The North West Car Club (NWCC) is celebrating a major milestone this year with the club rounding out seven decades of operation on Tasmania’s northwestern coast, and being a champion of motorsport in the region.
Just a day out from the commencement of Buckby Motors Rally Tasmania, an event the club has supported for decades and serves as the season finale of the EROAD Australian Rally Championship and Tasmanian Rally Championship, North West Car Club President Stephen Peters stated it is a proud time to be a member of the Burnie-based organisation.
“The ability to adapt, to change, a different genre of membership, and the ability to run a diverse amount of motorsport disciplines has been crucial over the years to the sustainability of our club,” Peters said.
“A lot of other clubs probably stick to the one discipline, whereas we do not. I think that’s been our strength and the major key to our success over the years.
“It’s a wonderful community to be a part of.I’m a life member, I’ve been a member for 45 years, I’m currently in my fifth stint as the president of the club, and a lot of us have dedicated our lives to motorsport and this club because we think it offers a great benefit to the state.”
As part of the 70-year milestone, the NWCC also established a special anniversary committee to enhance celebrations throughout the year – such as the purchasing and development of 14 acres of land to allow junior motorsport participants as young as the age of 12 to drive with the club.
The origins of the North West Car Club date all the way back to 1954 when John Laverick called those interested in forming a new motoring club. A North West division of the Light Car Club of Tasmania (LCCT) was then formed providing social and competitive events for its members.
However, in 1955, club members broke away from the LCCT, forming their own club, the North West Car Club.
In the early days treasure hunts, trials, standing and flying quarter miles, and khanacross-style events were popular.
Among the most successful eventswas the Penguin Hillclimb, which was held from 1955 to 1971 and was a major highlight on the Tasmanian motorsport calendar.
Penguin hosted the Tasmanian Hill Climb Championship and attracted the cream of Tasmanian drivers such as Lyn Archer, John McCormack and David Sternberg, as well as top mainland drivers such as three time Australian Hill Climb Champion, Paul England.
Following the eventual conclusion of the Penguin Hillclimb, the club started the Highclere Hill Climb in 1975 which has attracted top drivers such as John Bowe and David Parsons and continues to run today. It still stands as the longest running hillclimb in the state.
Trials, now rallies, in the 1950s and 60s could be up to 24 hours long with no breaks and using some very challenging roads. The organising committee also targeted top mainland competitors such as Australian Rally Champions Colin Bond and Ross Dunkerton to compete at the Mersey Valley Rally in 1977 and 1978 respectively.
The concept set the blueprint for events such as The Advocate Fairford Rally, which became a round of the Australian Rally Championship, a first for Tasmania.
Now named Buckby Motors Rally Tasmania, and taking place over 8-9 November in Burnie, the event has more than 40 years of history on the Apple Isle as part of the Australian Rally Championship.
“We take great pride in the role we play when Rally Tasmania comes around, not just because of the amount of volunteer officials from our club that assist with the event, but the lead we take in welcoming officials from all over the state in assisting us in the smooth running of the event,” Peters added.
“As the rally does have a lot of gravel roads in the forestry, we have to physically man the stages to close them so there’s no horse riders, motorbike riders, pushbike riders, generally people in the areas. So, that’s a big thing.”
In 2024, Rally Tasmania was awarded Community Event of the Year by the Burnie City Council.
In 1996, the club formalised a number of different bitumen events into a series becoming known as The Black Tack Series. Motorkhana events at the Wynyard Airport and the Trowutta Hillclimb are a couple of events to have come and gone and come back again, but the series itself continues today and run for the 30th year in 2025.
Sticking to its roots, the NWCC still champions hill climbs and a number of different venues have been used over the years.
The club helped resurrect the Tasmanian Hill Climb Championships in the mid-80s and again in 2005, which led to a state-wide series being run today.
The North West Car Club credits its success over the years to the principles introduced by founding members. Offering well-organised, affordable and fun events aimed at the club-level competitor.
