May/June - MTA

Clipsal 500 success flows to the MTA
The MTA significantly
expanded its presence at
the Clipsal 500 this year with
a new display to promote
automotive apprenticeships
and training and a record
number of apprentices
working with the V8 teams.
The Group Training Scheme
displayed three of its striking
utilities outside the high
traffic area of Murray
Walker’s Extreme Machines.
The site was staffed
throughout the four-day
event.
“It is absolutely critical that
we keep our industry’s
opportunities for employment
at the forefront of employers
and potential apprentices’
minds,” Executive Director of
the MTA John Chapman said.
“The SA Motorsports Board
have been very supportive in
the past of our activities and
with new CEO Jason Allen
we were keen to explore new
opportunities.”
The MTA’s Group Training
Scheme has had a temporary
panel and paint repair facility
at the Victoria Park circuit
throughout the V8 Supercar
event’s history.
This year a total of 22
apprentices took part in the
event either as part of the
repair team or by being placed
directly with a V8 Supercar
team.
“This is a once in a lifetime
opportunity to be part of the
fast and furious action of a
race team,’ Mr Chapman said.
“We had ten apprentices
with the V8 teams including
two of our female
apprentices.”
A total of 277,800 people
attended the four-day event
which was the second largest
crowd on record.
Holden Racing Team’s
Garth Tander had the perfect
2010 Clipsal 500 Adelaide by
taking victory in both 250
kilometre V8 Supercar races
at Australia’s largest domestic
motor sport carnival.
While Tander’s victory was
clearly the highlight of the
Clipsal 500 Adelaide carnival,
spectacular racing was seen in
all of the feature race
categories with the other
on-track activities and
concerts adding to the fourday
extravaganza.
“The flyover by the
Australian Defence Force
FA-111, the Stratco SAFM
Skyshow with so many family
groups, Murray Walker’s
Extreme Machines and the
presence of Murray Walker
himself, the packed Clipsal
500 Adelaide Ladies Day
Luncheon, the atmosphere at
the new ‘Parking Lot’
hospitality venue in the
Trackside area were all simply
sensational,” Clipsal 500
Adelaide Chief Executive
Jason Allen said in summing
up the event.
MTA Executive Director John Chapman and Deputy Premier and
Treasurer Kevin Foley at the Clipsal 500.
The MTA-GTS Repair Team facility.
Holden’s Garth Tander powers towards the finish line in Adelaide’s
Clipsal 500.
The MTA-GTS display outside of Murray Walker’s Extreme Machines.
www.mta-sa.asn.aumotor trade 11