Mick Sauer, Nick Stubbs; Queensland 1: Jim Knight, Paul Smith ,Michael Sauer.

Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway hosted the 2016 running of the Australian AMCA Championship. Drivers entered from throughout the nation for the event which was won by Queensland’s Matt Hardy.