BEECHWORTH (VIC)
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1968 - BEECHWORTH MOTOR CLUB
The Beechworth Motor Club was formed in 1968 and held its first meeting of September of 1970, The track was originally built in a disused Gold Mine quarry along "Madmans Gully" which was not entirely inacurrate and later changed to "Silver Creek"
The inaugural President was Ian Downs.
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1970 - BEECHWORTH TRACK
Established in 1970 and opening in September of 1970 the large long circuit track featured left and right hand turns as well as a hairpin and was as many tracks were in the day, had a natural gravel surface coated with sump oil that meant the track was comparatively low maintainance and very little dust.
Aussie Speedway Memories Photo feature
Wagga driver Brad Stevens car 58 roars past another competitor while on his way to a lap record at the new Beechworth Stockcar track on Sunday.
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1970 - VICTORIAN COUNTRY HOT ROD CHAMPIONSHIP
Beechworth's big annual event was called the "Victorian Country Hot Rod Championships" In reality it attracted mainly drivers from the Ovens and Murray area as well as Southern NSW, Competitors came from Junnee, Lockart and Wagga, as well as locals from Beechworth, Wangaratta, Albury, Mt Beauty and Murtleford.
(Editorial Ray Reid)
Re-search: Christopher Mann
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1972 - BEECHWORTH TRACK
By 1972 it was estimated that over 16,000 gallons of sump oil had been used on the track, By the mid 1970's the use of waste oil on the tracks surface had com to the notice of the Victorian Enviromental Protection Authority.
(Editorial Ray Reid)
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1976 - BEECHWORTH TRACK
In 1976, The E.P.A told Beechworth, Wangaratta and other clubs not to use oil on there tracks or face a fine of not less than $2,000.00. The problem was the oil was leeching into Silver Creek which ran into Beechworth's Lake Sambell and so the track closed.
The actual closing of Beechworth is unknown.
(Editorial Ray Reid)
Bob Haynes in the Auto Power Tune FX Holden, the S prefix for Shepparton on the car dates the photo to prior to the formation of the Golburn Valley Auto Club. Photo: Ray Reid collection.
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2019 - BEECHWORTH TRACK Walkabout.
Today the Beechworth track has totally vanished, the once quarry has been filled in and returned to grazing land, The site is now privately owned.