The Victorian Clubman Builders Group (VCBG) was formed in 2003 after approximately three years operating as an email only association of approx 100 enthusiasts from VIC, NSW, SA & ACT. The initial meeting of eight enthusiasts has grown to around 120 paid up members in Victoria. Cars have been and are being built by the majority of members. Australia wide get togethers have been accruing yearly since 2004 with up to 100 cars attending each year. Every year we hold a long weekend in Bright that is always well attended.
Every second year, there is a National Meeting, the location being in a different state each time.
Club Information
Club History
About the Club
We are a group of past, present and future owners of Clubman style cars who love to talk and share information about our passion. In the main our cars were or are built/assembled by ourselves or under our personal supervision and/or direction. Some may be built from a kit such as a Leitch, Westfield, Birkin, Fraser, Arrow, PRB to name a few, others are built to a design prepared by ourselves or some other popular design such as the LoCost by Colin Chapman. In the main we act as a point of contact for people with similar interests but we also aim to have social and other activities to foster and promote enjoyment of these cars, both on and off the race track. We will aim to promote an exchange of knowledge and ideas to enable us to build, keep our vehicles well maintained, safe and efficient. People who are just interested in clubman style cars but may for one reason or another decide never to own one are also most welcome in our group. Currently our members have built many, many cars with a number still in the build phase.
About our cars
What is a Clubman?
A Clubman is a lightweight, open, two-seat roadster designed for both road and track with an emphasis on simplicity, performance and road-holding.
The concept was originally designed by the founder of the Lotus car company, Colin Chapman in 1957. His initial design the Lotus 7 was a car that could be driven to a meeting, raced and then driven home again, many still are.
Its basic design has been copied and developed by many amateur and professional builders over the years but most have remained faithful to the original front engine, rear wheel drive layout. However there are some mid/rear engined examples of the clubman around. These cars are still considered “clubbies”.
And a Locost?
The LoCost on the other hand originally was a concept put forward by a school teacher in the UK called Ron Champion.
Ron Champion wrote a book published by the Haynes Publishing house called “Build your own Sports Car for as little as 250 UK pounds”. Many say that this book started a revolution in the garages and workshops all over the world, especially in the UK.
The car as designed by Ron and detailed in his book was much like all other sevens; some say more like a Westfield Clubman rather than a Lotus 7.
Sometime later a second edition was printed where the words “and race it” were added, this started a class of racing in the UK called LoCost Racing which is still very successful in the UK today and run under the 750 Motor Sports Club.
The LoCost Racing formula is pretty much a car built to the book specifications and powered by a 1300cc 4 cylinder Ford cross-flow engine, much like the Escort engines in OZ. The formula includes a four speed Ford gearbox and solid rear end from an Escor
