BUNBURY (WA)
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previous year www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/2022-bunbury-speedway.html
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BUNBURY CITY SPEEDWAY 2023
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2023 - BUNBURY CITY SPEEDWAY NEW YEAR BASH Sprintcar's & Late Model's Feature 1st January 2023This would be the biggest project that the Bunbury Car Club has ever taken on, Money wise could they pull it off, The stakes where high, It took a lot of hard work by the Committee, led by Kim Beard and the Special Event's coordinator Morgan Melvin to pull this show off, Pre sale tickets were rolling in and a good walk up crowd was expected. Race day and the pits where loaded, million's of dollars worth of race equipment including 410 Sprintcars.
The ground pounding Super Late Model Sedans who dont often come to Bunbury but they turned up in numbers, and last but not least the Limited Sprintcars, who were born as an association here at Bunbury Speedway, largely in part to the Davis family.
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Fastlane Photography Pictorial feature
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B l a k e'yThe Sedan Car Racer that put Bunbury on the mapBlake'y as we all know him is a fairly well respected man in speedway circles, from his early day racing his FC Holden at Wattle Grove Speedway right through the Turbo Charged Torana day's, in which he won an Australian Saloon Car Title, as well as a
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Promoters Association National Championship, which no one wants to talk about today. As well a many other big races including all states of Australia.
Allan first became involved in Bunbury Speedway back in the tracks second season, when the venue was suffering from the blow out costs of building the speedway in 1972 and the costs involved in bringing world class competitors to Bunbury that opening season, The position for the manager was advertised and Allen applied, it became a walk up start for Allan as the previous manager decided to not apply. Allan worked hard and the club saw the money comming in and the race meeting's were of a high standard, Just like the previous manager Tom Dillon, Allan showed the flair that it takes to manage a world class venue.
As time passed Allen packed up with his two boys and moved to Darwin to Promote Bagot Park Speedway, all the time still continuing to race the Torana.
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After returning from Darwin Allan while still racing set up a towing and wrecking business in Bunbury and getting deeply involved in the Bunbury Car Club as a member, later earning Life Membership.
During this 1980's period a young rebel by the name of Brad Blake appeared in the pits at Margaret River Speedway with a beat up Cortina Stockie, at this point Allan
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chose to not get involved but a close friend to the Blake family Ross McKenzie stepped up, It was then that another bunch of blokes jumped in Ivan Burke, Allister McKenna and Brian Moyle to build Brad some new equipment, Brad was away, he dominated were ever he raced, while in his first WA Title he was lapping the field when a slow car moved up putting Brad in the wall and ending his night.
The car was repaired and come title time the following year, Allan was hooked, he saw Brads potential in a speedway car and with Noleen's blessing Brad finished his Stockie period with a WA Championship and many other blue ribbon event wins.
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Allan had found a new passion in speedway with Brads career, He built a very quick Cortina Modified Sedan for Brad and before long Brad found himself fighting it out on track with the best of them. Greg Freeman was the man to beat at the time.
While this was going on Allan came to the conclusion that the Mitsubishi Sigma's were starting to dominate, so he built one. Initially Allan would come of retirement to race the car, setting up the car for Brad while Brad continued to race the Cortina.
Allan drove the wheels off the Sigma, ironing the bugs out along the way, he was a fair match for the Freeman and Rose Sigma's, but he did publicly announce over the PA at a presentation after a long distance race, Iam Knackered. Allan did step out of the car and let Brad take over.
There became a period in the clubs life were it lost a bit of direction and Allan was approached to run for President, he did and the benefit's of his experienced
Then came the Super Sedan days, Allan teamed up with AJ Nylander to build a Pontiac Super Sedan.
This was a very successful period for Allan and Brad, Super Sedan Racing in Australia was at its peak and the level of competition was outstanding.
The Late Model Sedan period is what most people can relate to These two have raced all across Australia, winning races and friends racking up State and National Title wins and podium's, all the time helping new drivers into the division, as well as Doing short stints in America. Allan and Brad are both likeable larrikin's who get the most out of life.
Brian Moyle recalls: after spending many years with Allan and him telling me stories, I asked him when are you going to tell me a story i can print. He said i dont have one.
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Jamie Oldfield takes out the 1st Allan Blake Classic |
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Bruce Russell Flash Fotos Pictorial feature
1st January 2023 - Smiles all round after the race. Photographer: Bruce Russell.
Fastlane Photography Pictorial feature
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Limited Sprintcars |
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2023 - BUNBURY CITY SPEEDWAY SPRINTCAR SPEEDWEEK 14th January 2023 |
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2023 - BUNBURY CITY SPEEDWAY WEST AUSTRALIAN 360 SPRINTCAR CHAMPIONSHIP 4th February 2023 |
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2023 - BUNBURY CITY SPEEDWAY AUSTRALIAN STREET STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP |