CAMS to take control of all NSW Motorsport (allegedly...)

[Growling Ferret]

At a club event on the weekend, I heard a silly rumour that CAMS was lobbying the NSW Gov to take control of all motorsport in NSW - the story suggested that this would include Drags and Speedway, and stop events such as (non CAMS sanctioned, and thus much less expensive)Wakefield Park and GEAR events.

Can anyone else confirm they have heard this, or is it a figment of some paranoid low-budget racers collective imaginations?

Further to this, if this does have some legs, surely there is some restraint of trade issues that may arise? The Drag lobby has some powerful friends...

[storyline]

This has been reported here (and elsewhere) in numerous threads over the past 12-18 months.

Is it a figment of imagination? No it isn't - CAMS has been paying rather large sums for 'lobbyists' in NSW to approach the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation (who hold control over all race tracks in NSW) with a view to CAMS having control over not only the issuing of track licences in that state but also control of all motor sport (and yes, not just cars).

Will this happen? Depends on who you talk to - but consider that the minister in charge of DSR is being made aware of the duplicity that CAMS is undertaking to achieve their goals in this regard.

[hml2777]

I understand that the lobbyists are talking about exclusivity as well, this means they want the Government to allow them to be the ONLY motorsport body in NSW, I am sure that the ACCC will have a say in that.

[JABWOA]

Let alone MA (although perhaps it will allow 2x4 meetings again...)

[hml2777]

Hey JABWOA, you sig has just tickled my fancy no end.

Originally Posted by JABWOA

President Bush was receiving his daily briefing from his defence secretary, who concluded: "Three Brazilian soldiers were killed in an accident."
"Oh, no!" exclaimed Bush, who held his head in his hands in a show of emotion which startled his staff. Finally the president looked up and asked: "Just how many is a brazillion?"

[PVDA]

Originally Posted by JABWOA

Let alone MA (although perhaps it will allow 2x4 meetings again...)

It's very interesting that MA & it's individual state bodies sanction most 2 or 3 wheeled racing from the Australian Superbike Championship to speedway to kiddie motocross.

CAMS is the one resisting 2+4 events with it's new rules on such events (separate pit areas, separate insurance, officials hand over duties between car & bike races, etc).

[storyline]

The current beliefe is that the other forms of motor sport in NSW do not believe this will happen. However, Drags (ANDRA), Karting (various bodies), bikes (MA, MNSW), Speedway - even power boats - will all be caught up in this if it is allowed to go ahead.

Not only the 'known' events will be afected - hillclimbs, motorkhanas, touring rallies - events, which at this point in time have exemptions under NSW law from requiring CAMS or other motorsport related permits will be brought under this umbrella.

Do not believe this is scarmongering - other states are watching NSW very closely to see what transpires and which way the wind blows.

(As an example - next years Bathurst 'Festival' at tis stage doesn't require any CAMS involvement - thus the costs have been kept reasonable. This will not be the case if CAMS becomes involved.

[JABWOA]

But then, if all NSW motorsport comes under one body, surely costs will drop as more participants share the load, surely

[storyline]

Take, as an example, Wakefield Park - which runs events under its own insurance and permit as well as CAMS events.

These 'local' events are currently - so I am led to believe - running at about 50% the total cost of a CAMS event.

In addition, in NSW at least, the track licence fee is well below the figure CAMS is currently charging.

Similarly at Queensland Raceway and Winton where AASA sanctioned events are costing considerably less than equivalent CAMS events (equivalent in terms of insurance and permits).

If, as CAMS are trying to do, by becoming the sole 'supplier' of insurance and permits in NSW, these fees are set to skyrocket - and the Wakefield supplied insurance and pemit will be 'outlawed' (until someone who has the money can get it before the courts with the backing of the ACCC).

But this is only cars - bikes, karts, speedway and drags all enjoy cheaper licencing costs than cars - what do you think will happen to them if CAMS also start dishing out services for these classes as well?

[cavvy]

Perhaps the Minister could be requested to view the undemocratic structure by which CAMS officials hold control as part of any decision making process - NSW taxpayers, the ball is in your court.

[storyline]

I think you will find that this is actually happening. The problem is that the minister has another person between him and the motorsport community. The best way to desribe this relationship is along the lines of what goes into the department is not necessarily what gets passe on to the minister.

However, my information is that the department head has, at least recently, been bypassed and is not happy about the 'truth' getting to the minister.

[rdmdog]

Seems it may be a bit of a worry, at least to those who currently do not compete in CAMS events, as for those of us who do, what difference will there be?

[storyline]

Realistically - attempts will be made to shut out organisations such as AASA, Wakefield Park etc and move everything under CAMS.

It would be highly likely that fees would then start to rise across the board - no competition and cost of administering the other forms of motor sport (the only reason they have 'fallen' lately is because of AASA.

[cavvy]

Originally Posted by storyline

I think you will find that this is actually happening. The problem is that the minister has another person between him and the motorsport community. The best way to desribe this relationship is along the lines of what goes into the department is not necessarily what gets passe on to the minister.

However, my information is that the department head has, at least recently, been bypassed and is not happy about the 'truth' getting to the minister.

More reason to email the local member & ask him to take it up with the Minister &/or email the Shadow Minister - not from NSW, who is that?

[Uncle Cranker]

Wasn't the 'motor sport' event that was run at E.C a few years ago, in which the guy with the nickname "Judge" was killed, a CAM$ run event.....

Incidents like that would have to hurt your insurance bottom line, as too the East Coast Targa of last year, and just about any CAM$ permit issued Rally event.
[I'd love to do a Hazard risk analysis on Rallying, it would certainly scare a few insurance brokers away ]


So Mum's & Dad's in NSW get your kids out of all (current) cheaper forms of motorsport, [karts, moto cross etc] and into Athletics or Swimming or a ball sport, cause when CAM$$ take it over your admin, permit & insurance costs will rise probably ten-fold. I reckon it would be cheaper to move to a house with a pool, than to compete if this nightmare gets over the line.



Silver 2 why don't we see you here defending CAM$ ??....Oh sorry my mistake, Winton is in Victoria, this is about NSW, so no chance of a free kick in this thread.......

[hml2777]

I sincerely think in this day that the days of a Government giving exclusive rights to anybody are well and truly gone, there is too much accountability on Governments these days. I used to work a with (not 'for') a Government Dept, and they were very aware of the Governments competition rules. Mind you this was in Victoria!

[Uncle Cranker]

Originally Posted by hml2777

I sincerely think in this day that the days of a Government giving exclusive rights to anybody are well and truly gone, there is too much accountability on Governments these days. I used to work a with (not 'for') a Government Dept, and they were very aware of the Governments competition rules. Mind you this was in Victoria!

So Henry, if you used to work in Victoria, when were you deported to Guantanamo Bay????

And more's the point what were you deported for?

[hml2777]

Originally Posted by Uncle Cranker

So Henry, if you used to work in Victoria, when were you deported to Guantanamo Bay????

A little while ago, just after I worked in race control

Originally Posted by Uncle Cranker

And more's the point what were you deported for?

Terrorising race officials

[storyline]

Uncle - I notice you said 'this is NSW' but (and I hope I made this clear before) - all other state governments and the federal government are watching this with a lot of interest. The Fed govt has already been approached about implementing a national Act to cover this type of event but the state governments won't give up individual control.

The other factor which has come out in all of this - NSW is the only state which has an Act of Parliament governing track licencing of motor sport events - so even though CAMS (or MA, ANDRA etc) can try and say 'You can't run an event without a track licence from us' the fact of the matter is that the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation issue venues with track licences and, providing they have insurance in place at the venue* they do not need or require an additional track licence from CAMS, MA, ANDRA, Speedway etc in order to run a race event.

* note that in NSW in order for insurance to be valid for an event, the Department of S&R is required to cite the policy and agree that it is a valid policy before it can be used. The anomaly in the Act is that the Act doesn't stipulate how much the policy must cover the event for so, in theory, a policy with a maximum liability cover of $1 (yes, one dollar) is, under the Act, a legal policy. My sources indicate thisis being addressed but, at this stage, it has not been altered.

[hml2777]

IMHO, CAMS shouldn't be providing insurance, it should be up to indivdual tracks to have the appropriate insurance cover and other policies and procedures in place, CAMS should have a part in the audit role only, to ensure compliance to FIA standards or any appropriate Australian Standards.

[Uncle Cranker]

Originally Posted by hml2777

IMHO, CAMS shouldn't be providing insurance, it should be up to indivdual tracks to have the appropriate insurance cover and other policies and procedures in place, CAMS should have a part in the audit role only, to ensure compliance to FIA standards or any appropriate Australian Standards.

Nice theory there Henry, and i'm with you almost all the way......

Except for the fact that CAM$ wouldn't survive without their cut of the Insurance pie, in fact these days, CAM$ are almost insurance brokers by stealth, taking their slice in-between what is payed to them, and gets remitted as part of the policy.


It is of great interest, that AASA, and for that matter individual racetracks can source Insurance of equal or greater cover, for a lesser cost from the very same insurer...... Any answers?? anyone?? anyone??



CAM$, and for the same matter NASR (the speedway administrative body) are being found to be wanting at the moment, as they have been exposed ripping off those at the grass roots.........

[Seton Fanatic]

As far as I know, the NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation is Sandra Nori. Now, the beeline, as reported in the Sunday papers, that an intensely disliked Minister for Gaming will be replaced; his department merged with the Sport and Recreation departments, and the 'super ministry', given to a long-ignored member (in terms of ministerial positions), who is the head of the Staysafe committee. Presumably, this member, having 'cred' in the motoring industry, would be better qualified than the present Minister, in terms of negotiations with CAMS, and the other relevant parties.

There is a fly in the ointment, however. The recent riots in the Shire have most likely put any serious reshuffle of the Cabinet and outer ministry back to at least the New Year, or perhaps February/March. A certain Police Minister whose future was to be considered in any reshuffle may have spoiled the party with his strong handling of the crisis, along with the Premier.

So, any future reshuffle may come in 2006, which may be too late, if the events described in other posts take place.

[hml2777]

Originally Posted by Uncle Cranker

Nice theory there Henry, and i'm with you almost all the way......

Except for the fact that CAM$ wouldn't survive without their cut of the Insurance pie...

Maybe they would have to sell off some of the office space, office furniture, cars and talk to staff about retrenchments.

[storyline]

and leather shoes and loafers?