BUNBURY (WA)
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previous year www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/bunbury-blicks-raceway-1971.html
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1972 - BUNBURY SPEEDWAY CONSTRUCTION
With the closure of blicks raceway the Bunbury Car Club found itself without a racetrack,after considering many sites it was decided the new Bunbury speedway would be built at its present site on the North Boyanup Road.
Twenty two acres of swamp land was cleared and filled to obtain the five hundred and ten metre arena with banked spectator stands, permanent brick buildings including canteen's toilets, and admission boxes.
The initial plans were to build a day time speedway to service the local members and to host inter club racing. however its was soon a reality that with the leadership of President John Hudson and Bunbury's enaugral promoter Tom Dillon that this venue was going to rival any speedway in Australia.
In March of nineteen seventy two the lease was signed with the Bunbury Town Council and the clearing started, by May of ninteen seventy two Colin Resta and George Lane moved in the earth moving equipment from mainly Piacentini's,Catalano's,VB Nani's,Max Shepherd and Roman Kozerski, many other contractors made there equipment available, these machines were mainly operated by employees of the company's that volunteered many hours of work to the project, Those included Frank McCaul who worked for Alec Eller a cartage contractor in Bunbury, The initial plans were drawn up in the kitchen of George lane on a piece of three ply and shortley after George and Colin Resta marked out the track using a length of rope on a stick in the infield to make sure that both corners were identical.
The timber track fence and lighting was installed by many volunteers, the pit gates and latch systems that were built by Dan Kalpakoff was fitted.
Extensive lighting was erected throughout the spectator area,pits,carparks and around the race track, all twenty two acres was utilised with a large pit area and masive car parks,in the early years competitor numbers were so great that some racecars had to be pitted in the public parking area, also the public had to angle park both sides of the North Boyanup Road back to the airport and south past Lilydale Road, Centenary Road was also full, the machinary used was very modern for its time but would have been hard work on todays standard's,all these machines and operators would have to do their days work for the boss and then head of to the swamp to build a speedway.
Twenty two acres of swamp land was cleared and filled to obtain the five hundred and ten metre arena with banked spectator stands, permanent brick buildings including canteen's toilets, and admission boxes.
The initial plans were to build a day time speedway to service the local members and to host inter club racing. however its was soon a reality that with the leadership of President John Hudson and Bunbury's enaugral promoter Tom Dillon that this venue was going to rival any speedway in Australia.
In March of nineteen seventy two the lease was signed with the Bunbury Town Council and the clearing started, by May of ninteen seventy two Colin Resta and George Lane moved in the earth moving equipment from mainly Piacentini's,Catalano's,VB Nani's,Max Shepherd and Roman Kozerski, many other contractors made there equipment available, these machines were mainly operated by employees of the company's that volunteered many hours of work to the project, Those included Frank McCaul who worked for Alec Eller a cartage contractor in Bunbury, The initial plans were drawn up in the kitchen of George lane on a piece of three ply and shortley after George and Colin Resta marked out the track using a length of rope on a stick in the infield to make sure that both corners were identical.
The timber track fence and lighting was installed by many volunteers, the pit gates and latch systems that were built by Dan Kalpakoff was fitted.
Extensive lighting was erected throughout the spectator area,pits,carparks and around the race track, all twenty two acres was utilised with a large pit area and masive car parks,in the early years competitor numbers were so great that some racecars had to be pitted in the public parking area, also the public had to angle park both sides of the North Boyanup Road back to the airport and south past Lilydale Road, Centenary Road was also full, the machinary used was very modern for its time but would have been hard work on todays standard's,all these machines and operators would have to do their days work for the boss and then head of to the swamp to build a speedway.
1972 - BUNBURY SPEEDWAY CONSTRUCTION SLIDESHOW
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 74 images)
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Hi fellow Speedway nutter's please let us know if you or any of your friends or family members were a part of the construction of Bunbury Speedway way back in 1972, so we can update the list. cheers.
email: brianmoyle@live.com.au
Bunbury Car Club Speedway Construction Volunteer's
Baker VernBarr BillBickerton LloydBurke IvanCatalano BillCatalano JoeDillon TomDorsett NormFowler StanGardiner BradNannette HardingHarding RobertHilliger JohnHillman BrianHillman CliffHillman IanHills HaroldHudson JohnHudson SydKalpakoff DanKelderman Peter |
General ConstructionGeneral ConstructionGuarantorGeneral ConstructionEarthworksEarthworksSpeedway Manager & VisionaryGuarantorGuarantorElectrical ConstructionCateringGeneral ConstructionGeneral Construction & PhotographerGeneral ConstructionGeneral ConstructionGeneral ConstructionFencing ContractorBunbury Car Club PresidentGuarantorTrack Gates ConstructionVenue Fencing |
Kennedy BrianKozyrski RomanLane GeorgeLane Garnet SnrLee BrianLydiate BillMalatesta FrankManea Ernie DrManolas RossMcKenzie DickNani VinceNulsen GeorgePiacentini AlbertResta ColinStone RalphTripplet MerrickWallace TerryWheat Graeme |
General ConstructionGuarantorPlanning and EarthworksGeneral ConstructionGeneral ConstructionGeneral ConstructionGauarantorGuarantorGuarantorGuarantorGuarantorGuarantorEarthworksPlanning and EarthworksGuarantorGeneral ConstructionGuarantorGeneral Construction |
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Bunbury City Speedway: Mission Statement
To foster strong family value's within the youth of our chosen sport of Speedway Racing, To provide a safe venue and enviroment for our youth to skillfully learn the art of Driving Cars and Riding Bikes.
To provide program's within the club to attract people of all age groups, from toddlers through to retire's.
To conduct race meetings from Club based events Through to World Class International events
To work alongside other local community charity groups to assist them in there fund raising efforts.
To work with Local and State Government directly to promote the South West Region and the state of Western Australia as a Motorsport tourist destination.
To work with the West Australian Speedway Commission and the Department of Sport and Recreation to embrace the Governance required to run the venue in the safest manner possible.
To make the venue available to the Department of Corrections for there prisoner day release teams to work around the venue, thus building there skill levels for when they are released.
To give Business Australia Wide the platform to promote there products and services to the wider community by way of our media network.
To Research, Gather, and make the History of the club available to our Members, Local and State Government departments as well as media outlets to promote motorsport activities within Bunbury.
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BUNBURY CAR CLUB COMMITTEE
1955 > 19561955 > 19561955 > 1956 |
PresidentSecretaryTreasurer |
Jack Gardiner?? |
*** |
1956 > 19571956 > 19571956 > 1957 |
PresidentSecretaryTreasurer |
JA (Pop) Hudson?? |
Jack Gardiner** |
1957 > 19581957 > 19581957 > 19581958 > 19591959 > 19601960 > 19611961 > 19621962 > 19631963 > 19641964 > 19651965 > 19661966 > 19671967 > 19681968 > 19691969 > 19701970 > 19711971 > 19721972 > 19731972 > 19731972 > 19731972 > 19731972 > 19731972 > 19731972 > 19731973 > 19741974 > 19751975 > 19761975 > 19761975 > 19761975 > 19761975 > 19761975 > 19761975 > 19761976 > 19771977 > 19781978 > 19791979 > 19801980 > 19811981 > 19821981 > 19821981 > 19821981 > 19821981 > 19821981 > 19821981 > 19821981 > 19821981 > 19821982 > 19831982 > 19831982 > 19831982 > 19831982 > 19831982 > 19831982 > 19831982 > 19831982 > 19831983 > 19841984 > 19851985 > 19861986 > 19871987 > 19881988 > 19891989 > 19901990 > 19911991 > 19921992 > 19931993 > 19941994 > 19951995 > 19961996 > 19971997 > 19981998 > 19991999 > 20002000 > 20012000 > 20012000 > 20012000 > 20012000 > 20012000 > 20012000 > 20012000 > 20012000 > 20012001 > 20022001 > 20022001 > 20022001 > 20022001 > 20022001 > 20022001 > 20022001 > 20022001 > 20022002 > 20032003 > 20042004 > 20052005 > 20062006 > 20072007 > 20082008 > 20092009 > 20102010 > 20112011 > 20122012 > 20132013 > 20142014 > 20152015 > 20162016 > 20172017 > 2018 |
PresidentSecretaryTreasurerPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentSecretaryTreasurerSocial DirectorTrophy OfficerPublic RelationsManagerPresidentPresidentPresidentVice PresidenSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Member2nd MemberPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Member2nd MemberPatronVice PatronPresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Member2nd MemberPatronVice PatronPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Menber2nd MemberPatronVice PatronPresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Member2nd MemberPatronVice PatronPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentPresident |
Jack GardinerJA (Pop) HudsonJohn CyckleVern KarlsenJim WilsonJim WilsonJim WilsonJim WilsonJim WilsonBill BruceBrian KennedyJohn HudsonJohn HudsonGeorge LaneLaurie KerrisonSteve AlmondSteve AlmondSteve AlmondHarold ThomasHarry TurnorBrian KennedyMorris JohnsonLloyd BickertonTom DillonMerrick TriplettMerrick TriplettHarold ThomasDarrel ThomsonMerrick TriplettBarry Dillon? Poss Manager. Allan BlakeChris BilsbyIan HillmanIan HillmanGeorge HarperGeorge HarperBrian LeeBrian LeeBrian Lee?Nola Whitehead??????Brian LeeDarryl ThomsonNola WhiteheadJean LeeGraham BrownAllan BlakeMax Dunstan**Brian LeeBrian LeeJohn WilliamsGrahame HeronJohn KennettIvan BurkeTerry WoodBill GiffordTerry WoodTerry WoodAllan BlakeAllan BlakeAllan BlakeAllan BlakeAllan BlakePhil RosePhil RoseBrian MoyleKim BeardMargaret PadmoreNeil CramMax DunstonTony RutherfordKim WilliamsTerry HudsonGraham WheatBrian MoyleKim BeardMargaret PadmoreNeil Cram???Terry HudsonGraham WheatD WhiteD WhitePeter NewmanPhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil RosePhil Rose |
*****************John Hudson****************************************Ivan BurkeBrian LeeMike JefferyBrian Moyle***Brian Moyle*********Mel BussonBrian Lee******Kim Beard*********Peter Newman***********
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** |
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2018 > 2019 |
PresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Member2nd MemberPatronVice Patron |
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2019 > 2020 |
PresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Member2nd MemberPatronVice Patron |
Barry HunterPhil RoseBron KeownLeeanne EvansMorgan MelvinJohn Mac?Ron KrikkeJohn Krikke |
Phil Rose******** |
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2020 > 2021 |
PresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Member2nd MemberPatronVice Patron |
Kade HelmsPhil RoseBron KeownLeeanne EvansMorgan MelvinJeff RodgersKim BeardBrian LeeBrian Moyle |
*****Cody Briggs*** |
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2021 > 2022 |
PresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Member2nd MemberPatronVice Patron |
Kade HelmsKim BeardBron KeownLeeanne Gardiner ne EvansMorgan MelvinKyle BeardCody BriggsBrian LeeBrian Moyle |
******Colin Metcalfe** |
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2022 > 2023 |
PresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerRace Organiser1st Member2nd MemberPatronVice Patron |
Kade HelmsKim BeardRose NovelLeeanne GardinerLara FranceKyle BeardColin MetcalfeBrian LeeBrian Moyle |
Kim BeardBrian Lee"*Brian Moyle**** |
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BUNBURY CAR CLUB LIFE MEMBERS
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Bill BruceCliff HillmanClaude LindsayIan HillmanBrian LeeJean LeeNoleen WheatMax DunstanLeeanne EvansBrian MoyleColin Piacentini |
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POP HUDSON (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
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1966 - SYD HUDSON (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
Syd Hudson is presented with life membership to the Bunbury Car Club from Brian Kennedy while Syd's wife Edna joins him. Photo: Brian Moyle collection.
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BILL BRUCE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
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JIM WILSON (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
1960's - Jim Wilson flat out at the opening meeting at Blunders back before they added roll bars. Photo: Brian Moyle.
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1968 > 1971 - COLIN RESTA (Life Member Bunbury Car Club)
Roo Dog as we know him first raced at Paddys Blunders in the sixtee's in a 1939 Ford V8 ute, he was actively involved in the construction of Blicks Raceway were he raced a 1948 Vangaurd hot rod with a mid mounted Ford V8 engine and also a supermodified.
Colin in the number 4 blue Vangaurd became an icon for hot rod racing at many southwest tracks during the late sixtee's, with the opening of the new Collie track and Bunbury Speedway Colin built a new supermodified that was V8 powered.
In 1975 1976 Colin purchased his new Supermodified and began to match it with the Claremont super stars of the day at Bunbury, with the Ford 302 fuel injected Winsor Colin would take on the likes of Martin Laughton, Ray Geneve and Alf Barbagallo.
As a member of the Bunbury Car Club colin has been envolved in many roles within the club, Colins life time devotion to his job at Piacentini's has enabled him to use the equipment available at the massive earthmoving company for the benefit of the club.
On many occasions Colin has had to step from the grader into his race car and compete, Colin was awarded life membership to the Bunbury Car Club in ??????
The year is 2012 and Colin Resta is still maintaining and improving the Bunbury venue along with Murray Hanson and Colin Francis.
Colin Resta at Blunders in the Ford V8 mud scramble
Colin's mid mounted V8 Vangaurd at Blicks RacewayBUNBURY SPEEDWAY REUNIONAt a recent Bunbury Car Club Reunion Colin pulled his sprinter out of the shed and brought it along for the display.
Supermodified Sprintcar mates Neville Bornaticie Limited - Errol Moore Supermod - Ray Geneve legend - Roo Dog himself - John Krikke - Eddy Gobby sprintcar champions. |
Colin & Joyce Resta in the 60's at a speedway function
This Ford 302 injected supermodified arrived just in time for the opening of the new Bunbury Speedway, This car gave Colin to take it up to the Perth drivers that raced at Bunbury.
Colin later brought a sprintcar of Ernie Reading with the plans of Limited Sprintcar racing, The problem was the new rules banning fuel injection saw Colin withdraw from the sport and push the car to the back of the shed, were it still is today. |
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CLIFF HILLMAN (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
Cliff Hillman is awarded life membership to the Bunbury Car Club by Brian Kennedy. Photo: Brian Moyle collection.
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ALBERT PIACENTINI (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
Albert Piacentini was 16 years old when he arrived in Fremantle from Italy in 1936. By 1944 he was running his own timber mill in Dardanup and in 1949 was allocated a Cat D6 bulldozer on the condition he commit to clearing post World War 2 soldier settlement land grants in the Margaret River area.
Alberts involvment in the mineral sands industry began when he started doing odd jobs for Western Titanium, Cable Sands and Westralian Sands. By 1969 when Alberts son Colin joined the company, they branched out, buying more and bigger equipment such as Scrapers, Dozers, Loaders and Trucks.
In 1972 when Bunbury Speedway was built Albert was one of the first contractors to step up, loaning equipment and providing many tons of sand and gravel to turn this waste land into a speedway that would rival the best in Australia. Hour after Hour Alberts trucks would cart in the material's, while the Bulldozers and Scrapers would form and shape this 1/4 mile dirt oval speedway, that just seemed to rise out of the swamp.
Without Albert involvement in this venture that we all take for granted now, it may not have even gone ahead, All the sundry areas on the 20 acre lot such as the Pits and the Car Parks all were the result of Alberts commitment. The Club was faced with a problem when the track was fished, it had no money, but felt the need to reward Albert and his family, Prior to the Speedways opening night the club painted the families name on the freshly painted white railway sleeper fence in big black letter. Piacentini Corner. not long after Albert was awarded life membership to the Bunbury Car Club.
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JOE CATALANO (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
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1975 - CLAUDE "Pop" LINDSAY (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
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1975 - MERRICK TRIPLETT (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
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Like many Bunbury Speedway drivers Merrick's or Mick as most know him race career started at Blicks Raceway, Mick's only season at Blicks saw him race a FJ Holden stockie and went on to win the top points for the season.
Mick then built a falcon to compete in division two saloons at the new Collie Speedway, The following year Bunbury Speedway opened and Mick graduated to a Ford V8 Fairlane in division 1.
The heavy Fairlane was not very successful and the next season Mick built the first XA Falcon hardtop to race speedway in Australia, he raced the car at Bunbury with some success but after a tour of Victoria and Tasmania the car was onsold.
Without a doubt Micks most successful period in racing came when he built the Datsun 1600, The Gollan Motors Nissan gave Mick the ability to get back on the podium and win feature events.
Around this time a very knowledgable man by the name of Kim Abbott appeared on the Bunbury Speedway scene, Kim had a Datsun 260Z he had previously rallied, He offered the car to Mick and they built a speedway car.
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1975 - Mick Tripplett is awarded life membership to the Bunbury Car Club, Trophy girl Cynthia Blake presents Mick with his prize, with Bunbury Speedway manager Allan Blake in the backround. |
Unfortunately the car was written off in 1975 after showing so much potential and Mick retired from racing with injury problems.
Mick Triplett had been actively envolved in the administration of the Bunbury Car Club, he served as President, Treasurer and Publicity officer and was part of the Bunbury Speedway construction Team.
In June of 1975 Merrick Triplett was awarded life membership to the Bunbury Car Club.
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1975 - HAROLD THOMAS (Bunbury Car Club Life Mrmber)
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Harold Thomas is presented with Life Membership to the Bunbury Car Club by Colin Resta.
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1975 - IAN HILLMAN (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)
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Ian first joined the Bunbury Car Club in 1963 when he was racing a MGA sports car on the black track at Caversham and on the Bunbury street circuit, later Ian retired from road racing to concentrate on hot rod racing at Blicks Raceway.
Ian raced the 1965 - 1966 season and went on to be |