MG Car Club of South Australia
MALLALA -THE FUTURE
Here is an excerpt from the Peregrine
Corporation Website regarding the
future of the Mallala Racing Circuit
We are now on the hunt for key people to
help us grow the motorsport business across
the two venues with the first priorities being
a senior Sales & Marketing Manager and a
senior Commercial Manager” said Dr Sha-
hin.
Peregrine Corporation is continuing its
strategy to rebuild the motorsport sector in
South Australia by announcing it has pur-
chased the Mallala Motor Sport Park, 55
kilometres north of Adelaide.
The Mallala race circuit was purchased in
the mid ‘70’s and subsequently developed by
Clem Smith who recently passed away.
Smith is remembered as being a fiercely
loyal and passionate man committed to mo-
torsport.
The Mallala race circuit was established in
1961 on the site of the former RAAF's 24
Squadron operational air base to host the
1961 Australian Grand Prix (AGP). Since
that time Mallala has played a pivotal role
for South Australian motorsport hosting the
Australian Drivers Championship from 1961
to 1971, and then the Australian Touring
Car Championship from 1989 to 1998.
“Mallala Motorsport Park is embedded in
the history of motorsport in South Australia.
It is certainly a memorable place for me”
said 5 time V8 Supercar champion, Mark
Skaife.
Peregrine Corporation is the developer of
The Bend Motorsport Park, a $100 million
development south east of Adelaide.
“It is a privilege to become the custodian of
the State’s rich heritage in motorsport that
comes with the Mallala Motor Sport Park
and to continue the legacy of the great Clem
Smith whose ashes now rest at the track it-
self. I observed a moment of silence for him
at Mallala today and pledged to keep alive
his legacy” said Dr Sam Shahin, Executive
Director for Peregrine Corporation.
Skaife won 3 times at Mallala as part of the
Touring Car Championship between 1991 &
1994, and is a two-time winner at Mallala
during the Australian Drivers Championship
in 1990 and 1991. He also held the fastest
lap record at the 1992 Group A Touring Car
Championship in the famous Godzilla, the
Nissan Skyline GTR.
“We are determined for South Australia to
be the destination for motorsport in Austra-
lia and Mallala will play an essential role in
that."
“Mallala is a very complimentary fit with
the new world-class facility we are building
at The Bend Motorsport Park. To have mul-
tiple motorsport facilities in South Australia
will allow us to develop a strong local State
Championship series across the two venues
for both cars and motorbikes that will also
create many new job opportunities."
I am sure this press release will put a lot
of misconceptions about the future of
Mallala to rest for Club racers and
sprinters like ourselves
Laurie Houghton
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