PERTH (WA)
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FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY HARTFIELD ROAD
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1958 - FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY (HARTFIELD RD)
As history would have it Forrestfield Speedway started as the result of a street rodder, that being Billy Marshall in his 1932 Ford cutting up in a gravel pit one day on Hartfield Road I Forrestfield and as people driving by spotted the dust, they turned in to take a look, that street rodder turned to two and more, Names such as Johnny Leopold in a black 1934 Ford Coupe made appearances, racing events were held on Sunday's and on other occasions the brothers Ross and Malcom Nickerson would run solo motorcycles around to crudely built track, Champion motorcycle rider Charlie West who worked at Mortlock's as a mechanic in the city would often use the track to test solo bikes after repair work, As the weekends passed and the spectators built up the rodders thought it was a good idea to actually get a bit more organised. so the Forrestfield Hot Rod Club was born, The first president of the club was John Goode, This site was used for about four years, Poorly run and dogged by bad publicity the track was closed to make way for State Housing Commision homes, The Forrestfield club was offered and accepted a new track site off Dawson Avenue also in Forrestfield.
1950's - Just how Forrestfield started street licienced cars and street rods starting appearing at the crudely built track for a bit of fun and so did the spectators. This early Singer had a straight 8 Buick fitted to it. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1950's - John Leopold in the 1934 Ford coupe, The rumble of a sidevalve V8 echo's through to trees at the Hartfield Road track. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
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1950's - above Billie Marshall one of the pioneers of the Forrestfield Hot Rod track on Hartman Rd. Photo: Supermodmania.1959 - left Billy Marshall and his brother Brian with Billy's 1932 Ford Street Rod. Photo: Billy Marshall. |
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1959 - FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY PRESS RELEASE.
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1959 - FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY.
Tony Forsyth Pictorial feature
1959 - Hot Rodders in a abandoned gravel pit. Photo: Tony Forsyth.
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1959 - John Leopold testing the limits in his 1934 Ford Coupe. Photo: Tony Forsyth.
1959 - unknown driver in the number 78 Humber at Forrestfield. Photo: Tony Forsyth.
1959 - Long before the sport became non contact. Photo's Tony Forsyth.
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1950's - FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY. The Lost Collection.
Bunbury Geographe Motor Museum pictorial feature
Steve Williams recalls: The owner of Hastie Waste here in the South West walked into the Museum in Bunbury and handed over this little collection of pics from a day of Hot Rod racing at the original Forrestfield Speedway, seems someone who had looked after them for say 70 years decided to throw them away into a skip bin, were they were spotted and saved. Thank you Hastie Waste.
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1959 - FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY. DEMO DERBY.
Tony Forsyth Pictorial feature
1959 - Photo's: Tony Forsyth collection.
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1961 - WEST AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER REPORTED.
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31st May 1961 |
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1960 - RAY HILL
1960 - Fantastic Hot Rod action from the Hartman Rd track with Ray Hill in the 78 car in a bit of trouble, this photo found its way onto the front page of the West Australian newspaper. Photo: Ray Hill collection.
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Ray Hill drove the car home after this accident. Photo's Mick Thompson collection.
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1960's - FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY (HARTFIELD RD)
Mick Thomson pctorial feature
1960's - Unknown driver in the 1932 Ford in a bit of trouble. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - Unknown driver in the shortened up 1939 Ford Sedan. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - Geoff Brown in his 1961 Mark 5 Jaguar at Forrestfield. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - Hot Rodders were turning up in all types of machine's, This Singer was fitted with a straight Buick. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - Reg Leach getting all crossed up at Forrestfield Speedway. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - Reg Leach in the Garvey Motors Wreckers 1934 Ford Coupe. Photo Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - The number 17 car getting into Roy Garvey. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - Roy Garvey in the number 35 sedan drives under another competitor. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - Geoff Brown in the Jaguar chasing down the 25 Hudson Coupe. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's Jimmy Matta in a spot of trouble in the number 59 1939 Ford Sedan. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - Ron West in his 1934 Ford Coupe Street Rod turned Hot Rod. Photo: Ron West collection.
1960's - Ron West drives on by the retired number 17. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - An impressive field of Hot Rods at Forrestfield and check out that crowd. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
1960's - Barry Brown in his 1936 Ford street drivern Hot Rod at Forrestfield. Photo: Mick Thomson collection.
Alan Wroot Photo feature
1960's - Hot Rods on the raceway. Photo: Alan Wroot collection.
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1959 - FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY MYSTERY ROADSTER.
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Mick Thomson recalls: a young fella turning up at the Hartfield Road track one sunday with this Roadster and racing, the mystery being who was this young fella who built the car, if anyone can assist in shedding any light on the Roadstars early days, please contact Mick Thomson on 04 8139 0072, or Brian Moyle on 04 9712 0025 or email me at [email protected]
2020 - The Murray Beckwirth 1932 Ford Roadstar as it is today. Photo: Rod Tork Magazine WA.
