SHEPPARTON (VIC)
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1971 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY
Rushworth Auto Club was formed in 1971 and went about establishing Rushworth Speedway just out of town on the twelve road in 1972 by leasing private property belonging to George Colliver.
It was an oval circuit somewhat egg-shaped initially, with one turn being of larger circumference than the other, It had a wooden paling fence dirt backed around the spectator half of the circuit. The track was dirt / granite mix, and 370 metres around the pole line. The pits were located down the back straight and were protected by another piece of fence. The starters box was situated on the opposite side of the track. A low spot in the middle formed a drainage point with pipes running under the track. The club undertook a track re-build in 1976 with 350 yards of new gravel and a full timber fence.
|
Rushworth Auto Club ran successful meetings for about 3 years, but it was a small club, and resources were limited, In mid 1975 R.A.C handed the promotion of Rushworth Speedway over to "WARANGA PROMOTIONS",headed by Ray Reid, the group named after the Waranga Basin area in which the Speedway was located, They commenced operations at Rushworth in 1976. In the meantime the Shepparton based Goulburn Valley Auto Club (G.V.A.C) had abandoned their old water-logged track at Murchison East, and were searching (unsuccessfully) for an alternative site to build a new speedway worthy of the area.
|
|
As what was concidered an interim measure, G.V.A.C. approached Rushworth Auto Club for permission to lease the Rushworth Track for their meetings. This was approved and the Rushworth track became the venue for meeting conducted by both Rushworth Auto Club (later running under the promotion of Waranga Promotions) and the G.V.A.C.
In 1975/76, G.V.A.C took over the lease of the track from Rushworth Auto Club with a gentlemans handshake agreement and a minimum of fuss, In 1977 G.V.A.C. undertook significant renovations to the
|
track including extending the fence around the complete perimeter, expanding spectator facilities, and moving the pits to the back straight. During this period the club relied heavily on their ladies' auxiliary to fund much of the progress.
Rushworth Auto Club joined with G.V.A.C under the chairmanship of Ray Read to run two extremely successful race meetings in 1980 - the "Winternationals" and "The Great Race" R.A.C, disbanded in 1980/81.
G.V.A.C, went on to further develop the site in the mid 1980's, closing the track between 1984 and 1986 when it was re-launched with a new track surface, new facilities, and a full concrete fence, Lights followed, G.V.A.C, eventually purchased the land on which the Rushworth Speedway Complex was built in 2004. G.V.A.C. held its 40th anniversary in 2006.
Rushworth Speedway is 440 metres around the pole line, and consists of a sand base with a clay top surface, The fence is reinforced concrete, 12cm thick, In 2006 Rushworth was voted "The Overall Victorian State Club Award" by members of the Victorian Speedway Council.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1972 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY SLIDESHOW
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 2 images)
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1974 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY VICTORIAN HOT ROD CHAMPIONSHIP 10th November 1974
Peter Collison GV9 - NEHRA1. Photo: Ray Reid collection. |
|
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1975 - RAY READRay Read began his Speedway life in Bunbury WA commentating and driving a borrowed race car, also setting up a local radio show on 6TZ-CI for speedway,as Ray moved on he found himself in VIC and on the microphone as well as local radio again at Goulburn Valley Auto Club's speedway at Rushworth, By 1972 Ray was President of the GVAC and his media and administration skills were well recognised in the district, In his spare time Ray also took on the Promotion position at Rushworth Speedway and also began racing again in a EJ Holden Modified Saloon for a three year period, Ray has retired in Shepparton and is now Ray Read : Speedway Author
|
|
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1976 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY & THE EASTER TRAIL
Ray Reid feature
1976 - Bike racing was introduced to Rushworth Speedway under the Waranga Promotions team.
1976 - Nev Eltze in the V6 Capri leading Barry Hall in the SLR5000 Torana at the Easter Trail meeting.
1976 - It was a common site to see the spectator area packed at Rushworth while Waranga Promotions were in charge.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1978 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY Sedan Cars
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - TONY NICHOLAS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY Modified Saloons
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1979 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY HONDA TROPHY
1979 - Max Bowland holding the trophy is pictured here with Barry Myers the race winner. Photo: Ray Reid.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1980 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY THE GREAT RACE
1980 - How good were spectator numbers at Rushworth Speedway while under the control of Wananga Promotions.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1980 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY SLIDESHOW
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 2 images)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1980 - GRAHAM MONDS
Speedway Toranas facebook Photo feature
1980 - Graham Monds in the number 46 Valleyway Homes Torana at Rushworth Speedway. Photo: Mark Cowin.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
1995 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY SEDAN CAR SLIDESHOW
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 1 image)
*********************************************************************************************************************************
2006 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY
2006 - Photo: Dennis Myers collection.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
2011 - DENNIS MYERS GP MIDGET
2011 Photo: Vern Parker.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
2012 - BRYAN LIERSCH VINTAGE SPRINTCAR
2012 Photo: Vern Parker.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
2023 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY 21st October 2023 |
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY 11th November 2023 |
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY Super Sedans - SDAV Hot Rods - GOSA Memorial - GV Open Saloons - GV Productions - GV Ladies - GV Juniors 9th December 2023 |
|
*********************************************************************************************************************************
2024 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY 13th January 2024 |
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY 17th February 2024 |
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY 2nd March 2024 |
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY 13th April 2024 |
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY 27th April 2024 |
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY 11th May 2024 |
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 - RUSHWORTH SPEEDWAY 25th May 2024 |
|