Speedway History - Part 2

"AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY HISTORY CONTINUED"

Stock Rods also were another fast division, a mixture of a stock car body BUT lightweight. Big V8 motors, thin wheels. Drivers such as Wayne Fisher, Steve Brazier, Noel Finch & Peter Loadman all were stand out drivers at both Westmead and Windsor half mile circuits.

100 lap speed car races were held at the Sydney Showground as drivers raced for a new Ford Falcon from race sponsor Peter Warren Ford. Stand out driver Howard Revell was unbeatable in the 100 lappers. Drivers such as Johnny Stewart, the late Jeff freeman, Blair Shepard, Barry Valentina, the Cunnen Brothers, (USA drivers) Two Gun Bob Tatersall, Hank Butcher, Sherman Clevland all drew large crowds with their dynamic driving.

1970s Saw a radical change in speedway racing in Australia when Liverpool City Raceway Manager Mike Raymond turned the track into Australians first asphalt speedway. Two of my three speedway racing heroes raced at LCR Sid Hopping (super modifies) & Brian Callaghan (sedans) My third hero I was to meet in 1980 in the USA Sammy Swindell (sprint cars).
Hopping raced the fully imported CAE super modified again Rushes Anderson sprint car, their battles were legendary on the dirt and pavement throw in Steve Brazier and you had one hell of a race. USA imports were common, Crazy wheels Wally Baker, Mike Wasina, The Preatcher Garry Patterson, Johnny Anderson to name a few.

The sedan ranks took on a new meaning with large wheels big V8s noise, lightweight low slung cars were all the go. Brian Callaghan emerges from nowhere in a 1973 LJ Torana which I actually owned for a short while. Callaghan was a wizz with a spanner; he supercharged a six cylinder motor and was unbeatable on the blacktop. Up against Paul Ash, Peter Crick, Rick Hunter, and USA stars Gene Welch, Big Ed Wilbur, Charlie Swartz, Mike "Hash Brown" Klien and a host of others. For the surfers who read this site, you will be happy to know that it was Scott Dillon who won the first ever 100 lap race for sedans in Sydney. Dillon constructed a fibreglass mould of a 1964 EH Holden and blew the field away. This to was to revolutionise the sport. USA V Australia sedan test matches were an annual event at LCR with hard, fast racing which at times saw damage cause from intense rivalry, both on the dirt and asphalt. The Raymond - Oliveri combo really knew what the speedway public wanted, and they provided just that.

Spectacular speed car racing saw the legend himself race in Sydney, A J Foyt appeared several times at LCR along with Mel Kenyon & Johny Rutherford. (all have won the Indy 500) They battled George Tatnell, Garry Rush, Ronald McKayand a cast of many to thrill the crowds on many occasions. Crashes were big at LCR, drivers like Jack Porritt, Bob Coates, Bruce Maxwell & Barry Pinchbeck had wild high rides along with others.

The solo bike division had also been on a crest of a wave with test matches, Australian titles all still being run with local and overseas competitors. Riders such as Billy Sanders, Jim Airey, John Langfield thrilled crowds around our big wide land with side by side racing, on solo bikes of 500cc with NO brakes. Crashes were often and deaths were occasional.

The late 1970s also saw another innovation CLAY, the life long dream of sidecar and super modified racer Sid Hopping came true in February when Parramatta City Raceway was born on the site of the Granville Showgrounds in Sydney. Along with business partner Bert Wilder Australians first ever all pure clay speedway was born, a fast tacky 460 meter circuit with wide open spaces for exciting sprint car racing. The track was a success and still runs today every Saturday evening during summer and has been the scene of many many exciting races. Many of USA sprint car drivers have raced there. The first ever one lap track record went to Jimmy "Buckwheat" Sills from California at a staggering 15 seconds; the lap record today is as low as 12 seconds and as 12 seconds. The cars weigh in at just over 600 kilos and run over 900 hp, the power to weight ratio is just under a F1 racer. To see a pack of howling sprinters at PCR is absolutely awesome, I have been privileged to work at PCR since its first meeting. To drive a sprint car around PCR is also mind blowing, that is an experience I shall never forget. I mentioned Brian Callaghan before, it was with his help I also raced a V8 dirt Modified one evening in which I came third in the main event. That led me to take up racing micro sprint cars later on in my speedway career.

Kel Young won the first ever super modified/sprintcar event at PCR aboard the Corkys number 67 modified. Bob "the streak"Blacklaw took out the first ever Spintcar main event the same evening. Drivers such as Bob Tunks, Stan Wallis, Terry Becker, The late Wayne Fisher all were standout drivers in the early days at PCR.

Sid Hopping had track preparation down to a tee with the secret of the clayway. WATER, Hopping would begin to water the track later Tuesday evening, then the same on Wednesday, Thursday and check the track Friday as racing took place on Friday nights. Sprintcars would wheel pack for up to 30 minutes prior to the opening of the meeting, when the cars would re enter the pit area you could not see the paintwork as every inch of the car was covered in tacky red clay.

      RETURN TO HISTORY - PART ONE
      GO TO HISTORY - PART THREE

There will be a car club, rally, speedway, race or charity event you can become involved with NO matter where you are in Australia.

Come along to the speedway and bring the kids
- you will have a great time!

More Aussie Speedway information and sponsors invited!

Do you have Speedway information or a Business or Association that you would like to promote on this website?

PLEASE CONTACT ME   - CLICK HERE

Simply e-Mail the details to  enquiries@aussiespeedway.com