History of the Austin Seven Club of South Australia
A BRIEF HISTORY
In 1953, a group of people, keen to foster motoring activities centred on the Austin Seven motor car, got together and the Austin Seven Club of S.A. was formed. They rebuilt their Austins for road use and at weekends used them in road trials and sprints. After a few years, as the desire to go faster grew, many built special versions of their Sevens - lightweight sports bodies, lowered suspensions and more powerful motors were the way to go. One member, Garrie Cooper, did this and named his cars 'ELFIN' and went on to become the largest manufacturer of sports and racing cars in Australia.
Since those early days, the club has grown into one of the larger car clubs in South Australia and our members have been prominent in local and Australian motor sport.
The wheel has turned full circle, as now many of our members are again restoring and rebuilding Austin Sevens as well as other historic motor cars.
WHAT DOES THE CLUB DO TODAY?
Within our membership, there are two main areas of interest:
AUSTIN SEVEN INTERESTS
The club caters for members who have an interest in rebuilding and restoring 'old' cars - NOT NECESSARILY ONLY AUSTIN SEVENS. Anyone with such an interest is welcome in the club.
Once rebuilt and running, these cars are used on touring runs, held each month. These runs are either organised by the Club or run in conjunction with other, similar interest clubs.
The Club has a service of offering members assistance in obtaining spares for Austin Sevens only.
MOTOR SPORT
A. Motor Racing
Circuit motor race meetings are held at Mallala Motor Sports Park during the year.
Various classes of cars compete, for example:Sports Sedans; highly modified saloons with powerful engines.Formula Ford; racing cars built to strict specifications, using Ford 1600cc engines.
Club Cars; saloons with limited modifications. Roll cages are recommended though not necessarily compulsory, therefore some people use their road cars.
Historic Racing & Sports Cars; pre-1978 racing and sports Cars.
Other classes are catered for; more information is available
from the competition secretary.
B. Motor Sport
Members keen to compete against each other in club level sport, compete in:
Circuit Sprints; held at Mallala, allow drivers to compete on a racing circuit, against others, one at a time, against the clock.
Hillclimbs; similar events to the above except that the course is up a hill.
Autokhanas; test drivers skills in car control. A short course is laid out on a dirt or bitumen surface and competitors drive against the clock.
In all motor sport events, safety is most important. Safety helmets and seatbelts must be worn. Other strict safety requirements must be observed as laid down by the controlling body of motor sport in Australia - CAMS, the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport.
The Austin Seven Club organises a race meeting each year and is always seeking volunteers to assist in it's running.