The first V8 RACE Experience winning official has been announced, with Tony "Buddha" Moore from Rivett in the ACT taking the prize after spending the weekend as a Fire Marshall at Wakefield Park for Round 1 of the AMRC.

Tony was delighted to receive the prize, after being drawn at random from the list of officials in attendance. His first reaction when told about his win was "terrific, fantastic, wonderful and a big thank you to V8 RACE and the AMRC!" The V8RACE Experience voucher entitles him to the full experience, including Pre-Drive Tuition, Use of Race Suit and Helmet, a Personal in-car coach, and the chance to drive a V8RACE car, at one of Australia's premier circuits.

One official will be drawn at random at each round of the 2008 Australian Motor Racing Championships - our way of saying thank you to the volunteers who make our racing possible. The prizes are provided by the great guys at V8RACE Experience (www.v8race.com.au) and QR Raceway RACE Experience (www.qldraceways.com.au).

The next chance for an official to win will be Round 2 of the AMRC, at Melbourne's Calder Park, 26-27 April. For information on how you can become an official, experience motorsport from a totally different angle, and be in the running for one of these great prizes, head to the AASA Contact Us page, and get in touch with the AASA staff.

The presentation of teams racing in the 2008 Australian Motor Racing Championships is set to be raised to a new level, with support and prizes from Super Hoist Plus.

The presentation of the cars and teams will be judged by scrutineers at each race weekend. The best three cars will be announced at each event, and will then gain points that will be added to a tally to determine the top three cars at the end of the year. The top three cars in the final tally will be eligible for the following fantastic prizes:

First Place: Tyre Changer and Wheel Balancer Package. The fantastic NHT-821 Tyre Changer makes changing tyres a breeze. Adjustable for wheel diameters from 12" to 23", and widths upto 13", with a bead breaker force of 2500kg, this tyre changer makes a welcome addition to any workshop. And it is complemented perfectly by the NHT-251 Wheel Balancer. Suitable for wheel diameters from 10" to 24", and widths up to 20", and with an amazing accuracy of +/- 1g, the tyre changer will help you totally eliminate vibrations.

Second Place: Two Post Hoist. The Super Hoist Plus YSJ-3000 is the perfect two post hoist for any workshop. With a lifting capacity of 3000kg, and capable of lifting to a height of 1.8 metres, this two post hoist will help the second best presented competitor to be even better presented and prepared.

Third Place: Moveable Hoist. The Super Hoist Plus YYJ-2800 is the ideal solution for lifting cars where space or installation is limited. The moveable hoist can be used on any flat (and hard) surface, and has a lifting capacity of 2800kg, and can lift to a height of 1.2 metres. This hoist will be awarded to third placegetter in the Super Hoist Plus Best Presented competition.

A fantastic prize pool from the terrific guys at Super Hoist Plus, valued at over $10,000, this provides even more incentive to turn out a well presented car and team.

In addition, Super Hoist Plus are offering a 10% discount to all AMRC competitors. Just quote this article when discussing your purchase.

Super Hoist Plus P/L is a national company with distributors in all states of Australia. They offer a great range of top quality, Australian Standards compliant workshop equipment at very competitive prices. For more information on the company, check out their website: www.superhoistplus.com

The Super Hoist Plus Best Presented Competition will be judged at each round of the Australian Motor Racing Championships, with the scrutineers nominating the top three cars at each event. Judging criteria will include the presentation and preparation of the car, as well as the preparation of the team. First place at each round will be awarded 10 points. Second place will be awarded 5 points, and Third will be awarded 3 points.

The next round of the Australian Motor Racing Championships will be held at Melbourne's Calder Park, 26-27 April. Keep track of all the latest news via the official website: www.amrc.net.au

Melbourne's Calder Park Raceway will host the second round of the Bob Jane T-Marts Australian Motor Racing Championships (AMRC) on April 26 and 27.

Calder Park has thrown in a couple of major competitor incentives to further promote the fact that the AMRC has been designed to provide low cost, highly enjoyable motor racing competition for all entrants.

Calder Park will provide FREE private practice for all AMRC round entered competitors on Friday April 25 and in an added value incentive, the popular Melbourne motor racing complex will also supply pit garages (until all available garages are allocated on a first in, first served basis) to all AMRC competitors at no further cost throughout the weekend of April 26 and 27.

The venue will also host a free barbecue for all entrants and officials on Saturday evening, April 26 to further enhance the social interaction that is enjoyed at all AMRC rounds.

According to Calder Park Raceway CEO Bryan Nokes, "The main aim of the Australian Motorsport Club and the AMRC is to provide an affordable and enjoyable national motor racing alternative for everyone from the grass roots levels of the sport to the professional competitor. By providing free private practice and garage use until they are all taken up, we are delivering on our promise to make the 2008 Bob Jane T-Marts AMRC the most affordable and enjoyable national motor racing series in the country. We are expecting a bumper number of entries for our first Victorian round of the year."

Calder Park's AMRC round on April 25 and 26 is the first of two AMRC rounds to be held at Melbourne's traditional home of motorsport. Categories that will be competing over the weekend include:

AASA Australian Touring Car Championship - highly competitive racing with fields containing V8 Giants (V8-powered sedans from all major manufacturers, with older 5 litre V8 Supercar specification cars, 4-litre, quad-cam cars, all the way up to 7-litre pushrod engines, plus the newly introduced 3 litre turbo Giant Killer class.

AASA Production Touring Car Championship - any street legal sedan, fitted with roll-over protection, fire extinguisher and racing seat belt is eligible.

OzBoss ("Big Open Single Seaters") such as F4000, F3000, F/Atlantic and ANF2 cars, plus Prototype Sports Cars - with makes such as Saker (NZ), Minetti, Radicals and West in these fields this year.

Thundersports - Motorcycle engined cars with a fiberglass body, super-fast high power to weight designed cars that allow for extremely low cost racing.

Super TT - Utes, Commodore Cup, Sports Sedans and 3.3 Litre Holdens - popular old classic Touring Cars, also including HQ Holdens.

Of course, the all new 2008 Pirelli Gran Turismo Championship returns to Calder Park at Round 2, with a number of exotic Maserati, Porsche and Dodge sportscars taking part.

Fujitsu V8 Supercar driver, Ashley Cooper, succumbed last Monday to brain injuries received from a high speed racing accident at the Clipsal 500 meeting in Adelaide.

As terrible as this incident was for his partner, Casey, and their two young children Ella and Bailey, their families, friends, and motorsport fans; Ashley has provided the greatest gift of all – life – to seven other people, including a six year old girl, through the donation of his organs.

Ashley’s family - with support from Transplant Australia - has now announced the establishment of the Ashley Cooper Foundation, to raise money for Ashley’s partner Casey and their two young children Ella and Bailey.

“As a family, we will of course do everything we can for Casey, Ella and Bailey” explained a distraught Alan Cooper; Ashley’s father.

“But the reality is that now Ashley has gone, Casey and the kids have no source of income in the short term to meet their mortgage payments, or other regular living expenses.”

“And while none of this will bring their father back, we are hoping to at least raise enough money so the kids can continue to live in their own home with their mother.”

Transplant Australia, as a registered charity representing transplant recipients, donor families and living donors, will manage the appeal for the Cooper family through its Trust Account, receiving donations and providing tax deductible receipts.

All donations to the Ashley Cooper Foundation will be used for the maintenance, advancement and benefit of Ashley’s two children; with Transplant Australia remitting 100% of all funds to the family less any bank and credit card fees incurred in the transaction of those funds.

Transplant Australia CEO, Chris Thomas, said the generosity shown by Ashley and his family had not only saved seven lives but also raised awareness about the positive impact of organ and tissue donation.

“Transplant Australia is very pleased to be able to help Ashley’s family after he has given so much to others.”

People wishing to donate to the Ashley Cooper Foundation can do so by phoning 1800 827 757.

From Wednesday, 5th March 2008, you can also pledge donations through:
www.ashleycooper.com.au
www.transplant.org.au
www.v8supercars.com.au

For more information on the Ashley Cooper Foundation, please visit www.ashleycooper.com.au.

From its very first days as the AMRS, the Australian Motor Racing Championships has been about innovation and pioneering new paths in Australian Motorsport. And in 2008, the tradition continues - the latest development is about recognising the often overlooked efforts of the officials that make our events possible.

Every race meeting has an army of officials working behind the scenes, working in race control, working on the circuit, manning flagpoints and recovery vehicles, driving the course car, and keeping things in order in pitlane. Without these hardworking, and for the most part volunteer, people, there could be no racing.

Quite frequently, drivers will thank the officials when accepting awards, and give them a wave on the slow down lap, but now, in 2008, the AMRC, in conjunction with V8RACE Experience and QR Raceway RACE Experience, officials at Australian Motor Racing Championships events will have the chance to enjoy one of the fantastic experiences on offer from V8RACE Experience and QR Raceway RACE Experience.

The experience includes Pre-Drive Tuition, Use of Race Suit and Helmet, a Personal in-car coach, and the chance to drive a V8RACE car, at one of Australia's premier circuits. One experience will be up for grabs at each AMRC round by way of a raffle draw.

For more information on V8RACE Experience, head to the official website: www.v8race.com.au
For information on QR Raceway RACE Experience, head to the official website: www.qldraceways.com.au

For information on how you can become an official, head to the AASA Contact Us page, and get in touch with the AASA staff.

To our officials we say THANK YOU, and good luck in the next draw to win a V8RACE Experience!

February 19, 2008 - Kumho Tyres has joined forces with a number of the 2008 Bob Jane T-Marts Australian Motor Racing Championships (AMRC) categories for a new season of affordable, competitive and highly enjoyable motor racing.

Kumho Tyres becomes a primary series sponsor as well as an official control tyre supplier to the 2008 AASA Australian Touring Car Championship that will travel to circuits across Australia's eastern seaboard throughout the year, offering a low cost motorsport alternative. The Kumho S700 slick racing tyre (which was tested successfully by several competitors in 2007) will be used with Kumho signage visible on all cars competing in the category. Kumho is also providing a generous prize pool for the series top three finishers who will be racing for their share of $10,000 prizemoney for the season.

Competitors in the 2008 AASA Production Car Championship and the 2008 Super TT Championship will have the option to take part in a contingency sponsorship, whereby if they place Kumho stickers on their cars, they will be in the running to receive a new set of Kumho tyres to use at a following round based on their performance in each round.

The 2008 Bob Jane T-Marts AMRC will visit five different circuits across nine rounds between March and November in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. A highlights package of each round will be televised on SBS Speedweek as well as on the Fox Sports Inside Speed program.

The 2008 AASA Australian Touring Car Championship will include longer races this season and welcomes a new category known as "Giant Killers", which will include up to three litre turbo charged engines, with four wheel drive cars also included. These high-tech machines are set to mix things up amongst the "V8 Giants", which are V8 powered sedans from a range of manufacturers and with a variety of specifications. The cars are subject to a weight versus power and configuration method of ensuring parity. This allows the drivers to to show the different strengths and weaknesses of their particular cars, aiming for overall consistency in performance.

Kumho has also been chosen as the official control tyre supplier for the AASA Thunder Sports category, with all vehicles using the excellent Kumho V70A racing tyre. After having completed a rigorous evaluation process, this Kumho tyre has proven to be the perfect fit for this high energy category of pocket-rocket racers. After catering for a variety of sports cars in 2007, this season the Thunder Sports category moves to solely motorcyle-engined, reduced scale full-bodied cars. Kumho will also provide prizemoney for the top three placegetters in the Championship.

Round One of the 2008 Bob Jane T-Marts AMRC will take place at Goulburn's Wakefield Park Raceway on March 1 & 2.

2008 Bob Jane T-Marts Australian Motor Racing Championship Calendar

March 1-2 - WAKEFIELD PARK (NSW)
April 25-27 - CALDER PARK (VIC)
May 17-18 - QUEENSLAND RACEWAY
June 14-15 - WINTON RACEWAY (VIC)
July 26-27 - ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY (SA)
Aug 30-31 - CALDER PARK (VIC)
Sept 27-28 - QUEENSLAND RACEWAY
Nov 1-2 - WINTON RACEWAY (VIC)
Nov 29-30 - WAKEFIELD PARK (NSW)

For three years, the Australian Motor Racing Series has brought exciting, affordable and accessible racing to competitors and fans across Australia. The AMRS accomplished this task with a small team of dedicated personnel, and in order to keep costs to a minimum, with relatively modest marketing and promotion. Despite this, the series has built an excellent reputation, and a strong core of top-quality competitors and categories.

Today sees the announcement of the evolution of the AMRS into the newly titled AUSTRALIAN MOTOR RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS (AMRC), a development that is designed to promote further growth, and secure the future of the series into the future.

The series will cater for Racing, Touring, Sports and GT cars at five different circuits through 2008, commencing 1-2 March. The rounds will be sanctioned by the Australian Auto Sport Alliance (AASA) and run under the auspices of the Calder Park-based Australian Motorsport Club (AMC). The 2008 series will be the first season of a five-year plan that will provide competitors with Australia’s most affordable National competition.

Sponsored by Australia's leading tyre, wheel and battery retail group, Bob Jane T-Marts, the series will comprise of nine meetings at the following AMC circuits: Calder Park (VIC), Winton Motor Raceway (VIC), Adelaide International Raceway (SA), Wakefield Park (NSW) and Queensland Raceway.

Owner of the Calder Park and Adelaide raceways, Bob Jane, joined with Michael Ronke of Winton Motor Raceway and Wakefield Park in announcing details of the exciting new Championship programme.

"This series answers the call by drivers and fans for affordable motor racing," Mr Ronke said, "and they'll find it friendly and enjoyable as well."

"With the inclusion of Queensland Raceway, the rounds will be run on circuits right along the Eastern seaboard," Bob Jane added, "enabling competitors and their sponsors to reach a huge market of enthusiasts."

It is planned that a highlights package from all nine rounds will be televised nationally, with details yet to be announced.

Principal categories in the Series, with rounds run at each of the nine meetings, will be the AASA Australian Touring Car Championship and the AASA Australian Production Car Championship.

The ATCC will cater for such categories as V8 Giants, while the inclusion of the 3-litre Turbo "Giant Killer" class is expected to rapidly swell the existing field of around 15 cars.

"We plan to have longer races," Mr Ronke said, "and handicaps will be eliminated, so competition will be close and rewarding."

A similar number of cars will be on hand to start the 2008 Production Car Championship, Bob Jane said. With "hot hatches" ideally suited, growing fields are expected.

"This category will also contest every one of the nine rounds," he said, "and there will be handsome rewards for them," Bob added.

The popular Rod Dale, creator and director of the original AMRS, will continue to play an important part in the running of the series, with his primary responsibility as competitor liaison, ensuring that the re-developed series is smooth running and enjoyable.

"Rod will also work with us to cost out entry fees," Mr Ronke said, "as well as to innovate and manage the website for the various categories."

An exciting new category will be competing for the Pirelli Gran Turismo Championship, with organisers expecting to flag away at least 15 cars.

"Most of them initially will be high performance, late model Maseratis," Mr Ronke enthused, "with a few Lotus and Porsche models ready to register.

"One innovation we'll be looking at," said Rod, "is an online entry system - and anything else to make life easier for competitors."

Despite the health of the categories, AASA and AMC are on the lookout for new racing categories for entrants to compete in and lift the profile of the Championships.

"This is a big step forward and the AMRC for 2008 looks very exciting," Mick Ronke offered. "There's still a long road ahead, but with us all committed to making it work I am certain that it will get there."

As might be expected, Bob Jane had the final word: "We're here to conduct a series with no bullshit," he said, "with everything done in a friendly and enjoyable manner that excites people to come to the events.

"This is the affordable future of Australian motor racing," he said with the same colour and enthusiasm that has marked the 50-year career of the legendary racer!

THE Australian Motor Racing Championships includes a comprehensive line-up of classes designed to cater for just about everything racing on four wheels.