The final round of the South Australian Car Club grants program is now open for applications with the State Government focusing on accelerating regional, female and young driver participation as well as safety on and off-road.

The current funding round will build on a busy previous round, which involved granting funding to 75 initiatives across 64 clubs sharing in $500,000 – a new record.

Clubs can apply for funding to help purchase life-saving defibrillators, rejuvenate clubrooms, improve operations and drive participation in motorsport through popular events.

South Australian MP Tom Koutsantonis outlined the South Australian Car Club Program was fuelling the growth of grassroots participation in motorsport by enabling clubs to build on their proud history.

“As clubs get set to rev up projects awarded in round three, we are excited to announce the fourth and final round of grants to drive their ambitions into the future,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“Our state is a premier destination for motoring enthusiasts and we are proud to be supporting their continued success – on and off road.”

The $2 million, four-year program began in 2023 with eligible grassroots car clubs since sharing in $1.5 million through more than 200 initiatives.

The third round of funding drew more than 90 applications across three streams, with $40,000 in vital improvements to the popular Collingrove Hillclimb in the Barossa Valley headlining more than 10 regional projects awarded funding.

The Veteran Car Club of South Australia received a $5,000 grant to lead 150 pre-1919 vehicles on a six-day rally across the Murraylands in October, with a Triumph Stag rally through the Riverland also drawing interstate visitors to communities impacted by the 2022-2023 River Murray Flood Event.

Other grant recipients included:

• Southern Districts Car Club will utilise $23,000 to build a new all-weather training space for young drivers at Cambrai.
• Morgan Classic and Custom Vehicles Club received $25,000 for vital clubroom repairs.
• Adelaide Car Club will host a Women on Track event to mentor female motorsport enthusiasts, with agricultural vehicles to go on show at Price in a tractor pull and show ’n’ shine fest on the Yorke Peninsula.

Eligible clubs must be a not-for-profit organisation operating for 12 months or longer.

Applications for the fourth round are now open and will close on 25 August. Successful applicants will be announced later this year.

For further information and to apply, visit the SA Car Club Program website.