A new historical motorsport body has been formed to promote Australia’s rich motorsport history, made up of members from historic racing clubs all over the country.
The Historic Motorsport Promoters (HMP) group aims to bring together promoters and Historic Racing Clubs from around Australia with a shared passion for preserving and promoting historic motorsport.
The HMP focuses on collaboration, community engagement, and lobbying for evolutionary change within the sport’s rules while showcasing the legacy of motorsport through well-curated events honouring the cars, drivers, and stories that have helped shaped the sport.
The inaugural members of the HMP include Historic Racing Club’s (Queensland) Chris Fung, Historic Sports and Racing Car Association of NSW’s Wayne Wilson, Sporting Car Club of South Australia’s Mark Goldsmith, Motorsports Tasmania’s Peter Killick, Austin 7 Club’s Michael Lambert and Victorian Historic Racing Register’s Mike Herlihy.
Herlihy, who will serve as the inaugural HMP group president, outlined each of the state clubs will continue to independently promote and coordinate their respective state motorsport events, while the HMP aims to increase collaboration and synchronisation between its members.
“Historic motorsport is about more than racing – it’s about keeping alive the machines, the people, and the spirit of competition that define the history of motorsport in Australia,” Herlihy said.
“Our mission is to support the promoters and organisers of Historic motorsport events that not only celebrate this history but also inspire future generations of participants and fans.”
The group states it will support promoters of historic motorsport across Australia by encouraging wider public participation and awareness of the Australian motorsport heritage, provide a united voice for promoters working to grow the profile of historic racing, and will foster partnerships with clubs, sponsors, and motorsport organisations – including lobbying for category/regulatory evolution within the sport.
Motorsport Australia State and Club Competition Manager Bruce Astbury will sit in on HMP meetings alongside incoming Motorsport Australia Historic Motorsport Committee Chair Norman Gowers as invited guests, maintaining a strong connection between the HMP group and the governing body’s historic motorsport committee.
Astbury said the HMP group will play pivotal role in facilitating collaboration between promoters.
“This is a really positive step for historic motorsport,” Astbury said.
“By bringing the different state-based promoters together, we can share knowledge, resources and ideas more effectively.
“It’s about strengthening the historic motorsport community, supporting organisers, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of historic motorsport across Australia.”
For more information or to get involved with the Historic Motorsport Promoters group, contact Herlihy via email at president@hmp.au.
