Basil Ricciardello was a giant of WA Motor Racing and a most loyal supporter our Club.

Arriving in Perth from his native Sicily in 1963 as a young mechanic, Basil was soon competing at our Caversham venue, initially in an EH Holden, then a Fiat 2300, followed by an Alfa Romeo.
He retired from driving as the Club moved to the Wanneroo circuit but continued his keen interest in competition by preparing and entering an Alfa GTA with first Ford and then Chev V8 power driven by Neville Cooper and subsequently by Brian Smith.

With Brian on board, Basil then set his sights on the National scene with the first of two Chev powered Alfa Romeos and they promptly won 2 Australian titles.

After graduating from Karts, Basil’s son Tony got behind the wheel of an ever faster Chevy Alfa and since then 12 National Sports Sedan Championships have followed, the most recent in 2023.

In winning those titles the legendary Chevy Alfa became arguably the most successful car ever in Australian motor racing and Basil the most successful entrant. And all that time the Alfa was prepared at the Ricciardello service station in Northbridge by Basil, Tony and their friends.

Basil was always quietly spoken, supportive of the WASCC, our venue and local racing. He will be much missed.

The Club offers our condolences to Maria, Rosemary, Pina, Tony and the extended Ricciardello family.