PETERBOROUGH (SA)
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1930's - PETERBOROUGH SHOWGROUNDS
Peterborough Showgrounds was the first of many speedway tracks in this small rural town, The showground or as it is currently known, Soldiers Memorial Park, hosted motorcycle racing from the late 1930's through until January of 1940.
The racing was conducted within the perimeter of the arena, possibly as grass track events.
(Research and Editorial Allan Baker)
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2003 - PETERBOROUGH SHOWGROUNDS LOCATION
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VICTORIA PARK SPEEDWAY
Considered to be Peterborough's second speedway, Victoria Park was also used for speedway racing, originally as a flat track before the Velladrome was built.
1950's - VICTORIA PARK VELODROME
later a banked velodrome was constructed for push bike racing on the site, The speedway boys did run motorcycle's and tq's around the high banked track, but there is no confirmation of any racing.
(Research and Editorial Allan Baker)
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2003 - VICTORIA PARK LOCATION
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1950's - KENNEDY BROTHERS
West Coast Speedway News facebook feature
Bills racing was limited to days off work only as he was a train driver for South Australia Railways, fitted into his P6 TQ was a JAP engine that Bill purchased from England for 140 pounds.
Bills 1st meeting was at Spalding, a not bad effort, He came home with the winners trophy for the South Australian Northern Championship, He also came 3rd in the Australian Championship at Point Pass Speedway.
Bill and brother Bob were members of the Peterborough Car Club and were instrumental in the construction of the last speedway in Peterborough at Koch's Paddock.
After the closure of Peterborough they were both actively involved in creating tracks at Nackara and Coburn.
Bill Kennedy raced at tracks such as Rowley Park, Peterborough, Spalding, Point Pass, Crystal Brook, Renmark, Mount Gambier, Mannahill, Nackara, Coburn, Broken Hill Half Mile, Jamestown, Apilla, Garfield, Black Rock Flat track (before current Dirt Circuit track)
The TQ was eventually sold to Bob White and the Kennedy brothers converted to motorcycle racing, Bill still ows his 1948 Matchless G80 sidecar.
(Research and Editorial Allan Baker)
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SIMMONDS BROTHERS
The Simmonds Brothers were a prominent name in sporting events around Peterborough with Clarke Simmonds successful in motorcycle events, Brothers Bill and Alf assisted and Sponsored Clark.
(Research and Editorial Allan Baker)
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JUBILEE PARK OVAL SPEEDWAY
In later years there was also a small track near the Golf and Pony Clubs, research continues as its not known the exact location of the track, Bob Kennedy recalls it was just inside the gates of the Golf Club and named Jubilee Park Oval.
This was a club members only venue for solos and tq's, no visitors or spectators.
(Research and Editorial Allan Baker)
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2003 - JUBILEE PARK OVAL LOCATION
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1950 - PETERBOROUGH SPEEDWAY
The next speedway track was built on the High School oval, On the 14th of January 1950 the Peterborough Car and Motorcycle Club held an impromptu practice meeting at there new speedway track in Peterborough.
An all powers handicap motorcycle race was held which resulted in a win for M Miller, second was L Simmonds and third was P Dowd, W Taylor was forth.
(Research and Editorial Allan Baker)
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PETERBOROUGH SPEEDWAY WALKABOUT
Photos: Allan Baker |
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2003 - PETERBOROUGH SPEEDWAY LOCATION
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1950 - KOCH'S PADDOCK SPEEDWAY
The speedway was situated on land owned by the Koch family, At the time the open paddock was used for Horse Racing and Gymkhana's as well as speedway.
It is said that the preist from St Jude's Catholic High School was looking for someware for the students to ride bicycles and it just so happened the Peterborough Car Club was also looking for somewhere to race, A deal was struck and both groups raced together.
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2003 - KOCH'S PADDOCK SPEEDWAY LOCATION
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BLACK ROCK FLAT TRACK
Black Rock Flat track was the just what the name indicates, A flat track speedway, the track unlike all the other Peterborough tracks was not in the centre of town.
The track has been built over and is currently the site of the Black Rock Dirt Circuit.
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2003 - BLACK ROCK FLAT TRACK LOCATION
