Group S Engine Sealing - Update June 2016

 

Introduction

 

At their March meeting, the Australian Historic Motor Sport Commission (AHMSC) decided, in principle, to introduce engine sealing as a mandatory requirement for Group S (and Group N).

 

The Commission’s Executive Officer has now been tasked to “Prepare instructions and an implementation process for subsequent presentation to the AHMSC.”

 

Background

 

In 2013 the Group S Racing Association (GSRA) had several discussions with CAMS - in particular with the Australian Historic Motor Racing Commission’s Executive Officer - regarding the sealing of all engines in Group S.

 

After consideration, the GSRA Committee decided to support the concept, in principle, but acknowledged there needed to be clarification of issues such as: how the process would work, who would measure and seal engines, over what period implementation would occur, and so on.

 

The GSRA  cannot mandate engine sealing. But at the time the GSRA Committee encouraged members to take the opportunity to measure and seal their engines if they were contemplating a rebuild or partial engine dis-assembly. Some competitors took the opportunity to do so.

 

Current Situation

 

Until the minutes of the AHMSC meeting were released there had been no further reference by CAMS to engine sealing, nor any contact with the GSRA in relation to engine sealing.

 

Cameron Sabine, the Commission’s EO, has now advised the Commission intends all engines in the 5^th Category be measured and sealed.  The Commission chose Groups S and N as the next “cabs of the rank”.  CAMS is now drafting a Bulletin outlining the detail and implementation of their requirement to measure and seal all engines.

 

However the GSRA will be provided with a draft of the Bulletin before implementation. The GSRA will be invited to comment on the draft before further consideration by the AHMSC.

 

CAMS and the AHMSC recognize that implementation of the engine sealing decision would need to be staged over time, so that competitors did not have to pull down perfectly serviceable engines for measurement.

 

Next Action

 

The next step is to await the draft Bulletin, consider its content and forward to CAMS the considered GSRA response. Responsibility for action within the GSRA will be coordinated by the Technical sub-committee headed by Brian Weston.

 

Summary

 

The GSRA supports, in principle, the practice of measuring and sealing engines as a means of ensuring the technical compliance of engines. But the GSRA does not wish to burden members by an unnecessarily rushed introduction of the program.

 

In the interim, the GSRA recommends competitors, who are contemplating an engine rebuild or partial engine dis-assembly, take the opportunity to have their engine measured and sealed by a CAMS technical scrutineer.

 

Good evening all

 

Following the GSRA AGM that was convened by email on 8.00 am Monday, 14 December 2014 and closed at midnight Sunday, 20 December 2014, the Returning Officer, Brian Weston, has advised that as he received only one nominee put forward for each Executive appointment.  In addition Brian had on record three nominations for Committee positions (two required) but subsequently one of the nominated members decided not to accept the nomination but would reconsider for 2017. 

 

Accordingly the elected Association Committee for 2016 will comprise:

 

President:                           Kent Brown (MGB, ACT)

Vice President                   Alex Webster (Porsche 911E, Vic)

Secretary:                           André Breit (Datsun 2000, NSW)

Treasurer:                           Geoff Byrne (TR6, NSW)

Committee Member:     Hung Do (Datsun 240Z, Vic)

Committee Member:     Tom Walstab (Porsche 911L, Vic)

 

Congratulations to those members elected to serve the GSRA and I am sure that the first year of our second decade (our 11^th year) will be as successful and productive as the first ten.

 

And thank you Brian for again acting as our Returning Officer.

 

In addition to the formal committee positions there are a number of ex-officios who take on a wide variety of important and necessary tasks for the efficient and effective functioning of the GSRA.  Many of the team from 2015 has agreed to serve on and for that I am very grateful.

 

For 2016 those ex-officios are:

 

·  Troy Ryan - South Australia Registrar

·  Manuel Pena (assisted by Stan Adler) - Queensland Registrar

·  Hung Do - Webmaster

·  Colin Wilson-Brown - Race Numbers and Lap Records

·  Hung Do - Pointscore Manager

·  Brian Weston - Technical Advisory matters

 

We are still looking for a member to take on responsibility as a newsletter editor and also another to look after the Association’s regalia needs.  Any volunteers PLEASE?

 

On behalf of the Committee and the ex-officios may I wish you, your family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Safe and Enjoyable New Year.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Kent

 

Kent Brown

President

Group S Racing Association

 

Dear GSRA member,

 

In accordance with Clause 29 of the GSRA Constitution the GSRA AGM will convene by email on 8.00 am Monday, 14 December 2014 and close at midnight Sunday 20 December 2015.

 

In accordance with the Constitution, the AGM agenda is as follows:

 

1. Approval of Previous AGM Minutes - 2014 Minutes attached here.

2. Approve reports by the President attached here and the Treasurer attached here.

3. Elect four GSRA Office Bearers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary).

4. Elect two GSRA General Committee.

5. Approve a Statement in accordance with Section 26(6) of the Associations Incorporation Act 1984.

 

Nominations for Office Bearers and Committee must be mailed or emailed to the Brian Weston by 8.00 am Friday 18 December 2015, using the attached nomination form.

 

Brian Weston’s email address is brianweston@aapt.net.au and his mailing address is:

 

60 Empire Circuit

Forrest ACT 2613

 

Nominations must be seconded, which can be done separately by email to the Brian Weston for convenience.

 

In the event of nominations exceeding the number of Committee positions, a ballot will be held which will require the AGM closing date to be deferred.

 

Please note: the AGM Reports will be circulated by email when the meeting opens.

 

Kent Brown

President

 

Andrè Breit

Secretary

 

Dear GSRA member

 

It is with great sadness that I send this advice.

 

Yesterday we learnt of the very untimely death of fellow racer Bill Pye.  Bill lost his life in a plane crash while mustering sheep.

 

In the Group S Racing Association records Bill’s Membership number was 16 from the time when the Association first formed in 2006.  He was an active racer and a tough competitor.

 

Geoff Morgan had these words to say:

 

“Having absorbed the incredible shock of Bill’s death I will be incredibly sad to not see him and compete with him in the future.  Some of my most exciting racing has been against Bill in our Group S Porsches, along with Terry Lawlor – we would spend the entire duration of every race within a car length of each other, talking double Dutch with each other after each race about how fantastic a race we just had and ‘if only’. He was a prodigious competitor and never gave up.   I also reflect on what a funny and amusing man Bill was in the pits and at various dinners after a few glasses of red.  His never-ending stories about incidents at the race track or indeed on the farm never failed to amuse.   At times he had a very short wick and even then in the darkest moments he was somehow amusing and would turn what would be for anyone else stressful and difficult moments into something humorous. 

 

I spoke with Anthony Skinner, one of his dearest friends and fellow farmer, who told me Bill was going to race with him this weekend in his Cup Car at SMP Prod Sports.  I have spoken to Simon Hogg and we will be having minute silence at the Driver’s Briefing and leaving the front row of the grid vacant in remembrance of Bill.”

 

The thoughts of the Group S community at large go out to Bill’s family and friends at this desperately sad time.

 

Kent

 

Kent Brown

President

Group S Racing Association