Press Release issued November 28th 2010 by Bruce Pitt, President LSA
Lightning Sprint Racing in Australia set for a strong future!
Building a National Class in Speedway is a huge job, especially when you’re not starting afresh. Lightning Sprints has been no exception, with its fair share of complications, having to deal with 5 different States, all with different existing car specifications, club racing rules and expectations.
Several years ago, a steering committee evolved (with a committed few), to work towards a way of bringing all the classes together (Qld/NSW Litre Cars, SA V6 Sprints and Tas/Vic Mini Sprints). Those discussions culminated in what everyone knows as the ALSRA. In September 2009 in Melbourne, the birth of a National Division for Lightning Sprints took place. Representatives from Qld, NSW, SA, Vic and Tas all shook hands on the agreements that made the amalgamation of States become a reality.
Some of those agreements included:
- To adopt the name of Lightning Sprints for the class of cars.
- To recognise all existing State Specification in all States.
- An agreement to compile all existing Specifications into one (National) specification book (To be written so that no existing car was rendered illegal)
- A foundation of a national committee structure that was to see equal representation from all affiliated state clubs.
- An agreement to accept the old ‘Australian Litre Sprint Car Association’ as the incorporated body for the newly formed amalgamation. (Simply, the word ‘Litre’ was changed to ‘Lightning’ to reflect the amalgamation)
Everyone left that meeting excited about the future and the prospect of our first Lightning Sprints Australian Title.
Somewhere along the way, due to many unforseen circumstances and distractions, the ALSRA found it increasingly difficult to consolidate its adopted incorporation, and have it reflect all the agreements that had been made to make the amalgamation of states possible. Sadly, it became evident that the ALSRA incorporation was unworkable as a National Body, and the changes that were required to be made to allow it to function as a National Body were taking a lot longer than first anticipated. Hence the decision to look at the possibility of forming a new association, based on the established agreements with amalgamation of the states, was investigated. After much discussion, and deliberation, the decision to set up a new association was made, and the process was initiated. From that has come ‘Lightning Sprints Australia Inc’ (LSA), which is now the recognised National Body for Lightning Sprints by NASR.
LSA has established a National Body Constitution (written in conjunction with NASR’s legal team), that is not unlike other National Bodies for speedway in Australia. It represents the structures that were agreed upon by the ALSRA in 2009, and will enable the growth and stability of Lightning Sprints to become a reality, a reality that all have been working towards.
LSA has also consolidated and issued the first National Specification book for Lightning Sprints (LSA -001). This book has been several years in the making, with contributions from all 5 States. It will see all current cars registered in Australia being able to compete together nationally under the one set of specifications. This book, however controversial, is a strong stepping stone to consolidating Lightning Sprints as a true national class. Be assured, the LSA (as did the ALSRA) does have a technical committee in place, and they will be continuing to assess and address safety and parity issues, as all cars continue to race together. The technical committee is made up of representatives from all affiliated state clubs.
LSA currently has 4 States affiliated with it, including Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria. There has also been a considerable amount of interest shown from NSW, so the LSA committee is confident that all of the previous 5 states that were represented on the ALSRA will be represented under the LSA banner. LSA is also hopeful that cars currently licensed through the VSC and who have very similar car specifications, will also consider the move be involved and be part of the LSA National Body.
The 2011 Lightning Sprints Australian Title is drawing closer, and this year it will be hosted by Toowoomba, Queensland on Jan 28th & 29th. Track President Scott Genrich and his team are relieved and excited that the Title is still going ahead and hope that the meeting will be well attended, as the opportunity to be ‘Aust 1’ only comes around once a year. The Australian Title will be open to all members of LSA affiliated clubs, with all relevant information and nomination forms available on the ‘lightningsprints.net’ web site, or from the relevant club secretaries. Next season the Title is scheduled to be hosted by South Australia, followed by Tasmania, then Victoria, before returning to NSW.
On behalf of the LSA committee, I would like to thank all those people who, over several years, have put in countless hours to make this become a reality. Special appreciation is given to Dale Gilson and the NASR team, for their input and confidence in the growth of Lightning Sprints across Australia. I would also like to thank all those who have accepted roles as delegates from their affiliating states, who make up the LSA Committee and Technical Sub Committee. Without the willingness of these people to contribute in a positive way at this level, divisions such as Lightning Sprints could well cease to exist.
Finally, I would like to express that it is the LSA committee’s endeavour to see Lightning Sprints become a strong National Class. Our aim is to see continued growth in this division, along with consistent and competitive racing. We hope that all competitors will be able to enjoy their racing, whether it is from an entry level or at the front of the field. Let us all work together to see this division become one of the strongest classes in Australian Speedway.
pr1