More History

1949 / 50 Rowley Park Speedway meeting January 11.

This meeting was marred by a series of accidents causing many races to be cancelled due to a lack of both competitors and servicable machines…. Gordon ” PUD ” Freeman of Prospect was admitted to the R.A.H. with a probable fractured spine after he was thrown from Vern Gvatter’s sidecar, Roy Anderson the rider of the other sidecar was shaken but unhurt. George Robertson was outstanding winning over Ron Anderson and Vern Gautler…. Solo’s 1st Don Prettyjohn, 2nd Bill Maddern and 3rd Merv Harding…. Speedcar scratch went to Wal Watson over Tut Hogan and Gordon Haines. The Open Speedcar Feature was Ray Huppatz 1st, Gordon Haines 2nd and Rick Harvey 3rd….( This was the same month that Nuriootpa held The Australian Grand Prix under the direction of the Barossa Valley Vintage Festival Association which attracted 42 entries and run over 34 laps / 103 miles. )

1949 / 50 Rowley Park Speedway meeting Wednesday March 22.

Sam Ellsworthy won the interstate Speedway Match Race for Speedcars at Rowley Park Speedway bettering his own lap record time. The Speedcar Scratch was R. Huppatz, S. Ellsworthy and A. Beasley. The Speedcar Handicap was A. Golding, P. DeMack and Arn Sunstrom 3rd…. The all in 10 lap Butchers Picnic was won by Sam Ellsworthy from S. Beasley and R. Huppatz after a child spectator was hurt when Gordon Haines hit another competitor and headed for and breaking the safety fence…. Sidecar feature went to George Robertson ahead of Charlie McConnell and L. Dyson.

1954 / 55 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 15.

Stan Dyson won the sidecar star scratch race while Brian Cameron won the handicap final…. Arne Sunstrom, Harry Neale’s arch rival, scooped the pool by winning the Speedcar stars scratch, Speedcar final and feature wins.

1958 / 59 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 6.

The late Bob ” Two Gun ” Tattersal made his Speedcar debut at Rowley Park Speedway winning his very first start. Unfortunately the high was short lived, Bob Tattersal hit the wall in the Feature Race after a steering problem…. Stan Smith lowered the Sidecar lap record to 53.2 seconds…. While Ken McKinlay (Scotland) and Roger Forsberg shared the Solo wins.

1958 / 59 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 9.

Arn Sunstrom was fatally injured during the Speedcar Feature when his Speedcar flipped…. The restart saw Bob Tattersall win from Harry Neale in a great battle…. Don Willison won the Sidecar feature ahead of Bruce Kelly…. Young and Scott shared the Solo’s while Ray Foot won the TQ feature….

1958 / 59 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 10.

The English Solo Test Team of McKinlay, Hussey, Hagen, McGregor, Nicholls and Mountford defeated Australia… Speedcar feature went to Bob Tattersall….

1958 / 59 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 11.

Jack Young won his 5th South Australian Solo Championships ahead of Forsberg ( Sweden ), Hussey 3rd and Haydon 4th…. News hit Rowley Park from Claremont that local Speedcar Ace Harry Neale was fatally injured as his Speedcar flipped 5 times…. Stan Smith won the Sidecar feature ahead of Don Willison in a time of 53.2 seconds, a new track record….

1958 / 59 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 12.

Jimmy Davies appeared this night for the Australian Sidecar Speedway Championship but it was taken out by local star Don Willison from Bruce Kelley…. Promotor Kym Bonython took out the Speedcar feature while Ray Foot won the T.Q. main….

1958 / 59 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 13.

Promotor Kym Bonython won the Speedcar Feature ahead of Sendy while Harry Neale won the 20 Lap Speedcar Race…. Stan Smith won the South Australian Sidecar Championships in a new track record ahead of at the time the current Australian Sidecar Champion Jimmy Davies ( N.S.W.) and Don Willison….

1958 / 59 Rowley Park Speedway meeting mumber 14.

The main event was the South Australian T.Q. ( now known as Formula 500 ) Championships that was won by Ray Foot ( Leon Hall ) ahead of Len Talbot and Ron Inwood…. Sidecar feature went to Don Willison ahead of Bruce Kelley….

1958 / 59 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 15.

Bill Curnow won the Rick Harvey Memorial Speedcar Titles from Bruce Rickard and Murray Hoffman…. Ray Skipper won the Super Modified feature ( This was the night Bill Wigzell made his debut in the famous number 88 “Suddenly”)…. Jimmy Gavros won the Solo feature from Mudge and Snider…. Boulger, Hodgson and Baldock were eliminated after a spectacular three bike crash…. 16 year old Kym Amundsen made his debut…. Neil Munro won the Sidecar feature ahead of Cunningham and Bowyang….

1958 / 59 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 17.

Victorian driver Frank Laceywon the 25 lap South Australian Stock Car Championship ahead of Moss Marchant and Murray Parker…. Ray Skipper was outed when he lost a wheel in a collision…. Dean Hogarth won the Speedcar feature ahead of Murray Hoffman…. Jim Silvy won the TQ feature from Bray and Talbot…. Don Willison won the 6 lap Sidecar feature ahead of Kelley and Len Bowes….

1962 / 63 Rowley Park Speedway Feb 2nd.

This was the night when the late Bob ” Two Gun ” Tattersall performed his spectacular 3 wheel driving act…. The event was the 50 lap Australian Speedcar Derby and it was on lap 26 that Bob Tattersal lost his front left hand wheel and carried on racing and actually over taking cars until the engine gave way…. ( A picture of Bob Tattersall on 3 wheels in pictures )…. Ron Wood won the 50 lap Australian Speedcar Derby from Leroy Warriner ( U.S.A. ) and Bill Humphries ( Victoria )….

1964 / 65 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 15. 22 / 01 / 1965.

Bruce Kelly won the sidecar stars race while English rider Brian Elliot won the Solo feature…. Syd Clarke ( N.S.W. ), Joe Brandler and Bill Curnow won the heats for the Harry Neale Memorial….. Bill Curnow took out the feature … The Harry Neale Memorial from Bob Lane and Dean Hogarth…. The Stockcar feature race was won by Morris Watts of Murray Bridge in a 31 car field….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 1.

Rowley Park Speedway’s first meeting was held back two weeks due to rain…. Stock Saloon feature went to Dennis Freeman from Paul Gustaffson and Ian Jones…. Phil Herreen won the Super Modified feature from Denton and Amos…. Greg Anderson won the Speedcar feature from Joe Brandler and Peter Maltby…. Trevor Muir won the TQ’s…. While Cunningham took out the Sidecars from Len Bowes…. Solo handicap final was won by then World Champion Ivan Mauger from John Boulger and Mudge, while the Solo feature went to Charlie Monk….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 2.

Jim Baker won the Production Stock Car feature…. John Moyle won the Super Modified feature with a new 15 lap record time of 4.17.4. Phil Herreen was 2nd and Denton 3rd…. Col Hennig won the Speedcar feature from Murray Hoffnam and Dean Hogarth…. The then current South Australian Speedcar Champion Rex Hodgson won the TQ feature from Tony Heard…. Solo Stars saw a win to Charlie Monk from John Boulger while Mudge won the Solo handicap from Boulger and Blythe…. The Solo feature was won by Blythe from Mudge and Boulger…. Len Bowes won the Sidecar stars event in new record time of 53 seconds…. Len Bowes then went on to win the Sidecar feature from Cunningham and Lines….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 6.

Bruce Rickard won The Harry Neale Memorial with Dean Hogarth 2nd and Bill Wigzell 3rd…. Dennis Shipp won the Stock Salcar 20 lap feature…. Ray Skipper won the Super Modified feature coming from the rear of the field while Denton and Ian Jones finished in the minor placings…. Rex Hodgson won the TQ’s…. Morrie Loveday won the sidecar final Chappel was 2nd…. Solo feature was Laurie Hodgson from Mudge and John Boulger.

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 9.

This meeting saw the U.S.A.C. one armed Jim ” Magoo ” Maguire make an appearance. Jim Maguire drove the Kym Bonython Offy and took 3rd in both the Speedcar scratch race and the Speedcar feature. Bill Curnow won the feature ahead of Sendy and Maguire…. McKay won the Solo feature from King and Charlie Monk…. Alan Mariner won the TQ feature ahead of Hunt and Latz…. Zeke Agars won the Super Modified feature from Denton and Herreen…. Dennis Freeman won the huge 27 driver 20 lap Stock Car feature….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 10.

The Main event was the Craven Filter National Championship round…. Blair Shephard from Queensland and George Tatnell win two special races but the final went to 3 Queenslanders in Goode 1st from Shephard and Watt in a time of 10mins 59 secs a new track record…. Phil Herreen won the Super Modifieds from Zeke Agars and Harris in another new track record…. In the Stars match race Ray Skipper and Denton tied on 6 points a piece but Ray Skipper recieved a one month suspension for fencing Denton…. Dennis Freeman won the Stock Car race again in a new track record time….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 11.

Viv Wilks won the TQ Midget Championships ahead of Vandenburg and Rex Hodgson…. In the Solo’s the late Dwayne Keeter ( U.S.A. ) guested winning his heat but was unplaced in the Solo final. John Boulger won the Solo final ahead of Haythorpe and Hodgson…. Len Bowes won the Sidecar feature from Cunningham and Harris (W.A.)….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 12.

Marshall Sargent ( U.S.A. 0 appeared in the Super Modifieds but had to settle for minor placings as Peter Denton took the feature and a match race series…. Joe Brandler ( S/C Peugeot ) won the Speedcar feature from Colin Hennig and Kym Bonython…. G Daddow won the Stock Cars…. Burger King won the Solo feature ahead of Mudge and Haythorpe… In sidecars Max Cunningham won ahead of Len Bowes and Murray Williams….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 13.

One armed USAC driver Jim Maguire won the Golden Fleece 50 lap Speedcar Derby ahead of Oram ( N.S.W. ) and Maltby ( Vic. )…. Dennis Ship won the Production Stock Car Feature ahead of Jones and Freeman…. Viv Wilks won the T.Q / F500 Feature ahead of Marriner and Gear…. Phil Herreen won the Super Mod’s…. while D. Freeman won the 20 lap Stock Saloon Feature….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 14.

Phil Herreen won the South Australian Super Modified Titles ahead of Ray Skipper, Peter Denton and Ron Quigley…. Marshall Sargent (U.S.A.) had bbad handling problems and finished out of the placings…. Ivar Benneche won one of the 15 lap Stockcar races while Dennis Shipp won the other…. Jimmy Gavros won the Solo feature ahead of Mudge and Snider…. Neil Munro took out the Sidecar feature from Cunningham and Bowying….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 15.

Rowley Park Speedway hosted the South Australian Formula 500 / TQ Championships and winner for the second year was Ray Foot ( Leon Hall ) ahead of Len Talbot and Ron Inwood…. The meeting was marred by the fatal accident of Englishman Gerry Hussey after a TQ accident…. Don Willison won the Stock Car feature and Jack Scott taking the treble in the Solo’s….

1968 / 69 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 17.

Peter Maltby won the South Australian 30 lap Speedcar Championships in a record time of 8 minutes and 21 seconds. ahead of Greg Anderson, Murray Hoffman and George Tatnell fourth…. Dennis Shipp won the Stock Saloon Marathon after setting a new 10 lap record in his heat…. In the TQ’s Viv Wilks won the feature from Glassenbury. ( Just two weeks after Viv Wilks was crowned the 1979 TQ / Formula 500 South Australian Champion. )…. Bruce Smith won the Solo handicap final from Snider and Groth…. Len Bowes won the Sidecar final from Neil Munro and Cunningham….

1970 / 71 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 4.

Joe Brandler won the Speedcar Feature ahead of Bob Wente (USA) and Col Hennig…. Bob Linke won the Super Modified Feature ahead of Ray Skipper and Jungfer…. George Hunter (Scotland) won the Solo Scratch ahead of Charlie Monk…. George Hunter also won the Solo Feature ahead of Kym Amundsen…. Bill Angwin won the Sidecar Handicap final ahead of Deane Taylor and Bill Mitchell…. Len Bowes won the Sidecar Feature ahead of Bill Angwin after Deane and Kevin Taylor flipped….

1974 / 75 Rowley Park Speedway meeting number 14.

John Crowhurst won both the Production car events while Jeff Harris won both the Sprintcar events and Greg Anderson scored a well earned double in the Speedcars…. Kevin Taylor / Winston Pearce and Victorian Kevin Rooney / Ian Treloar proved a winning combination when they won the Don Willison Best Pairs Championship in the Sidecars, second home were Len Bowes / Don Mullins and Brian Flaherty / Andy Flaherty while Kym McConnell / David Parker and Neville Cowie / David Hendry were third….

1977 / 78 Rowley Park Speedway Trophy Winners.

Stock Saloons R.D.A. number 1 Graham Cowland from Murray Bridge…. Saloon Stars Tony Orlando…. Division 2 Scrath Ian Jones…. Most improved Alan Jarrett…. Rookie of the year Kym Cottrell…. Auto Welders feature John Crowhurst…. Fastest division 2 Jim Haseldene…. Fastest feature John Crowhurst…. Consolation Rod Prime…. Speedcars R.D.A. number 1 Rex Hodgson…. Clisby Rex Hodgson…. Division 2 Graham Snellgrove…. KLG feature Rex Hodgson…. Stars Scratch Greg Anderson…. Handicap Jeff Harris…. Rookie of the year Jeff Harris…. Most improved Jack Young…. Hindmarsh Mayoral Rex Hodgson…. Sprintcars R.D.A. number 1 Bill Wigzell…. Stars Bill Wigzell…. Handicap Bill Barrows…. Most improved Bill Barrows…. Coultard Welding Bill Wigzell…. Division 2 Ron Quigley on a count back with Moule and Sommerville…. Rookie of the year Chas Colandro…. ALL SECTIONS Best and Fairest Bill Barrows…. Aunger Driver of the Year Bill Barrows…. Lumleys Sportsman of the Year again Bill Barrows…. J. Farren Price Rex Hodgson and Les Williams….

1979 / 80 Speedway Park Season meeting number 4.

The Rick Harvey Memorial Speedcar Classic…. Heat 1 went to Zeke Agars while George Tatnell went out with a broken push rod…. Heat 2 went to Peter Maltby…. heat 3 to Rex Hodgson from Howard Marks (NT)…. George Tatnell qualified through the Repercharge…. The first winner of 25 lap The Rick Harvey Memorial Final at Speedway Park was Rex Hodgson ahead of Peter Maltby and George Tatnell….Bill Barrows (Mt Gambier) won the Sprintcar Feature ahead of David Vears (Mt Gambier) and Bob McMillan…. Solo feature was won by Rob Maxfield ahead of Doug Wyer (England) and Brett Saunders (Mt Gambier) with his leg trailing style (was brilliant to watch)…. Peter Menz won the Sidecar Feature ahead of Ken I”Anson and Brian Schultz.