ADELAIDE (SA)
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1948 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY
Rowley Park Speedway was built in 1948 by a group of disgruntled speedcar drivers from Kilburn Speedway, originally the speedway site was to be the home of South Australian Soccer but the ex brickpit was deemed to be unsuitable and so soccer moved to Hindmarsh Oval.
The speedway was originally shaped with four distinct corners and a small rectangular saftey fence.
Rowley Park opened on the 21st of December 1949 under the promotion of Wal Watson who was one of the Kilburn Speedway drivers.
In 1951 Watson sold the lease to former Sydney solo and speedcar driver Alf Shields, Shields ran the speedway up until 1954 when he sold the lease to a young Kim Bonython.
Bonython would go on to run Rowley Park for the next twenty years with great success.
In 1953 the track shape was changed to a more oval layout and a catch fence was added to the top of the original track fence, the track surface of shell grit and brick pipe clay was replaced with dolomite in 1953 through to 1955.
Further upgrades to the catch fence wer done in 1965 and this lasted lasted until the track closed in 1979.
During its heyday Rowley Park rivaled any speedway in Australia with crowds upwards of 15,000 attending, In 1965 it has been reported that a crowd of 20,000 packed into the venue to see Australia's first Demo Derby.
In around 1972 Bonython moved on and a group of former drivers took over the lease, Kevin Fischer, Cec Eichler, Rex Sandy and Ray Skipper, this would be for one season only 1973/1974, Thats when the Racing Drivers Association of South Australia took over.
The South Australian RDA would run Rowley Park from 1974 until it closed because of complaints from residents about noise and traffic problems.
Rowley Park Speedway closed on the 6th of April 1979.
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TED ROWLEY
Rowley Park was named after Mr Enoch Proctor (Ted) Rowley one of Australia's best known goalkeepers in the early days of Australian soccer.
Ted Rowley came to Australia from Staffordshire (England) in May of 1900, Landing in Albany WA Rowley worked as a clerk with the railways and in his spare time he served a seven year dental apprenticeship.
During his eight years in Kalgoorlie (where his yncle lived) he became almost a legendry figure in the soccer world being regarded as WA's best goalkeeper, He also played 1 game of of Aussie Rules kicking 10 goals but gave the game away and sticking with the round ball.
He came to Adelaide in 1908 a qualified dentist establishing a partnership in Victoria Square which in 1918 he took over when his partner died.
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1950's - REX SANDY Speedcar's
1950's - Photo: Dean Donovan
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1950's - BERT MARKS Speedcar's
1950's - Dean Donovan
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1950's - ROY SANDS Speedcar's
1950's - Adelaide driver Roy Sands. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1950's - BOB PLAYFAIR Speedcar's
1950's - Photo: Dean Donovan
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1950's - BILL WIGZELL Speedcar's
1950's - Bill Wigzell in a bit of trouble when a radiator hose bursts in his 22 car. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1950's - HARRY NEALE Speedcar's
1950's - Harry Neale would later be killed in an accident at Claremont Speedway. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1950's - RAY SKIPPER Heavy Hot Rod's
1950's - An early shot of Ray Skippers car after not avoiding an accident (labeled learners luck) Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1950's - HEAVY HOT ROD ACTION
1950's - Ray Skipper in the 91 hot rod drives around Don Willison (sidecar rider) Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1950's - HEAVY HOT ROD ACTION
1950's - Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1953 - HARRY NEALE TQ's
1953 - Harry Neale Three Quarter Midget at Rowley Park Speedway. Photo: West Coast Speedway News collection.
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1950's - ROGER MAY TQ's
Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1955 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDCAR ACTION
1955 - Dud Lambert 50 - Bruce Rickard 15 - Arn Sunstrom - Ron Wood in Old Smokey. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1955 - ALLAN GOLDING Speedcar's
1955 - Allan Golding in the 12 car locked in battle with Murray Hoffman in the Tiger Kitten car as it was known. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1955 - HEAVY HOT ROD ACTION
1955 - Pedro Kennedy in the 41 car, Barry Lambert 43 and Ross Hill in the 55 car known as Dog Box. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1955 - HEAVY HOT ROD ACTION
1955 - Ray Evans in the number 3 car gets into Murray Parker in the 11 car. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1956 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY AUSTRALIAN 20 Lap SPEEDCAR CHAMPIONSHIP 6th January 1956
"Bill Wigzell - Suddenly 88" Official Group facebook feature
(research Jenny Wigzell)
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1956 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY SIDECAR ACTION
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1956 - RICK HARVEY Speedcar's
Rick Harvey was a Motorcycle Cop with the South Australian Police force as well as an avid Speedcar racer at Rowley Park Speedway. Rick who was twenty seven years old at the time died while on duty in a road accident during 1956, along with his partner Constable John Raggatt and a third motorcyclist Giovanni Cragnolin.
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1956 - PETER SPICER Speedcar's
1956 - Photo: Dean Donovan
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1957 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY STOCK CAR PILE UP
1957 - Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1957 - ROY SANDS Speedcar's
1957 - Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1958 - GERRY HUSSEY TQ's
1958 - Gerry Hussey in the Albert Ludgate number 1 car. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1958 - ROSS GOONAN (NZ) Speedcar's
1958 - Ross Goonan from New Zealand in the v6 60 Ford powered speedcar at Rowley Park. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1958 - BOB TATTERSAL (USA) Speedcar's
1958 - Kym Bonython brought this V8 60 powered speedcar off New Zealands Ross Goonan for USA driver Bob Tattersal to race at Rowley Park Speedway for the 1958 1959 racing season. Photo: Dean Donovan.
1958 - Bob Tattersall from the USA head to head with Harry Neale at Rowley Park during the 1958 1959 season. Photo: Dean Donovan collection.
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1958 - DEAN HOGARTH Speedcar's
1958 - Photos: Dean Donovan.
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1958 - KYM BONYTHON Speedcar's
1958 > 1959 - Kym Bonython inside Arn Sunstrom. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1958 - BOB LINDSAY Speedcar's
1958 - Bob Lindsay's racing ended after a bad accident at Rowley Park Speedway. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1958 - KEN DART Speedcar's
Rowley Park Speedway facebook Photo feature
1958 - Ken Dart in his SA 13 Speedcar at Rowley Park. Photo: unknown.
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1959 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY AUSTRALIAN SPEEDCAR CHAMPIONSHIP 2nd January 1959
The 1958 1958 Australian Speedcar Chamionship was hosted by Rowley Park Speedway on the 2nd of January 1959, This would be the very meeting that Queensland driver Steve Howman would loose his life in a speedcar accident.
Howman crashed heavily in a heat race, when failing to take the first corner crashing head on into the fence and end for ending the car, riping some of the body off the chassis and fracturing his scull. Howman died two days later in hospital.
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1959 - STEVE HOWMAN Speedcar's
Dean Donovan Pictorial feature
1959 - Queenslander Steve Howman is seen here with Bob Tattersall at Rowley Park Speedway. Photo: Dean Donovan collection.
1959 - The very accident that took the live of Queensland Speedcar driver Steve Howman at Rowley Park Speedway. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1959 - RON WOOD Speedcar's
1959 - Ron Wood in Old Smokey holds a lead over Rex Sandy at Rowley Park Speedway. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1959 - ARN SUNSTROM Speedcar's
1959 - Arn Sunstrom sits in the picture perfect Repco Holden powered speedway that he raced, Arn would loose his life in an on track accident at Rowley Park on the 24th of January 1959. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1959 - GERRY HUSSEY Speedcar's
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1959 - BRUCE KELLY Sidecar's
1959 - Sidecar Ace Bruce Kelly and his passenger celebrate a win at Rowley Park. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1959 - RON BURNS TQ's
1959 - Ron Burns in the 8 car runs inside of Len Talbolt in the 87 car. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1959 - FRANK LACEY Hot Rod's
1959 - Frank Lacey running inside Clem Smith. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1960's - NANAE OKAMOTO Solo's
1960's Japanese rider Nanae Okamoto would later die after an accident upon returning to Japan. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1960's - JOHNNY MILLER Speedcar's
1960's - Johnny Miller in the Ford powered car, under powered but gave the others a hurry up. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1960's - BOB LANE Speedcar's
1960's - Bob Lane splits the field in the 24 car. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1960's - LEW MARSHALL Speedcar's
1960's - Lew or Lanky Lew Marshall as they named him. Photo's: Dean Donovan.
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1960 - LEN GOLDING Speedcar's
1960 - Len Golding in the ex Jack Brabham twin at Rowley Park. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1960 - GRAHAME McCUBBIN Hot Rod's
1960 - Grahame McCubbin stared in Hot Rods before moving into Supermodifieds. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1961 - RAY PLATT TQ's
1961 - Ray Platt in the NSW 4 car moves under Bert Miller. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1961 - TQ ACTION
Photo: Dean Donovan
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1961 - 50 LAP WORLD SPEEDCAR DERBY
January 1961 - Jack O'Dea 2nd - Leroy Warriner 1st - Peter Cuneen 3rd - Dean Hogarth 4th Photo: Dean Donovan.
1961 - Leroy Warriner from the USA won the 50 lap derby. Photo: Dean Donovan.
1961 - PETER CUNNEEN Speedcar's
1961 - Peter Cunneen at Rowley Park in the twin powered car at the 1961 Speedcar Derby. Photo: Dean Donovan.
1961 - Dean Hogarth finished 4th in the world event. Photo: Dean Hogarth.
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1961 - 50 LAP STOCK CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
1961 - 1st Clem Smith - 2nd Murray Parker - 3rd Ray Skipper - 4th Moss Marchant. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1961 - CLEM SMITH Heavy Hot Rod's
1961 - Clem Smith tears the fence apart and brings some of the lighting down. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1961 - G BOSISTO Heavy Hot Rod's
1961 - G Bosisto in the 56 machine will take no further part in this race. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1962 - AUSTRALIAN TQ CHAMPIONSHIP
1962 - Australian TQ Championship placegetters. Photo: Aussie Speedway Memories facebook.
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1960's - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY PHOTO's
Phil Herreen powers around Rowley Park Speedway in his number 13 Valiant Super Modified.
Photos: Shawn Graham collection.
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1960's - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY SEDAN SLIDESHOW
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 4 images)
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1960's - RAY SKIPPER Heavy Hot Rod's
Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1962 - BOB TATTERSAL Speedcar's
1962 - Bob Tattersal during the running of the 50 lap derby, he ran like this for 25 laps. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1962 - HEAVY HOT ROD ACTION
1961 > 1962 - Ray Skipper 25 chasing down Murray Parker 23 at Rowley Park. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1962 - INTERSTATE MATCH RACE
1962 - Ron Clarke 55 with Ray Skipper centre and Cliff Collins in the 272 Ford V8 powered Holden. Photo. Dean Donovan.
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1962 - RAY SKIPPER Supermodified's
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1964 - RAY SKIPPER Supermodified's
Photo: Dean Donovan
This car was the first of the "Sportsman" class to appear at Rowley Park, It was built by Graham McCubbin for Ray Skipper at the start of the 1963 1964 season, In the same year he had an accident with it at Portland and promptly sold it on the spot to RDA President Ron Wood, who ran it for a few meeting, before putting a young Zeke Agars in the seat.
In 1965 it was sold to Brian Jefferies who fitted an OHV Ford engine and became a Modified Stock car, to suit the new rules, It then passed to "Little John" Bermingham who raced it until it was replaced by an Agars style Supermodified.
(Editorial Trevor Putterill)
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1966 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY AUSTRALIAN SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP 1966
Speedway Past Australia facebook Photo feature
1966 - Dud McKean from WA catches the tape with his helmet resulting in a false start being called and the race rerun. Chum Taylor also from WA on the inside and the Englishman Jimmy Gooch on the outside. Photographer: unknown.
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1966 - HARLEY DILLON Speedcar's
1966 - Harley Dillon would loose his life in a speedcar accident at Rowley Park on the 25th February 1966. Photo: unknown.
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1966 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY SUPERMODIFIED ACTION
1966 - Alan Jones in the number 15 ex Ray Skipper car with Ray Skipper in 25 and Peter Denton 25. Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1967 - BOB TATTERSALL USA Speedcar's
1967 - International match race, Rowley Park, outside George Tatnell NSW25 - Jim Silby SA56 - Bob Tattersall USA2 Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
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1967 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY SUPERMODIFIED ACTION
1967 - USA driver Larry Burton leads South Australia's Ray Skipper. Photo unknown.
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1960's - VAL SUMMERS Supermodified's
1960's - Photo: Dean Donovan.
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1967 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY ADD
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1968 - LEN BOWES Sidecar's
1968 - Len Bowes and Hayden Roberts Australian Sidecar Champions. Photo: National Speed Sport.
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1968 - NATIONAL SPEED SPORT REPORTED
1968 - John Moyle in the Orr Brothers Valiant on his way to an impressive win. Photo: unknown.
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1968 - AUSTRALASIAN SPEEDWAY WORLD REPORTED
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1970 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY AUSTRALIAN SUPER MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP March 1970The nights racing was advertised as the Australian Supermodified Championship. The event was run and won by Bill Wigzell from South Australia, followed by Phil Hereen, an unknown driver was third and Dick Britton fourth. It was not rare for promoters to advertise there own National Titles and run such events.
NASRA the association that currently runs open Sprintcars. now they were not around during this period of 1969 / 1970 but there records show that the Championship was held at Morisset Speedway in New South Wales and it was also won by Bill Wigzell from South Australia.
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Bill Wigzell - Suddenly 88 Oficial Group facebook Photo feature
1970 - 3rd unknown 2nd Phil Hereen 1st Bill Wigzell 4th Dick Britton. Photo and research Jenny Wigzell.
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 11 images)
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1970'S - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY AIRIAL PHOTO
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1971 - AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY NEWS REPORTED
AERIAL: view of Adelaide's Rowley Park Speedway with ace Promoter Kym Bonython (inset). The forthcoming season is Bonython's 22nd in charge of the Adelaide summer speedway.
Of the year last season last year he was a rookie but has come on like a bomb and is now working his way into the star ranks.
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1972 - AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY YEARBOOK MAGAZINE REPORTED
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A i r e y w i n s f o u r t h t i t l e
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1972 - NEIL MUNROE & ROD LANGE Sidecar's
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1972 - AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY NEWS MAGAZINE REPORTED
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1972 / 1973 - JOHN CROWHURST
Monaro's on Speedway facebook Photo feature
1972 / 1973 - John Crowhurst at Rowley Park Speedway. Photo: Wayne Glassborrow collection.
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1973 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY AUST MODIFIED SPRINTCAR CHAMPIONSHIP 19th February 1973
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1973 - TOM DILLON Speedway Promotor
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1973 - AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY NEWS REPORTED
March 1973
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1973 - TOM DILLON Speedway Promoter
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1974 > 1975 - JOHN FENTON WINS THE AUSTRALIAN SPEEDCAR TITLE
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1976 AUSTRALIAN SALOON CAR CHAMPIONSHIPRowley Park Speedway hosted the 1975 1976 Australian Saloon Car Championship on the 2nd of January 1976.
Grenville Anderson from New South Wales won the event, from Peter Timberlake out of Victoria, followed by David House from New South Wales, local driver Gary Reutier took out 4th.
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(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 6 images)
Rowley Park Speedway Pictorial feature
1976 - Grenville tells the Rowley crowd how he won the ASCF Australian Championship, it was reported he drove a faultless race to take the win from a field of 72 entries.
1976 - Gary Reuter in his immaculately prepared number 95 ROH Torana, Gary finished 4th in both the South Australian and the Australian championships, the first local driver home.
1976 - Northern Territory champion Barry Burns in his Datsun 180B SSS spins as Tasmanian champion Neville Harper passes on the high line.
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1976 - FRANK MIDGLEY REPORTED
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1976 - NEVILLE HARPER Production Car's
1976 - Neville Harper all the way from Tasmania. Photo: unknown.
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1979 - ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY 6th April 1979ROWLEY PARK SPEEDWAY CLOSESFriday the 6th of April 1979 saw the final meeting in the history of this f |