ADELAIDE (SA)
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1946 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY
Kilburn Speedway or Northern Speedway as it was also known as was developed in 1946 after World War 2 by Rocky Marshall, as most of the midgets had long gone, last used at the Camden Motordrome before the war, there were only a few cars immediatly available to race in those early days, although there were sufficient bikes to put on a show.
The opening meeting was held in Febuary of 1946 on the unfenced Kilburn Oval situated on the corner of Carroll Ave and Churchill Road. the first season was shortened due to rain so only one more meeting was held for the season.
During the off season a safety fence was erected from packing cases and the new season opened in December of 1946, The first night meeting under lights took place on the 21st of March 1947.
Bike racing was the most popular division with riders such as Bob Leverennz, The Young brothers Frank, Jack and Wal and many others.
In April of 1947 the South Australian Speedcar tital was held at Kilburn with Jack O'Dea winning from Athol Anderson, both from Victoria, The following month the first solo and sidecar titals were held with the win going to Les Fredericks from Jach Young and Les Moore, The sidecar honours went to George Robertson with Jack Prime and Royce Newman filling the final placings.
The 1947/1948 season opened on the 17th of October, That season saw Jack Young win his first state solo tital, New South Wales Jim Davies with passenger Peter Speering won the Australian Sidecar Championship from Victoria's Keith Ratten and locals Trev Richardson and Jack Prime, Two months later Richardson with passenger Jock Brown won the South Australian tital.
Kilburn hosted the Australian Midget Tital over ten laps in Febuary of 1948 with Victorian Ces Warren winning from Sam Elsworthy and Harry Neale, One of the most popular drivers to begin racing in 1948 was Sam Bright who drove the Jack Guy built Ford powered #10 midget, The car was named Old Smokey while Bright earned the name Woodpecker after his many encounters with the wooden fence.
In November of 1948 the Sidecar passengers went on strike demanding higher rates of prize money, this caused the cancelation of there events on the night.
WA's Jack Sharpe was a huge draw card over a three week period winning an International Match Race against Bill Maddern at his first two appearance's, but fell and hit the fence in the third, Jack Young also hit the fence avoiding Sharp, he was able to restart his machine and finish in second behind Victoria's Andy Menzies.
Kilburns cinders track attracted many top motor cycle riders including Australia's Test Captain Bill Longley, Jack Biggs (track record holder) and World Champion Vic Duggan, Sydney's Jack Brabham won the Australian Midget Tital from Bob Hughes and Victorian Ces Warren in 1948 over a distance of 20 laps.
1949 Kilburn Speedway is taken over by the Victorian based Kirjon Speedway Company Pty Ltd, This was the also the year Rowley Park Speedway opened.
1950 The Seventh Official Solo Test between Australia and England is held, The Australian's thrashed England seventy points to thirty eight with Jack Young scoring seventeen points, it was reported twenty thousand people attended, By the end of 1950 the writing was on the wall for Kilburn, no State Titals for either Bikes or Midgets, Just the Official Jubilee Championship for Sidecars run on a points basis, Jim Davies top scored with twelve points ahead of Ron Anderson on ten.
That was the end of Kilburn Speedway just like many other Australian tracks, It disappeared into obscurity, only the memory now exists
(Editorial compiled from Frank Midgley and Alan Baker material)
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1947 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY |
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1947 - Harry Neale on the outside of Harley Hammond and Ray Huppalz at the rear. Photographer: Frank Midgley.
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1947 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY |
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1947 - Harry Neale at Kilburn Speedway. Photographer: Frank Midgeley
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1947 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY SPEEDCAR FEATURE |
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1947 Jack Young State Champion. Photographer: Frank Midgley.
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1947 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY |
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1947 - Frank Woodroffe and Bill Jamieson (both international riders) in the wake of Buck Whitley's dust, Bob Hughs and Ray Bald are following. Photographer: Frank Midgley.
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1947 - FRED TRACEY Solo's
Photo: Wendy Curran collection
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1947 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY |
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1947 - Photographer: Frank Midgley.
1947 - Jack Prime leads George Robertson and Jack Wilson. Photographer: Frank Midgley.
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1947 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY 1947 |
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1947 - Harley Hammond out in front where he spent a lot of his time. Photographer: Frank Midgley.
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1947 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY 11th April 1947 |
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1947 - Speedcar action at Kilburn Speedway. Photographer: Frank Midgley.
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1947 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY SPEEDCAR FEATURE 19th December 1947 |
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1947 - Athol Anderson in the 12 car leads Stud Beasley on the outside of an unknown driver. Photo: Dean Donovan collection.
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1947 - BILL WIGZELL Solo's
South Australian Supermodified and Speedcar champion Bill Wigzell would begin his Speedway career at Kilburn Speedway in 1947 riding the ex Lindsay Mitchell dirt track JAP, He was seventeen years old at the time.
1947 - Bill Wigzell pictured here at Rowley Park Speedway. Photographer: Frank Midgeley.
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31st January 1951 |
1946 > 1951 - OTHER NOTED COMPETITORRod Brown South Australian Midget driver.
Laurie Jamieson
George Robertson
Wally Watson
Lindberg West Australian Midget driver (pictured below)
12th February 1951 |
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1948 - ALF SHIELDS Speedcar's
Alf was well known for his race cars building here he is pictured with on of his projects. Photo: Dean Donovan collection.
1948 - An unknown driver in a Alf Shields built machine at Kilburn Speedway. Photo: Dean Donovan collection.
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1948 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY Speedcars.
1948 - Bob Brown in the 18 car at Kilburn Speedway. Photo: Frank Midgley.
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1949 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY AUSTRALIAN SPEEDCAR CHAMPIONSHIP 26th February 1949 |
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1949 - HARLEY HAMMOND Speedcar's
1949 - Photographer: Frank Midgley.
1949 - Harley Hammond in action at Kilburn Speedway. Photographer: Frank Midgley.
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1949 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY 25th March 1949 |
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1949 - BOB HUGHES Speedcar's
1949 - Photos: Dean Donovan collection.
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1949 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY AUSTRALIAN SPEEDCAR DERBY 1st April 1949 |
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1949 - CHAS LINBURGE Speedcar's
1949 - A champion driver from the west coast Chas Linburge in his WA1 car. Photographer: Frank Midgley.
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1949 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY 25th November 1949 |
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1950 - KILBURN SPEEDWAY Rerorted 17th February 1950
S p e e d w a y S o l o T e s t
VISITING English speedway riders in Adelaide for tonight's Test against Australia at Kilburn tried out the track today. Rounding one of the bends are (from left) --- Dent Oliver, Oliver Hart, and Howdy Byford. Photographer: unknown.
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1950's - JACK GUY Speedcar's
1950's - Jack Guy's Ford Powered speedcar. Photographer: Dean Donovan.
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1950's - JOE BLOW Speedcar's
1950's - Photo: Dean Donovan collection.
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1950's - SAM ELSWORTHY Speedcar's
