Seventy years after a small group of car enthusiasts gathered in Kempsey, New South Wales to form a club, the Kempsey Sporting Car Club continues to carve its place in regional motorsport driven by a selfless mantra of resilience, ingenuity and a refusal to stand still.

Based out of the hill climb track at Mount Cooperabung, members officially formed the club on 14 June 1956.

Club president Chris Seam said the club has always provided a valuable contribution to the region in terms of community.

“We’re here for the long term, it’s as simple as that for our members,” Seam said.

“Because of that commitment, I’d definitely say we have a positive motorsport community as a club, the Macleay region has always punched way above its weight in that regard.

“For many, many years the club has had lots and lots of motorsport. One example of that is when the club used to run drags on the public street. We came up with all sorts of ideas from decade to decade.

“We’re extremely proud of the part we have played in the wider motorsport landscape.”

The new club introduced annual subscriptions of one pound and one shilling for men and ten shillings and sixpence for women, while granting equal rights to both, an approach for membership well ahead of its time.

In the early years, the club quickly built momentum through reliability trials, tapping into the national excitement surrounding endurance events like the Redex and Ampol Round Australia Trials.

Drivers tackled demanding courses before the club adapted, shifting to shorter afternoon and night trials that better suited local conditions.

At the same time, members organised gymkhanas at venues such as the old Kempsey Golf Course, Gladstone Racecourse and South West Rocks.

By the late 1950s, the club expanded into hillclimbs at Aldavilla, and soon after introduced sprints at North Street and Blackmans Point.

As momentum built, new regulations under the Speedways Act shut down motorsport on public roads, forcing the club into a critical turning point. Rather than folding, members got creative in order to continue their love of motorsport.

The club came up with a form of motorsport discipline named “mud scrambles”, a rough, crowd-pleasing form of off-road racing using standard road cars while raising funds. With the proceeds, the club secured land and built its own sealed hillclimb track on Crescent Head Road in the late 1960s.

The 766-yard track quickly drew top drivers from across New South Wales, establishing Kempsey as a serious motorsport destination.

Adversity struck again as bushfires destroyed its safety fencing, costing the club its licence. Members rallied, holding working bees to rebuild, only to lose the facility entirely due to lease complications. Once again, the club adapted.

In 1979, it shifted focus to forest rallying, launching the Yowie Rally and building a strong presence throughout the 1980s with the Cavalcade series.

Yet by the end of the decade, participation dropped sharply. Membership dwindled, and in 1989 the club cancelled its rally. A small but determined core refused to let the club fade.

They rebuilt membership through the early 1990s, restoring momentum and reintroducing key events like the Railway Hotel Rally and the BP Clybucca Rally, which grew to Clubman status before rising costs forced its conclusion after 2007.

At the same time, the club continued to innovate. It helped run the first Macleay 1000 in 1981 and pioneered short-course off-road racing in the valley with an event at Yessabah in 1982. Through every era, however, grassroots motorsport has remained its backbone.

The club has consistently run gymkhanas, motorkhanas and khanacross events since its inception, always offering an accessible entry point for drivers.

Regular khanacross events at Eungai since the mid-1990s have strengthened participation, particularly among juniors.

In 1995, the club reintroduced hill climbs at Mount Cooperabung, transforming a section of the old Pacific Highway into a competitive venue.

It expanded the track in 2004 and now runs multiple events each year, including rounds of the NSW Hillclimb Championship.

Its involvement in the Tri Challenge series alongside Newcastle and Tamworth further highlights its ongoing role in the sport and consistent sell-outs for the club’s Junior Development Program sessions are providing local youths with a fun avenue to motorsport.

Seventy years on, Seam added that the Kempsey Sporting Car Club is leaning into its milestone this year, with a celebratory function scheduled for June to recognise the club’s achievement.

“In addition to an expanded logo for 2026 and consistent messaging around the milestone at events this year, the dinner will provide a great opportunity to reflect on the years gone by,” Seam added.

“There will be special guests and memorabilia, to celebrate an amazing achievement in the Macleay Valley, so if anyone would like to be involved, please get in touch with Debbie or send a message through our Facebook page.

“We are also looking for sponsors, speakers, past photos and memorabilia to help us create a special occasion with more information to be out soon.”

More than just a milestone, the club’s 70-year anniversary marks a legacy of action, driven by people, keeping motorsport alive in the Macleay Valley.