ANDRA's National Director Dennis Syrmis dropped somewhat of a bombshell at the Extraordinary General Meeting when he announced his intention to resign from his post, effective from January 31, 1984. Syrmis, who has been National Director at the head of Australian drag racing's controlling body since August 1974, is expected to become manager of the new Willowbank Raceway, west of Brisbane.

Rumours had been rife for some time that Syrmis would soon be announcing his decision to retire, and it is known that as early as late 1982 he had made up his mind and had only held back from making it public as he awaited the approach of a conclusion to the construction work at Willowbank.

Some had been expecting that the decision would be announced at the Extraordinary General Meeting, knowing the impending nature of the announcement, but it did not appear as an item on the agenda.

Applications for the position of National Director are being opened, and will close with the National Control Council on September 30, 1983, with the final decision on the appointment to be made at the Annual General Meeting of the NCC in Sydney on October 8-10, 1983.

A panel of three NCC members: Surfers Paradise manager David Harding, South Queensland Divisional Director Milton Adey and Deputy National Director Trevor Mobbs, will adjudicate on applications for the position and make recommendations to the AGM.

The NCC has already agreed that it may be necessary to move the Head Office from Brisbane to Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide. The incoming National Director will commence on January 2, 1984, and will spend January becoming familiar with ANDRA and its procedures, locating and equipping a new office, and transferring files and furniture.

While the National Director's position will require some training it is expected that it is the secretarial tasks which will require the greatest tuition, and it may be necessary for Margaret Winter, the existing secretary, to spend a great deal of time with the new secretary, explaining the running of the office.

The successful applicant for the position of National Director will be expected to be responsible for the administration of the sport at a national level and will have to have a knowledge of the sport, together with a knowledge of office and accountancy procedures. The position calls for someone who can convene and chair meetings, conduct the office on a day-to-day basis, prepare and present reports, travel nationally and assist the Divisional Councils. Promotional experience would be an advantage as the National Director must understand all facets of the sport.

Applicants must be prepared to travel, at ANDRA's expense, to Sydney for an interview on Saturday, October 8, 1983. Salary and conditions of employment would be negotiated with the National Control Council during the interview.

Dennis Syrmis will be resigning all positions currently held at ANDRA, except for that of head of the Rules Advisory Panel, and there has been some talk of modifying the position of National Director to permit him to spend a greater degree of time in promotional areas, allowing the rules making and changing procedures to be taken care of by a more active RAP.

Syrmis stated he did not feel he could do justice to his position as National Director of ANDRA or the new post of manager of Willowbank if he tried to handle both. He felt that for him the challenge had gone out of being National Director and he wanted to move on, and the Extraordinary General Meeting permitted him to give six months notice, with plenty of opportunity to find a replacement.

The move of Dennis Syrmis away from the post of National Director of ANDRA will mark a watershed for Australian drag racing, with the sport entering a new era entirely. It is to be hoped that his replacement brings as much determination to do the right thing for racing as Syrmis did back in 1974.