AUCKLAND (NZ)
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1926 - WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY
In about 1926 two men in Jack Kay and AJ Roycroft got together with the idea of building a speedway on wastelands at Western Springs, these two men travel abroad to resarch speedways allready in operation, upon returning a proposal was put to residents and council to build the venue.
Work commenced in 1927, The stadium was built as a relief project as was the Chamberlain Golf Course and the Waterfront Reclaimation. some volunteers including residents and council workers all assisted, the speedway was built and ready for racing in November of 1929.
The first speedway meeting was held on the 30th of December 1929, the racing was in the form of motorcycle racing only around the quarter mile circuit.
Western Springs Speedway History facebook Photo feature
1929 - Western Springs Speedway fly over. Photo: Mazz Davies - Colley collection.
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1937 - MIDGET RACING
New Zealands first ever midget race meeting was held at Western Springs Speedway on Christmas day of 1937, American midget identity Roscoe Turner brought 5 Americans and there cars including Duane Carter, Paul Swedberg, Beale Simmons, Einar Lindskog and Vince Podurgiel, the rest of the field was made up of two Australians in George Beavis and Archie Tuckett and 2 locals.
Among the spectators was a young mechanic from Christchurch that took up racing after attending the speedway that day, That young mans name was Frank Brewer.
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1938 / 1939 - WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY.
1938 > 1939 - left to right: Arthur Wylie, Roy Richter USA, Ken Wylie and Lindskog USA. Photo: unknown.
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YEAR UNKNOWN - FRANK "SATAN" BREWER. Midget's.
Year unknown - A unknown man sits in Frank Satan Brewer's car, the number 99 Speedcar outside of the Brewer's house. Photo: Graham Davies collection.
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1967 > 1968 - WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY. WORLD 30 LAP Midget Championship.
Historic NZ Midgets, TQ's and Sprintcars facebook Photo feature.
1967 > 1968 - 1st Bill Goode 2nd Brian Tracey 3rd Trevor Carnell with a very young Ted Tracey holding his dads helmet after the World 30 lap Midget Championship. Photo: Gordon McIsaac collection.
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1968 > 1969 WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY Meeting number 10 |
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1969 > 1970 WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY Meeting number 18 |
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1970 - IVAN MAUGER. Solo's.
Aussie Speedway Scrapbook facebook photo feature
1970 - Ivan Mauger in full flight around Western Springs. Photo Nicholas Colleran collection.
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Year Unknown - WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY. Midget's.
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1975 - WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY. Midget feature. 23rd February 1975. |
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Western Springs Speedway History facebook Photo feature
23rd February 1975 - USA Hot Shot Midget driver Mike Ryan from San Jose at Western Springs Speedway. Photographer: Jim Abreu.
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1975 - WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY. World 30 lap Derby. 8th May 1975.Mel Kenyon winsVisiting USA Midget racer Mel Kenyon has won this years World 30 lap Derby at Western Springs Springs, Kenyon crossed the finish line in front of Barry Pinchbeck in second and AJ Foyt in third.
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1979 - WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY. 22nd December 1979. |
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Vintage Speedway Programmes Australia facebook Pictorial feature
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 37 images)
(Programme Research: Brad Mitchell)
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1979 - WESTERN SPRINGS SPEEDWAY. Inter-Nation Midget Car Team Series. 29th December 1979.New Zealand Speedway team defeats USA & AustraliaSome of the worlds best midget driver's were here in action tonight at Western Springs for the running of the Inter-Nation Midget Car Team Series.
Representing the United States of America were Mel Kenyon, Rich Vogler and Sleepy Tripp. From Australia were Ron Wanless, Gary Rush and John Fenton. Whilst our New Zealand team consisted of Barry Butterworth, Ted Tracey and Owen Shaw.
The five International races were won by Tripp, Vogler, Tracey and Butterworth x 2. The final point score was New Zealand 94, USA 76 and Australia just 23 points after
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some of the cars had mechanical problems all night. Vogler would also go on to win the 20 lap Midget feature event, from Tripp and the local driver, Warwick McKenzie.
Western Springs Speedway History facebook photo feature
29th December 1979 - Ted Tracey leads John Fenton in the Australia 1 Volkswagan at Western Springs. Photo: Phillip Cheer.
Historic NZ Midgets, TQ's and Sprintcars facebook photo feature.
