BENDIGO (VIC)
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1950's - MARONG RD HOT ROD TRACK
Marong Road Hot Rod track and later Speedway was built in an old gold mining site West of Bendigo, It was reported as Bendigo's first and best remembered circuit, It was started in the 1950's probably by Mr J McCusky and ran on and off for several years.
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1966 - MARONG RD HOT ROD TRACK
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1977 - MARONG RD SPEEDWAY
Peter Sheehan, then President of the Bendigo Speedway Club (G.C.S.D.A) took over the track, upgrading the tracks dirt banks to a wooden safety fence built out of old railway sleepers, and holding there debut meeting on the 23rd of January 1977, Peter was assisted in his efforts by Ken Gordon, Harold Holt and Malcolm Pendlebury,
This opening meeting offering Trophies and prizemoney of $1,000 catered for all classes of saloon's including C Class, plus the Open Wheeler classes of Hot Rods, Sprint Cars and Mini Modifieds.
Ron Bergmeier 16 and Ron Williams 151 at the Marong Road track.
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Unfortunately later meetings at the track drew little support except for local drivers and some drivers from the North East, The paying public were more drawn to the new speedway under lights at the Bendigo Showgrounds, It lasted about two years before finally closing due to environmental issues in around 79-80.
The environmental problem was because of the previous Gold Mining in the area there was a large presence of arsenic in the area, a product used in Gold Mining.
Research and Editorial Ray Reid
Photo's H Lummis
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Ivan Coyle 187 leads Ray Connolly 5 and John Hazeldene
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2009 - MARONG RD HOT ROD TRACK LOCATION
The Red Calcine sands, former Speedway site is located approximatly 3.5km to the west of the Bendigo Town Hall and is generally bounded by Marong Road to the North, Specimen Hill Channel to the East, Specimen Hill Channel to the South, The site is Crown land and described as Parcel Number P 128037.
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 3 images)
Herb Lummis recalls: the old speedway site is seriously polluted with arsenic as a result of the Gold mining and that the local council has erected a very solid steel mesh fence around the site, and threatens heavy fines to anyone breaching it.