The
Canberra Bulls
Speedway Club
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Cynthia Boocock, Ove Fundin, Karan Walker, Nigel Boocock and John Walker.
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L-R: Exeter Falcons, Neil Street (left) and Martin Ashby, leading Geoff Mudge (Poole Pirates) in 1968; in Swindon Robins colours in 1966; More recently - still actively working for speedway. He will be very much missed.
10 September Update: Minutes of the 16th August Club Meeting are available. Highlights from the Minutes: - meeting with consultant Brendan Lynch, decided to hold a display of bikes, photos etc at the 6th November Markets at Hall Showgrounds. Next meeting 7pm 13 September at the Weston Club.
18 August Update: The first meeting with consultant Brendan Lynch, who we have contracted to help us draw up a Strategic Plan for the Club and for bringing Speedway back to Canberra, was held on 16th August, and we outlined the current state of the club, our ambitions, and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This consultancy is funded by the ACT Government's Community Motorsport Development Programme. We also decided to hold a display of bikes, photos etc at the 6th November Markets at Hall Showgrounds. This will be a good opportunity to recruit new members and get local people revved up about the idea of bringing speedway back to the Canberra region.
7 August Update: The Officials Course, run by Motorcycling NSW on Friday 5th August, was well attended, with seven current Bulls members and a number of other local motorcyclists participating. It is good to see such enthusiasm for officiating! Our next Committee Meeting will be on Tuesday 16th August at the Weston Club, 7pm start. All members are invited to attend. The main agenda item will be our first meeting with consultant Brendan Lynch, who we have contracted to help us draw up a Strategic Plan for the Club and for bringing Speedway back to Canberra. This consultancy is funded by the ACT Government's Community Motorsport Development Programme.
28 July Update: We will be holding an Officials Course, run by Motorcycling NSW, on Friday 5th August at the Kangaroos Club, Queanbeyan, 6:30 start. All members are invited to attend and encouraged to become qualified speedway officials. This course will cover the basics that apply to all motorcycling officials. There is no cost involved.
23 July Update: We held a short AGM on Tuesday 19th July, in which all serving Committee members were returned. This was followed by a General Meeting, attended by Daniel Gatt and Mark Louis from Motorcycling NSW. We explained the objectives of the Club, and the difficulties we face, and were pleased to hear of a number of ways inn which MNSW can help.
30 June Update: Minutes of the 21st June Club Meeting are available. Highlight from the Minutes: - ACT Government Grant Application re. Business Plan – has been approved. Planning to write to both the Moruya and Bega Clubs seeking their operational intentions. AGM – will be held on 19 July 2011 at the Weston Club, 1 Liardet Street, Weston ACT. Letters will be sent to all members notifying them of the meeting. Nominations open for CBSC Official positions. MNSW Seminars – Applications completed and will be forwarded. CBSC Spring Promotion – The Austrian Club is to be contacted re. possible venue for display and promotion day.
7th June Update: We have been informed that our application for funding to employ a consultant to help us develop a strategic plan for speedway in the ACT has been successful!!! Any support, or ideas that might go into this strategic plan would be very welcome.
11th May Update: Minutes of the 11 May Club Meeting are available. Highlights from the Minutes: - We are now affiliated to MNSW. Submission to the ACT Motorsports Development Program, if successful, would result in funding to develop a strategic plan for the sport in the ACT, and speedway's future participation in the ACT Motorsports Funding Program. Proposal to Surfair Speedway regarding the running of this year's Jack Hogg meeting at Moruya in August.
7th May Update: Sadly, we have lost yet another meeting place! After the Serbian Club went out of business a couple of months ago, we found a convenient location in the Services Club, Manuka. But after holding only two meetings there, the place was completely destroyed by fire last week. Our next Committee meeting will be this coming Wednesday – at the Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, where it all started. We have successfully applied for affiliation to MNSW, so holding courses for speedway officials will be on the agenda. We have also made a submission for funding to the ACT Motorsports Development Programme.
26th April Update: Minutes of the 20th April Club Meeting are available. Highlight from the Minutes: - Committee members will meet consultants after Easter to put together a submission to the ACT Motorsports Development Program. The Canberra Times printed the following article in its local news pages on Sunday 24th April:
14th April Update: Dave Clifton's trip to Broadford to fly the Bulls' colours at the SSRAV Club day and Classic Meeting didn't turn out the best. See the photo sequence 40, and 43-47 at Martin Creely's website: - click here. Martin is a regular photographer at Broadford and you can see plenty of his work at www.ssrav.org.au. Fortunately, latest word from Dave is that he has some broken ribs but otherwise not too bad.
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28 March Update: Albury Wodonga combined dirt track/speedway Club day on Sunday 10th April. - A chance for people to try the new speedway track out. The track is located on the Lincoln causeway Wodonga. Contact Peter on 0412213614 if you would like to come. If required, camping at the track would be ok.
14 March Update: Minutes of the 9th March Club Meeting are available.
8 March Update: The next Committee meeting (Weds 9th March) will be at the ACT Services Club in Manuka (next to the Manuka Oval). You can't miss it - old cottage with a couple of statues in the front yard. There is parking at the back, a well-stocked bar, and the bistro opens at 6pm each night. We will meet in the Boardroom (off to the right if you came in the front entrance). If we like it as a venue, the Club has offered us the room every month at no charge.
3 March update: The sounds of speedway may be coming back to Canberra at last, thanks to the ACT Motorcycle Club! Dave Clifton and John Walker have visited Fairbairn and checked out a suggested layout of the track, which would be 300m in length. It would present opportunities for riders to learn a wide range of techniques because of its size, shape and geography. Because it has to be fitted into the pre-existing dirt track, the speedway track would have comparatively long straights and tight bends - more like a British track than the majority of Australian tracks (almost exactly the same dimensions as Oxford). Adding to the uniqueness of the layout is a gentle slope, which would have solo riders going slightly downhill into turn one, up through turn two and the back straight, with a downward slope again from turn three to the chequered flag. The possibility of a junior track inside would also exist. Generous spectator areas and all facilities would overlook the track, and existing dirt-track fencing would appear adequate. Some earthworks and track surface will be necessary, and the Club understands that the ACTMCC will be organising equipment soon. It won't be perfect, but it could be a very good start, after all the setbacks we have faced! Minutes of the 10th February Club Meeting are available. Note that future Committee meetings will be held on the second WEDNESDAY of each month (beginning 9th March) at a new venue TBA. Details will be on this site asap.
9th February update: The Club is sad to hear of the passing of Bill Powell's partner, Kerrie last week. As a number of our Committee members will be attending the funeral, we will be postponing our regular monthly club meeting one week until Thursday 17th February - venue to be advised.
15th December update: Minutes of the 9th December Club Meeting are available. Further discussions be held with the ACTMCC regarding the construction of a proposed speedway track at Fairbairn Park, Canberra.
11 December update: With Club President working overseas, there is not much happening in the Club at the moment. In the meantime, check Check out new website - www.speedwaychampions.com: - "A one-stop archive site for all Solo Speedway championship winners:- National world-wide A-Z of countries, plus Aussie State, U21 (World & National,) World, Long Track, Golden Helmets, League Riders Championships, etc.” As well as all national solo champions, (including Aussie of course,) there is an additional page on Australia, with all its many Champions, 2lap to 6lap, from 1926 onward, PLUS a table of Aussie State Solo champions from the same period to date.
28th October Update: Minutes of the 14th October Club Meeting are available. Mark Webber support. Progress on dirt track proposal.
27th October Update: One of these days, there should be a round of the Grand Prix in Canberra - we can dream!
13th September Update: Minutes of the 9th September Club Meeting are available. Decision to affiliate with MNSW. Link established with Edinburgh Monarchs,
16th August Update: Minutes of the 12th August Club Meeting are available. Discussion with Mark Webber management team re support. The Club now has its own website - you can enter http://www.canberrabullsspeedway.org.au , and it should take you straight there. Also, emails to canberra.bulls@ozemail.com.au should reach the President.
11th August Update: Minutes of the 15th July Club Meeting are available. Discussion with Queanbeyan Mayor re possible sites. Decision to hold meetings monthly, on the second Thursday each month. Promotional DVD produced.
12th July Update: Minutes of the 1st July Club Meeting are available. ACT Government advice.
24th June Update: Minutes of the 17th June Club Meeting are available. Waiting for ACT Government response. Planning for officials courses.
16th June Update: Minutes of the Club's first Annual General Meeting are available. An interesting year, but could have been much better! The following fortnightly Club Meeting discussed the officials' courses.
31st May Update: Minutes of the 20th May Committee Meeting are available. Another rejection from the greyhound club. Aiming to conduct race meetings at Albury next season. All members wishing to get officials' licences, please go to http://www.motorcycling.com.au/pg_disp.php?page=p07 , where the options are listed. You need to attend seminars and pass tests to become a licenced official. The calendar of seminars (complete with spelling errors) is:
You can choose to attend one of these (contact Megan at MNSW on 02 9635 9177. There is another option, however. Due to a large number of pre-organised seminars having to be cancelled in the past couple of years, MNSW has decided to organise additional seminars at clubs' request. We need to tell MNSW the type of seminar we require (most of us will need to do the General seminar), provide them with a list of attendees and 3 alternative dates to arrange with the presenters. MNSW will then do the rest. Please email john.walker@ozemail.com.au to confirm your interest. This invitation extends to potential officials from anywhere in the Canberra region, including the coastal centres (Moruya, Bega etc). When we have a full list of attendees, we may ask MNSW to conduct the seminar(s) in Canberra or in a town more convenient to the majority of attendees.
29th May Update: Support from local businesses: - the brochure that we have produced to explain our plans has been very well received by the local businesses, to the extent that almost all the advertising spaces were sold out within a week. This brochure will be distributed to local and national politicians (and anyone else in a position of influence!!) in an attempt to advance our case. Advertisers include HDL Projects Pty Ltd, Empire Management Services, Ocean Fresh Seafoods, MJM Speedway Spares, Plonk beer and wine specialists, Ziggy's Garden Fresh, and the Climate Doctor.
18th May Update: Minutes of the 6th May Committee Meeting are available. Still looking for a track!
Notice of Annual General Meeting: The first AGM of the Club will be held on Thursday 3rd June at the Serbian Club, Heard St, Mawson, ACT 2607. Start 7:00pm. The meeting will be followed by a general committee meeting. Nominations are now due for the following positions: Club President; Vice-President; Secretary; Treasurer; Public Officer (must be a resident of the ACT); Webmaster; General Committee Members. Nominations can be made in writing by email, letter or fax, indicating the proposer and seconder, who must both be current club members.
7th May Update: Two club members looking to buy speedway bikes: [1] Wanted - upright speedway bike - all considered - contact 0409 663 979; [2] For sale or swap for speedway bike - YZ250 motocrosser plus heaps of extras, spares and tyres, very good condition, $3,500 ono - contact 0458 181 787. Round 3 of the Nepean winter series kicks off again on Sunday 16th May, with junior and senior short track, senior solo, 350 solo, s/cars, junior and senior; Please nominate asap if you are riding on the day. Meeting starts 10am; scrutineering 9-am till 9.45am; rider briefing 9.50am; start practice 10am; any queries or nominations call Mick Holder on 0400 304 900.
6th May Update: Bega 22nd May: - We are looking for Evos and Classic solos for a static and mobile demonstration at Bega (http://www.sapphirespeedway.com.au/ ) on Saturday 22nd May. Sidecars would be welcome too. The track is a big one - about 500m - with a good surface for bikes (Dave Clifton found it a bit slick in practice last weekend, but it was not prepared for racing). Racing starts at 4pm. Further details from John on 02 6297 9764 or john.walker@ozemail.com.au. The club is considering adopting Bega as one of our "home tracks" during 2010-11.
Mildura Junior Motorcycle Club 2010 Winter Series Dates: Saturday 12th June 2010 (Ulysses’ Junior Wintersun & Classic Speedway); Saturday July 3rd 2010 (Jason Crump Shield); Saturday 7th August 2010 (Leigh Adams Cup); Saturday 11th September 2010 (tbc); Saturday 2nd October 2010 (Presentation). All dates may be subject to change due to weather, etc. Please check. Sign on time from 12 o’clock. Racing from 1pm. Canteen operating on track. PLEASE NOTE: SENIOR PRACTICE ALSO TO BE HELD ON DATES AS LISTED ABOVE. Junior nominations required on Monday prior to meeting dates. Please contact ROLY PAVER on 0408 502397 for junior nominations & general enquiries. Or email: rolandpaver@bigpond.com
5th May Update: Minutes of the 22nd April Committee Meeting are available. New talks with Greyhound Club.
19th April Update: Minutes of the 8th April Committee Meeting are available. Possible support from Red Bull.
31st March Update: Club shirts are now available - $50 each plus postage and packing. Men's sizes are Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, XXXL; women's sizes are 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. The shirts are black, 100% polyester, with the Bulls' logo embroidered in red above the pocket. The shirts are a "fitted" style, so if in doubt, order a size up. The men's version is pictured here on the left, the women's version on the right:
22nd March Update: Minutes of the 11th March Committee Meeting are available. Meetings with ACT MCC, Eaglehawk quarry owners. Update on Jack Hogg meeting at Moruya. Club shirts, banner.
8th March Update: Minutes of the 18th February Committee Meeting are available. Planning to meet with ACT MCC. Bulls to feature in the Jack Hogg meeting at Moruya.
18th February Update: Minutes of the 4th February Committee Meeting are available. Still searching for a track! Bulls offer to help run meetings at Moruya.
17th February Update: Dates and events:
Arunga Park Speedway 40 Years Reunion: - Julie Thomsen is looking for expressions of interest in holding a 40 year reunion for Arunga Park Speedway, Alice Springs. As the "official opening" was the 23rd April 1973 - they plan to hold it 19-21st April 2013. If you are interested, please email Julie on lanceandjulie74@hotmail.com, or call 0418 890 380. If anyone has old footage, photos, memorabilia, the postal address is PO Box 3295 Alice Springs NT 0871. All will be returned to original owner.
Why not Whyalla? - Message from Neil Burston: - Upcoming SA Long Track Championships, which was held at Port Pirie for a lot of years, will hopefully once again become an annual event at Whyalla. Contact either Neil Burston 0408315703 or Geoff Brown 0428897981. Running lots of classes with over $8000 prize money up for grabs – prize money for classics as well. Classes for Flat Track for the MX bikes as well as over 50s on 2v Bikes JAP ESO JAWA - and a class for British Sidecars - so get those old bikes out and - Japanese sidecars pre 78 as well as all the modern classes. There should be something for everyone, so come and have a go on the 850m crushed granite track. Supp Regs should be on the MA site shortly.
Date changes and Cancellations: - Undera on the 20th March has been transferred to March 27th for the GVMCC Club Day, and the 7th March has been transferred to a later date to be advised. This turns out to be good for those who had planned to go to Gosford for their 27th March meeting, which has been cancelled due to lack of helpers. The NSWSRA have a planned winter calendar with dates set at Nepean speedway and the new to be opened Kurri track. The Nepean meetings will include solo, evo solo's, 350 solo, sidecar, jnr sidecar, jnr mx short track and senior mx short track. Nepean dates are 7th March, 25th April, 16th May, 25th July, 5th Sep, 7th Nov. All meeting nominations to solo's and s/cars - Mick Holder - 0400 304 900 or email mick_holder@hotmail.com; evos - Neil Brett - 0419 298 168 or email NeilB@cschl.com.au. To contact the track on wet days or for practice dates call the caretaker Jaide Nicholls on 0247761 225.
11th February Update: The Club is very sad to learn of the passing of Mr Keith Webb, President of the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club, with whom we had been talking regarding speedway at the Greyhound track. We hope to resume negotiations with the CGRC in the near future.
1st February Update: Minutes of the 21st January Committee Meeting are available. No response yet from the Greyhound Club committee to the 30 January sidecar showdown meet at Gosford, to see how the sports coexisted and how the dog track is protected. Club invited to hold a meeting involving British U-21 team if we are up and running next season.
22nd January Update: New membership / licence card procedures: - Motorcycling Australia (MA) and the State Controlling Bodies (SCBs) advise of a change in procedure to the way that licences are issued to members. Previously, each type of licence has been issued separately, meaning that a member could hold multiple different licence cards with different licence numbers (eg an Official’s Licence, a Coaches Licence and a Rider’s Licence). From 20 January 2010, all SCB’s and MA will be issuing one membership card per member, which will have the details of all licences and accreditations that the member holds. Each member will be issued their own unique member number which can be used to identify them regardless of how they participate in an event.
Any licenses or endorsements issued that are associated with riding can be found on the front of the card. Any licenses or endorsements issued that are associated with officials can be found in the box on the bottom left on the back of the card. Any other licenses or endorsements issued can be seen in the box on the bottom right on the back of the card. The acronyms that will be used on the membership card are as follows:
For coaching accreditation, the Coach Licence is listed as COA with the levels set as CC (Club Coach), CL1 (Level 1), CL2 (Level 2). Coaching Endorsements include FMX (Freestyle Motocross) or RBF (Road Bike Freestyle). For officials accreditation, the Official Licence is listed as OFF with the levels set as L1 (Level 1), L2 (Level 2), L3 (Level 3), L4 (Level 4). Officials Endorsements are titled by discipline and title where DT – Dirt Track, EN – Enduro, HRR – Historic Road Race, MK – Minikhana, MT – Moto Trials, MX – Motocross, RR – Road Race, SM – Supermoto, SP – Speedway, TK – Track, and COC – Clerk of Course, J – Judge, M – Marshal, ME – Measurer, RS – Race Secretary, S – Steward, SC – Scrutineer, ST – Starter, T – Timekeeper, Types of riding licences (on the front) include: JCL - Junior Club, JNA - Junior National, JRN - Junior Restricted National, MIN - Mini, REC - Recreational, SCL - Senior Club, SNA - Senior National, SRN - Senior Restricted National, SON - One Event National Licence. Riding Endorsements (front) include: 15YO - 15 YO Rider, FMX - Freestyle Motocross, JUNIOR 125 / 150 - Junior 125 / 150, JUNIOR 250 - Junior 250, QU - Quads, RBF - Road Bike Freestyle, SCP - Side Car Passenger, SCR - Side Car Rider, SP - Speedway, SX - Supercross. Other licences (on the back) include: ATO - Alcohol Test Officer, ENT - Entrant, MEC - Mechanic, NCO - Noise Control Officer, VI - Venue Inspector.
When a member renews one of their licence types, a new membership card will be issued with the valid expiry date recorded on the card. If you have any questions or queries regarding these changes, feel free to contact your SCB, or Andrew Weiss at MA via email: andrew@ma.org.au or (03) 9684 0503.
8th January Update: Minutes of the 7th January Committee Meeting are available. The Canberra Times publicity resulted in a meeting with the President of the Greyhound Club, where it was agreed that the Bulls would invite the Greyhound Club committee to the 30 January sidecar showdown meet at Gosford, to see how the sports coexisted and how the dog track is protected. Mick Hayes was elected to take the vacant position of Secretary.
3rd January Update: Canberra Times article supports Bulls approach to Greyhound Club:
21st December Update: The Canberra Bulls now have a Facebook entry. Check it out and become a fan of the club.
18th December Update: Minutes of the 17th December Committee Meeting are available. The Serbian Club Expo was a great success, with a steady stream of visitors - most of whom added their names to our supporters' roll. Photos below:
12th December Update:
2010 Aussie Solo Speedway Championship rider lists: Motorcycling Australia (MA) is pleased to announce that the following riders are seeded to the 2010 Australian Solo Speedway Championship: Troy Batchelor, Jason Doyle, Cory Gathercole, Chris Holder, Mark Lemon, Sam Masters, Ty Proctor, Rory Schlein, Darcy Ward, Cameron Woodward. The following riders have been offered a place in qualifying which will take place at Mildura on 30 December 2009: Jake Anderson, Mitchell Davey, Alex Davies, Josh Grajezonek, Jay Herne, James Holder, Mark Jones, Robert Ksiezak, Todd Kurtz, Dakota North, Michael Penfold, Taylor Poole, Ryan Sedgmen, Justin Sedgmen, Kozza Smith, Rick Wallace, First Reserve: Arlo Bugeja, Second Reserve: Robert Branford.
9th December Update
Click here for a video promo for the Serbian
Club Expo.
27th November Update
Committee members please note: Special Meeting at the Serbian Club, Herd Street, Mawson, NEXT Thursday 3rd December for the sole purpose of finalising details for the display on December 13th. Contact Lee Donnelly on 02 6295 0606 or getfresh@fyshwickfreshfoodmarkets.com.
19th November Update
Posters to be distributed around Canberra to generate interest in the Club.
17th November Update
Minutes of the 12th November Committee Meeting are available. Not a lot to report: - Proposed static display day at the Serbian club confirmed for 13th December. At least 2 x solos and 1 x sidecar have been promised. There appears to be plenty of memorabilia to put up.
9th November Update
The Gillman Classic provided the expected tough opposition for Dave Clifton, who got a number of thirds and didn’t make the final. The 4 riders that made the final were all ex British league riders, Mitch Shirra having made the world final 5 times, and the class was won by Nigel Saddler. Kenny Carratt made the final in the JAP/Eso class & came a well deserved 3rd. Steve Mesics came late because of mechanical problems on the road & missed his first heat then had problems with his bike. Everyone was impressed with the Gillman venue - obviously the place we need to emulate......
5th November Update
The meeting last week was cancelled due to the number of members away in SA for the oldies championship, therefore no Minutes produced. We have locked in the 13th December for the static “open” day at the Serbian Club, Herd Street, Mawson. As there is not a great deal of time prior to that date, the next meeting of the Bulls will be held at that venue at 7pm next Thursday, 12th November, NOT the German Club.
25th October Update
Dave Clifton to represent the Bulls at the Gillman Speedway Classic Meeting. Dave will be facing five times World Championship finalist, Mitch Shirra, former South Australian State Champions Nigel Sadler and Mark Stevens, and NT Champion Scott Norman amongst others. The meeting takes places on Saturday night, 31 October with over 40 races for 7 categories — J.A.P./ESO powered Solo bikes with riders over 50 years of age; 2 valve Jawa Solo bikes; 4 valve Solo bikes; British engine Sidecars; Japanese engine Sidecars; Post Classic Sidecars and Three Quarter Midgets, with riders from SA, WA, Vic, ACT, NSW, Qld and NZ.
16th October Update
Minutes of the 15th October Committee meeting are available - click here. Highlights of the meeting: The Club is to "get out and about" a bit more. While we still don't have a track of our own, members will be encouraged to wear the Bulls' race jacket at speedway meets, we are investigating club clothing etc, we are planning to hold a social on 20th December, and we will be going to the Newcastle round of the 2010 Aussie Solo Championships as a group.
6th October Update:
Kel Hannon (kelhannon@iinet.net.au) has a very good condition GM SRB8 (8 bolt head) engine and other bits for sale. Email him if you are chasing bits.
4th October Update: - Bulls Roar Again!
The Canberra Bulls' race jacket appeared in a race for the first time in two decades at Nepean Speedway on 26 September 2009, when Club Treasurer, Dave Clifton, raced in the last of the Winter Series.
Posing for the camera with Bulls' enthusiastic Scottish supporter, Jim Smith, and looking nervous before his first heat.
Away to a good start, and in great-looking action during the meeting. It wasn't quite a fairy tale finish - a lost chain robbed him of the series victory, but the race jacket never got dirty! We look forward to more Bulls' race appearances.
2nd October Update
Minutes of the 2nd October Committee meeting are available - click here. Highlights of the meeting: the meeting with the Canberra Airport management was very positive, but didn't identify options for a track; however, there is a possibility of land near Canberra becoming available for us to build a track. To begin with, it could be just a practice track, and we would still pursue other options for racing. Again, we feel that the pieces of the jigsaw are starting to come together.
Supp Regs for 2010 Solo Speedway Championship: Motorcycling Australia has released the Supplementary Regulations and Entry Forms for the 2010 Australian Solo Speedway Championship. The Championship will be held as a three-round Series across three different Australian states in early January 2010, as follows:
• Round 1: Gillman Speedway, NSW, 2 January 2010
• Round 2: Mildura Speedway, VIC, 3 January 2010
• Round 3: Newcastle Speedway, SA, 9 January 2010
Entries into the Australian Solo Speedway Championship close at 5:00pm on Thursday 3 December 2009, and completed forms should be sent to:
Sam Ryan, Events Officer, Motorcycling Australia, PO BOX 134, South Melbourne VIC 3205
To download a copy of the Supp Regs and Entry Forms, simply visit the MA website at www.ma.org.au/speedwaysuppregs.
26th September Update:
Minutes of the 17th September Committee meeting are available - click here. Highlights of the meeting included news that the Greyhound Club might be reconsidering their decision at some time in the future. There was also news of other potential breakthroughs, including a meeting arranged with the Canberra Airport management. There was a very positive feeling in the Club that we are now heading in the right direction(s).
6th September Update:
Minutes of the 3rd September Committee meeting are available - click here. Wanted speedway leathers/kevlar suit to fit 5`10`` 75kgs. Also speedway boots size 9 & steel shoe. Please contact Steve on 0408 489 683.
3rd September Update:
We have a number of former riders keen to buy speedway solos, uprights and laydowns, if you have one unused in your shed.
23 August 2009 Update:
1. The Club has received a letter from the Canberra Greyhound Club declining our proposal to build a speedway track at their stadium in Symonston, Canberra, on the grounds of possible damage to the upgraded surface of the greyhound race track. However, we have responded, providing some compelling reasons for them to change their mind (see below). We await their response. I recommend the links (all clickable) in this letter to anyone who is trying to establish new speedway tracks around Australia. That connection with the greyhound racing fraternity has never been strong in Australia, but they are far potentially better track partners than the four-wheelers have proven to be! You could not get a better endorsement than a greyhound racing website saying that "Speedway provided the perfect partner to greyhound racing"!
Dear Keith
Thank you for your letter regarding our proposal for speedway racing in your infield. As you may imagine, we are extremely disappointed that your committee has turned down the proposal, on the grounds of possible damage to the upgraded surface of the greyhound race track.
We made a considerable effort to demonstrate that there is, in fact, no likelihood of damage, noting that there are tracks in the UK where the two sports have co-existed happily for many decades. Should any of your committee members wish to undertake a study tour to ascertain the facts, we would be pleased to provide you with an extensive itinerary of these stadiums, so that they can see for themselves.
I attach some excerpts from a UK greyhound racing website www.greyhoundderby.com/, which was initially designed “to chart the history of greyhound racing in England, with particular emphasis on the English Greyhound Derby”. This website includes as one of its links “A Brief History of British Speedway”. If you follow that link, you will find the following statements, together with many others telling similar stories:
“As the public’s interest in greyhound racing grew there became a need to make greater use of the tracks and stadia for them to become financially viable. Speedway provided the perfect partner to greyhound racing”.
Following the link to Wembley Lions:
“The first greyhound meeting took place at Wembley on 10th December 1927, the first winner starting from Trap 4 was a dog called Spin. It has hosted some of the major events of the sport, including the Coronation Stakes over 490 metres, first won by Bearded Biddy in 1928, the Gold Cup over 655 metres, first won in 1929 by Chain Mail, and the Trafalgar Cup over 490 metres”.
“Speedway racing first came to the World Famous Wembley Stadium on 16th May 1929. It is recorded that a gate of 19,456 witnessed this first meeting, which was to prove successful for Roger Frogley in the Empire Stadium Shield”.
Following the link to Belle Vue Aces:
“The first greyhound track to open in England was at Belle Vue, situated in the Gorton area of Manchester, when racing took place on 24th July 1926. Whilst the first meeting was well attended by a crowd in excess of 1700 people, interest quickly grew and crowds could be numbered in the thousands. The very first race to be run in England was won by Trap 1 Mistley”.
“Belle Vue is steeped in history and opened its doors to dirt track speedway for the first time on 28th July 1928 in the Gorton area of Manchester. The Golden Helmet in that initial meeting was won by Frank Arthur”.
Following the link to Coventry Bees:
“Greyhound racing has taken place on a number of different tracks within the Coventry area, initially in Lythalls Lane and more recently at Brandon, with the first meeting taking place on 7th April 1928. The most prestigious race of the year is the Eclipse Stakes which was first run in 1938 when it resulted in a dead heat between Demotic Mick (of Greyhound Derby fame) and Catherine of Waterhall. To this day the club plays a prominent role in British speedway”.
Following the link to Oxford Cheetahs:
“Greyhound racing first took place at Oxford on the 397 metre circuit on 7th April 1939 and has witnessed some outstanding greyhounds throughout its history. One of the most famous is the bitch Narrogar Ann who had her first race at Oxford on 27th March 1948 and later went on to win the 1949 English Greyhound Derby. The most prestigious race that was run at the circuit was the Oxfordshire Stakes over 450 metres.
Speedway racing first took place at the Oxford Stadium, on Sandy Lane, in 1939. That first meeting, on the sandy surface, took place on 8th April of that year and proved a success for Roy Duke. The team enjoyed Open racing in the period 1939-41, including a number of wartime meetings, which was rare. At the end of the War the team competed in the National Leagues third tier from 1949-50 and in the second tier the next year. Gradually gaining in experience, the team rose in the league structure and finally made the Premier League in 1995, and ultimately the Elite League in 1998”.
So you can see that the British greyhound racing community has welcomed speedway to its stadiums for over eighty years. It is worth repeating the quote “Speedway provided the perfect partner to greyhound racing”. I recommend the website to your committee members.
If, at some stage, your committee would like to resume dialogue on the proposal, we would be delighted to hear from you, as we remain convinced that it would be a mutually beneficial project.
Yours
John Walker
President, Canberra Bulls Speedway Club.
2. We have discussed other possible locations in the Canberra region with staff of the ACT Government's Territory Venues and Events branch. Some promising ideas, but nothing concrete yet.
3. Terry Poole and John Walker recently visited the Albury Wodonga motorcycle complex, where a very usable speedway track has been built. It needs very little work to make it licencible for speedway, and we suggest that Canberra Bulls members might be interested in racing there in the forthcoming season.
