I was aware that events such as hillclimbs, sprinted and navigation trials, as they were known as at the time, were conducted by car clubs for their members so I went exploring for a venue to conduct some form of a speed event. I discovered a gravel road that climbed a steep hill a short distance from South Grafton. The road turned off the Rushforth Road and apparently carried only the occasional vehicle. Without really having much idea of a hillclimb, I was convinced this road would make an ideal hillclimb site.

The Rushforth Hillclimb, as it became known, was to be the birthplace of the Grafton Sporting Car Club. In the following years, the Rushforth Hill was to become a legend in a region which had been denied any form of motor sport but one with a potential for motor sport participation well beyond contemplation. Some of the great drivers of that area would become regular competitors at the Rushforth Hill. The Holden drivers, Des West, John French and Max Volkers were regular Hillclimb competitors. Noel Hall started his motor racing career at the Rushforth Hill drive a Ralt. Ted Ansell from Sydney, in his late sixties driving a fiat Abarth became a popular regular competitor.

Having found a venue for a motor sporting event, I convinced a group of enthusiasts to join in a hillclimb. I did not seek the approval of the Police or any other authority to close the road or conduct a motor sport event. I really did not consider the need to approval as it was intended as a simple timed run up the hill from a standing start for each driver in turn.

I obtained a stop watch and made a starting flag and that was the limit of the equipment used. The timing was very basic. The starter positioned each car on the start line with the timekeeper in view of the start on the finish line at the top of the steeper section of the hill. Each run began as the starter dropped the flag, the timekeeper started the stopwatch and the time was recorded as the car crossed the finish line. Each competitor was given three timed runs and the times were averaged as that seemed to be the fairest process to compensate for timing errors.

There were twelve competitors who participated in Grafton’s first hillclimb on Sunday 19 June 1955. The fastest time of the day was 26.5 seconds set by Kethel Rooke driving his formidable EKR Ford Special, a car he built himself. The results were published in the Daily Examiner the following day. The event was judged an outstanding success by those who participated and the few spectators who watched. All were enthusiastic for another event and the possibilities of forming a sporting car club appeared strong. My expectations were for a club of about 20 members who could join in regular competition and gain knowledge of suitable types of motor sporting activities. I booked the Grafton Historical Society Rooms situated on the first floor of the former Town Hall building in Prince Street for a public meeting on Tuesday 28 June 1955. A Public Notice placed in the Daily Examiner invited interested people to attend. The historical Society Room was regularly used for public meetings as there was little else available. The location was central and no charge was made for meetings.

I was certainly pleased with the results of the meeting. The attendance was twenty one; the decision to form a sporting car club was reached with great enthusiasm and the ten Office Bearer positions were filled promptly by very willing members. The position of Secretary was place in my hands as the meeting insisted that as the initiator, I should carry the new Club forward through its initial year. The position of President was accepted by Merv Collens and the Treasurer’s position by Len Wenzel. The meeting name the new organisation the Grafton Sporting Car Club.

The new Club certainly lacked in experience. Only one of the enthusiasts attending the meeting had some knowledge of motor sport. John MacDonald, a new arrival in Grafton to establish and architectural practice, had been a member of his University’s car club while a student. The other twenty had never participated in any form of motor sporting activity. Lack of experience was to prove no obstacle at all as the year ahead was to see the Grafton Sporting Car Club quickly establish itself as well organised and very active motor sporting club with a membership of seventy one.

A Club Constitution was considered an immediate requirement. I had no knowledge of Club Constitutions so I made contact with the Orange Light Car Club who were helpful with advice and a copy of their Club’s Constitution. This was suitably amended and presented for adoption at a General meeting held again at the Historical Rooms on Monday 8 August 1955.

The design of a car badge and lapel badge prepared by John MacDonald were presented to this meeting. The design was based on the wire spoke with a large knock off cap displaying the Brooklands steering wheel and the lettering G S C C . The Club name was displayed on the tyre section of the badge.

The symbols used were strongly representative of motor racing in that era. This badge is an outstanding design and remains the symbol of the Club today. The original badges were manufactured by K G Luke in Melbourne and were eagerly sought by members. In fact there were motorists who joined the Club simply to obtain this badge to mount on the badge bar of their car.

The Club was advised to form as a Company Limited by Guarantee under the Companies Act. This was common practice at the time for sporting clubs to limit the liability of members. The assistance of Eric Radcliffe and David Lobban of Grafton Solicitors, Lobban Craig and Radcliffe was sought in the preparation of the Articles of Association and the registration of the Club as a Limited Company. Through the generosity of these solicitors, the registration was arranged at almost no cost to the club and on 22 November 1955 the Club was incorporated as a company. Another generous offer was made by Jack Hockey of Hockey Shoe Store to provide the club with a Club Room conveniently located in Price Street above the Shoe Store without charge. This offer was very helpful in providing the Club with facilities for regular meetings.

These actions were typical of the cooperation received from business houses in Grafton to assist the Club to establish itself on a strong footing. Civic leaders and the Police also provided good support. It was very encouraging to the Club to have such strong support. The Club was recognised as meeting a real need in the community in providing a controlled outlet for motorists, particularly the younger ones to improve driving skills and participate in organised activities.

During the first year, the Club was very active in conducting a range of competitive and social events generally at monthly intervals. The first event conducted by the Grafton Sporting Car Club on 24 July 1955 was a Navigation Trial as this type of event was known at the time. I undertook the organisation of this event without really having any idea how to proceed. I began with a Military Map of the district and using a Roto meter to meter distances, established a course for the event and recorded he control pointed and then set average speeds for the sections. Route instructions were prepared and control point officials arranged. I did not survey the actual course at any stage. It was fortunate that none of the competitors had experience with trials and were keenly interest in their first motor sport event.

Twenty two entries were received for the event and all competitors completed the mainly gravel roads of the course without serious difficulty even though changes to some of the road and turn off points had been made since World War 2 vintage maps have been printed. A trophy for the outright winner was donated by Arthur Robinson Century Batteries, the two class winner trophies by Gordon L Wood and George Weiley and a 3 car time winner trophy was donated by Reg Morris. The outright winner was Club President Merv Collens driving a VauxhallVelox. The event was declared an outstanding success by Club members and I never did reveal the method of route selection. I do look back on my first attempt with some embarrassment. It was a very amateurish starting point but the Club quickly developed event organising skills and each event was well received by the members.

The Club’s first gymkhana was held on 28 August 1955 at the South Grafton aerodrome. This event was organised by Club Treasurer Len Wenzel. This event was followed on 9 October by a 250 mile navigation trial. Results from these events have not been found.

A further two navigation trials were held during 1955 to complete the first six months since foundation with four events. Each event had seen enthusiastic participation from a rapidly increasing membership of motorist who welcomed their first opportunity to complete in motor sport events.

A more ambitious program was prepared for the 1956 year with an event for each month. Events were competitive in the form of navigation trials and gymkhanas and social outings in the form of treasure hunts and film evenings at the Club room.

At the end of the second year since formation, there was a noticeable drop in the initial enthusiasm that had sustained the Club during the initial year. Membership had declined from 71 to 43 as some members who had tried motor sport for the first time decided it was not a sport they wished to pursue further. Competitive events, such as navigation trials and hillclimbs were run on gravel road surfaces. There were members who were concerned with driving on unsealed road because of the higher risk of damage to their cars. Bitumen sealed road surfaces were not common 50 years ago. Large sections of the Pacific Highway were not bitumen and main roads such as the road from Grafton to Casino, Armidale to Glen Innes were almost entirely heavily corrugated gravel roads.

At the second Annual General Meeting held in September 1957, the Club was in a sound position and an essential part of the sporting life of the Clarence Valley. I had completed two years as Secretary and retired from that position to accept the position of Club President for the following two years. The first two years of Club activity are summarised in the First and Second Annual Reports presented at the Annual General Meetings. These reports are now historic documents as they record the Foundation Members, the Office Bearers and the Members for the first two years of the Grafton Sporting Car Club.