SELLICKS BEACH (SA)
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1900's - SELLICKS BEACH HILL CLIMB
During the 1900's motorcycle hillclimb events were held up Sellicks Hill, but prior to 1913 the local council decided to not allow the closure of public roads around the event so the sport of motorcycle racing was moved the the beach.
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1913 - SELLICKS BEACH SPEED TRIALS
The annual Sellicks Beach speed trials were held usually on the Australia Day Weekend or on some occasions over the Christmas period, Sellicks Beach was a hard smooth surface that measured over 3km in length, this was ideal for the one mile course needed to time these motorcycles and measure there speeds.
In the 1930's as part of the race day celebrations planes would use the beach as an airstrip and taking willing spectators for joy rides.
The Sellicks Beach Speed Trials continued up until 1953.
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1924 - SELLICKS BEACH SPEED TRIALS
2nd January 1924
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1926 - F BEASLEY
1st January 1926 - F Beasley in his Gwynne car after a front tyre blew out and caused the car to skid and roll into the sea during the 20 mile handicap race for light cars. Beasley and his passenger, a miss Watt, were thrown from the car - shaken but otherwise not seriously injured Photo: Doug Gordon collection.
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1930 - SELLICKS BEACH SPEED TRIALS
1930 - Sellicks Beach. Photo's: Harry Denton collection.
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1936 - SELLICKS BEACH SPEED TRIALS
1936 - Sellicks Beach. Photo's Harry Denton collection.
Peter Denton photo feature
Sellicks Beach Speed Trials Photo's: Harry Denton collection
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1949 - SELLICKS BEACH SPEED TRIALS
Ken Devine feature
This is the original car built by Eldred Norman in South Australia, This car set a land speed record on the beach in circa 1949.
Later the car was re-bodied as a single seater and sent to West Australia for the 1951 Australian Grand Prix at Narrogin, This is when Sid Anderson bought the car.
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1952 - SELLICK'S BEACH SPEED MEETING PROGRAMME
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1953 - SELLICK'S BEACH SPEED MEETING
The Levi's Social Club ran its last race meeting at Sellicks Beach in 1953.
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1986 - SELLICK'S BEACH RE-ENACTMENT
Greg Summerton recalls: Early morning on race day.. a strong southerly had kept the tide up high and gave us a late start.. some people that had camped on the beach the night before seriously misjudged the tide and the council had to tow then clear of what would be our track in a few hours time, The day turned out hot when the wind dropped and it was a magic day for sure.
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1986 - 40,000 people attended the re-enactment meeting held at Sellicks Beach. Photo: Greg Summerton.
Greg Summerton recalls: I had a good day with a few wins and places and award for the most spectacular rider on the day, Abrand new helmet from Allparts and some oils for not backing off when the swinging arm pivot broke and came out on one side of the frame resulting in some lurid full-power slides up the straight's on the last two laps clinched the prize, fun times indeed.
left: Greg Summerton on his 1962 Road Race ESO Norton |
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1992 - SELLICK'S BEACH RE-ENACTMENT
1992 - 30,000 made it to Sellick's Beach. Pic see's Mark Schuppan and Greg Summerton passing Peter Westerman.
1992 - That's Glen Dixx directing traffic. Photo: Greg Summerton.
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2017 - SELLICK'S BEACH TO OPEN AGAIN
Levis Motorcycle Club members are celebrating this morning after the Onkaparinga Council last night voted to allow the club to once again host a race meeting on Sellick's Beach.
That means we will be racing at Sellick's Beach next February.
The Sellick's Beach Speed Trials were the main annual fixtures of the Levis Motorcycle Club from the 1930's through to 1953. They were a regular summer highlight with the trials generally run on the Australia day weekend. The course was laid out over a 1.6 kilometre stretch of beach between Silver Sands and Sellick's Beach - at each end the riders had to make a 180 degree hairpin turn, going backwards and forwards over a set race distance.
The club had been trying for the last couple of years to get approval to re-enact the event and all that hard work culminated last night. Well done to all our supporters and a big thank you to the members of the Onkaparinga Council who see the value in running this historic event.
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1936 - Photo: Levis Motor Cycle Club. |