I used to be a KA member. I never had problems or saw major issues. Of course I didn’t know anything else. I’ve now been a member of a qld rural club for two years and issues such as favouritism and bullying are rife at my club. The club president has been involved in fist fights with members while there have been incidents of multiple members beating up a single member. Court cases are in progress and innocent members have been banned. Now this sounds a bit like home and away but it’s real. The favouritism shown by the president and some club officials is clearly provable and devastating to many members. For example last Sunday’s race meeting has been promoted as a club day with no championship points available. This info is still available on the club website now. Therefore some members took the day away for whatever reason. But they’ve now been told that there was a vote on the said Raceday to overturn the rules and make it a championship meeting with full points. WHAT? So many drivers have lost their positions in the championship and they weren’t even there to vote. Simply because they followed the rules of the club. Now this apparent vote, I say apparent because I was there on the day but was not aware of the vote, is definitely against club constitution and outside the rules of fairness, sportsmanship and honesty. Don’t be surprised though to know all those drivers accused of receiving special favouritism were there on the day. So independent clubs and their dictators can easily break rules, constitutions and obviously do whatever they like when it suits them. Is this acceptable? Is this what leaving KA means? Does this blatant cheating go on in all clubs?
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What club are you referring…
What club are you referring to Laura?
Hi brendon Im Trying not to…
Hi brendon Im Trying not to give that away. Just wondering does this go in inside KA clubs too.
Unfortunately Laura this…
Unfortunately Laura this goes on in a lot of clubs in one way or another . Its part of any sport where the committee is only there for themselves . My independent club is unfortunately the same and its starting to be evident in numbers on race day and most members dont see it or dont want to get involved as long as they have somewhere to race.
Thanks Wayne. I can…
Thanks Wayne. I can understand how this goes on in independent clubs like ours. In my club the presidents son coaches drivers so those drivers get privileged treatment. Do the rules that apply to KA Clubs minimise this type of illicit behaviour?
Hi Laura - it happens in KA…
Hi Laura - it happens in KA clubs too. Ive been banned because I wrote about a said incident at the Nationals at Ipswich a few years back and the said father was .....
Laura Rexon said:
Thanks Di. So it seems we…
Thanks Di. So it seems we have to accept being cheated, robbed and then keep quiet about it as well. I’m pretty disgusted by this treacherous behaviour but I was hoping it was just a local issue as the president here is very arrogant and dismissive of problems raised. I was hoping there was somewhere else we would be treated respectfully and honestly as worthwhile club. members.
Hi Luara I know how you feel…
Hi Luara I know how you feel and had the same issue in a aka club 20 years ago. I was bashed off the track at least once every race meeting . I paid the fee to protest and never got a result . I raced clean always and had started racing without side pods and nose cones and never hit anyone on purpose . That was until I got fed up with the officials and took matters into my own hands which I was penalised straight away for . I told the official off that day , something I'm not proud of , and never raced at that track again . To this day even if I was racing ka I would never race there . It's sad to see a club go this way and I know of a lot of clubs have , even at my club where we race for a trophy at the end of the year you see it all to often . Hopefully you can still enjoy the racing and have it sorted out at the agm .
Our club has a great track,…
Our club has a great track, great people and good facilities. Drivers come from all over the place to race here. But I just feel for those getting robbed including my child. One driver leading the championship has had his engine fail three tech inspections but hasn’t yet been disqualified because he’s buddies with the president. What happened to the Ozzie fair go and stand up for the little guy?
Thanks Wayne. I really…
Thanks Wayne. I really appreciate you sharing that. But I hold grave doubts about sorting it out. The last person that did that was set upon by the club president and his cronies. I get sick at the sight of my own blood. I’m looking around now for a new club. But it almost sounds like there’s corrupt officials at most clubs. I guess it’s the lesser of two evils though.
Hi Laura. If they are…
Hi Laura. If they are running as an association, there are government rules that they are required adhere to, mostly in relation to AGM, voting, GM and governance type issues. Have a look and this may offer an avenue to have something addressed.
If the board/committee are acting in contrary to their constitution, there may be an opportunity to have them removed/face discipline from police/government department that they would inforce.
Mostly though what you have described at your club happens as part of the KA leadership model, where by not just at club level but at national level this type of behaviour is common place, which is one of the main reasons I left the sport.
I wishi you well, because as it appears with KA, selfish people are just that and will not change, they just find another loop hole they can use. Just look at politicians as the shining light of this example.
Regards
Laura Rexon said:
Hi David. Appreciate you…
Hi David. Appreciate you sharing your experience. Yes the club president is definitely breaking the rules of the club constitution to favour a few. And that is indeed criminal. And I guess he gets away with it bullying and intimidation. I’m not able to stand up to him. He just says something rude and walks away from me. I’ve made complaints to him as clerk of the course at previous meetings and he just totally ignores me. It looks like I just have to grow a thicker skin or get a good lawyer. It’s terribly sad for the racers robbed of their championship points.
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