BUNBURY (WA)
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1955 TRIALS AND RALLY'S
Rallying and trials in Bunbury and the South West can be traced back to 1955 when the Bunbury Car Club (now speedway) was officially incorporated, The club set about organising club events such as hill climbs in the Maidens sand dunes at the Back Beach in Bunbury, Time trial events throughout the South West.
Some local members of the club took part in the Red X Around Australia trial, That being Walton and Gardiner from the local Holden dealership in a 48 series Holden, while others maned check points for the trial around Port Hedland.
Towards the end of the 1950's the Bunbury Car Clubs focus had turned to mud scramble racing at a series of tracks scattered throughout Bunbury and Eaton, such as the Eaton foreshore and Paddy's Blunders at Koombanna, before moving on to Hard track racing at Blicks Raceway, and eventually Bunbury City Speedway.
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1970 BLUE & WHITE CAR CLUB
The Blue and White Car Club started in 1970 and operated up until 1973 when it evolved into the South West Touring Car Club, membership numbers in the club have fluxuated over the years, going from near dorement to having to restrict competitor numbers at certain events.
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1973 SOUTH WEST TOURING CAR CLUB
Even during those quite times individual members were off competing at a state level flying the South West flag, Many of them winning state titles.
The club has always been very family orientated holding Motorkhana's, Treasure Hunt Rally's, Autocross and Hillclimb events.
The clubs first state rally round held was known as the Tocoan (They only come out at night)
Hoffman's Mill was a popular yearly event, the club ran there Anzac Day Motorkhana's.
By 1988 the club had secured land at Benger on the South West Highway, this enabled them to build there own track and run regular meetings in conjunction with the light car club.
The Benger events were held at two different locations on private property before settling at a third known as Sandlewook Park in 1992, During the Benger era the club also ran Hillclimb events at Wellington Dam and Meelup.
In 2002 the club ran a Cape to Cape rally which covered 500kms throughout the South West on sealed public roads.
By 2008 all the motorsport codes in the area, Speedway, Motocross and Go Karting had assisted in the South West Touring Car Club securing a lease at the back of the speedway to build a new Autocross track, At the same time the Driver Training complex was built on the Common car parking area in the centre of all the venues,
A committee has been formed from the four clubs and the driver training centre to work with the city of Bunbury to control the precinct.