DARKAN (WA)
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1952 > 1954 - HILLMAN AIRSTRIP
During the period of 1952 throught to 1954 the Collie Motorcycle Club conducted organised road racing events on what was a sealed airstrip at the time.
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Ray Harrington recalls: The sealed airstrip was laid before our family purchased the Hillman farm back in the 1960's, On one occasion during military exercises an attempt was made to land a very large Military plane on the strip which rendered the surface un-useable, end result was the military paid the Shire to remove the sealed surface and re-construct the gravel strip as we know it today.
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1972 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY
In 1972 a group of local volunteers looked for a site to build a race track, part of the motivation was to give the local youth a controlled enviroment to learn to drive at speed instead of on the local gravel roads.
A diused gravel pit on the Hillman Farm that had been quarried to build the adjacent war time air strip was to become Darkan Speedway, at the time the airstrip was also utilised for driver training and now days is used by the Hillman skydivers.
The West Arthur Motor Sport Association was formed and the bulldozer and grader moved in laying down a gravel track similar to todays shape but with sharper corners and the ess bends more prononced, a layer of clay was laid over the gravel base and the race track was ready, a truck loading ramp was built opposite the main straight and also served as an officials viewing platform.
Initially the direction of racing was in a clockwise direction but was later changed to fall in line was all speedways.
The pits were on the infield and remained there up until the saftey requirement's had them moved to the outer area on the main straight.
The track safety fence on the main straight was first constructed of timber but later replaced with concrete panels and a section of catch fence along the front straight.
Darkan's unique shape and size brought two national formular 500 and several state short track titals to the venue.
The track closed to speedway in the late nintee's as several of the younger members were farming or working outside the district as well as further insurance requirements.
A diused gravel pit on the Hillman Farm that had been quarried to build the adjacent war time air strip was to become Darkan Speedway, at the time the airstrip was also utilised for driver training and now days is used by the Hillman skydivers.
The West Arthur Motor Sport Association was formed and the bulldozer and grader moved in laying down a gravel track similar to todays shape but with sharper corners and the ess bends more prononced, a layer of clay was laid over the gravel base and the race track was ready, a truck loading ramp was built opposite the main straight and also served as an officials viewing platform.
Initially the direction of racing was in a clockwise direction but was later changed to fall in line was all speedways.
The pits were on the infield and remained there up until the saftey requirement's had them moved to the outer area on the main straight.
The track safety fence on the main straight was first constructed of timber but later replaced with concrete panels and a section of catch fence along the front straight.
Darkan's unique shape and size brought two national formular 500 and several state short track titals to the venue.
The track closed to speedway in the late nintee's as several of the younger members were farming or working outside the district as well as further insurance requirements.
(editorial Ron Knapp)
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1972 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY CONSTRUCTION SLIDESHOW
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1972 - ALLAN BLENCOWEAllan worked in Darkan at the time as a Manual Art's teacher at the local school during 1972 and 1973, His roll as a volunteer was to man the Council's road roller at the time the speedway was built and played his part in the club forming and the construction of the race track, as well as volenteering his time Allan also raced a Austin in B Modified sedans,
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Alan Blencowe recalls: The insurance used in the early days was supplied by "Combined Mutual" and was a travel accident policy. The first claim was when Don Spiers scalded his backside from a burst radiator hose and spent 2 weeks face down in hospital. They paid out very quickly and when the agent came back to town he sold lots more policies.
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1972 - DRIVER TRAINING
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Allan Blencowe recall's: During one of these driver training days local traffic inspector, Ray "Spin out" Daniels rolled over a FB Holden at 35 mph with six students in the car, no one was hurt!,the car was then taken to the Darkan District High School were the students set about rebuilding the car.
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1975 - COLLIE MAIL REPORTED
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10th July 1975
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1978 - GEOFF DAVIS Supermodified's
1978 - A very young Todd Davis looks over dads racecar in the Darkan pit area. Photo: Davis family.
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1978 - DARKAN SUPERMODIFIED SPRINTCAR ACTION
1978 Geoff Davis leads up through the esse's.
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1978 unknown supermodified driver.
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1982 - AUSTRALIAN SHORT CIRCUIT FORMULA 500 CHAMPIONSHIP
In April of 1982 the Arthur River Motor Sports Association hosted the 1981 1982 Australian Formula 500 Short Circuit title at there Hillman Farm Venue, The winner was a very proud West Australian by the name of Bill Broadwood.
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1980's - GEOFF DAVIS Supermodified Sprintcar
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1980's - DARKAN SUPERMODIFIED SPRINTCAR ACTION
1980's - Geoff Davis exits the esses onto the front straight in the Windsor powered machine. Photo: Davis family.
1980's - A line up of early sprintcars. Photo: Davis family. |
1980's - and onto the front straight. Photo: Davis family. |
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1980's - TIM DAVIS Supermodified Sprintcars
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1984 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY THROUGH TO LENS OF RON KNAPP
Local flyer and racer Ron Knapp took these shots out the window of his plane while on a flight.
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Ron Knapp recalls: gee this brings back some memories, when I first started I raced a mark 2 Zephyr, Then I built a supermodified and raced that continually modified it along the way, Initially the car was fitted with a 318 Chrysler and then a Leyland P76 V8.
Pedal to the metal and steer was the name of the game, we were jack of all trades back then within the club, Scrutineers, Flag Wavers, Stewards, Comentators, Handycapers, Track Reconstruction you name it.
My brother and I were responsable for the building of the Zephyr water pump at the dam, we built it up from scrounged parts from around the district.
Allan Baker recalls: Each meeting all drivers were reminded at the drivers briefing, if you loose it at the end of the back straight when entering the uphill esses don't take out the pump house.
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1980's - FITZGERALD FAMILY
1980's - What is believed to be Wayne Millman racing the Fitzgerald family EH Holden at Darkan. Photo: Pete Sykes.
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1984 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY STOCKIE SLIDESHOW
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1984 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY STOCKIE CHAMPIONSHIP
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Jason Oldfield recalls: Sadley Brian Rose passed away that same year. RIP.
Brian Moyle recalls: We also lost Eddy Kingwood quite a few years ago too. RIP.
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1984 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY SPRINTCAR SLIDESHOW
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1985 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY SPRINTCAR SLIDESHOW
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1986 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY MODIFIED SEDAN SLIDESHOW
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1986 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY SPRINTCAR SLIDESHOW
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1986 - HILLMAN SKYDIVERS
With the Hillman Sky Diving Club operating from the airstrip next to the speedway its wasn't unusual for sky divers to drop in from time to time, either on purpose or by accident.
Brian Moyle recalls: my favourite story of the sky divers was told to me by a club member in Malcom Wolf, During inter-ville at one particular meeting a spectator at the the canteen brought everones attension to the fact that the skydivers were coming down, as every-one watched them de-send there seemed to be one jumper who was just dropping without any movement and the other jumpers were swinging around this person in an attempt to grab them, This continued until such time as all the jumpers pulled there schutes except for the life-less one who just kept falling and smashed into the field, This left all the onlookers terrified and some screaming with fear as they saw the lifeless body laying in the paddock, As time passed the rest of the jumpers landed and went about packing up there gear, no one seemed to be worried about the one who's main shoot didn't open, It later turned out to be a training exercise and the jumper was nothing more than a pair of stuffed overalls on the end of the schute.
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1987 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY STOCKIE SLIDESHOW
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1995 - WEST COAST SPEEDWAY NEWS REPORTED
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1995 > 2000 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY SLIDESHOW
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1998 - DARKAN 80 LAP CLASSIC
In 1998 the Darkan Motorsport Club in conjunction with the Bunbury Car Club held a sedan classic with a field of street, production and modified sedans, each car would nominate 2 drivers, each driver would compete in a 2 lap time trial, the first group of drivers would start a 40 lap feature from an indian file start and race off to determine the grid for the 2nd group of drivers for the final 40 lap feature, the second group of drivers then started there feature and the results were as they crossed the line
1st was Greg Robinson and Rod King from Bibra Lake in a VL Commodore.
2nd was David Lowe and Paul Bennett from Bunbury in a GN Sigma
3rd was Jason Moyle from the Darkan club and Greg Freeman from the Bunbury club in a GN Sigma. this was the one and only time the classic was run.
1st was Greg Robinson and Rod King from Bibra Lake in a VL Commodore.
2nd was David Lowe and Paul Bennett from Bunbury in a GN Sigma
3rd was Jason Moyle from the Darkan club and Greg Freeman from the Bunbury club in a GN Sigma. this was the one and only time the classic was run.
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1998 - AUSTRALIAN FORMULAR 500 CHAMPIONSHIP
On April 14, 1998, Darkan held the 1998 Australian Formular 500 Shortrack championship. It was held on a Tuesday, Scrutineering took place before lunch. Heat races and a final all in one afternoon. Prizemoney for the event was a large $3,000. Entry fee was $35.00 per competitor, late entry fee $45.00. Track particulars listed as 660m in length, 1m from curb 10m wide in both straights and corners, Track surface is listed as clay / dirt composite. So that leaves just one question, and one I cant answer ...... Who the hell won ?
The Darkan history includes both both state and national Formular 500 Short Track titals. Sprintcar legend Max Dumesney competed at Darkan in his formular days.
(Editorial Allan Baker)
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year unknown WA FORMULA 500 SHORT CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIP
Tony Coles photo feature
A great picture of the iconic uphill ess bends at Darkan Speedway.
Commentator Bob Adams presenting to unknown winner while Jerry Wilcox (red pants) unknown Bill Broadwood and unknown look on.
Bryan Mullings on the left with the unknown winner. Track owner Ray Harrington standind top right.
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1999 - PAUL BALLYNTINE Junior Sedan's
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1999 - KIM WILLIAMS Street Sedan's
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2000 - COLLIE MOTORCYCLE CLUB
The Collie Motorcycle Club leased the speedway of the Harrington family in the year 2000 and built a motocross track, using the front straight as the starting area and moving on to the infield for the rest of the circuit, The Collie club felt the need to expand to the alternative site as there Collie track was very sandy and heavy only and it put there club members at a disadvantage when they travelled to the hard base gravel surface tracks.
This arrangement worked well, but in 2012 the Collie club gave to Pre 85 Motocross Club of WA the opportunity to take over the lease.
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2011 - DARKAN SPEEDWAY WALKABOUT
Darkan is ready to race on, the whole site is still intact and currently being used and maintained by the Collie Motor Cycle Club for Motocross, The bike track is mainly situated within the speedway track but uses the front straight as the start line.
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2011 - NARROGIN OBSERVER NEWSPAPER REPORTED
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2012 - VINTAGE MOTO-CROSS
The Pre 1985 Motorcross Club of WA took over the lease of the Darkan venue from the Collie Motorcycle Club in Febuary of 2013. The Pre85MXWA club is a progressive family orrintated club which was formed in 2009 to ensure the sport of vintage Moto-cross in Western Australia continues to evolve and ensure all area's are catered for by one club.
At present any off road bike built before 31st of December 1989, will be welcomed into the club, as per Motorcycling Australia's manual.
A member may choose to be envolved as a social member, ride non competitive fun events or untimatly race in closed to club and open events.
It is the goal of the club to offer come try's Vintage Moto-cross, Scrambles, Vinduros, and other discyplines, but we need new memberships, participation and expertise to ensure the club continues to grow.
Ultimately the clubs goal is to create an enviroment that ensures vintage moto-cross remains an enjoyable and fulfilling pastime.
(Editorial Pre 85 mxwa)
PRE 85 MOTOCROSS WA Website: www.pre85mxwa.com
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2012 - DARKAN STORMY DUST UP
With great thanks to the generous help of the Harrington family, The Relics Rod and Kustom Club (Albany) met up with the Cranksters Rod and Kustom Club (Perth) at the perfect half way point, Darkan Speedway.
It was a time trial event, not racing, with a mixture of competitors on pushbikes, Street and Rat Rods, Custom Cars, and Speedway cars, also motorcycles.
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2017 - ABC GREAT SOUTHERN REPORTED
Ray Harrington
