Rowley park speedway
Encyclopedia
Rowley Park Speedway is a former Dirt track racing
venue that was located on Torrens Road
in Brompton, South Australia
, The speedway was named after Mr Enoch Procter (Ted) Rowley, an English
-born Dentist
who moved to Adelaide
from Kalgoorlie in 1908 where he had forged a reputation as being Western Australia
's best soccer Goalkeeper
. The speedway ran continually during Australia's summer months from December 21, 1949 until its closure on April 6, 1979.
drivers who were disgruntled with the Melbourne
based promotors Kirjon Speedway Pty Ltd. The Soccer Association of South Australia
owned land on a former brick pit on Torrens Rd. at Brompton named Rowley Park which was located only 5 km from the city
and the original plan was for the land to be the home of Soccer in SA. However, the Soccer Association had received press regarding it failure to grow grass on the site. Rowley Park also had a tendency to flood during winter as the bottom of "The Brick Pit" was below the level of the water table which made playing soccer virtually impossible.
The Soccer Association then obtained a lease on Hindmarsh Oval
from the Hindmarsh Council but as owners of Rowley Park were keen to make money from it. The initial lease for the speedway was £26
per meeting plus a toll of 1 penny
per head through the gate based on a minimum of 23 race meetings per season.
The speedway was originally shaped with four distinct corners and the safety fence was almost rectangular in shape and was nicknamed "The Butter Box". The first meeting at Rowley Park took place on December 21, 1949. The original promoter of Rowley Park Speedway was Wal Watson, one of the group of disgruntled drivers who brought about the new speedway. In 1951 Watson sold the lease to former Sydney
solo
rider and speedcar driver of the 1930s, Alf Shields who had moved his family to Adelaide. Sheilds ran and gradually improved the speedway until 1954 when he sold the lease to local entrepreneur Kym Bonython
. For the next 20 years Bonython, who had first attended speedway as a young boy in the late 1920s at the Wayville Showgrounds, successfully set about making Rowley Park Speedway the place to be in Adelaide on a Friday night during the summer.
The track surface changed from shell grit and brick pipe clay to dolomite in 1953 which was ideal for both cars and bikes at the time. In 1955 the track was given a more oval shape and its length became 358m (391 yards). A safety catch fence was also added on top of the existing safety fence, which was re-shaped to follow the track, in 1955. The catch fencing was upgraded again in 1965 and lasted until the tracks closing in 1979. The chain mesh used in the catch fence was of such a heavy gauge steel that it was then transferred and used at the new Speedway Park
track that opened five months later.
Under the promotion of Kym Bonython and his company Speedway Pty Ltd, Rowley Park Speedway began attracting crowds every Friday night upwards of 15,000. This era was aptly named "The golden era of speedway" in Australia with large crowds attending meetings in other cities such as Sydney
(Sydney Showground
), Brisbane
(Ekka
) and Perth
(Claremont Speedway
). "Friday night is Speedway night" was the publicity slogan Bonython used for Rowley Park, as was a cartoon "Almost everybody goes to Rowley Park on Friday nights" which showed everyone from a grandmother to ambulance drivers and a jockey
all making their way into the speedway. In 1965 a reported crowd of 20,000 packed into the speedway to see Australia's first Demolition Derby
. The Police
were called in to handle traffic and hundreds of fans were turned away as the 'House Full' signs went up. The derby itself had 100 entrants and lasted for over 75 minutes.
Another of Bonython's ideas was to import overseas drivers and riders to race full seasons at Rowley Park. In 1957/58 Bonython contracted Bob "Two Gun" Tattersall from Streator, Illinois
in the United States
, arguably the most popular American driver to race Speedway in Australia and winner of the 1969 USAC National Midget Series and in 1960/61 a young solo rider from Christchurch
in New Zealand
named Ivan Mauger
, who would go on to win a record six World Championships
. "Tats" made his international debut racing at Rowley Park (Mauger had already competed in the United Kingom for 2 years). To supplement his income while in Adelaide, Bonython also found Mauger work as a Truck driver
.
During the early 1970s, Kym Bonython saw that crowds at the speedway were starting to drop. This was due to there being other attractions such as television
. Keen to further his interests in the art world, Bonython sold the lease on Rowley to a consortium of local former race drivers (Kevin Fischer, Cec Eichler, Rex Sandy and Ray Skipper), thus ending a successful 20 years as Rowley Park's promoter. The consortium only ran the show for one season (1973/74) before the running was taken over by the Racing Drivers Association of South Australia. The RDA would run the speedway from 1974 until the track closed in 1979.
Bonython himself wasn't just the promoter and director of Rowley Park Speedway. He was also a speedcar driver who had considerable success winning the South Australian Championship on two occasions. He was also involved in some of the more spectacular crashes seen at the speedway though luckily he didn't suffer any serious injuries at the wheel.
Rowley Park Speedway's long time Clerk of Course was Glen Dix who would later become internationally famous as the man who waved the checkered flag
at the Australian Grand Prix
during its years in Adelaide (1985–1995). Dix was first involved at the speedway in 1952/53 when he 'penciled' information for radio station 5KA
announcer Bill Evans who broadcast the feature races live. Dix moved to be the Assistant Clerk of Course in 1953/54 before becoming Clerk of Course from 1954/55, a position he would hold for ten years. For the first few years he also controlled the bike races until the Speedway Riders Association selected their own starter. As a flagman, Dix became famous for waving the checkered flag in the same enthusiastic manner for every car that crossed the finish line, no matter if the driver finished in first or last place.
Due to complaints from residents about noise and the on-street parking as well as the track becoming too small for the faster cars appearing on the scene, the speedway was closed after the 23rd meeting of the 1978/79 season which was held on April 6, 1979. Speedway continued in Adelaide the following season with the opening of the new Speedway Park complex located adjacent to the Adelaide International Raceway
in Virginia
, about 25 km north of Adelaide while in 1981 a new motorcycle only speedway named North Arm Speedway
was opened in the industrial suburb of Gillman
, less than 2 km from Adelaide's current motorcycle speedway track Gillman Speedway
which opened in 1998 following North Arm's closure in 1997.
The final meetings feature race winners were Graham Mason (Stock Rods), Bill Wigzell (Sprintcar
), George Tatnell (Speedcar
), Tony Orlando (Saloon Cars), Leigh Wingard (Sidecar stars) and Lou Sansom (Solo
).
Placed by the S.A. speedway supporters, this plaque serves as a reminder that Rowley Park Speedway operated on this site for thirty years. Unveiled jointly by Kym Bonython A.C. D.F.C. A.F.C. and the Mayor of Hindmarsh, Florence Pens. 14 September 1991.
Those who lost their lives at Rowley Park are
† - Deceaced
* Frank "Satan" Brewer was from New Zealand
but Australian promoters billed him as being from the United States
to bring in bigger crowds
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 that was located on Torrens Road
Torrens Road, Adelaide
Torrens Road is an arterial road in the northwestern suburbs of Adelaide, Australia. The road travels in a southeast-northwest direction and is parallel with Port Road for most of its length. Major roads that intersect Torrens Road include South Road, Churchill Road and Regency Road...
in Brompton, South Australia
Brompton, South Australia
Brompton is an inner northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Charles Sturt.-History:Brompton was established in June 1849 and quickly grew...
, The speedway was named after Mr Enoch Procter (Ted) Rowley, an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
who moved to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
from Kalgoorlie in 1908 where he had forged a reputation as being Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
's best soccer Goalkeeper
Goalkeeper
In many team sports which involve scoring goals, a goalkeeper is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by intercepting shots at goal...
. The speedway ran continually during Australia's summer months from December 21, 1949 until its closure on April 6, 1979.
History
Rowley Park was originally conceived in 1948 by a group of Kilburn Speedway SpeedcarMidget 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...
drivers who were disgruntled with the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
based promotors Kirjon Speedway Pty Ltd. The Soccer Association of South Australia
Football Federation of South Australia
The Football Federation of South Australia is the governing body of association football in South Australia. The FFSA are affiliated to the Football Federation Australia...
owned land on a former brick pit on Torrens Rd. at Brompton named Rowley Park which was located only 5 km from the city
City of Adelaide
The City of Adelaide is a local government area in the metropolitan area of Adelaide, South Australia. It covers the original Adelaide city centre settlement, , North Adelaide, and the Adelaide Park Lands which surround North Adelaide and the city centre.Established in 1840, the organisation now...
and the original plan was for the land to be the home of Soccer in SA. However, the Soccer Association had received press regarding it failure to grow grass on the site. Rowley Park also had a tendency to flood during winter as the bottom of "The Brick Pit" was below the level of the water table which made playing soccer virtually impossible.
The Soccer Association then obtained a lease on Hindmarsh Oval
Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
from the Hindmarsh Council but as owners of Rowley Park were keen to make money from it. The initial lease for the speedway was £26
Australian pound
The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...
per meeting plus a toll of 1 penny
Penny (Australian)
The Australian Penny was a coin of the Australian pound used in the Commonwealth of Australia prior to decimalisation in 1966. It was worth one twelfth of an Australian shilling and 1/240 of an Australian pound...
per head through the gate based on a minimum of 23 race meetings per season.
The speedway was originally shaped with four distinct corners and the safety fence was almost rectangular in shape and was nicknamed "The Butter Box". The first meeting at Rowley Park took place on December 21, 1949. The original promoter of Rowley Park Speedway was Wal Watson, one of the group of disgruntled drivers who brought about the new speedway. In 1951 Watson sold the lease to former Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
solo
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...
rider and speedcar driver of the 1930s, Alf Shields who had moved his family to Adelaide. Sheilds ran and gradually improved the speedway until 1954 when he sold the lease to local entrepreneur Kym Bonython
Kym Bonython
Hugh Reskymer "Kym" Bonython, AC, DFC, AFC was a prominent and active member of Adelaide society in Australia, with a very wide range of interests, activities and achievements in the fields of business, the arts, entertainment and public service.His occupations included radio broadcaster, pilot,...
. For the next 20 years Bonython, who had first attended speedway as a young boy in the late 1920s at the Wayville Showgrounds, successfully set about making Rowley Park Speedway the place to be in Adelaide on a Friday night during the summer.
The track surface changed from shell grit and brick pipe clay to dolomite in 1953 which was ideal for both cars and bikes at the time. In 1955 the track was given a more oval shape and its length became 358m (391 yards). A safety catch fence was also added on top of the existing safety fence, which was re-shaped to follow the track, in 1955. The catch fencing was upgraded again in 1965 and lasted until the tracks closing in 1979. The chain mesh used in the catch fence was of such a heavy gauge steel that it was then transferred and used at the new Speedway Park
Speedway City
Speedway City is a Dirt track racing venue located 26 km north of Adelaide in Virginia, South Australia, adjacent to the Adelaide International Raceway...
track that opened five months later.
Under the promotion of Kym Bonython and his company Speedway Pty Ltd, Rowley Park Speedway began attracting crowds every Friday night upwards of 15,000. This era was aptly named "The golden era of speedway" in Australia with large crowds attending meetings in other cities such as Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
(Sydney Showground
Sydney Showground Speedway
Sydney Showground Speedway, originally known as the Speedway Royal and later the Speedway Royale but often referred to as just The Royale or The Showground, was a dirt Dirt track racing venue at the old Sydney Showground used from 1926 until 1996....
), Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
(Ekka
Brisbane Exhibition Ground
The Brisbane Exhibition Ground , is a showground established in Brisbane during 1875 especially for Ekka . The Exhibition ground is owned and operated by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland...
) and Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
(Claremont Speedway
Claremont Showgrounds
The Claremont Showgrounds were built in 1905 in the Perth suburb of Claremont. The Showgrounds are home to the annual Perth Royal Show. They were also the original home of Claremont-Cottesloe in its first year in the WAFL before moving to Claremont Oval....
). "Friday night is Speedway night" was the publicity slogan Bonython used for Rowley Park, as was a cartoon "Almost everybody goes to Rowley Park on Friday nights" which showed everyone from a grandmother to ambulance drivers and a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
all making their way into the speedway. In 1965 a reported crowd of 20,000 packed into the speedway to see Australia's first Demolition Derby
Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
. The Police
South Australia Police
The South Australia Police is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. It is an agency of the Government of South Australia within the South Australian Department of Justice.-History:...
were called in to handle traffic and hundreds of fans were turned away as the 'House Full' signs went up. The derby itself had 100 entrants and lasted for over 75 minutes.
Another of Bonython's ideas was to import overseas drivers and riders to race full seasons at Rowley Park. In 1957/58 Bonython contracted Bob "Two Gun" Tattersall from Streator, Illinois
Streator, Illinois
Streator is a city in LaSalle and partially in Livingston counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city is situated on the Vermilion River approximately southwest of Chicago, Illinois in the prairie and farm land of north-central Illinois. It is the center of the geographic region known as...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, arguably the most popular American driver to race Speedway in Australia and winner of the 1969 USAC National Midget Series and in 1960/61 a young solo rider from Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in 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...
named Ivan Mauger
Ivan Mauger
Ivan 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...
, who would go on to win a record six World Championships
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...
. "Tats" made his international debut racing at Rowley Park (Mauger had already competed in the United Kingom for 2 years). To supplement his income while in Adelaide, Bonython also found Mauger work as a Truck driver
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
.
During the early 1970s, Kym Bonython saw that crowds at the speedway were starting to drop. This was due to there being other attractions such as television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. Keen to further his interests in the art world, Bonython sold the lease on Rowley to a consortium of local former race drivers (Kevin Fischer, Cec Eichler, Rex Sandy and Ray Skipper), thus ending a successful 20 years as Rowley Park's promoter. The consortium only ran the show for one season (1973/74) before the running was taken over by the Racing Drivers Association of South Australia. The RDA would run the speedway from 1974 until the track closed in 1979.
Bonython himself wasn't just the promoter and director of Rowley Park Speedway. He was also a speedcar driver who had considerable success winning the South Australian Championship on two occasions. He was also involved in some of the more spectacular crashes seen at the speedway though luckily he didn't suffer any serious injuries at the wheel.
Rowley Park Speedway's long time Clerk of Course was Glen Dix who would later become internationally famous as the man who waved the checkered flag
Checkered flag
Checkered Flag or Chequered Flag may refer to:* Checkered flag, a type of racing flag* Checkered Flag , a 1963 album by Dick Dale and his Del-Tones* Chequered Flag , a 1983 game by Sinclair Research Ltd....
at the Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix
The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
during its years in Adelaide (1985–1995). Dix was first involved at the speedway in 1952/53 when he 'penciled' information for radio station 5KA
5MMM
5MMM is a radio station broadcasting in Adelaide, Australia. Its target demographic is the 30 - 54 age group...
announcer Bill Evans who broadcast the feature races live. Dix moved to be the Assistant Clerk of Course in 1953/54 before becoming Clerk of Course from 1954/55, a position he would hold for ten years. For the first few years he also controlled the bike races until the Speedway Riders Association selected their own starter. As a flagman, Dix became famous for waving the checkered flag in the same enthusiastic manner for every car that crossed the finish line, no matter if the driver finished in first or last place.
Due to complaints from residents about noise and the on-street parking as well as the track becoming too small for the faster cars appearing on the scene, the speedway was closed after the 23rd meeting of the 1978/79 season which was held on April 6, 1979. Speedway continued in Adelaide the following season with the opening of the new Speedway Park complex located adjacent to the Adelaide International Raceway
Adelaide International Raceway
The Adelaide International Raceway is a permanent circuit owned by Australian Motorsport Club Limited under the auspices of the Bob Jane Corporation. It is located on Port Wakefield Road at Virginia, a small town just north of Adelaide, South Australia, and is round the corner from Speedway City...
in Virginia
Virginia, South Australia
Virginia is a suburb on the rural outskirts of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. Port Wakefield Road, the main highway taking traffic to the north of Adelaide, passes through the area. Market gardening is the main activity there.-References:...
, about 25 km north of Adelaide while in 1981 a new motorcycle only speedway named North Arm Speedway
North Arm Speedway
North Arm Speedway was the first dedicated motorcycle speedway ever built in Adelaide, South Australia and was located in the industrial suburb of Gillman...
was opened in the industrial suburb of Gillman
Gillman, South Australia
Gillman is a north western suburb of Adelaide, in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield....
, less than 2 km from Adelaide's current motorcycle speedway track Gillman Speedway
Gillman Speedway
Gillman Speedway is a purpose built motorcycle speedway located in the Adelaide suburb of Gillman in South Australia.The closure of the nearby North Arm Speedway at the end of the 1996-97 season left Adelaide without a venue for motorcycle speedway for the first time in almost 80 years. David...
which opened in 1998 following North Arm's closure in 1997.
The final meetings feature race winners were Graham Mason (Stock Rods), Bill Wigzell (Sprintcar
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....
), George Tatnell (Speedcar
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...
), Tony Orlando (Saloon Cars), Leigh Wingard (Sidecar stars) and Lou Sansom (Solo
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...
).
Today
Today the Kym Bonython Housing Estate sits on the site of the former Rowley Park Speedway. A raised plaque sits at the entrance to the estate depicting the Rowley Park Speedway logo. The plaque reads:Placed by the S.A. speedway supporters, this plaque serves as a reminder that Rowley Park Speedway operated on this site for thirty years. Unveiled jointly by Kym Bonython A.C. D.F.C. A.F.C. and the Mayor of Hindmarsh, Florence Pens. 14 September 1991.
Fatalities
Rowley Park Speedway operated in an era when safety wasn't the main concern of anyone involved. It wasn't until the early 1970s that safety roll cages for the open wheeed cars and seat belts became compulsory. Until the addition of the roll cage to the cars, Speedcar and TQ drivers plus the bike riders were most at risk of serious injury or death. If a Speedcar rolled the driver was at risk as his or her head was usually well above the height of the rear roll bar. Also, until seat belts became compulsory in the 1970s, drivers often raced without a seat belt or nothing more than a lap sash leading to drivers sometimes being thrown from their cars. Bike riders were at risk of hitting the safety fence with no protection but a crash helmet and leathers, as well as being run over by closely following bikes. This unfortunately led to there being nine deaths at the speedway during its 30 year run.Those who lost their lives at Rowley Park are
- Brian Bennett (
) - Sidecar (November 15, 1957) - Steve Howman ( ) - SpeedcarMidget car racingMidget 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...
(January 2, 1959) - Arn Sunstrom ( ) - Speedcar (January 23, 1959)
- Gerry Hussey (
) - TQ (March 6, 1959) - Kon Lang ( ) - TQ (November 9, 1962)
- Peter Stirling ( ) - SoloMotorcycle speedwayMotorcycle 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...
(December 17, 1965) - Harley Dillon ( ) - Speedcar (February 25, 1966)
- Harry Denton ( ) - Solo (November 3, 1967)
- Jimmy Gavros ( ) - Solo (January 23, 1970)
Famous Competitors
Some of the competitors who raced at Rowley Park Speedway between 1949 and 1979 include:- Jack YoungJack Young (speedway rider)Jack Ellis Young was a Motorcycle speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1951 and 1952...
( ) (Solo) † - John Moyle ( ) (Super Modified/Sprintcar)
- Kym BonythonKym BonythonHugh Reskymer "Kym" Bonython, AC, DFC, AFC was a prominent and active member of Adelaide society in Australia, with a very wide range of interests, activities and achievements in the fields of business, the arts, entertainment and public service.His occupations included radio broadcaster, pilot,...
( ) (Speedcar) † - Jim AireyJim AireyJames Sydney "Jim" Airey is a former international motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the 1971 World Final in Göteborg, Sweden and was a member of the Great Britain team that won the 1971 Speedway World Team Cup in Wrocław, Poland.-Australia:Jim Airey started racing Speedway in the early-1960s,...
( ) (Solo) - "Big Bad" John Crowhurst ( ) (Saloon Car) †
- "Gentleman" Joe Braendler ( ) (Speedcar)
- Chris MortonChris MortonChristopher John Morton MBE is a former motorcycle speedway rider. He rode bikes from a young age at the farm of Peter Collins' parents.-Brief career summary:...
( ) (Solo) - Garry Rush ( ) (Super Modified/Sprintcar)
- Nigel BoocockNigel BoocockNigel Boocock is a former speedway rider who appeared in eight Speedway World Championship finals and was a reserve in one other .-Career:...
( ) (Solo) - Harry Neale ( ) (Speedcar) †
- Eric BoocockEric BoocockEric Boocock is a former Speedway rider who appeared in three Speedway World Championship finals.-Career:...
( ) (Solo) - George Tatnell ( ) (Speedcar) †
- Len Bowes ( ) (Sidecar)
- Ken McKinlayKen McKinlayJohn Robert Vickers McKinlay was an international speedway rider, captaining Scotland, England, Great Britain and Europe teams. He also finished on the rostrum of the British Speedway Championship finals twice, second in 1964 and third in 1965...
(
) (Solo) † - Marshall Sargent (
) (Super Modified) † - Ove FundinOve FundinOve Fundin is a former speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship five times...
(
) (Solo) - Frank "Satan" Brewer* (
/ ) (Speedcar) † - "Bustling" Bill Barrows ( ) (Sprintcar)
- Bill Wigzell ( ) (Solo/Speedcar/Super Modified/Sprintcar)
- Dean Hogarth ( ) (Speedcar)
- 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) - Neil Munro ( ) (Sidecar)
- Gordon KennettGordon KennettGordon William Kennett is a former motorcycle speedway rider. In 1978 he won the World Pairs Championship with Malcolm Simmons. He also finished runner-up to Ole Olsen in the 1978 Speedway World Championship at Wembley...
( ) (Solo) - Ole Olsen (
) (solo) - Jimmy Sills ( ) (Sprintcar)
- 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) - 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) † - Bob "Two Gun" Tattersall ( ) (Speedcar) †
- Tony Orlando ( ) (Saloon Car)
- 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) - Dean Taylor ( ) (Sidecar)
- 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) - Steve Brazier ( ) (Sprintcar)
- 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) - Phil Herreen ( ) (Speedcar/Sprintcar)
- Gordon GuascoGordon GuascoGordon Guasco is a former Australian Motorcycle speedway rider who was a favourite at both the Sydney Showground Speedway and Liverpool Speedway...
( ) (Solo) †
† - Deceaced
* Frank "Satan" Brewer was from 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...
but Australian promoters billed him as being from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to bring in bigger crowds
Track Records in 1955-56
- SoloMotorcycle speedwayMotorcycle 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...
(3 laps clutch start): 49- 4/5 secs - Jack YoungJack Young (speedway rider)Jack Ellis Young was a Motorcycle speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1951 and 1952...
( ) - Sidecar (3 laps clutch start): 56- 2/5 secs - Jim Davies ( )
- Sidecar (4 laps clutch start): 75 secs - Don Willison ( )
- SpeedcarMidget car racingMidget 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...
(4 laps rolling start): 1 min 10-1/5 secs - Joe Blow (Gordon Schubert) ( ) - Speedcar (10 laps rolling start): 2 min 56-3/5 secs - Roy Sands ( )
- StockcarStock car racingStock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
(20 laps rolling start): 7min 23-3/5 sec - Ted Fulgrabe ( )
Track Records 1978-79
Final Season- SprintcarSprint car racingSprint 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....
(1 lap rolling start): 0:14.8 - Jimmy Sills ( ) / Steve brazier ( ) - SoloMotorcycle speedwayMotorcycle 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...
(3 laps clutch start): 0:45.6 - 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...
( ) / 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...
( ) / Gordon KennettGordon KennettGordon William Kennett is a former motorcycle speedway rider. In 1978 he won the World Pairs Championship with Malcolm Simmons. He also finished runner-up to Ole Olsen in the 1978 Speedway World Championship at Wembley...
( ) - Sidecar (3 laps clutch start): 0:50.6 - Dean Taylor ( ) / Kevin Taylor ( )
- SpeedcarMidget car racingMidget 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...
(6 laps rolling start): 1:33.8 - Phil Herreen ( ) / Bill Wigzell ( ) - Saloon Cars (8 laps rolling start): 2:08.5 - "Big Bad" John Crowhurst ( ) / Tony Orlando ( )