The WA Sporting Car Club, which operates Barbagallo Raceway near Wanneroo, will be looking to fill most of its senior positions following the resignation of its president and auditor and the suspension of its general manager and one of its vice-presidents.
The upheaval follows a reform push by club members, including Summers Legal partner Paul Summers, who have been highly critical of its administration.
The running of the club has been left in the hands of its only remaining vice-president, Mick Rahimtulla, who intends to stand for president later this year.
The controversy follows the news earlier this year that the annual V8 Supercars race, which is the club’s biggest money spinner, will not use Barbagallo Raceway after the 2009 event.
The first resignations from the club were those in April of then-president Ken Coppin and his son Justin Coppin, whose company JGC Accounting & Financial Services Pty Ltd was the club’s auditor and also provided accounting advice.
The potential conflict of interest involved in this arrangement was one of the issues raised by the reform group.
In a recent letter to club members, Mr Summers accused the management committee of being belligerent in its behaviour, saying this evidenced a boys’ club mentality and a closed shop for the inner sanctum.
Mr Summers’ letter was highly critical of club general manager Adrian Chambers, a paid employee of the organisation.
The letter said Mr Chambers had failed to obtain approval from its lessor, the City of Wanneroo, for various alterations and for sub-leasing of facilities.
“These matters could put the lease in jeopardy and put the club in a position of serious liability,” the letter stated.
Mr Summers was also critical of vice-president John Hurney, who along with Mr Chambers has subsequently been suspended.
Among other matters, he said, they failed to properly update amendments to the club’s constitution with the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
Mr Summers believes the club needs to rectify its regulatory breaches with DOCEP and prepare a new constitution.
