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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1975 / 1976 - BARRY BUTTERWORTH. Speedcar's.
Historic NZ Midgets, TQ's and Sprintcars facebook photo feature.
1975 / 1976 - Barry Butterworth in the Max Butterworth car leads Australia 1 John Fenton at Western Springs Speedway. Photo: KayEd Timmins collection.
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1975 / 1976 - JOHN FENTON. Speedcar's.
Western Springs Speedway History facebook photo feature
