BRISBANE (QLD)
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1917 - BRISBANE COURIER REPORTED.
A letter from the Districts Land Office WHS read at the meeting of the Coorparoo Shire Council last evening stating that the Coorparoo Progress Association, in its desire for land at Coorparoo for the purpose of a showground, had suggested that the department might resume eight or ten acres of Harris Paddock, The Land Office asked that a valuation of the land be supplied, and the clerk (Mr J Thomson) intimated that the required information had all ready been secured.
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1926 - COORPAROO RACECOURSE SPEEDWAY.
In 1926 Speedway motorcycle grass track racing was introduced to the Coorparoo Showgrounds, After the initial grass track racing 0f 1926 a 480 metre dirt oval track was laid and the sport of motorcycle speedway was booming, The first promoter at the new track was AJ Hunting, This was only short lived as the sport of speedway was cast aside so that the arena could be prepared for test cricket matches in 1928.
Ekka Speedway Glory Days facebook Photo feature
1926 circa - Coorparoo Showgrounds. Photo: Tony Marshall collection.
1928 -
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1932 - COORPAROO SHOWGROUNDS SPEEDWAY.
Speedway returned to the venue in 1932 and the public was flocking back to the venue,but once again because of outside factors the speedway closed.
The problem was world war two had broken out and all forms of motorsport ground to a halt, The oval itself like many others across Australia was taken over by the military to house and train troops.
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1946 - COORPAROO SHOWGROUNDS.
With the ending of the second world war the grounds reopened as a speedway in March of 1946.
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1946 - RAY REVELL. Speedcar's.
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1947 - COORPAROO SHOWGROUNDS.
Australian Looking at Times Past facebook Photo feature
1947 - Midget Speedcar racing at the Coorparoo Showgrounds with Terry Mulline (left) and Al McCoy (right) with Fred Barker at the rear. Photo: Peter Latts collection.
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1948 - COORPAROO SHOWGROUNDS.
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RNA SHOWGROUNDS SPEEDWAY.
The venue went through another name change to the RNA Showgrounds.
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BRISBANE EXHIBITION SHOWGROUNDS SPEEDWAY.
A further name change to the Brisbane Exhibition Speedway
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1949 - RON STRONG. Speedcar's.
1949 - Ron Strong in the A model Ford powered car at the Exhibition Grounds Speedway. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
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1950 - BRISBANE EXHIBITION SHOWGROUNDS SPEEDWAY.
Research Allan Baker - Published: 27th January 1950
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1953 - BRISBANE TELEGRAPH NEWSPAPER REPORTED.
David NicholsonNicholson was born at Mikimiki a suburb of Masterton on the North Island of New Zealand, He arrived in Australia in 1926 as a touring profecianal cycling representative and a motor cycle stunt rider.
Nicholson took up speedway racing at Maroubra and Penrith in New South Wales in 1933, He became the first person in Australia to ride the wall of death.
Nicholson entered the Queensland political system in 1950 and served as the 23rd speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly until May of 1972, He was knighted as a Knight Bachelor in 1972, He passed in 1997.
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1953 |
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1961 - JOHN HARVEY. Speedcar's.
1961 - John Harvey Speedcar champ wins the 1961 Speedcar Grand Prix. Pre racing in the Ekka pits. Photo: Gordon Hogarth.
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1962 - Winner of the 1962 / 1963 Queensland Speedcar Championship Kev Jefferson in the Mulcahy Bros Repco Holden Speedcar. Photo: unknown.
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1963 - BRISBANE EXHIBITION SPEEDWAY. Speedcars.
Ekka Speedway Glory Days facebook Photo feature
1963 - Roy Didlock in the [4] cars spins while Bill Roberts in the [19] heads high. Looks like Bill Goode in the [5] got the best deal. Photographer: Gordon Hogarth.
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1963 - KEV JEFFERSON Speedcar's
Kev Jefferson passed away in North Brisbane General Hospital on Monday the 13th of May 1963, after an accident at the Brisbane Exhibition Speedway on the previous Saturday night, the 11th of May 1963.
Jefferson suffered a fractured scull, as well as a broken arm and leg in the accident, when during the running of the second handicap heat, Jefferson collided with Brian Finglas and flipped onto the safety fence.
1963 - Kev Jefferson in the Mulcahy Bros Repco Holden Q60 prior to his passing in North Brisbane General Hospital two days after his accident at the Brisbane Exhibition track. Photo: unknown.
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Vintage Speedway Programmes Australia facebook Pictorial feature
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 14 images)
(Programme Research: Brad Mitchell)
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1964 - BRISBANE EXHIBITION SPEEDWAY. Supermodified's
Racing Back in the Day facebook Photo feature
1964 - Marshall Sargent from the USA and Keith "The Count" Blicharski in battle at the Exhibition Speedway. Photographer: unknown. Photo: John Harriss collection.
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1965 - RAY SHARPE Solo's
1965 - Ray Sharpe would loose his life on the track at the Exhibition Speedway in September of 1965. Photo: unknown.
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1965 - Marshall Sargent pictured here with his South Aussie mate Ray Skipper. Photographer: unknown.
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1965 - BRISBANE EXHIBITION SHOWGROUND SPEEDWAY AUSTRALIAN 50 Lap HOT ROD DERBY 6th March 1965 |
1965 - Marshall Sargent's Hi - Tec monster of a racecar from the states. Photographer: unknown.
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1965 - BRISBANE EXHIBITION SHOWGROUND SPEEDWAY AUSTRALIAN 30 Lap SPEEDCAR CHAMPIONSHIP 20th March 1965 |