SA’s No. 1 motorsport fan Sam Shahin plans to improve Mallala Motor Sport Park after buying it
THE new owners of the Mallala Motor Sport Park have promised to put South Australia back on the national motorsport map.
THE Shahin family has vowed to put South Australia back on the national motorsport map after purchasing the historic Mallala Motor Sport Park.
The sale to the family’s Peregrine Corporation guarantees the future of the racetrack after its driving force and owner for 40 years, Clem Smith, died in January.
He was credited with keeping the facility open.
Sam Shahin told The Advertiser the family had bought Mallala for an undisclosed sum.
He said an audit of the facility would be undertaken immediately and any upgrades needed to allow SA to bid for more national events would be identified and carried out.
“Mallala Motor Sport Park has almost single-handedly sustained SA’s motorsport population for decades and it is a terrific fit for our motorsport plans for the state,’’ Mr Shahin said.
“We want Mallala to be part of the renaissance of motorsport in SA and I call on all motorsport enthusiasts to clean their sheds out, dust their helmets off and to get ready.
“This gives us another venue to really turbo charge motorsport here; we can run major events, state series, state championships, and the circuit has landed in the hands of an organisation that is progressive and will continue to develop it and improve it.
He said he wants to re-establish SA as the prime destination for Australian motorsport, and would be hunting events down, not waiting for contracts to expire interstate.
“The plan is to continue to operate the Mallala circuit and improve it where needed, and we have some good ideas about how we can develop it into something great.’’
Mr Shahin ruled out trying to lure the Clipsal 500 — which is controversial because of noise and traffic concerns — from its current location at Victoria Park.
He said: “Mallala does need some work, some ongoing investment to keep it up to modern standards, but that is the case with all infrastructure, and is no different to any other motor racing circuit in Australia’’.
Mr Shahin said Mallala would complement the Shahin family’s $100 million investment in The Bend motorsport facility at Tailem Bend.
“Mallala is geographically separate from The Bend and it has a different clientele, servicing grassroots and club motorsport enthusiasts,’’ he said.
Mr Shahin also called on South Australians who wanted to be part of the SA motorsport revival to come forward to work on the Tailem Bend and Mallala projects.
He is currently recruiting for a sales and marketing manager and a senior commercial manager among other roles available across the two venues.
“Great projects need great people and we have great jobs for anyone who aspires to join the renaissance of SA motorsport to join our team,’’ Mr Shahin said.
“I want SA talent. I am inundated with interstaters that wish to join us but I would dearly love to invest in talent from SA first.’’
Despite the national prominence of the Clipsal street circuit because it hosts one of the highest profile Supercars series, Mallala — 55km to the north of the CBD — has been considered the home of motorsport in SA since the 1980s.
The disused facility was saved from closure by Mr Smith’s purchase in 1977.
It hosts racing every weekend but in recent years the 2.6km bitumen circuit near the town of Mallala is mainly used for state titles in most categories of motorsport as well as some national events.
Currently, major race meetings held at the circuit are the Mallala Historics, State series championships, many drifting competitions including a round this Saturday, along with many car club events.
The Sporting Car Club of South Australia runs events at the circuit, as well as the Adelaide Superkart Club, Marque Sports Car Association of SA, and the MG Car Club of SA.