Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia

The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) is a motoring club and mutual organisation, offering motoring services and advice, insurance, travel services, finance, driver training and exclusive benefits for their members. As the independent voice for road users in WA, RAC is concerned with all aspects of road and community safety.

The RAC Group comprises the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Incorporated), RAC Insurance Pty Limited, RAC Travel Services Pty Ltd, RAC Finance Ltd and RAC Security Services Pty Ltd.

History

It was in 1905 that RAC, or Automobile Club of Western Australia as it was then known, was formed by a small group of enthusiastic car owners. They established the club partly for social purposes, such as picnic runs and reliability trials, and also to overcome the hostility of a community that still depended on the horse for road transport.

Since then the organisation has grown considerably and well over half a million vehicles are now covered under RAC membership. Today the RAC Group covers businesses involved in roadside assistance, insurance, travel, finance, auto services and home security. RAC offers a wide range of motoring and allied services including vehicle breakdown and towing assistance, general insurance products, technical advice, touring and travel services, personal loans, finance and investment products, and driver training. RAC is also an important advocate for Western Australian motorists, representing them on such issues as road and vehicle safety, fuel pricing, road funding, transport planning, energy and the environment.^[1]

RAC is a member of the Australian Automobile Association which has member organisations in each state and territory of Australia.

Beginnings

On 28 January 1905, a mix of medicos and motoring enthusiasts descended on a stately residence in Peppermint Grove to begin what is known today as The Royal Automobile Club of WA. The central figure behind the RAC, and the man who opened his home for that first meeting, was German-born Richard Strelitz – a keen motorist and Fremantle entrepreneur. Claude Williams Deane was also present. In 1902, the self-taught automotive engineer had sold the first petrol-driven car in Perth. Car enthusiast Harry Dyer was also at that first meeting. His import/export business enabled him to bring the very latest cars from England. Back then, with no garages or petrol pumps in existence, learning to adjust car engines, as well as repairing and changing tyres on the side of the road, was par for the course for car owners. By 1905 there was a growing need for a motoring organisation to support the expanding motoring community in Perth.

By the mid 1920s, with membership rapidly approaching 1000 and just as it was about to launch its now famous Roadside Assistance service, the RAC set about finding a home. The RAC first came to 228 Adelaide Terrace in 1926 when the Club acquired the original building for just £5,000 - a brave move when the bank balance was just £554! But it paid off. RAC membership rocketed from just 2000 in 1924 to over 10,000 in 1931. By 1940, the Club acquired 230 Adelaide Terrace and added a technical department. The RAC's Diamond Jubilee celebrations saw the opening of new extensions to head office in July 1965, with another major expansion in 1973. After continued growth through the 1980s and 1990s, the Club was planning to enter the new century in a new location - a site adjacent to the freeway in Wellington Street. Today, the RACs new head office - a state-of-the-art, environmental friendly facility - is ready to serve the needs of future generations of WA motorists. ^[2]

Milestones

• 1905 - The Automobile Club of Western Australia is formed.
• 1914 - Outbreak of World War I - The Automobile Club of Western Australia offers its members' cars for use by the military.
• 1918 - The Automobile Club of Western Australia lobbies the federal government to increase the quality of fuel, make it cheaper and make it easier to import cars.
• 1926 - RAC Road Service begins with two uniformed mechanics riding motorcycles fitted with sidecars to attend and repair vehicle breakdowns.
• 1928 - Touring Service begins, offering maps and introducing use of street signs.
• 1930 - RAC's first Road Patrol magazine is published.
• 1940 - The RAC becomes a depot for the issue of petrol ration coupons for the duration of the war.
• 1947 - RAC Insurance Pty Ltd commences operations.
• 1955 - The Survey and Signposting Unit, two men in a Dodge van, set out to put up hundreds of directional signs all over Western Australia.
• 1957 - Road Service is extended to 24 hours a day and the vans are equipped with two-way radios.
• 1965 - The RAC mounts a strong campaign, advocating for compulsory fitting of seatbelts to cars.
• 1970 - RAC Homeguard commences operations, issuing home and contents insurance policies.
• 1980 - The RAC lobbies the federal government for the $400 million crude oil levy to be spent on national roads.
• 1985 - The RAC has 350,000 members representing 25% of the WA population, 60% of WA's cars and 45% of licensed drivers.
• 1991 - Road Patrol circulation reaches 348,089, greater than Saturday's The West Australian or The Sunday Times.
• 2001 - RAC and 'people power' force the Federal Government to lower fuel prices.
• 2002 - RAC and the WA Police establish the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
• 2004 - RAC begins sponsorship of the RAC Rescue helicopter, WA's only emergency rescue helicopter service. RAC Auto Services business starts.
• 2006 - In partnership with Australia's other motoring clubs, RAC develops a star ratings system for Australia's road network, as part of the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP).
• 2009 - RAC opens its world-class Driving Centre.
• 2010 - RAC is one of 11 organisations to participate in WA's first electric vehicle trial and installs its first electric vehicle charging station.
• 2012 - The State government directs 100% of speed and red light camera fines to the Road Trauma Trust Account to be spent on road safety, following more than 10 years of lobbying from the RAC.

RAC introduces Australia's first ever comprehensive rewards program for lower emission cars, providing discounts across insurance, auto services, roadside assistance and finance.

RAC conducts WA's first ever large-scale student road safety event - bstreetsmart - recreating a crash scene in partnership with police, emergency services and Royal Perth Hospital.

RAC commits to only insure and finance new vehicles manufactured from 2012 and beyond with a 4 or 5 star ANCAP safety rating to encourage safer vehicles on WA roads.

• 2013 - The RAC Rescue helicopter completes its 3000th rescue mission.

Services

• Roadside Assistance – breakdown assistance
• Finance – car, personal and travel loans
• Insurance – home, contents, car, motorcycle, caravan, boat, landlords, renters
• Home Security – home security systems
• Tourism and travel – escorted and unescorted tours, accommodation bookings
• RAC Auto Services - A network of vehicle repair and service centres
• Member Service Centres – a network of retail outlets providing RAC Travel products and other merchandise

Advocacy

The RAC is an important advocate for its members and the WA community on issues such as road and vehicle safety, fuel pricing, road funding, transport planning, energy and the environment.

Corporate

The RAC headquarters (Centenary House) is located at 832 Wellington Street, West Perth, Western Australia.

The RAC Group comprises the Royal Automotive Club of WA (Incorporated), RAC Insurance Pty Limited, RAC Travel Services Pty Ltd, RAC Finance Ltd and RAC Security Services Pty Ltd.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia.

External links

• http://www.rac.com.au
• http://blog.rac.com.au/