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From the President
FUTURE OPTIONS.
The break-ins at Caversham, reported last month, have triggered lots of
discussion about our options for a VSCC Clubhouse in the future.
I don’t think many members would like to return to the days before we
had our own clubhouse and had to hire another car club’s rooms for our
monthly meetings but have no access any other time.
We have occupied the current premises for nine years and become
accustomed to having a place of our own where we can display
memorabilia, store equipment, have access to a workshop for car
restoration and a place to meet like-minded souls. These are activities
which generate the friendliness and camaraderie the VSCC is noted for but would be difficult
to maintain without access to our own building.
If we reject the “no clubhouse option” there are a number of alternatives:
1.
Build a new Clubhouse on/near the existing circuit.
2.
Obtain a lease over the Caversham buildings.
3.
Build a new Clubhouse at Whiteman Park.
4.
Purchase/lease a factory unit at another site.
(There may be others, but these seem to be the most popular ones).
When evaluating these options it is important to reflect on the reasons why the VSCC moved
to Caversham in 2007. It was an opportunity to have a place of our own, but more importantly,
we were moving to a site that was a significant part of the history of Western Australian motor
racing. The Club, at that time, planned to restore the famous “D” circuit and build a clubhouse
on its perimeter. If this was achieved the VSCC would have a venue the envy of other clubs and
allow it to develop, over time, an event similar in concept to “Goodwood.” We would have all
the essential ingredients to do this; a historic circuit, a runway to land historic aircraft, no
parking or access restrictions and in close proximity to the CBD.
Because of the time it has taken to get an agreement from the government to make this
possible, enthusiasm for the concept has waned. New members might be unaware of this plan
and some longer-term members may have forgotten it. Initially, the Government rejected our
proposals, but the political climate has changed and our perseverance has won the day. The
Government has now agreed to give us a lease over the “D” circuit. The terms of the lease are
still to be negotiated. What the members proposed back in 2007 is now possible.
Members reading this might be asking, what has all this to do with alternative options for a
clubhouse? It would be almost impossible for the VSCC to build a complex containing a
clubhouse, workshop and race track if it wasn’t based at Caversham. The VSCC had to
convince the Government it was capable of achieving this plan if it was approved. Our
occupation of the airfield was a major factor in convincing them we could do it.
Each of the alternatives above has its pros and cons. However, when considering each one, it is
important to remember our own history, what we have achieved in the nine years occupancy
of Caversham and what is possible for the VSCC in the future.
Any move will take time to organize. In the meantime we will stay where we are and do our
best to secure the Clubhouse against further break-ins.
I look forward to further discussion with you at the September General Meeting.
Drive safely.
Rob Ozanne