The Victorian Clubman Series was instigated in 1972 to provide an alternative series of open (non club) events for Grade 3 competitors. During the early to mid 1970s Victorian Championship events were often too challenging for Grade 3 crews to effectively compete so the VCS events were intended to be at a somewhat easier level.

The VCS continued with strong fields of competitors until the late 1970s, by which time a number of strong inter-club series had emerged, such as TAUCC and Combine6, diminishing the popularity of the VCS. In 1981 the VCS was discontinued but a Grade 3 award was introduced into the VRC.

However, with the VRC by then all special stage events, and the newly introduced Victorian Trials Championship perhaps too demanding for many clubman level competitors, there was an apparent need for a non special stage state level clubman series. The VCS was re-introduced in 1984 but was called the Victorian Clubman Championship. It ran for only three years and should not be confused with the Clubman Award within the VRC.