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The North Shore Sporting Car Club was created in December of 1952 by a small band of die hard rally fans. In 1950’s Australia, European rally events were not televised and as such were imported on video reel for watching by club members 4 months after events were held. In these early days, club meetings were often held at members houses, carparks and any open space where members and guests could admire and enjoy one another’s ‘rally spec’ vehicles. It was not uncommon for members cars to be parked in a circle with headlights switched on to provide illumination for rally-focused banter.

68 years later and the club has grown from this small group to over 500 members. We are responsible for organising 10 events per year, covering dirt, tarmac and other timed rally-type events. Club members are from all over Sydney with a myriad of cars in varying shapes and sizes. One common theme however is the passion of the members and the legacy of club.

60th Anniversary info:
February 2014
https://www.cams.com.au/media/news/news-archives/2014/february/nsscc-60th-dinner

North Shore Sporting Car Club’s 60th Anniversary celebrations held recently at Sydney’s St Ives Showground was actually 62 years in the making, that’s because the club’s actual foundation occurred in 1952!

For various reasons North Shore had to postpone the celebrations until February 2014 but in so doing they created a marvellous evening that not only looked back at the club’s six decades of motor sport success but looked forward to the future as well.

The Pickering Pavilion at St Ives was transformed into real time tunnel of nostalgia with cars from each of the six decades in the room spread amongst the tables with almost 100 people gathering for the celebrations.

Club president Jon Thomson hosted the evening and interviewed members from the past including well known CAMS steward Geoff Adams who first joined North Shore in 1963. Geoff regaled with tails of taking his work Holden station wagon on a muddy car trial near Wisemans Ferry where famed rally driver and journo Evan Green helped un bog the EH in treacherous conditions. It was a recollection of a past more innocent era of motor sport fun.

Former Daily Telegraph motoring editor and Bathurst class winner James Laing Peach spoke of how forays to Bathurst in the late 1960s in baby Corollas and Datsuns were made under the North Shore Sporting Car Club banner with the club listed as the entrant, harking to a time of much more simple pleasure when it came to racing.

Club member and Dakar hero Bruce Garland was on hand with his Isuzu DMax Dakar ute and spoke of the essence of learning his skills and craft in club motor sport at North Shore and prior to moving to Sydney at Brisbane SCC.  It really was a salute to club motor sport and the benefits it brings to young drivers.

Another club member Molly Taylor, the reigning European Ladies Rally Champion told of how club motor sport honed her rally skills for her off shore campaigns and revealed the battle ahead with her plans for season 2014 in Europe and hopefully the WRC.

The icing on the cake was a brilliant video presentation that recognises the changes  in  club motor sport over the past 62 years, made by leading cinematographer and club member Rod Turnbull.

It was a marvellous night of camaraderie, nostalgia and great cheer with the band ‘Nostalgia as Anything’ playing hits from the past six decades, some great food and good company.

North Shore has set its sights on securing its own clubrooms and facilities within the next ten years before it celebrates its 70th birthday in 2022.

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For details on membership, please click here.