This club sold a company to its former CEO. The committee says it had no idea

The committee of a powerful Australian motorsport club is locked in a stoush with its former chief executive over the sale of one of its companies to the ex-CEO and his business partners.

Benalla Auto Club says it did not “approve, support or endorse” the sale of its company Australian Auto Sport Alliance, despite vice president Ross Wood signing a form that transferred away the club’s shares.

The two issues at the centre of the dispute are Benalla’s claim that “the paperwork presented for signing was not understood to be for a sale of AASA or ownership of AASA” and the timing of Whyte’s departure as CEO.

This masthead has obtained documents and contacted officials and executives from across Benalla Auto Club, AASA and the Australian motorsport industry.

The documents show that Benalla Auto Club vice president Wood signed an Australian Securities and Investments Commission “change to company details” form on April 7 this year, removing shares from the club.

When contacted by this masthead, Wood confirmed that he signed the documents. Asked about the circumstances, he said he had not read the documents because he trusted that he was authorising a three-year lease agreement to Les Smith, not a sale, and to remove himself and two other club committee members – president Barry Stilo and treasurer Garry Quigley – as directors.

He denied knowing the paperwork was to transfer ownership or that Whyte was an investor.

AASA is now owned by a group of four directors – Whyte, the former CEO of Benalla Group, Michael Fitzgerald, the club’s former secretary, Smith and Peter Washington.

In response to questions, Benalla Auto Club’s spokesperson said the documents were not seen or approved by the club’s committee.

“The Benalla Auto Club committee never had any discussions or negotiations with anyone about the sale of shares in AASA to any party,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“The Benalla Auto Club committee had no idea that there was any purported sale of shares in AASA, or who they were transferred to, and only discovered this in late June 2026.”

AASA was created by Benalla Auto Club in 2003 to help organisations that host motorsport events save money and avoid red tape. It operated on a not-for-profit basis, providing sanctioning and insurance services for events in Australia and New Zealand, ranging from small local speedway races to state and national meets.

The sale was announced by Whyte in June, via a video and media release.

The media release said negotiations between the investment group and Benalla commenced in March 2025 and the new investment group took ownership of AASA at the start of 2026.

But not long after the announcement, the club’s committee claimed in a letter to members that it had not approved, supported, or endorsed the sale.

“The committee states it was unaware of the purported sale until recent weeks and has serious concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding the alleged transfer,” the letter said.

The club and Whyte also disagree over the timeline of his tenure as CEO. A spokesperson for Benalla Auto Club claimed to this masthead that Whyte was Benalla’s group CEO until June 2026.

“Stephen Whyte ceased as BAC Group CEO in June 2026. Club secretary Michael Fitzgerald ceased as BAC secretary in June 2026,” the club said.

But when contacted by this masthead, Whyte said he joined Benalla Auto Club in 2018, became general manager in 2021 and CEO in 2023.

He said he stepped back from his group CEO role in June 2024, but continued to assist the committee with executive matters. He denied he was acting as Benalla’s group CEO during the negotiations for the AASA sale.

Whyte declined to comment further and did not respond to a list of questions sent by this masthead.

The other three AASA investors – Washington, Smith and Fitzgerald – were also contacted for comment.

Benalla, which also owns Winton Motor Raceway, is affiliated with Motorsport Australia.

Motorsport Australia chief executive Josh Blanksby confirmed he had met with the club to provide support. He acknowledged the “uncertainty that has arisen” from the situation.

“The Benalla Auto Club has been a longstanding Motorsport Australia affiliated club and the recent developments do not change that,” Blanksby said in a statement.

“Motorsport Australia exists for the entire motorsport community, to ensure that motorsport events are delivered in a safe, fair and fun way. Every weekend, across every state and territory.

“We want to ensure that all motorsport events in Australia are conducted with adequate insurance coverage and with uncompromised risk and safety protocols in place.”

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