CANBERRA (ACT)
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1971 - AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY NEWS MAGAZINE REPORTED
7th May 1971
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1971 - DAVE WIGNALL - PRODUCTION SEDAN
1971 - Once more Dave Wignall failed to take the chequered flag in the A grade feature, The time he was second to Howard Revelle. Photo: unknown.
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1971 - PETER PULFORD - PRODUCTION SEDAN
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1971 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE'S
30th October 1971
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13th November 1971
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1971 - 1972 AUSTRALIAN SEDAN CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
The first ever Australia Sedan Car Championship under the control of the Australian Saloon Car Federation was held at this venue for the 1971 1972 season and was won by Victoria's Kevin Dalton from Queensland's Alan Butcher and the home town racer David House.
Canberra & Southern NSW Speedway Hiistory facebook photo feature.
1971 - George Lodge in the number 3 Monaro Dave Bassett number 3 Volkswagon and Terry Richardson 41 Falcon. Photo: Mac Campbell.
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1971 - TERRY RICHARDSON - PRODUCTION SEDAN
1971 - One of the many Falcon GTHO Shakers that made there way onto the speedway, Terry Richardson at Tralee. Photo: Graham Daley collection.
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1971 - MAX KENNERLEY PRODUCTION SEDAN
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1971 - PETER TAUNTON PRODUCTION SEDANS
1971 - ACT driver Peter Taunton in the Mini is being monstered by Neville Harper from Tasmania in the HR Holden.
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1971 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE
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Patterson prangs at Tralee
Photo: Russ Voysey
The man they call the Hostile Hippie "Gary Patterson" has aggrevated an old back injury in a production sedan invition race at Tralee Speedway, Patterson who was driving a borrowed Mustang owned by Bruce Maxwell for the race drove the car into the track wall on the seventh lap, Although he was well strapped in he still managed to jar his spine, The car was dragged infield were Patterson was removed from the car by rescue staff and treated by Ambulance staff.
As a result of the accident Doctors warned Patterson against racing for two months or more, this led to the cancellation of the rest of Paterson's tour of Australia and New Zealand.
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1971 - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY PROGRAMME SLIDESHOW
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1971 - OLE OLSEN - SOLOS
Canberra & Southern NSW Speedway History facebook photo feature
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1971 - Photos: Michael Atwell collection.
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1972 - CANBERRA TIMES NEWSPAPER REPORTED
1st January 1972
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8th January 1972
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1972 - TRALEE EASTER 2000
Photo: Michael Doherty.
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1972 - DAVE WIGNALL - PRODUCTION SEDAN
Michael Doherty photo features
1972 - Dave Wignall in the 47 EH Holden leads USA driver Gene Welch in the Chevelle. Photo: Michael Doherty.
1972 - JOHN EDLINGTON - PRODUCTION SEDAN
1972 - DON BLEWITT - PRODUCTION SEDAN
1972 - HOWARD REVELL - PRODUCTION SEDAN
1972 - PHIL CANCILLIER - PRODUCTION SEDAN
1972 - VIC SYKES - PRODUCTION SEDAN
1972 - Tasmania's Donn Riley in the Falcon inside Vic Sykes HD Holden at Tralee Speedway. Photo: Michael Doherty.
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1972 - QUEENBEYAN AGE NEWSPAPER REPORTED
5th September 1972
8th September 1972
12th September 1972. West Australian Allan Blake runs the inside of Dave Wignall in the EH Holden.
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1972 - DAVE WIGNALL
1972 - Dave Wignall moved from the EH Holden into a very fast Holden Torana. Photo: unknown.
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1972 - SPEEDWAY RACING NEWS MAGAZINE REPORTED
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1973 - ROY OLIVE PRODUCTION SEDAN
Michael Doherty photo feature
1973 - The two Mini's from Ipswich Queensland in the pits, Roy Olive and Phil Jackson. Photo: Michael Doherty.
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1973 - ZEKE AGARS SUPERMODIFIED
Canberra & Southern NSW Speedway History facebook photo feature
1973 - Zeke Agars runs the inside line under Ian Sams at Tralee Speedway. Photo: Michael Doherty collection.
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1973 - TRALEE NATIONAL SPEEDWAY MONTHLY MAGAZINE
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1973 - TRALEE NATIONAL SPEEDWAY PROGRAMME SLIDESHOW
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1974 - QUEENBEYAN AGE NEWSPAPER REPORTED
1974 - WA's Allan Nylander and Australia 1 Dave Wignal lead John Hudson and Peter Brady both from WA, also in the field barry Blake, Bob Rawlings, David House and Peter Tunton. Photo: Barry Blake collection.
16th January 1974
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1974 - AUSTRALIAN MODIFIED SPRINTCAR CHAMPIONSHIP 1st & 2nd February 1974On the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of February 1974 Tralee hosted the Australian Modified Sprintcar tital with the win going to Jim Winterbottom from Les Harrower and Ron Smith.
This would be the last time a Supermodified would win the Australian Championship.
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1974 - Australian Champion Jim Winterbottom in the older style number 41 modified rod. Photo: unknown.
1974 - USA Modified Sprintcar driver Larry Burton competes at Canberra in the 1974 - 1975 Australian Championship.
1974 - AUSTRALIAN MODIFIED SPRINTCAR CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAMME
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 20 images)
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1974 - CANBERRA TIMES NEWPAPER REPORTED
The name of Tralee Speedway has been changed to Frazer Park Raceway to coincide with the conversion of the circuit from dirt to a Asphalt pavement surface, Asphalt racing will begin on the 31st of March.
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1974 - TRALEE GOES BLACK TRACK
In 1974 the track was resurfaced with bitumen and a motorcycle track was built on the infield, Due to delays the new Frazer Park venue opened in June of 1974 with a two day meeting. This proved not to be a good decision to seal the track and the crowds and competitors dropped off, so in 1978 the bitumen was removed and the clay relayed, The motorcycle track remained on the infield in use up until 1980 when it was removed.
1974 - Photo: Michael Doherty collection.
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1974 - FRAZER PARK SPEEDWAY SPEEDCARS
1974 - John Harvey is pushed away for some hot laps. Photo: Bill Meyer.
1974 - Ronald McKay in the USA Offy leads sedan car champion David House on the asphalt. Photo: Bill Meyer.
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Peter Webster's World of Speedway photo feature
1974 - George Tatnell runs the outside of Jon Morro. Photo: unknown.
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1974 - CANBERRA TIMES NEWSPAPER REPORTED
Petrol shortages have forced the cancellation of tomorrow's race meeting at Frazer Park Speedway. Promoter Peter Gurbiel said last night he called off the meeting because of doubts about the Sydney speedcar team being able to get to Canberra, Next Meeting at Frazer Park will be the Air New Zealand Winter Championship for production sedans on Sunday the 18th of August, The speedcar meeting will now be held on the 25th of August.
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1975 - USA TEAM AT THE WODEN PLAZA
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1975 - BRUCE MAXWELL - PRODUCTION SEDANS
Photo: unknown.
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1975 - PETER TAUTON - PRODUCTION SEDAN
Photo: unknown
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1975 - USA v AUSTRALIA (ACT) PRODUCTION SEDANS
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1976 - FRAZER PARK SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE
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1976 - MARY WIGNELL MEMORIAL
1976 - Brian Norman - Dave Wignall with his farther John Wignall and Ronnie Darrell. Photo: John Anderson collection.
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1976 - BIG ED WILBUR
Canberra & Southern NSW Speedway History facebook photo feature
1976 - Big Ed Wilbur part of the American Sedan Car team in the Fraser Park pits. Photo: Michael Doherty.
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1976 - HASH BROWN
Canbera & Southern NSW Speedway History facebook photo feature
1976 - Hash Brown from the USA, well known for his racing right across Australia. P Michael Doherty.
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1977 - COCA COLA 2000
The Coca Cola 2000 Sedan Car feature event was introduced to the annual calander in 1977.
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Canberra and Southern NSW Speedway History facebook feature.
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Photo's: Michael Doherty.
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1977 - THE DIRT SURFACE RETURNS
Towards the end of 1977 the tracks promotion had ran a truck derby for prime movers, the heavy trucks tore up the asphalt and after evaluation it was considered cheaper to tear up the tar rather than repair it, It was after this that a decision was made to build a purpose built half mile track on the other side of the pit area, The truck didn't prove to be popular and the half mile oval became another one of Australia's ghost speedways.
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1977 - JOHNNY RUTHERFORD USA1
1977 - USA1 Johnny Rutherford and Howard Revell from Australia line up. Photo: unknown.
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1977 - HARRY DELAMONT - PRODUCTION SEDAN
1977 - Harry Delamont in the #66 Monaro leads a sedan car race on the big 1/2 mile track. Photo: Queanbeyan Age.
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1977 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY PROGRAMME SLIDESHOW
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 1 image)
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1978 - AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND TEST MATCH
In June of 1978 the Australian solo team of John Bolger, Phil Crump, Billy Sanders and Phil Herne took on the English team of Peter Collins, Gordon Kennett, Alan Wilkinson, John Davis, Eric Broadbent and Keith White.
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1979 - CANBERRA TIMES NEWSPAPER REPORTED
--------Y O U N G C H A M P I O N---------
1979 - Scott Fisher, 9, of Duffy, Astride his Yamaha YZ80E on which he achieved third place in the Australian under - 10 short circuit motorcycle championship, at Fairbairn Park in November last year. Photo: unknown.
12th June 1979
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1979 - CANBERRA TIMES NEWSPAPER REPORTED
Cooma's Owen Johnson: is determined to retain his hold on the winter sedan championship at Canberra's Frazer Park Speedway, Johnson has installed a new power plant in his XU1 Torana for tomorrows second round of the Air New Zealand - Life Station 2CA series, he track tested the new engine last weekend and is confident of holding the lead in the four round series tomorrow afternoon, Johnson won the opening round feature race and is one point ahead of Wollongong's Terry Osmond, Winner of the championship will collect two return air fares to New Zealand from Air New Zealand and $200.00 cash, the top ten point-scorers in the event are nominated for tomorrows Frazer Park meeting which has attracted near record entry's from Canberra, Queanbeyen, Young, Goulburn, Cooma, Wollongong and Sydney. Several A graders entering for the first time may have to go through a repecharge heat to qualify for tomorrow's round, among them is, twice Australian Champion David House, Terry McInerney of Young, Goulburn's Ross Nicastri and Tony Kranitis and Bob Maskillo of Wollongong, only twenty starters will be allowed into the championship round feature race and preference will be given to drivers who have already scored points, House and all other entrants will have to qualify for the second round and will be drawn behind the first round point-scores, Johnson, Osmond, Jack Lemon of Young and Bob Gray of Goulburn are in the box seat with a chance of picking up passing points tomorrow, fifteen young riders, mostly from NSW Country centres are entered for the ten event solo programme. Racing begins 1.30pm.
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1979 - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY SEDAN CAR SLIDESHOW
Canberra and Southern New South Wales Speedway History facebook feature.
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 42 images)
Photo's Bob Stephenson
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1979 - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY WINNER TAKE ALL NATIONAL SEDAN CHALLANGE 13th May 1979
Can you imagine a match race series between David House, Grenville Anderson, Dave Wignall and Paul McKew.
Well it happened, even though he was having problems with his Torana, House won the series from Paul McKew in the Mini, Grenville suffered a mechanical problem and borrowed Ron Shepherds Torana for the final heats.
Dave Wignall came out of retirement and drove Ron Darrell's Torana but was not competitive.
(Editorial - Michael Doherty)
1979 - Paul McKew on pole with Grenville Anderson on the outside, row 2 and Dave Wignall inside and David House outside. Photo: Bob Stephenson.
1979 - Grenville Anderson was forced to retire his Torana late in the heats and borrowed Ron Shepherd's Torana. Photo: Bob Stephenson.
1979 - Paul McKew in his mighty little mini kept them all honest all day and finished in 2nd. Photo: Bob Stephenson.
The Ron Norton interviews
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1979 - David House very much at the top of his game in the number 77 Torana. Photo's Bob Stephenson.
1979 - Grenville Anderson. Photo: Bob Stephenson. |
1979 - Paul McKew. Photo: Bob Stephenson. |
1979 - Dave Wignall. Photo: Bob Stephenson.
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1979 - USA v AUSTRALIA SPRINTCARS
Canberra and Southern New South Wales Speedway History facebook feature
17th February 1979 - Garry Patterson and Sid Moore with other unknown's. Photo: Bob Stephenson.
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17th February 1979 - The great man himself Garry Patterson for the USA. Photo's Bob Stephenson.
17th February 1979 - Gary Patterson leads Steve Brazier. Photo: Bob Stephenson.
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1979 - FRAZER PARK SPEEDWAY SUPERMODIFIED SLIDESHOW
Canberra and Southern New South Wales Speedway History facebook feature
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 31 images)
Photo's Bob Stephenson.
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1979 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY STOCK BIKES
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Photos: Bob Stephenson.
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1980 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE
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1980 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY ADVERTISMENT
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1980 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY PROGRAMME SLIDESHOW
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1981 - EAST COAST SPEEDWAY REPORTED
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1981 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY PROMOTIONAL ADVERTISMENT
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1982 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY PROMOTIONAL ADVERTISMENT
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1981 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY PROMOTIONAL ADVERTISMENT
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1982 - EAST COAST SPEEDWAY MONTHLY REPORTED
1982 - Bob Blacklaw and Rob Worthington doing it hard during the championship.
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1982 Bob Blacklaw.
1982 Brett "Nippa" Lacey.
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1982 - STEVE BRAZIER - SPRINTCARS
1982 - Steve Brazier from New South Wales in the Cheviot Alloy Wheel Felsch powered Sprintcar during the ACT title. Photo: Mac Campbell.
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Canberra and Southern NSW Speedway History facebook feature.
1983 - TONY NICASTRI - SEDAN CARS
1983 - JOHN CARTWRIGHT - SEDAN CARS
Photo's: Mac Campbell.
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1983 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY SEDAN CAR SLIDESHOW
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 1 image)
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1983 - BARRY GUY - SPRINTCARS
Mac Campbell photo feature
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1983 - BOB KELLY - SPRINTCARS
1983 - Bob Kelly. Photo: unknown
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Canberra and Southern NSW Speedway History facebook feature.
1984 - RODNEY COOMBS - GRAND NATIONAL SEDAN
1984 - RAY GODSAY USA - GRAND NATIONAL SEDAN
Photos: Mac Campbell.
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Canberra and Southern NSW Speedway History facebook feature
1985 - HOWARD REVELL - SPEEDCARS
Photo: Mac Campbell.
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Canberra and Southern NSW Speedway History facebook feature
1985 - PETER BINK & DAVID HOUSE - SUPER SEDANS
Photo: Mac Campbell.
1985 - USA SEDAN CAR INVASION TOUR
1985 - Ray Godsey & Ed Wilbur, Rodney Combs & Kenny Brightbell are introduced to the crowd. Photo: Michael Doherty.
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1984 - STEVE BRAZIER Jnr - SPRINTCARS
Mac Campbell photo feature
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1986 - QUEENBEYAN AGE NEWSPAPER REPORTED
13th January 1986
15th December 1986
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1987 - QUEENBEYAN AGE NEWSPAPER REPORTED
12th February 1987
3rd April 1987
13th November 1987
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1989 - RON KRIKKE SPRINTCARS
Canberra and Southern NSW Speedway History facebook photo feature.
1989 - Ron Krikke from Western Australia in the Action Performance Sprintcar. Photo: Michael Attwell collection.
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1991 - SUPER SEDAN SLIDESHOW
Rob Eyeington feature
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 5 images)
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1994 - FRAZER PARK SPEEDWAY PROGRAMME
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1997 - THE CLOSURE OF TRALEE
The Speedway closed in the 1997 to make way way for a housing development.
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2013 - TRALEE SPEEDWAY WALKABOUT SLIDESHOW
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2002 - TRALEE SPEEDWAYS LOCATION
The speedway circuit's were located in Jerrabomberra on the New South Wales side of the ACT - NSW border near Canberra, the capitol city of Australia.
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2013 - TRALEE SPEEDWAYS LOCATION
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THE BRIDGE WITH A SECRET
West Coast Speedway News facebook feature
For those people who attended Tralee Frazer Park Speedway, The bridge in the photo should bring back some memories as it was the entrance from the highway to the speedway, but did anyone have any idea of its history.
COOMA MONARO RAILWAY inc REPORTED
Midweek Media - Death of a spy bridge: Recently there was the uncelebrated demolition of the Queanbeyan - Bombala Railway's link with the cold war, Yet even in death the remains of the bridge provide a clue to a modern intrique.
For those new to the story, Australia's great home grown spy adventure centred around Vladimir Petrov and his wife Evdokia, Vladimir served during World War two as a cipher clerk and was privy to top secret communications, In 1951 he became an intelligence agent and was sent by Soviet Security Chief Lavrenity Bera to Australia to recruit spies and keep a watch on Soviet citizens, making sure that none defected.
In 1954 Petrov became a colonel in the newly-formed KGB, But he felt his life was in danger, After Joseph Stalin's death in 1953, Beria had been arested and shot by Stalins successor's, Fearing a purge of "Beria men", Petrov decided to defect before he was recalled to Russia.
Petrov contacted the Australian Spy Agency ASIO and passed them Soviet secrets before his spectacular defection with his wife, who was also a Soviet Security officer, secrets were passed using a dead letter drop, a place were Petrov could hide his secrets for an ASIO agent to latter collect, This is were our railway line came into play.
Adjacent to the now industrialised ACT suburb of Hume was a short wooden bridge over Arnott street that connected to Territory Parade, which runs parallel to the railway line inside the New South Wales border.
It was in the slats underneath the bridge that Petrov would hide his intelligence, Sadly, this memorial to the Cold War has now been demolished.
Reporting in the Canberra Times. 22nd May 2018, quotes a Transport New South Wales insider saying the demolishion was taken on public safety grounds, Following consultation with Queanbeyan Palerang Council.
The under bridge had been struck by vehicles on multiple occasions and blue metal from the track was falling onto the road below, Removal of the bridge gives council the option to construct a wider road, improving access and safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, the problem is, right now there is no need for motorists, pedestrians or cyclists to travel past the track.
The old Frazer Park Raceway on the New South Wales side was closed in 1997, and access to Territory Parade has now been forbidden, so there is no reason to go beyond the railway corridor. Perhaps a clue to the bridge's demise is on a sign on a gate blocking the Northern access to Territory Parade.
Hanging on the gate is a sign stating the area beyond is a construction site of the South Jerrabomberra Residential Estate, Is this the real reason for the historical bridge's sad destruction ?, is it now an open path for transporting huge earth moving equipment to clear acres of earth at the old speedway to build more brown houses, with grey roofs on small blocks of land ?.
While we mourn the loss of a cultural icon, we must admire how real estate developers have been able to do what the entire Soviet Empire could not do-destroy Petrov's hiding place.
Allan Baker recalls: While researching one of my other great passions, Australian Railways i cam across this information pertaining to the speedway.