BUNBURY SPEEDWAY

BUNBURY (WA)

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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.

1972 - BUNBURY SPEEDWAY CONSTRUCTION SLIDESHOW

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Bunbury Car Club Speedway Construction Volunteer's

Baker Vern

Barr Bill

Catalano Bill

Catalano Joe

Dillon Tom

Gardiner Brad

Harding Robert

Hilliger John

Hillman Brian

Hillman Cliff

Hillman Ian

Hudson John

Kalpakoff Dan

General Construction

Earthworks

Speedway Manager & Visionary

Electrical Construction

General Construction

General Construction & Photographer

General Construction

Bunbury Car Club President

Track Gates Construction

Kennedy Brian

Lane George

Lane Garnet Snr

Lee Brian

Lydiate Bill

Piacentini Albert

Resta Colin

Tripplet Merrick

Wheat Graeme

General Construction

Planning and Earthworks

General Construction

Earthworks

Planning and Earthworks

General Construction

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BUNBURY CAR CLUB COMMITTEE

1955 > 1956

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Race Organiser

Jack Gardiner

?

*

1956 > 1957

President

Pop Hudson

*

1957 > 1958

1958 > 1959

1959 > 1960

1960 > 1961

1961 > 1962

1962 > 1963

1963 > 1964

1964 > 1965

1965 > 1966

1966 > 1967

1967 > 1968

1968 > 1969

1969 > 1970

1970 > 1971

1971 > 1972

1972 > 1973

1973 > 1974

1974 > 1975

1975 > 1976

1976 > 1977

1977 > 1978

1978 > 1979

1979 > 1980

1980 > 1981

1981 > 1982

1982 > 1983

1983 > 1984

1984 > 1985

1985 > 1986

1986 > 1987

1987 > 1988

1988 > 1989

1989 > 1990

1990 > 1991

1991 > 1992

1992 > 1993

1993 > 1994

1994 > 1995

1995 > 1996

1996 > 1997

1997 > 1998

1998 > 1999

1999 > 2000

2000 > 2001

2001 > 2002

2002 > 2003

2003 > 2004

2004 > 2005

2005 > 2006

2006 > 2007

2007 > 2008

2008 > 2009

2009 > 2010

2010 > 2011

2011 > 2012

2012 > 2013

2013 > 2014

2014 > 2015

2015 > 2016

2016 > 2017

2017 > 2018

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Race Organiser

1st Member

2nd Member

Patron

Vice Patron

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Race Organiser

1st Member

2nd Member

Patron

Vice Patron

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Race Organiser

1st Menber

2nd Member

Patron

Vice Patron

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Race Organiser

1st Member

2nd Member

Patron

Vice Patron

President

Pop Hudson

Vern Karlsen

Jim Wilson

Bill Bruce

Brian Kennedy

John Hudson

George Lane

Laurie Kerrison

Steve Almond

Merrick Triplett

Harold Thomas

Ian Hillman

George Harper

Brian Lee

?

Nola Whitehead

?

Brian Lee

Darryl Thomson

Nola Whitehead

Jean Lee

Graham Brown

Allan Blake

Max Dunston

*

Brian Lee

John Williams

Grahame Heron

John Kennett

Ivan Burke

Terry Wood

Bill Gifford

Terry Wood

Allan Blake

Phil Rose

Brian Moyle

Kim Beard

Margaret Padmore

Neil Cram

?

Terry Hudson

Graham Wheat

Brian Moyle

Kim Beard

Margaret Padmore

Neil Cram

?

Terry Hudson

Graham Wheat

D White

Peter Newman

Phil Rose

Jack Gardiner

*

John Hudson

*

Ivan Burke

Brian Lee

Mike Jeffery

Brian Moyle

*

Brian Moyle

*

Kim Beard

*

Peter Newman

*

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2018 > 2019

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Race Organiser

1st Member

2nd Member

Patron

Vice Patron

Barry Hunter

*

Phil Rose

*

Leeanne Evans

Lindy Kenyon

Neil Frazer

Kyle Beard

Bron Keown

Ron Krikke

John Krikke

*

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2019 > 2020

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Race Organiser

1st Member

2nd Member

Patron

Vice Patron

Barry Hunter

Phil Rose

Bron Keown

Leeanne Evans

Morgan Melvin

John Mac

?

Ron Krikke

John Krikke

Phil Rose

*

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2020 > 2021

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Race Organiser

1st Member

2nd Member

Patron

Vice Patron

Kade Helms

Phil Rose

Bron Keown

Leeanne Evans

Morgan Melvin

Jeff Rodgers

Kim Beard

Brian Lee

Brian Moyle

*

Coddy Briggs

*

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2021 > 2022

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Race Organiser

1st Member

2nd Member

Patron

Vice Patron

Kade Helms

Kim Beard

Bron Keo

Leeanne Gardiner ne Evans

Morgan Melvin

Kyle Beard

Cody Briggs

Brian Lee

Brian Moyle

*

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BUNBURY CAR CLUB LIFE MEMBERS

Pop Hudson

Jim Wilson

Albert Piacentini

Merrick Triplett

Brad Gairdner

Terry Hudson

Darrel Thomson

Mike Jefferies

Phil Rose

Murray Hanson

Ron Krikke

Syd Hudson

Colin Resta

Joe Catalano

Harold Thomas

Graham Wheat

Allan Blake

Ivan Burke

Nola Whitehead

Don Crombie

Kim Beard

John Krikke

Bill Bruce

Cliff Hillman

Claude Lindsay

Ian Hillman

Brian Lee

Jean Lee

Noleen Wheat

Max Dunston

Leeanne Evans

Brian Moyle

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POP HUDSON (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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SYD HUDSON (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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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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1975 - 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 Raceway

BUNBURY SPEEDWAY REUNION

At 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)

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ALBERT PIACENTINI (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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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)

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.

Unfortunately the car was written off in 1975 after showing so much potential and Mick retired from racing with injury problems.

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.

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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HAROLD THOMAS (Bunbury Car Club Life Mrmber)

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1975 - IAN HILLMAN (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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 become club champion, the following season ian built a Pontiac powered super modified however the car never lived up to expectations and Ian retired from racing.

With the construction of Bunbury Speedway Ian was givern the job of organising the installation of the lighting.

In recognition of his dedication and service Ian was awarded life membership to the Bunbury Car Club.

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BRAD GARDINER (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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GRAHAM WHEAT (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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BRIAN LEE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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2002 - TERRY HUDSON (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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ALLAN BLAKE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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JEAN LEE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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DARREL THOMSON (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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IVAN BURKE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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NOLEEN WHEAT (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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MIKE JEFFERIES (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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NOLA WHITEHEAD (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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MAX DUNSTON (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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PHIL ROSE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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DON CROMBIE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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LEEANE EVANS (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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MURRAY HANSON (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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KIM BEARD (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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2018 - BRIAN MOYLE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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2021 - RON KRIKKE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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2021 - JOHN KRIKKE (Bunbury Car Club Life Member)

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1979 - PRE SEASON:SOUTH WEST TIMES REPORTED

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1990 - BUNBURY CAR CLUB 35 YEAR CELEBRATION

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2010 - BUNBURY SPEEDWAY LOCATION

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BUNBURY CAR CLUB WEBSITE: www.bunburycarclub.com.au

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