Marque Sports Car Register North Queensland Inc.
A brief history.
The Register was formed in May 1991 after a need for a multi marque sportscar club was identified by Tim Brazier and Tony Denyer, in the wake of the failure of yet another single marque club.
This coincidental train of thought was also being discussed by several other enthusiasts whose common meeting point was at Warren and Denise Skimmings’ business (Top Gear Performance).
Tim and Tony placed an advertisement in a Saturday morning edition of the Townsville Bulletin in February advising of a meeting the following week at the Australian Hotel, Palmer Street, South Townsville.
That meeting was well attended and resolved that a meeting in early May be held at the North Queensland Club in Denham Street. Its agenda included formal discussions of proposed objects and to establish a committee.
The early May meeting saw a committee established with Tony Denyer as Chairman and the late Terry Ashworth as Secretary/Treasurer.
The broad outline of the objects of the Register were agreed on, largely shaped by Warren Skimmings with motor sport, social and educational roles included. Alan Nelson was discharged with drafting the objects and assembling the balance of a constitution (lifted from the Office of Fair Trading Model rules).
A subsequent meeting was held two weeks later at the same venue. The objects and constitution were formally adopted after good humoured reading and discussion. The Register was born. Shortly after formation the club elected to be affiliated with the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS)
The foundation membership was around twenty and included the following:
- Tony Denyer Triumph-TR3
- Ian Nelson- Datsun Fairlady & 260Z2+2
- Alan Nelson- MGB & Datsun 240Z
- Jan Green- Austin Healey [Bug Eyed] Sprite
- Dr Pat Gibney – Morgan Plus 4
- Ron Watt- MGB GTV8
- Tim Brazier- MGA, Triumph TR6, Jaguar XK6
- Colin Strickland- MGTD
- Terry Ashworth- Austin Healey 100/4
- Bob Thompson- – Austin Healey [Bug Eyed] Sprite
- Dr Maggie Mackay- MGA
- Warren Skimmings- Datsun 240Z
The first major event run by the Register was the Beach to Bush Gold Rush in 1992 and 1993.
It was a navigation and observation rally open to the general public. Starting at the then Sheraton Casino (now Jupiters) and finishing in Ravenswood. This raised money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) – sufficient to return an aircraft to the air.
The Beach to Bush Gold Rush was the brain child of Warren Skimmings and the late Ian Nelson who heard of a the “Back to the Bush Festival” fund raiser in Ravenswood for the RFDS whilst investigating a possible motorkhana pad/bitumen sprint track at the Burdekin Falls Dam. The “Gold Rush” swelled the population of Ravenswood for the weekend of the “Back to the Bush Festival”.
The 1993 edition included a blind folded driver’s test at Donnington aerodrome with the overall event being won by Tony Denyer and Tim Brazier.
In 1994 the Register was incorporated.
Sprint Racing began at the Townsville Kart Track (SunCity Raceway) in 2000.
The Register was instrumental in starting the current push for a local driver training and motor sport facility in 2004 and continues to be an active part of DECAMAG/DriveIT since its formation in 2006.