Newcastle Motordrome
Encyclopedia
Newcastle Motordrome was a Dirt track racing
venue located on the Old Punt Road in Tomago, New South Wales
, just north of the Hunter River
and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of the city of Newcastle
. The ¼ Mile speedway operated from its opening in 1977 until it was sold in 2002. The site of the Motordrome is now wharehouses and light industrial factories.
was started in the Hunter Region of NSW in Maitland
in 1923 and motorcycle racing was held at the still operating Newcastle Showground racing as early as 1919, it wasn't until 1973 with the opening of Jerilderee Park Speedway, to become the Newcastle Motordrome, that Newcastle had a dedicated speedway track that wasn't a showground although there was a short-lived dedicated 1/2 mile Speedway track at Hamilton in Newcastle as early as 1926 and Midget cars often made the trip from Sydney to Newcastle to race at a Speedway track on Union St.
The Motordrome was originally opened as Jerilderee Park Speedway and run and promoted by Peter Gurbiel, who also ran the Tralee Speedway
in Australia
's capital city Canberra
and quickly became the centre of speedway racing in country NSW with the track hosting many Australian Championships including the Australian Sprintcar Championship
(1983), Australian Solo Championship
(1989), Australian Speedcar Championship
(1995/96), Australian Sidecar championship (1991), Australian Super Sedan Championship
(1980/81, 1989/90 and 1995/96) as well as hosting the Australian Speedcar Grand Prix
in 1999, various NSW State championships and rounds of the World Series Sprintcars
.
Events at the Motordrome, especially for the Sprintcars
, Solo Test matches with Australia
facing visiting teams such as England and various "Rest of the World" teams and big Sedan tests against visiting American
teams often brought in capacity crowds of 15,000 people proving the popularity of the sport in the region.
Categories to regularly run at the Motordrome during its 25 year existence were Sprintcars
, Speedcars
, Super Sedans, Solos
, Sidecars
, Grand National Sedans, Compact Speedcars and Litre Sprints
The speedway originally had a dolomite and clay mix surface but was paved during the early-mid 1980s before the asphalt
was dug up and the original surface was restored. During the time the track was asphalt a smaller motorcycle track was placed on the infield, but when the asphalt was dug up the bikes once again raced on the 400 m (0.248549094659923 mi) main track.
The Motordrome was also the site of the first ever visit by an official sporting team from the USSR to the Hunter Region of NSW when on 8 December 1990 the Russians took on a strong NSW team in what was known as the Tooheys International Solo Challenge. Led by captain Rinat Mardanshin
, the late Rif Saitgareev and Oleg Kurguskin
, it was the Soviet's first defeat on their 1990/91 Australian tour as they came up against a NSW lineup including Newcastle's own 1990 World #3
Todd Wiltshire
as well as that season's Australian Solo Champion Craig Boyce
and 1989 Australia #2 Stephen Davies
. The Russians were expected to lose heavily to the almost test strength NSW but were in the challenge right up until the final heat of the night when Wiltshire and Boyce shut outKurguskin and Saitgareev 5-1 giving NSW a hard fought 49-41 win in trying (damp) conditions.
Other famous competitors to race at the Motordrome during its life included World of Outlaws
legend Steve Kinser
of the USA
, his brother Randy and cousin Mark
as well as Australian speedway legends Garry Rush, George Tatnell and his son, Brooke Tatnell, Max Dumesny
, Steve Brazier and his son Garry Brazier, brothers Ron and John Pyne from nearby Kurri Kurri, Billy Sanders
and Phil Crump
.
The Newcastle Motordrome, originally known as the Jerilderie Park Speedway, was also known during its lifetime as the Newcastle International Motordrome. Due to sponsorship the venue was also known as the Winfield
Newcastle Motordrome and finally the Wynn's Newcastle Motordrome.
In a sport where death or severe injury was often an accepted risk, the Newcastle Motordrome never actually saw a fatal accident, though in 1975, when the speedway was still Jerilderee Park, it was where the career of two time Speedway World Champion
(1954
and 1959
) Ronnie Moore
of New Zealand
ended when he crashed and was in a coma
for weeks.
The speedway held its last meeting on Sunday 14 July 2002 after promoter David Lander sold the freehold for the site for a reported A$
2.5 million to the ATB Morton development group ending 25 years of successful speedway at the venue.
† - Deceased
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
venue located on the Old Punt Road in Tomago, New South Wales
Tomago, New South Wales
Tomago is a combined industrial/semi-rural suburb of the Port Stephens Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located just north of the Hunter River and west of the body of water known as Fullerton Cove...
, just north of the Hunter River
Hunter River
The Hunter River is a major river in New South Wales, Australia. The Hunter River rises in the Liverpool Range and flows generally south and then east, reaching the Pacific Ocean at Newcastle, the second largest city in New South Wales and a major port....
and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of the city of Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
. The ¼ Mile speedway operated from its opening in 1977 until it was sold in 2002. The site of the Motordrome is now wharehouses and light industrial factories.
History
Even though Motorcycle SpeedwayMotorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
was started in the Hunter Region of NSW in Maitland
Maitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
in 1923 and motorcycle racing was held at the still operating Newcastle Showground racing as early as 1919, it wasn't until 1973 with the opening of Jerilderee Park Speedway, to become the Newcastle Motordrome, that Newcastle had a dedicated speedway track that wasn't a showground although there was a short-lived dedicated 1/2 mile Speedway track at Hamilton in Newcastle as early as 1926 and Midget cars often made the trip from Sydney to Newcastle to race at a Speedway track on Union St.
The Motordrome was originally opened as Jerilderee Park Speedway and run and promoted by Peter Gurbiel, who also ran the Tralee Speedway
Tralee Speedway
The Tralee Speedway was a Dirt track racing venue located in Jerrabomberra on the New South Wales side of the ACT/NSW border near Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The speedway was home to several drivers who went on to become Australian national and state champions...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's capital city Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and quickly became the centre of speedway racing in country NSW with the track hosting many Australian Championships including the Australian Sprintcar Championship
Australian Sprintcar Championship
The Australian Sprintcar Championship is a Dirt track racing championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion. The single championship meeting runs in either late January or early February and has been held year after year since 1963...
(1983), Australian Solo Championship
Individual Speedway Australian Championship
The Australian Individual Speedway Championship is a Motorcycle speedway championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion...
(1989), Australian Speedcar Championship
Australian Speedcar Championship
The Australian Speedcar Championship is a dirt track motor racing championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion. The single championship meeting runs in either late January or early February and has been held year after year since 1935...
(1995/96), Australian Sidecar championship (1991), Australian Super Sedan Championship
Australian Super Sedan Championship
The Australian Super Sedan Championship is a Dirt track racing championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion. The championship is held over a single meeting has run annually since the 1971/72 season and is awarded to a different state of Australia each year by the...
(1980/81, 1989/90 and 1995/96) as well as hosting the Australian Speedcar Grand Prix
Australian Speedcar Grand Prix
The Australian Speedcar Grand Prix is an annual dirt track racing meeting held for Speedcars. The meeting has traditionally been held in Sydney but on occasions has been held on tracks in Victoria and in 2000 the race was held at Perth's Claremont Speedway, not long before the 1/3 mile Showground...
in 1999, various NSW State championships and rounds of the World Series Sprintcars
World Series Sprintcars
World Series Sprintcars is a Dirt track racing series held in Australia for Sprintcars. It is the richest and best known Speedway series in Australia....
.
Events at the Motordrome, especially for the Sprintcars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
, Solo Test matches with Australia
Australia national speedway team
Australia are one of the major teams in international speedway. The team is managed by former rider, three time Australian Champion and 1994 World #3 Craig Boyce and captained by three time Speedway World Champion Jason Crump...
facing visiting teams such as England and various "Rest of the World" teams and big Sedan tests against visiting American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teams often brought in capacity crowds of 15,000 people proving the popularity of the sport in the region.
Categories to regularly run at the Motordrome during its 25 year existence were Sprintcars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
, Speedcars
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
, Super Sedans, Solos
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
, Sidecars
Sidecar speedway
Sidecar Speedway is a motorcycle sport involving 4 crews of a rider and a passenger competing over 4 laps on an oval shale surface. Rules are governed by the national speedway federation and are not dissimilar to conventional speedway rules....
, Grand National Sedans, Compact Speedcars and Litre Sprints
The speedway originally had a dolomite and clay mix surface but was paved during the early-mid 1980s before the asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
was dug up and the original surface was restored. During the time the track was asphalt a smaller motorcycle track was placed on the infield, but when the asphalt was dug up the bikes once again raced on the 400 m (0.248549094659923 mi) main track.
The Motordrome was also the site of the first ever visit by an official sporting team from the USSR to the Hunter Region of NSW when on 8 December 1990 the Russians took on a strong NSW team in what was known as the Tooheys International Solo Challenge. Led by captain Rinat Mardanshin
Rinat Mardanshin
Rinat Mukatdisovich Mardanshin was a Russian motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the 2001 Speedway World Cup for Russia. He was a multi-medalist of Russian Championships.- External links :* * * * at rivera.com.ua...
, the late Rif Saitgareev and Oleg Kurguskin
Oleg Kurguskin
Oleg Kurguskin is a Russian motorcycle speedway rider who was a member of Russia team at 2001 and 2005 Speedway World Cup. With Russian club Togliatti he won European Club Champions' Cup in 2003.- World Championships :...
, it was the Soviet's first defeat on their 1990/91 Australian tour as they came up against a NSW lineup including Newcastle's own 1990 World #3
1990 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1990 Individual Speedway World Championship.-Continental Final:*August 12, 1990 Norden, Motodrom Halbemond-North American Final:*June 2, 1990 Long Beach, Veterans Memorial Stadium-Scandinavian Final:*June 9, 1990 Linköping, Motorstadium...
Todd Wiltshire
Todd Wiltshire
Todd Wiltshire is a retired Australian motorcycle speedway rider who competed at the highest level of the sport, finishing a career best third in the 1990 Individual Speedway World Championship at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford, England.-Australia:Todd Wiltshire started racing in 1979 at the Lake...
as well as that season's Australian Solo Champion Craig Boyce
Craig Boyce
Craig Boyce was a motorcycle speedway rider who primarily rode for the Poole Pirates in the British Elite League...
and 1989 Australia #2 Stephen Davies
Stephen Davies
Stephen, Steven or Steve Davies may refer to:*Stephen Davies , American actor*Stephen Davies , British middle-distance runner*Stephen Davies , Australian Anglican bishop...
. The Russians were expected to lose heavily to the almost test strength NSW but were in the challenge right up until the final heat of the night when Wiltshire and Boyce shut outKurguskin and Saitgareev 5-1 giving NSW a hard fought 49-41 win in trying (damp) conditions.
Other famous competitors to race at the Motordrome during its life included World of Outlaws
World of Outlaws
The World of Outlaws is an American motorsports sanctioning body. The body sanctions two major national touring series. It is best known for sanctioning a national tour of sprint cars. It later purchased a national tour of late model stockcars called the World of Outlaws Late Model Series...
legend Steve Kinser
Steve Kinser
Steve Kinser , is a professional sprint car racer. He has won 20 championships in the World of Outlaws series, and currently drives the #11 Bass Pro Shops car. Kinser left the World of Outlaws in 2006 to compete with the National Sprint Tour series, but returned to the World of Outlaws for the...
of the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, his brother Randy and cousin Mark
Mark Kinser
Mark Kinser is a retired American sprint car racing driver. He hails from Oolitic, Indiana.Cousin to Steve Kinser, Mark won the 1996 and 1999 World of Outlaws championship and the 1996, 1999, and 2000 Knoxville Nationals....
as well as Australian speedway legends Garry Rush, George Tatnell and his son, Brooke Tatnell, Max Dumesny
Max Dumesny
Max Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when...
, Steve Brazier and his son Garry Brazier, brothers Ron and John Pyne from nearby Kurri Kurri, Billy Sanders
Billy Sanders
William Robert Sanders 'Billy Sanders' was an Australian international Speedway rider who won six Australian Championships and was a five time Speedway World Championship finalist with a career best second place in Germany 1983.-Australian Speedway:Billy Sanders bought his first speedway bike from...
and Phil Crump
Phil Crump
Philip John "Phil" Crump in Mildura, Victoria is a retired Australian Motorcycle speedway rider who attained 3rd place in the 1976 World Championship...
.
The Newcastle Motordrome, originally known as the Jerilderie Park Speedway, was also known during its lifetime as the Newcastle International Motordrome. Due to sponsorship the venue was also known as the Winfield
Winfield (cigarette)
Winfield is a brand of cigarette that is popular in Australia and New Zealand. They are also sold in other markets in Europe, Canada, South Africa and Asia...
Newcastle Motordrome and finally the Wynn's Newcastle Motordrome.
In a sport where death or severe injury was often an accepted risk, the Newcastle Motordrome never actually saw a fatal accident, though in 1975, when the speedway was still Jerilderee Park, it was where the career of two time Speedway World Champion
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
(1954
1954 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1954 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 15, 1954 London, Wembley Stadium...
and 1959
1959 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1959 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 19, 1959 London, Wembley Stadium...
) Ronnie Moore
Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)
Ronnie Moore MBE is a former international Speedway rider. His family moved to New Zealand when he was still a child and although Moore was born in Australia, he has always considered himself to be a New Zealander....
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
ended when he crashed and was in a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
for weeks.
The speedway held its last meeting on Sunday 14 July 2002 after promoter David Lander sold the freehold for the site for a reported A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
2.5 million to the ATB Morton development group ending 25 years of successful speedway at the venue.
Famous competitors
Some of the famous competitors who raced at the Newcastle Motordrome include:- Todd WiltshireTodd WiltshireTodd Wiltshire is a retired Australian motorcycle speedway rider who competed at the highest level of the sport, finishing a career best third in the 1990 Individual Speedway World Championship at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford, England.-Australia:Todd Wiltshire started racing in 1979 at the Lake...
(
) (Solo) - Garry Rush ( ) (Super Modified/Speedcar/Sprintcar)
- Ole Olsen (
) (Solo) - George Tatnell ( ) (Super Modified/Speedcar) †
- Brooke Tatnell ( ) (Speedcar)
- Shane ParkerShane Parker (speedway rider)Shane Andrew Parker is a speedway rider, currently riding with the Sheffield Tigers in the British Premier League in what will be his last season in Britain....
( ) (Solo) - Ron Pyne ( ) (Super Sedan/Grand National)
- Hans NielsenHans Nielsen (speedway rider)Hans Hollen Nielsen - a prominent speedway rider active from the 1970s to the late 1990s; a former World Champion....
( ) (Solo) - John Pyne ( ) (Super Sedan/Grand National)
- Bob Blacklaw ( ) (Sprintcar)
- Craig BoyceCraig BoyceCraig Boyce was a motorcycle speedway rider who primarily rode for the Poole Pirates in the British Elite League...
( ) (Solo) - Bruce PenhallBruce PenhallBruce Lee Penhall is a retired American motorcycle speedway racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion in 1981 and 1982 and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens speedway team in the United Kingdom...
(
) (Solo) - Steve KinserSteve KinserSteve Kinser , is a professional sprint car racer. He has won 20 championships in the World of Outlaws series, and currently drives the #11 Bass Pro Shops car. Kinser left the World of Outlaws in 2006 to compete with the National Sprint Tour series, but returned to the World of Outlaws for the...
( ) (Sprintcar) - Ivan MaugerIvan MaugerIvan Mauger, OBE, MBE, is a retired motorcycle speedway rider. He won a record six World Championships, a feat only equalled by Tony Rickardsson of Sweden...
(Solo) - Barry BriggsBarry BriggsBarry Briggs MBE from Christchurch, New Zealand is a former Speedway rider.He won the World Individual Championship title four times - in 1957, 1958, 1964 and 1966. He appeared in a record 17 consecutive World Individual finals , and a record 18 in all, during which he scored a record 201 points...
(Solo) - Max DumesnyMax DumesnyMax Dumesny is an Australian professional Sprintcar driver. Dumsney was born and raised in Victoria but has resided in Nelson, New South Wales since the mid-1990s, although his Sprintcar carries the number V5 that he has used throughout his career, although he has changed that to Australia 1 when...
( ) (Sprintcar) - Grenville AndersonGrenville AndersonGrenville Anderson was an Australian auto racing driver, considered "one of the icons of Australian sedan racing" and is "the only man in national speedway history to win four Australian sedan championships"...
( ) (Super Sedan/Grand National)† - Peter CollinsPeter Collins (speedway rider)Peter Spencer Collins MBE is a former Speedway rider who spent his whole career with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child...
(
) (Solo) - Ron "Sleepy" TrippSleepy TrippRon "Sleepy" Tripp is an American Hall of Fame midget car driver. Tripp got his nickname as a youth when he would fall asleep in his quarter midget car while waiting for his next race to start. -Midget car career:...
( ) (Speedcar) - Leigh AdamsLeigh AdamsLeigh Scott Adams is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He is a multiple Speedway Grand Prix winner and World Team Champion...
( ) (Solo) - Rodney CombsRodney CombsRodney Combs is a former NASCAR driver. He has not been in NASCAR since 1997, when he was released from his ride in the Busch Series. Combs was born on March 27, 1950 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Combs entered NASCAR after many years on the open-wheel and short track circuit in the Midwest, racing with...
( ) (Super Sedan/Grand National) - Darrin Treloar ( ) (Sidecar)
- Billy SandersBilly SandersWilliam Robert Sanders 'Billy Sanders' was an Australian international Speedway rider who won six Australian Championships and was a five time Speedway World Championship finalist with a career best second place in Germany 1983.-Australian Speedway:Billy Sanders bought his first speedway bike from...
( ) (Solo) † - Phil CrumpPhil CrumpPhilip John "Phil" Crump in Mildura, Victoria is a retired Australian Motorcycle speedway rider who attained 3rd place in the 1976 World Championship...
( ) (Solo) - Rinat MardanshinRinat MardanshinRinat Mukatdisovich Mardanshin was a Russian motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the 2001 Speedway World Cup for Russia. He was a multi-medalist of Russian Championships.- External links :* * * * at rivera.com.ua...
(
) (Solo) - Kenny CarterKenny CarterKenneth 'Kenny' Malcolm Carter , was a world class speedway rider. He rode for Newcastle Diamonds , Halifax Dukes and Bradford Dukes ....
( ) (Solo) - John BoulgerJohn BoulgerJohn Boulger is a former international motorcycle speedway rider. After he retired from riding Solo's, Boulger raced in Speedcars from the mid-1980s until the mid-1990s...
( ) (Solo) - Mitch ShirraMitch ShirraMitchell Owen Shirra is a former motorcycle speedway rider who rode with the Coventry Bees, Reading Racers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches in the British League.-Career summary:...
(Solo) - Gary Moon ( ) (Sidecar)
- Glenn Doyle ( ) (Solo)
- Oleg KurguskinOleg KurguskinOleg Kurguskin is a Russian motorcycle speedway rider who was a member of Russia team at 2001 and 2005 Speedway World Cup. With Russian club Togliatti he won European Club Champions' Cup in 2003.- World Championships :...
( ) (Solo) - Shawn MoranShawn MoranShawn Moran is a retired former professional speedway rider who was one of the most popular and talented riders ever to race for Sheffield Tigers who also represented USA....
( ) (Solo) - Rif Saitgareev ( ) (Solo) †
† - Deceased