About

ABOUT US

The Dry Lakes Racers Australia Inc are the official sanctioning body for land speed racing in Australia. We conduct an annual event called Speed Week at Lake Gairdner in South Australia, Australia. Where cars, motorbikes and trucks that comply to the DLRA rules and regulations run for speed records. Speed Week attracts competitors from all over Australia and around the world to this amazing and unique location to try and go as fast as they can.

Land Speed Racing is one of the earliest and purest forms of motor sport. It has a long and very illustrious history, with many famous and decorated people recognized for their association and endeavours to go faster than any man has before. The rules have basically remained unchanged since the very first event. As a sport, it is considered the last great amateur motor sport, in the main, it does not attract a lot of corporate sponsorship, due in the main to the lack of recognition and coverage by the general media.

Many of the vehicles are specifically designed and constructed for Land Speed Racing. All vehicles undergo detailed scrutineering prior to an event to ensure they comply with the class rules and have all the required safety equipment installed. Competitors are attempting to achieve the highest possible speed with their particular class of vehicle over the measured mile. They are attempting to better the speed attained by a previous competitor and to have it recognized as a record.

The enormous salt lakes found in the outback of Australia have produced the ideal surface for land speed racing and are unquestionably the best in the world and there have been many World records set by special attempts by individuals. However it is only in the relatively recent past that regular organised meeting has been held for clubs to participate in Land Speed Racing. This is similar to the events held at Bonneville, El Mirage and Muroc in the US.

The Dry Lakes Racers Australia held it's first Speed Trials in the March of 1990 and has been doing so (weather permitting) ever since. It has attracted competitors from all over Australia, the United States of America, New Zealand and the UK.

VISION AND MISSION

Vision Statement

Our vision is to be recognised as the official organisation for Land Speed Racing in Australia.

Mission statement

Our mission is to develop and deliver effective, services, support and events for Land Speed Racing.

CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP

Communication

The club provides a number of communication methods, via the website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Instagram), mailing lists, newsletters, advertising in automotive magazines.

We also maintain a calendar of Australian Land Speed events as well as International Events.

Values

The DLRA endeavours to provide an inclusive and safe environment through the following strategies;

provide a level playing field for men, women, juniors, people with disabilities and people of varying cultures and ethnicities;
provide a Rookies program to encourage participation
provide meetings and places where people can meet socially
encourage involvement from younger members

We have had entrants as young as 13 years and as old as 88 years, we have a large number of females, some of whom are Australian Record Holders and World Record Holders and have competed here in Australia as well as overseas. We also have a number of disabled entrants (but not in their eyes) with missing limbs, fingers, toes who are only to happy to compete with their able bodied colleagues. And since 2017 we have had a blind motorcyclist as an entrant.

The DLRA details this behavior from a number of policies and procedures

Drugs and Alcohol
Code of Conduct and conflict Resolution policy.
communicating the clubs values to its members and community
ensuring transparency and fairness when dealing with conflict resolution.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP

Potential new members can join the DLRA on-line or via a download-able form.

And existing members can renew their membership on-line or via a download-able form..

Membership Services

The DLRA have a secure and private membership database of all members contact details and status. If you have changed address, phone number or email recently, please contact the club to update your details. This information is used only by the club for club purposes and will never be given out or sold under any circumstances.

GOVERNANCE

Committee Management

The DLRA Board consists of a number of administrative and operational committees including;

Executive Committee; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Officer

General Committee; Camp Coordinator, SA Liaison Officer, DEW Liaison, GRAC Liaison, Rule Book Coordinator, Record Certification, Entry Number Coordinator, Merchandise, Web-master

Event Committee; Race Director, Event Coordinator, Starter, Timer, Technical Chairman, Chief Car Inspector, Chief Motorcycle Inspector, Fire System Specialist, Medical Services

State Delegates

Category Representatives; Special Construction, Vintage, Classic, Modified, Production, Diesel Truck, Motorcycle, Ute & Pickup

Contest Board; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Technical Chairman, Chief Car Inspector, Chief Motorcycle Inspector and additional personnel appointed by the DLRA President.

Rules Committee; Rules Committee Coordinator, Category Representatives, Technical Chairman
Chief Car Steward(s), Chief Motorcycle Steward(s)

Technical Committee; Technical Chairman, Car Steward(s) / Inspector(s), Motorcycle Steward(s) / Inspector(s), Technical Committee Steward(s)

Constutition

Policy & Procedure

The club has a number of policy and procedure documents including

Member protection
Codes of conduct for players, committee, officials, coaches, spectators and volunteers
Judicial process and Dispute resolution

For a full list of policies refer to the Policy page.

Risk Management

The club has a number of strategies, controls and reporting systems in place to ensure understanding of the club's operations, risks and finances. There is monthly financial reporting with a purchases statement, balance sheet, profit and loss statement as part of the minutes of committee and general meetings.

As part of the clubs responsibilities under the Incorporated Associations Act SA, the books are audited each year.

After each event the cost of the event is totaled up and analysed to determine if it came within budget, and what exceptions there were.

In the case of an event cancellation a part of entrants fees are withheld to cover any costs associated with the event.

The club has insurances for event officials, volunteers and entrants, club equipment and public liability, this is assessed each year as part of the permit process by the custodian of the Lake, DEW and the State of South Australia Crown Solicitors.

Compliance

The club is incorporated under the South Australian Incorporated Associations Act.
Due to the ever increasing costs associated with conducting an event, the club is registered for GST and provides quarterly BASS statements to the Australian Taxation Office
As part of the leasing arrangement of Lake Gairdner, the club is required to make application to the South Australian, Department of Environment and Water (DEW) for a permit, a condition of this permit is a substantial bond in the event that the lake is not left in the condition it was prior to the event. Since 1990 the club has never had a bond withheld.
Since 2011 the lake is considered Native Title and the club has been obliged to obtain a permit from the Gawler Ranges Aboriginal Corporation (GRAC) as part of the joint management arrangement for the lake between DEW and GRAC.