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History to 1995:
Selected segments of the origins of the Club. Part 1, the ACT Mini Bike Club.
The ACT Mini Bike Club began in 1971 but was not incorporated until the 5th of May 1975 as The Mini-Bike & Cycle Club of the ACT Inc. Its objectives to develop, encourage and promote safe and controlled racing competition for motorcyclists up to the age of 17 years and to provide facilities, training and to manage all aspects of the sport particularly short circuit racing. These still form part of the aims of the ACT Motor Cycle Club Inc.
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The site:
The Club is situated on sublease 5 of rural block 306 Majura (originally 206 Gungahlin). Pialligo Avenue,Majura. The Motor Cycle Club of Canberra was already on the site. It was decided that the Mini Bike Club would have 10 acres. A meeting was held with the MotorCycle Club of Canberra to select an area of land on their land at Gungahlin. Ian Jones and George Maconachie went to the Gungahlin track on Saturday 24 May 1975 to agree to the track location with the Motor Cycle Club of Canberra. Lester Edminster Short Circuit track opened for competition in March 1975. |
At the start of the Aces Race. No.190 John Martin, 43 Warren Heffernan, 8/30 Paul Caslick |
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The Lease - a continuing saga : the beginning:
George Maconachie received notification by word from Frank Adams of the Department of Capital Territory's Leasing Section that an area of ground had been granted to the Club for use as a minibike track. It was the area used by the Club since the Mini Cycle Championships in 1974. An Aerial photograph of the Gungahlin Motor Sports Complex had been taken and the Clubs' boundaries clearly defined. Since the notification of the land grant the MCC decided not to release the land however Frank Adams stood by his previous announcement. However by May 1975 the MCC objections had forced the decision to a higher level.
At a special meeting held on 27 May 1975 the proposal for a head lease to an incorporated controlling committee which would include representatives from each of the organisations using the land was studied. The controlling committee would then grant sub-leases to each of the user groups:- the Motor Cycle Club of Canberra the Mini Bike & Cycle Club of the ACT, the Go-Kart Club of Canberra the Formula 500 Speed Car Association.
Until the terms of lease of finalised each club has been granted a deed of licence entitling it to use part of the area. Any other group or individual seeking to use this land would first need to make suitable arrangements through one or other of the Clubs. The deed was a licence to occupy and did not confer tenancy. This is still the case! |
Ronnie Allen, rider number 11, behind Michael Stormouth, rider number 25 in the 125cc under 15 years race at the Mini Bike & Cycle Club in the 1970s. Ronnie's mother is a life member of the Club. |
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Fairburn Park Control Council:
Fairburn Park Control Council was formed under the independent Chairmanship of Greg Cornwell MLA. It was named Fairburn as a play on words from "have a fair burn around the track" by Brian McLeod. The origin of the name was lost and became confused with the spelling of the nearby Fairbairn Air Force Base and so current usage is Fairbairn.
Greg Cornwell remained chairman until 1986 when he stood down. The following Chairman was Mr David Adams. Byron Soulsby of the Mini Bike Club was elected Secretary 12 October 1976. Ian Holden was Secretary from l982-l987. Arthur Hoyle was Secretary Treasurer subsequently.
The Member Clubs are under obligation to send authorised delegates to the meetings of the Fairbairn Park Control Council, as clause 23(4) of the Fairburn Park Control Council Constitution states:-Each member organisation must be represented, together with the Chairman for the transaction of the business of a meeting of the Council.
The first delegates to the Fairburn Park Control Council meetings from the ACT Mini Bike Club were elected on 19 June 1974 and were Ian Jones, George Maconachie and B. Longmore. Other delegates have been Byron Soulsby, Reg Dwyer, Dennis Murphy, Carol Breen and Gordon Hoar.
The lessee is the Fairbairn Park Control Council. It is a body comprising the occupants of the site formed into a single representative body under the leadership of an independent Chairman. This organisation receives all the rate notices, land tax notices, leasing problems etc. relevant to the whole site. By 1993 the lease was on a month to month basis. A meeting was held with the Fairbairn Park Control Council and the Motorsports Council of the ACT clarifying the roles of the two organisations. Fairbairn Park Control Council is restricted to procedural matters pertaining to the lease. But because of the apparent lack of secure tenure pending the establishment of a new motorsport facility a sub-committee of the Motorsports Council be formed comprising delegates of Clubs associated with Fairbairn Park. The first priority being a letter from the Sub-Committee to the Government proposing an interim leasing arrangement to allay fears of ejection. Moves for separate leases have been made at the same time as the formal Memorandum of Understanding between the Fairbairn Park Clubs to hand over the lease to the Sub-Committee of the Motorsports Council.
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Riders on the grid. Section of a photo taken by the then Club Photographer, Bob Carveth. |
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