Tag Archives: Australian Historic Road Racing Championships

2021 AHRRC moved to April 2022 at McNamara Park

2021 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships rescheduled


The Mount Gambier Motor Cycle Club will now host the 2021 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships, which have been rescheduled for April 1-3, 2022 at South Australia’s McNamara Park Raceway due to Covid.

AHRRC Collie Motorplex Preview
2019 AHRRC

The Championships had previously been postponed twice due to border restrictions, and the club is now planning for the Championships to be bigger than ever and a true celebration of historic racing.

The renowned Mount Gambier circuit is 2.41 km long and is a mix of technically demanding slow and fast turns over undulating terrain, designed and dedicated solely to motorcycle road racing.

The track runs in a clockwise direction with 12 turns ranging from the sharp hairpin at turn 1 to the fast and sweeping turn 8.

The Mount Gambier Motor Cycle Club thanked everyone for their patience through these trying times, especially those that have already booked their entry, as well as Motorcycling Australia for their help in making the event possible. Dates for the 2022 AHRR will be released at a later date.

Rider's Briefing at Wakefield Park
Rider’s Briefing at the AHRRC

Entries are now open via Ridernet and will close on February 11, 2022.

2021 AHRRC Classes of Competition

  • Period 1 Ultra Lightweight up to 125cc
  • Period 1 Lightweight 132cc to 250cc
  • Period 1 Junior 263cc to 350cc
  • Period 1 Senior 368cc to 500cc
  • Period 1 Unlimited 526 to 1300cc
  • Period 1 Sidecar up to 1300cc
  • Period 2 Junior up to 350cc
  • Period 2 Senior up to 500cc
  • Period 2 Unlimited 368 to 1300cc
  • Period 2 Sidecar up to 1300cc
  • Period 3 Ultra Lightweight up to 125cc
  • Period 3 Lightweight 132cc t0 250cc
  • Period 3 Junior 263cc to 350cc
  • Period 3 Senior 368cc to 500cc
  • Period 3 Unlimited 526 to 1300cc
  • Period 3 Sidecar up to 1300cc
  • Period 3 Formula 700- 526cc to 700cc
    • Note: This class is for push rod engines only and there is no capacity tolerance.
  • Period 4 Ultra Lightweight up to 125cc
  • Period 4 Lightweight 132cc t0 250cc
  • Period 4 Junior 263cc to 350cc
  • Period 4 Senior 368cc to 500cc
  • Period 4 Unlimited 526 to 1300cc
  • Period 4 Sidecar up to 1300cc
  • Period 4 Formula 750 -526cc to 750cc
  • Period 5 Ultra Lightweight up to 125cc
  • Period 5 Lightweight 132cc t0 250cc
  • Period 5 Junior 263cc to 350cc
  • Period 5 Senior 368cc to 500cc
  • Period 5 Unlimited 526 to 1300cc
  • Period 5 Sidecar up to 1300cc
  • Period 5 Formula 750 526cc to 750cc
  • Period 6 Ultra Lightweight up to 125cc
  • Period 6 Lightweight 132cc t0 250cc
  • Period 6 Senior 263cc to 500cc
  • Period 6 Formula 750 526cc to 750cc four cylinder & 750cc to 1000cc two cylinder
  • Period 6 250 Production 250cc
  • Period 6 Formula 1300 788cc to 1300cc

Source: MCNews.com.au

Historic Road Race Nationals heads to Mount Gambier in 2020

2020 Australian Historic Road Racing


Motorcycling Australia have announced that the Mount Gambier Motor Cycle Club Inc. will be hosting the 2020 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships on Thursday 19th November through to Sunday 22nd November.

The stunning Norton Rotary
Australian Historic Road Racing Championship heads to McNamara Park in 2020

This is the second year the Australian Historic Road Racing Championships will be on rotation across the State Controlling Bodies to ensure that the event travels across Australia as a true National Championship.

The event is supported by Motorcycling South Australia and will be held will be at McNamara Park, the only club owned circuit of its type in Australia.

Brenton Matters – Motorcycling South Australia’s President

“Motorcycling SA is thrilled that our State will be hosting the 2020 Australian Historic Road Racing Championship. We know that Mac Park is the perfect setting for the Championships and will provide great racing for both riders and spectators, the design and character of the track are perfectly suited for historic racing. I would like to congratulate the Mount Gambier MCC and all the volunteers for the enormous amount of work they have done to upgrade and improve the track and I look forward to being trackside to see all the action in November next year.”

In 2019 the Australian Historic Road Racing Championship will visit Western Australia
Australian Historic Road Racing Championship heads to McNamara Park in 2020

The completely resurfaced 2.4 km McNamara Park circuit is a mix of technically demanding corners over undulating terrain, with 12 corners ranging from the sharp hairpin at Turn 1 to the fast and sweeping turns seven and eight. Due to its serpentine nature it is ideally suited to all classes of classic bikes.

In November last year the final section of track widening was completed. This was a project a decade in the making and a monumental effort for all club members involved as it involved widening and resurfacing the entire track, with significant associated earthworks required to facilitate drainage.

The track is now 10m wide with a 12m wide start/finish straight, with the majority of run off areas also enlarged to bring the track up to current best practice. With new and improved viewing areas offering sweeping views of the track, full catering facilities, large clubrooms including a new disability access toilet, extensive covered pits and a park like setting, it’s a fantastic venue for motorcycle racing.

Alex Trnovsky – Club President

“The Mount Gambier Motorcycle Club is incredibly proud and excited to be hosting the 2020 Australian National Historic Championships. This is an incredible opportunity for the club to showcase ‘Mac Park’ to a national audience, and a chance for riders from all over the country to sample the huge number of improvements and upgrades that have taken place. The committee, club members and local community will be striving to make it an event, not just a race meeting, and welcome anyone with an interest in historic racing to come to Mac Park November 19th – 22nd 2020.”

Period 3 Unlimited champ Garth Francis 1962 Norton Atlas 750 relinquished his crown with a big trip over the handlebars in the final to David Trotter on the thunderous 1956 JAP 1000
Australian Historic Road Racing Championship heads to McNamara Park in 2020

Source: MCNews.com.au

Australian Historic Road Race Champions crowned at Collie

2019 Australian Historic Road Racing Championship
Collie Motorplex – By John Innes

Western Australian Photographer and Journalist John Innes gives us the race report from the 2019 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships, which took place at the newly extended Collie Motorplex in WA.

Promoted by the Historic Competition Motorcycle Racing Club of WA and supported by Motorcycling Western Australia and the Shire of Collie, the event saw riders from across the country travel to Western Australia for the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend. 

Unfortunately, the event finished early due to a large oil spill around the majority of the track. Officials spent several hours trying to clean up the track, but the final decision was made just before lunch on the final day to call the event.

Champions were crowned based on the races that had been run after all classes had completed at least two races on Sunday, with P3 Unlimited, P4 Junior, and P5 Sidecars getting a third race on Monday before racing was cancelled.

Kicking off the ‘Make Smoking History’ Australian 2019 Historic Road Racing Championship was the Period 4 Post Classic Junior Class and after the two qualifying sessions it was local rider Paul Smith (1972 Honda CB350) on Pole with a 1:21.887 closely followed by Adam Senior and Glen Ottley making it an all WA front row.

Race 1 was an all the way win for pole-sitter Paul Smith who was untroubled over the 5-lap journey. Second was Adam Senior (1971 Yamaha TR3) some 8.5 seconds in arrears with Tony Logan (1971 Honda CB 350) in third place.

In Race 2 the same three riders filled the top three places, with WA riders filling the first seven places. Race 3 on Monday morning and it was more of the same with Adam Senior winning the 5-lap race from Paul Smith with Glen Ottley in third place.

Paul Smith finished the event with 70 points, second was Adam Senior on 65 points and third was Tony Logan on 53 points.

Paul Smith st Place Period Junior
Paul Smith 1st Place Period 4 Junior

Period 3 Classic Unlimited saw Victorian Adam Donovan (1962 Norton Manx) snatch pole from fellow Victorian Peter Large with WA rider Glenn Baldwin round out the front row.

Peter Large (1962 Norton Atlas) won the first race from William Sayer (1962 Norton Atlas) with poleman Adam Donovan rounding out the top three, John Pitcher was the first WA rider home in fourth place.

Race 2 saw Adam Donovan taking the win from Large with Sayer rounding out the top three. Race 3 was a repeat of the second race with Donovan taking the win from Peter Large with William Sayer in third place. In 1st place overall was Adam Donovan with 68 points, second was Peter Large on 65 points and third was William Sayer on 56 points.

In the Period 5 Forgotten Era Sidecars WA duo Ray Watkins/ Paul Cubbitt took pole from another WA duo in Andrew Davies/Josh Mathers with Edward and Bronson Poucher from NSW rounding out the top three.

Race 1 saw the WA pairing of Watkins/Cubbitt take the lead before they were chased down by Edward and Bronson Poucher who went on to take the win from Watkins/ Cubitt with Andrew Davies/Josh Mathers taking third place.

In race 2 Watkins/Cubitt got their revenge taking the win and never troubled over the five laps. Davies/Mathers took second after a race long battle with Edward and Bronson Poucher.

Race 3 saw local duo Andrew Davies/ Josh Mathers take the win, in second place was another local duo in Mark Ackermans/ Tristan Scalmer with WA making it a clean sweep with Michael Smith/Jason Dillon in third place. The overall placings were 1st Davies/Mathers with 63 points, second Ackermans/Scalmer on 52 points and third Smith/Dillon also on 52 points. 

In the Period 5 Forgotten Era Junior New South Welshman Keo Watson (1981 Yamaha TZ350H) took pole with a 1:19.6310 second lap 4.5 seconds ahead of second-placed Victorian, Timothy Large with WA’s Steven Crane rounding out the front row.

Keo Watson won the first race in convincing fashion from Steven Crane with Kathleen Mercer taking third place. Race two saw the top two again battling for the win with Watson coming out on top. Crane was again second with Timothy Large taking third place ahead of the fast finishing Brian Richardson.

The Championship was run over the two rounds with Keo Watson undefeated on 50 points, second was Steven Crane on 40 points and Brian Richardson tied with Kathleen Mercer on 34 points, his higher finish in race two giving him the minor podium position.

Period 5 Forgotten Era Formula 750 saw Keo Watson (1981 Yamaha TZ350H) grab his second pole position ahead of NSW rider Stephen Craig with local hotshot Adam Senior rounding out the front row.

In race one Stephen Craig upstaged polesitter Keo Watson taking the win with WA rider Adam Senior taking third place. Race two saw the same three riders fighting for the win with Watson winning by under a second from Senior with Craig in third place. Overall championship points 1st Keo Watson with 45 points, second Stephen Craig with 43 points and third WA’s Adam Senior on 38 points.

Keo Watson st Place Period Formula
Keo Watson – 1st Place Period 5 Formula 750

Period 4 Post Classic Unlimited saw ex-pat WA rider Aaiden Coote (1972 Rob North Trident) secure pole with a 1: 20.6410-second lap ahead of Queenslander Kyle Mountney with veteran WA rider Colin Boujos taking third position.

In race one, Coote was the winner having survived a race long battle with Kyle Mountney, when the later high-sided exiting the chicane on the penultimate lap. Second was Owen Ward (1972 Honda CB-K2) with William Sayer (1972 Triumph Triton) third. Third place on the grid was vacant after Colin Boujos ran out of brakes on the ‘outlap’.

Race two and it was more of the same from Coote and Ward with Boujos returning to the fray and taking third place. Final points 1st Aaiden Coote with 50 points, 2nd Owen Ward with 40 points and 3rd William Sayer on 34 points.

Period 6 New Era Senior saw WA riders secure the top three positions for the four races with Glen Ottley (1990 Honda VFR400) taking pole with a 1: 20.0600-second lap ahead of Neal ‘Plumba’ Grey and Paul Smith.

Race 1 and Neal Grey and Glen Ottley battled it out at the front before Grey pulled away to take the win, Paul Smith was second with Ottley in third place. Race two saw Neal Grey take his second win of the day ahead of Glen Ottley with Paul Smith in third place. Championship points were 1st Neal ‘Plumba’ Grey on 50 points, 2nd Glen Ottley on 38 points tied with Paul Smith with Ottley finishing in second by virtue of his higher finish in race two.

Neal Grey st Place Period Senior
Neal Grey – 1st Place Period 6 Senior

Period 5 Forgotten Era Unlimited saw WA’s Adam Senior grab pole position with a 1: 16.2920-second lap ahead of Tony Hynes and NSW rider Stephen Craig. In race one, Adam Senior continued his dominance with a strong win from Tony Hynes with Stephen Craig in third place. The trio repeated the dose in the second race with Senior winning by 5.2 seconds. Final points 1st Adam Senior 50 points, 2nd Tony Hynes 40 points and 3rd Stephen Craig with 36 points.

Period 6 New Era 250 Production saw Keo Watson (1990 Honda CBR 250RR) take a hat trick of poles with a 1: 20.5060-second lap ahead of Richard Langdon and Paul Smith. In race one Richard Langdon took the win from Paul Smith with Stephen McDermott in third place. Polesitter Keo Watson failed to start the race. WA riders filled the top six places. In race two the first three place getters repeated the dose and WA riders filled the first five places. Watson again failed to start the race. Overall points 1st Richard Langdon 50 points, 2nd Paul Smith with 40 points and 3rd Stephen McDermott with 36 points.

Richard Langdon st Period cc Production
Richard Langdon – 1st Period 6 250cc Production

Period 6 New Era Formula 1300 saw Aaiden Coote grab his second pole position on the (Southern Machining & Maintenance 1988 Honda VFR 750R) ahead of Josh Mathers and Paul Joshua. In the first race, the top three qualifiers finished in that order, with Coote setting a new record of 1:14.0060 seconds. That record lasted just five laps before Mathers set a new record of 1:13.8740 seconds on his way to beating Coote in race two with Glen Ottley taking third place.

Overall points saw Josh Mathers win the title by virtue of his higher placed finish in race 2, with Aaiden Coote and Mathers tied on 45 points Paul Joshua was third with 35 points.

Period 3 & Period 4 Sidecars saw Linsay Donai/Lee Menzies take pole position with a 1:26.3290-second lap. In second place was Doug Chivas/Scarlett Poucher and WA’s Kevin Webb/ Martyn Dunbar-Stuart rounded out the top three.

In the first race, Wa’s Kevin Webb/Martyn Dunbar-Stuart led for a good part of the five-lap journey before being pushed back to second place by Linsay Donai/Lee Menzies with Doug Chivas/Scarlett Poucher in third place. Steve Scott/Brendan Darcy took first place in the P3 Sidecar division, second were Peter Large/Wayne Rowe and in third place were Christopher Large/ Peter Heywood.

In race two Donai/Menzies again took the win with Chivas/ Poucher grabbing second place with Webb/Dunbar-Stuart in third place. In the P3 Ian Milton/David Vincent grabbed the win ahead of William Hargrave/ Annette Tregger with Scott/Darcy in third place.

Overall points in the P3 Classic Sidecars 1st Steve Scott/Brendan Darcy 50 points, 2nd Peter Large/Wayne Rowe 40 points and 3rd Christopher Large/Peter Haywood 36 points. In the P4 Post Classics, 1st place went to Lindsay Donai/Lee Menzies with 50 points, 2nd went to Douglas Chivas/Scarlett Poucher by virtue of their higher placing in race two with 38 points and third were WA stalwarts Kevin Webb/Martyn Dunbar-Stuart 38 points.

Lindsay Donai Lee Menzies st Period Sidecars
Lindsay Donai/Lee Menzies – 1st Period 4 Sidecars

Period 6 Formula 750 saw Aaiden Coote secure a third pole position with 1: 14.3150-second lap ahead of Paul Joshua and Tony Hynes rounding out the front row. Aaiden Coote (1988 Honda VFR750R) was simply unstoppable in the first race with an all the way win ahead of Tony Hynes (Suzuki GSX-R750) with John Riley (1988 HondaVFR750R) in third place. Coote put on another dominant display in the second race, Hynes was again second with Glen Ottley taking the third spot. 1st place went to Ex-WA rider Aaiden Coote with 50 points, 2nd was Tony Hynes on 40 points and third Glen Ottley with 35 points.

Aaiden Coote st Place Period Formula
Aaiden Coote – 1st Place Period 6 Formula 750

There were two non-championship races over the weekend, in the Period 2 & Period 3 Lightweight & Junior Tony Hynes on the 1938 Series ‘A’ Vincent took out all three races in convincing fashion.

In the Period 6 Ultra Lightweight & Period 6 Lightweight Sam Clarke and Scott Topping fought it out at the pointy end with Clarke winning the first two races before Topping took a hard-fought victory with Mark Laing-Hughes in the third spot.

Source: MCNews.com.au

AHRRC heads to renewed Collie Motorplex in 2019

2019 Australian Historic Road Racing Championship


The 2019 Australian Historic Road Racing Championship is offering riders from across the country their first opportunity to tackle the brand new 2.55km ‘long track’ at Collie Motorplex, which has been recently licensed by Motorcycling Australia (MA).

The event, running across the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in WA and promoted by the Historic Competition Motorcycle Racing Club of WA (HCMC WA), will feature close competition from the racing machines of yesteryear, set against the backdrop of the brand-new circuit and nearby historic town of Collie.

AHRRC Collie Motorplex PreviewWith entries catering for every class of historic motorcycle and sidecar as defined in the 2019 Manual of Motorcycle Sport (MoMS), there’s every reason to take some time off and spend a weekend in WA’s beautiful South West region.

The circuit, located two hours south of Perth in Western Australia, has recently undergone extensive renovations to bring it up to the current standard, including a track extension, resurfacing and safety improvements. Now the longest and widest sealed racing circuit in Western Australia, the new Collie Motorplex provides the Western Australian motorcycling community with another fantastic facility.

Paul Barfoot – HCMC WA Patron

”If you enjoy a challenge this is the place to be. The Collie Long circuit is an exciting blend of left and right hand turns, and will produce close racing that is exciting for competitors and spectators alike. Starting from the grid you follow the short circuit before entering the first of two climbs on the new section. A tight left hander sees you onto the cutting and climbing again before dropping onto a left bend, followed by a tight right then left. On the run back past the pits there is the chicane followed by a left hander, then another short straight then left again before the run to the line. Power is important, but so is good handling. This circuit has it all!”

Chas Hern - Image by Russell Colvin
Chas Hern – Image by Russell Colvin
Peter Doyle – MA President

“The improved Collie Motorplex is a wonderful sporting complex, and it’s a testament to the commitment of all involved with the project that the facility has turned out the way it has” he said. “We’re excited at the prospect of some fantastic racing at Collie, both for the 2019 Australian Historic Road Racing Championship and for future events at the circuit.”

The Collie Shire council is also throwing its support behind the event, providing an evening of family entertainment on Sunday, 29 September and encouraging motorcycling fans from across Australia to come and experience the region. Shire President Sarah Stanley said the Collie Motorplex track extension was an exciting achievement for all involved.

Sarah Stanley – Shire President

“The track extension has truly been a collaborative effort from the ground up, with support from all levels of government, generous financial support, and dedicated volunteers working together to make it a reality. We’re well on our way to establishing the Collie Motorplex as the premier attraction in regional Western Australia for motorsports enthusiasts. The Motorplex will now be able to attract more significant events, such as the upcoming Historic Nationals, providing economic benefits for the community and region.”

Al Francis came out of retirement to contest the 2017 AHRRC wih his two sons Ryan and Garth
2017 AHRRC

The 2019 Australian Historic Road Racing Championships takes place at the Collie Motorplex, Collie, WA from 28-30 September 2019 (Saturday-Monday) with optional practice on Friday 27 September. To stay up to date on all information relating to the 2019 Australian Historic Road Racing Championship, follow AHRRC on Facebook, or visit the HCMC WA Website.

Supplementary Regulations and Entries will open shortly. For information, including accommodation and attractions in Collie please see the HCMC and Shire of Collie Guide for AHRRC. For accommodation options please refer to:

https://www.collierivervalley.com.au/where-to-stay/

Competitors from outside of WA can contact HCMC President Bob Humphreys to apply for a travel subsidy to assist with container transport. There is $1000 available to each State/Territory. Email [email protected].

Source: MCNews.com.au