R.I.P 2012
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Possibly one of the best speedway solo riders in Australia, Cowboy Bob Sharpe won the Australian Solo Championship on 2 occasions, 1962 at Rockhampton in Queensland and again in 1965 at the Sydney Showground Speedway.
He also won the New South Wales Solo Championship at Kembla Grange Speedway, Bob was one of the true characters of motorcycle racing.
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above: Miles as many speedway fans would remember himright: Miles as many competitors would remember him |
MILES TOMLINSON 4th MAY 2012 (Remembered by Allan Baker & Ralphy Taylor)Miles Tomlinson was born on the 4th of September 1928, During his working career he served as the West Australian state manager for Clyde Master Pty Ltd.
Miles started in speedway in 1947 as a sidecar passenger for Max Hurst, after a four year stint he moved on to swing for Max's brother Arthur for three years, He then decided to take on the position of riding sidecars, This would see Miles compete for a seven year period and in this time would win the West Australian Sidecar Championship at Claremont in 1953-1954 and also in 1954-1955.
For most of his riding career his passenger was Ray Duncan, Miles retired from competition in 1959 and assisted in the pits at Claremont before becoming Clerk of Course, a position he held until Claremont closed in the year 2000.
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SULLIVAN PETE 28th SEPTEMBER 2012 (Remembered by Ralphy Taylor)
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Pete was a quite man that had always wanted to be a solo rider, but years later opted to swing on sidecars, he rode with many riders such as Des Taylor, Barry Farley, Don Johnston and others.
Pete worked for his brother in law Bob Champion as an apprentice as a kid making leather shoes in Fremantle, and then worked for many years in Princess Margaret Children's Hospital making shoes for many kids with deformity's in there feet, he also made eighty percent of the leathers that most riders had at Claremont and most other tracks in WA.
Pete Sullivan raced many tracks all over Australia and travelled all over the world to watch others race, such as the great Casey Stoner and so many more.
1986 Pete Sullivan in the chair at Claremont for the great Don Johnston |
Pete was also a great historian, his collection of speedway books, articles, solo bikes, sidecars, leathers and many more items was the biggest Ive ever seen, everone in speedway loved this quite reserved but courage's sidecar passenger, he will be missed by all at many speedway tracks all over Australia, RIP Sull.
Sidecar rider Barry Farley with swinger Pete Sullivan on the ex Allan Abbot Kawasaki. Photo: unknown.
(Research and editorial Ralphy Taylor)
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RAY WELSH |
1st November 2012 |
(Dedication: Narelle Welsh)
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WAYNE SUE 16th December 2012Wayne Sue, a decorated champion at Silver Dollar Speedway and several other tracks, died Sunday he was 77.
Sue, a Live Oak resident, was one of the best race car drivers in Northern California, racing Sprintcars, Supermodifieds, Modifieds, Midgets and Stock Cars and was comfortable competing on both dirt and pavement.
Sue was one of five American drivers to compete in Australia under the name Team America in 1974.
Sue's racing career saw him with wins at Live Oak Speedway, Dixon Fairgrounds, Vallejo Speedway, Calistoga Speedway, Santa Maria Speedway, Ascot Speedway, Baylands Speedway, Skagit Speedway, Elma Fairgrounds Speedway in Washington, Medford Speedway in Oregon and Manzanita Raceway in Arizona.
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On retirement from racing Wayne concentrated on running his crop dusting bussiness and building and showing street rods.
(Dedication: Joseph Shufelberger)
