2010 Annual General Meeting

April 19th 2010, 7.30pm

35 Crosby Road ALBION

Nomination Form

Proxy Vote Form

The Motorcycle Sportsmen’s Association was formed in 1957 by a group of dedicated Businessmen and Motorcycle enthusiasts whose aim was to improve Motorcycle racing in Qld. The members of this group who met every Saturday afternoon in the lounge of the City View Hotel now the Chancellor On The Park were :

Cliff Burke

Gerry Stiller

Col Pallister

Ray Head

Bev Neilson

Dave Pearson

Doug Wacker

Bruce Wacker

Motorcycle racing then was a bit of rafferty rules and if it kept going in this manner the sport looked as if it would come to an end. These men did not want that and to ensure that the sport continued they supplied themselves as officials at club meetings and trained members of that club, how to run a meeting in the correct manner, the importance of the duties of an official and see that the meeting was run safely and the riders treated fairly.

After a year of performing these duties they decided to promote and conduct meeting’s of their own. These meetings were held at tracks such as Lowood, Mandelay Gardens which is next door to Lone Pine, Whites Hill on the Southside, Bardon and at the airstrip at Strathpine. Land was purchased by the association at Raymont’s Crossing in the Eaton’s Hill/ Brendale area which was used for the first scramble (now Motorcross) event in Qld. And the club successfully conducted meetings there for 2 years.

The meetings at Strathpine Air Strip were very popular and were followed with a debriefing at the Country Club Hotel. 

To conduct these meetings the association had to be affiliated with the Auto Cycle Union of Australia now known as Motorcycling Australia. This application was refused on the grounds of it being an association but would grant the application if they formed a Club with a minimum of 30 members.

Some of these members being:

Keith Kelly

Max James

Gordon Gillies

Tony Edwards

Carel Berendes

Vince Walker

Derek Hutchings

So in 1959 the Motorcycle Sportsmen of Queensland was born.

As this was a very special club, membership was highly sought after and was by invitation only. This invitation was extended only after considerable time doing ones apprenticeship as a volunteer worker at club meets. And then being able to prove to the committee  “ What you can do for the Club”

In 1960 with the advent of a new Road Racing Circuit being built at Petrie now known as Lakeside, the Motorcycle Sportsmen decided to promote and conduct a Road Race Meeting. To be able to successfully promote and run this meeting, and also comply with the affiliation laws, more members and a lot of voluntary helpers were required some of these being :

Keith Mc Bride

John  Gerritson

Kevin(Bluey) Smith

Doug Beak

Roy Beak

Brian Matheson

Rex Barlow

The late Fred (Pop) Davis

Lakeside was built to run anti-clockwise but after inspection it was decided that for safety it must be run clockwise.  That caused a problem as safety fences and Armco had to be altered to meet the new requirements. Well we did it! Working Bees, Working Bees and Working Bees, we all dug holes and built fences so that first meeting could get underway.

The first Motorcycle meeting was held at Lakeside promoted by our club on 10^th September 1961 with 8 races and 46 entrants.  Races were held over 5,6,8,10 and 12 laps.  The field including riders such as Kel Carruthers, Jack Ahearn, Les Allen, Tom Kibble and many other well known local and interstate riders.  This was followed in May 1962 with a much bigger meeting of 81 entrants and 12 races.

The Club then went on to promote 2 events every year at Lakeside for a number of years.

There was no control tower we operated out of the backs of cars.  The pit gate was at the dog leg and the riders had to push their machines to the start line.  It was a long slow procession and a bit of chaos as riders had to turn their machines around in preparation of a clutch start. Very time consuming.

The Club continued to hold monthly club meetings with new members applying some of those being Graham Woodward, Ron Newitt, Geoff Howie, Fred Howie and the late Peter Driessens.  We billeted  the southern riders who came to race including Kel Carruthers, Len Atlee and John Dodds all whom went on to overseas racing.  Our own Geoff Howie, Bill Butler and Jim Davis were also farewelled on their overseas quests.

In the 70’s the club was barely functioning with only a handful of members and everyone had to wear a couple of hats so race meetings could go ahead. But in true spirit we weathered the storm. Things improved with the meetings moving to the Jam Factory which was our club rooms for a number of years.  The Club rooms we have to-day are a credit to the club.

The Motorcycle Sportsmen of Qld has been proud to have promoted these events over the clubs history:-

    8    Australian Grand Prix

  10    Australian T.T. (Tourist Trophy)

    7    Australian Road Racing Championships

    3    Queensland Grand Prix

  31    Queensland Championships

    3    International Swann Series

  12    International Shell Series

  18    Historic Racing Championships

    9    Stars of Tomorrow Championships

120    Club Events

The club has produced many a champion rider, and through the club many a rider has been helped fulfill his dreams. 

Many of Motorcycle Sportsmen club riders experienced the overseas circuits finishing high in the world rankings some of these are;-

Geoff Howie

Gregg Hansford

Daryl Beattie

Bill Butler

Jim Davies

Brendan Marchesi

Scott Doohan

Carl Muggerridge

Anthony West

Chris Vermeulen

Brendan Clarke

Motorcycle Sportsmen of Qld have produced many an Australian Champion:

MOTORCYCLE SPORSTMEN of Qld AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS

1969            Sandy McRae                             Unlimited Sidecar

1969            Ian Munro                                 125cc

1973            Gregg Hansford                          500cc

                   Gregg Hansford                          Unlimited

1974            Gregg Hansford                          Unlimited

1976            Gregg Hansford                          Unlimited

1979            John Pace                                  350cc

1980            Gregg Hansford                          250cc

                   Gregg Hansford                          350cc

1985            Michael Dowson                         Unlimited

1986            Michael Dowson                         250cc

                   Michael Dowson                         350cc

1989            Daryl Beattie                              250cc

1993            Scott Doohan                             Superbikes

1996            Chad Turnbull                            250 Production

1998            Anthony West                            250 Production

                   John Allen                                 H.D. Super Twins

1999            John Allen                                 H.D. Sportsters

2000            John Allen                                 H.D. Sportsters

2001            Earl Lynch                                 250 GP

2^ND  AUSTRALIAN RANKINGS

1974            Gregg Hansford                          250cc

1980            Gregg Hansford                          500cc

1981            Michael Dowson                         250cc

1982            Michael Dowson                         250cc

                   Michael Dowson                         350cc

1983            Michael Dowson                         350cc

1986            Michael Dowson                         500cc

1991            Scott Doohan                             Superbikes

1992            Ricky Rice                                  250cc

1995            Rip Crocker                                250cc

                   Jason VanVliet                           125cc

1996            Marcus Payten                            250GP

1997            Marcus Payten                            250GP

3^RD AUSTRALIAN RANKINGS

1963            Brian Payne                               Junior Sidecars

1968            Sandy McRae                             Unlimited Sidecars

1969            Brian Payne                               750cc Sidecars

1971            Barry Rattray                              350cc

1981            Terry Blakeway                          500cc

1982            Greg Neal / S.Alford                   Sidecars

1984            David Snape                              500cc

1986            Michael Dowson                         1000cc

1988            Michael Dowson                         1000cc

1989            Greg Neal / J. Flood                    Sidecars

                   Scott Doohan                             1000cc

1990            Ricky Rice                                  250cc

                   Scott Doohan                             Superbikes

1993            Marcus Payten                            Superbikes

1995            Marcus Payten                            250cc

The Club general meetings will now be held on the FIRST MONDAY of each month. The meeting will commence at 7.30pm on the dot with social drinks held after the meeting. 

All Club members are encouraged to come along and get involved in your Club! Look forward to seeing you there!