Horst Kwech

Although born in Vienna, Austria, Kwech considered himself to be an Australian, proudly displaying the Aussie flag, the word "Australia" and other symbols such as a kangaroo on his race cars and drivers helmet throughout his career.

Due to losing their house in a bombing raid early in World War II, Kwech's mother used her connections to emigrate with Horst and his older sister to Australia and the small New South Wales town of Cooma, just 115 km (71 mi) south of Australia's capital city, Canberra.

He showed his mechanical engineering talent early building a custom sports car, the RM Spyder, with a Straight 6 Holden Grey motor, which he later sold to finance his trip to the USA.

The AUSCA Mark II was an innovative tube frame sports car of Kwech’s design that competed with the Lotus 23.

In 1965 Kwech won the SCCA Central Division Championship in an Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Super.

He went on to win the first ARRC B-Sedan National Championship in a famous race with 25 lead changes, against the Lotus Cortina of another young Aussie (but Canadian born) Allan Moffat, and was presented with the SCCA President's Cup for his outstanding drive.

Kwech won the Under 2 liter Trans-Am Championship in 1970, driving Herb Wetanson's #3 Alfa Romeo GTA to three victories.

DeKon Monzas would win the 1976 ASSC in the hands of Moffat, and both the 1984 and 1985 Australian GT Championships for Grice and veteran racer Bryan Thompson.