HOBART (TAS)
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1968 - RICHMOND SPEEDWAY
Richmond Speedway opened in January of 1968, firstly as an inderpendant track but shortly after joined with The Confederation of Australian Motorsport (C.A.M.S).
This was not to last long as the track broke away and affiliated with the Associated Speedway Control Board, this also was short lived, as the track once again returned to an Inderpendant run orginization.
Richmond and Bridgewater Speedways both operated successfully through to the year of 1975 when Bridgewater closed, this left Richmond Speedway as only track in the South of Tasmania.
Old Speedway Photos facebook Photo feature
1960's late - Joe Harris Cyril Wynwood Les Redpath and Bruce Higgs. Photo: Paul Geard collection.
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Tim Gadd recalls: This monopoly however did not reflect in an increase of paying spectators, some would say a mistry as the large population of Hobart was near-by, Truth was after the Tasman Bridge disaster in January of 1975, access to Richmond Speedway which was on the eastern side of the Derwent River, the eastern shore was effectively cut off from Hobart, barring a very long drive via Bridgewater and Tea Tree, This lasted through til when the bridge reopened at the end of 1977.
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1977 - TONY HODGES
1977 - Tony Hodges in the EK Holden heads up racing with Doug Round in the FE Holden. Photo: AJ Clarke collection.
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19?? - USA v TASMANIA 4 LAP MATCH RACES
While in Tasmania for a 3 test series at Carrick and Latrobe Speedways, the USA team of Mike Andretta, Ed Wilbur, Hash Brown and Mark Welch in their Chevy Monza's were also contracted to race at Richmond Speedway.
Hash Brown arrived at the track just in time for racing as the midnight oil had been burning at Mitchell Motors in Launceston rebuilding his engine.
The Tasmanian drivers consisted of Neville Harper, Chas Kelly, Randell Bromfield and Russ Fleming.
The Sunday afternoon meeting was a failure as far as spectator attendance went, but the racing was sensational with Neville Harper winning 3 races and the Tasmanian team winning the meeting. from Richmond the racing shifted back to Carrick Speedway for the third test.