Brian Dunstan’s introduction to Motor Racing came in 1951, as a student at Launceston Church Grammar School he was co-opted by teacher Eric Charlton to help out as an official at racing at Quorn Hall.

He was hooked instantly and Brian continued to act as an official and in 1956 he was elected to the committee of the Light Car Club of Tasmania.

He was actively engaged with the running of the Examiner Rally as well as other club activities.

Brian also regularly competed in trials, hillclimbs and motokhanas, as well as directing trials.

He was elected to the Longford Motor Racing Association in 1957, where he was eventually elected chairman-secretary of the car sub-committee as well as sitting on the general committee - a position he held until Longford’s demise in the late 1960s.

In the late 1950 a company was formed to build a circuit at Symmons Plains.

The company was known as the Tasmanian Motor Racing Company and Brian joined the board from its inception and remained on the board for the next 28 years.

In 1956 he was also elected to the State Council of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS).

In 1963 he was elected as the Tasmanian representative on the sport’s controlling body — the National Council of CAMS — a position he held until 1971.

In 1972 Brian was elected CAMS national president and deputy delegate for CAMS to the Federation Intemationale de l’Automobile  (FIA) - the world controlling body — which involved him attending conferences in Manilla, New Zealand, Singapore, Kyoto-Japan, Paris, London and Bombay.

Brian resigned as president of CAMS in 1975 feeling a fresh approach may be advantageous for the body.

In 1979 CAMS changed it’s constitution to allow a representative of the National Motor Racing Promoters Association of Australia to sit on its national council, and Brian Dunstan was afforded the honour of representing the promoters at that level. He filled that position until 1991 when a further restructure of CAMS saw that position made redundant.

In 1989 CAMS created a National Motor Racing Executive, the purpose of which was to oversee the running of professional motor racing in Australia and Brian was elected the inaugural chairman a position he held until 2001 when he did not seek re-election.

In 1991 Brian was elected as Tasmania’s representative on the National Council and continued to be involved at the national level until 2004. 

As an official, Brian has acted in almost every capacity, from flag marshall to chief steward, and as an administrator set the highest of standards for others to follow.

In 1976 Brian was the recipient of the CAMS Award of Merit, the highest recognition that can be conferred by CAMS upon a person for service to motorsport in Australia.

Having joined the Tasmanian State Council of CAMS in 1957, a position he held until his retirement in 2007, Brian served the sport on a State and national level for 50 years.

In 1993, he was recognised by the Sportsmen’s Association of Australia — Tasmanian Division -  with its Service to Sport Award, in recognition of his many years of meritorious service and personal sacrifice for the advancement of sport in Tasmania and in 2000 he was awarded the Australian Medal for Australian Sporting achievement.

In 2006 CAMS took the unprecedented step of conferring a life membership in recognition of his service to motorsport - it was the first time a recipient of the CAMS Award of Merit had also been bestowed with CAMS life membership.