BUNBURY (WA)
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1966 - BLICKS RACEWAY
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1966 - RAY READ
Ray Read arrived in Bunbury in 1966 as a bright eyed and bushy tailed 22 year old clerk with the (PMG) Post Master General
Having an interest in Speedway, or Hot Rod racing as it was then known, Ray had been a regular spectator at Claremont, Forrestfield and Wattle Grove, He had some microphone experience from the Glideaway Roller Scating Rink in Perth, where he had been an instructor and floor manager, so when the opportunity came to relieve Brian Kennedy of the commentating duties at Blicks raceway he was glad to oblige.
Ray became the regular commentator for the Bunbury Car Club for a period of about two years, during this time he also started a weekly radio show on 6TZ-CI about speedway, and this developed a great following and generated much interest in the sport.
He became good friends with Norm Bain, then the breakfast announcer, and through Norms efforts, also managed to get the station manager interested in racing, this effort was not altogether successful as it was his first race, he was hit in the mouth with a rock and suffered quite a serious split lip, he did not go on air for a while.
(Editorial Brian Lee)
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1966 - SOUTH WEST TIMES NEWSPAPER REPORTED
October 1966 |
1966 - Photo's Brian Kennedy collection. |
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Garnett Lane recalls: At the time I was racing a cut down Humber Super Snipe that I paid 15 quid for (cut down with an axe that is) I won a few races over the years and won top points for the season 3 times, part of the reason was once I had the big Humber sideways across the track the others found it a bit hard to pass.
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Ray Read recalls: "At the invitation of Garnet Lane, I drove Garnet's car, a Humber Super Snipe, original chassis and no or very little body, straight 6 OHV engine, it went like all stink in a straight line but at the corners it would under steer seriously, usually straight into the fence, If you tried to throw it the long wheel base took over and you just spun out, usually straight into the fence "
Garnet the owner of the car had (kind of) mastered the art of rounding corners but I never did.
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1966 - BRIAN KENNEDY THE RACER
1966 - Brian Kennedy on a victory lap at Blicks raceway in his Ford V8 Hot Rod. Photo: Brian Kennedy collection.
Pat Kennedy recalls: when Brian did a victory lap he would stand on the seat waving and steer the car with his foot, the photo is the day he won me a gorgeous silver tray and a coffee set.
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1966 - SOUTH WEST TIMES NEWSPAPER REPORTED 1st December 1966
