YASS MARCHMONT RACECOURSE & MOTOR RACING CIRCUIT

YASS (NSW)

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1926 - MARCHMONT RACE COURSE SPEEDWAY

Motor Cycle Speedway racing events in the Yass area first commenced at the Marchmont Racecourse in 1926, These meetings were organised by the Yass Motor Cycle Club.

1971 - MARCHMONT MOTOR RACING CIRCUIT

Marchmont Speedway was a short circuit track with right angle bend in its layout, The tracks official opening was on Sunday the 14th of November 1971.

The circuit was built in the centre of the horse racing circuit, The horse racing circuit currently still hosts the annual Picnic Race Day event.

It is believed that the speedway circuit closed in the mid 1990's

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1971 - CANBERRA TIMES REPORTED

Opening

YASS, Sunday - The Marchmont Motor Racing Circuit at Yass was officially opened today by leading rally driver Jack Murray, About 3,000 people attended the opening and gate takings were approximately $1,100.00, One hundred drivers from all parts of the state attended and took part in the thirty seven event programme.

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(Editorials John Campbell)

1972 > 1975 - GOUGH WHITLAM AC QC.

Alan Garvey recalls: Prime Minister Gough Whitlam came to a meeting at Marchmount, sat on Douglas Platts bike and had a few yarns with the riders.

Gough was the twenty first Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1972 through to 1975, He led the Australian Labor Party to power for the first time in twenty three year at the 1972 election, Most would remember Gough's sacking by the then Govenor General John Kerr in 1975.

Gough Whitlam died on the 21-11-2014 aged 98.