Sunday History Photo / SA

Submitted: Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 05:28

ThreadID: 74370 Views:8028 Replies:10 FollowUps:3

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Member - Doug T (NT)

Rowley Park Speedway operated from 21-12-1949 to 6- 4-1979
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Managing Director ( 1952-73 Season ) Mr Kym Bonython
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Track Circumference 440 yards. ( 402.33 Mtrs)
Track Records in 1955-56.
SOLO : Jack Young - 3 laps Clutch Start, 49- 4/5 secs.
SIDECAR: Jim Davies - 3 Laps Clutch Start, 56- 2/5 secs.
Don Willison - 4 Laps Clutch Start, 75 secs.
SPEEDCAR: Joe Blow ( Gordon Schubert )- 4 Laps Rolling Start, 1 min 10-1/5 secs.
Roy Sands- 10 Laps Rolling Start, 2 min 56-3/5 secs.
STOCKCAR: Ted Fulgrabe - 20 Laps Rolling Start, 7min 23-3/5 sec
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Nine competitors lost their lives at Rowley Park in those 30 years, they were:

15-11-1957...Brian Bennett.... Sidecar
02-01-1959...Steve Howman.. Speedcar
23-01-1959...Arn Sunstrom.... Speedcar
06-03-1959...Gerry Hussey.... T.Q.
09-11-1962...Kon Lang...........T.Q.
17-12-1965...Peter Stirling......Solo
25-02-1966...Harley Dillon.......Speedcar
03-11-1967...Harry Denton......Solo
23-01-1970...Jimmy Gavros.... Solo

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Kym Bonython used to call into our cafe at Chain of Ponds, I think he had a property near Kersbrook,or Mt Pleasant, someone might verify that,

.

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Reply By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 08:48

Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 08:48

Ah Doug, That brings back memories of a miss-spent youth!

I knew Kym Bonython also through my involvement with the Sporting Car Club of SA. A very entrepreneurial character and a great guy, he was a "man for all seasons".

Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: Member - Malcolm (Townsville) - Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 10:03

Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 10:03

Thanks Doug

The pug hole in Brompton. I could never afford to pay to get in when I was a kid. Never missed a meeting though ;-) Gee that fence had some special holes in it.

Malcolm

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Reply By: Member - GeeTee (NT) - Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 10:13

Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 10:13

I was there the night Harry Neale was killed at Claremont speedway. In my younger days I was an avid speedway fan. I went on to be a competitor in speedcars in the late 60's and early 70's. Harry Neale raced in black and was a frequent visitor to WA.
Here is a clipping of the incident:

" February 6th, 1959 was the night one of the great names of Australian speedway racing, SA's Harry Neale, lost his life in a horror speedcar crash.
Neale was scheduled to make several appearances at Claremont but on the first night it all went horribly wrong and a pall of gloom was cast over the national speedcar scene. The fatal accident occured in the last race of the night- the feature event. He was placed in second spot to WA driver Peter Sharpe and when he tried to pass, their wheels touched. According to newspaper reports of the crash; " Harrys car leapt into the air, twisted and rolled five times. It is believed his safety belt broke as he was rolling the second time.
Mrs Neale, who accompanied Harry to Perth, raced across the track to her unconscious husband. He died in an ambulance on the way to hospital."

Peter Sharp was also killed in a speedcar accident.

AnswerID: 394860

Reply By: landseka - Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 11:10

Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 11:10

Ah yes, thanks for the memories. I was brought up living not far from Rowley Park pug hole.
There was a Memorial race for Harry Neale every year that I can remember.

Cheers

Neil.

AnswerID: 394863

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 13:16

Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 13:16

Ah yes Doug - when I was a kid, it didn't come any better than a night at Rowley Park - exciting was hardly the word, and I think the solo bikes topped the bill for me. Come to think of it, the exhausts had that lovely, distinctive vegetable oil smell - Castrol R maybe ?

AnswerID: 394877

Reply By: Member - Mark G Gulmarrad - Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 14:04

Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 14:04

Doug

this thread also brings back memories for me......as i raced for 4 years at Grafton,Lismore and Brisbane speedways.
here is some pics of my trusty old girl back in her prime,cheers.
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loved the Lismore track as it is one of the few remaining "old style" speedway tracks remaining with an old style timber grandstand.

AnswerID: 394886

Reply By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 20:52

Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 20:52

Gday Doug
I watched Don Willison in Darwin in 1969 70 and 71. A wizard with a side car.I new him also as a contract driver to Shell in Darwin.I think he was at one time Australasian side car champ.Vincent motor bike.
He was the type of person that would bring you a present at work just for a laugh. Could be a brown snake or a native wild cat. His side car swinger was Nocka Renfry. Another nice bloke.

Muzbry
Great place to be Mt Blue Rag 27/12/2012

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Reply By: Member - Crazy Dog (QLD) - Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 20:58

Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 at 20:58

Ah Doug you have done it again...

I also used to travel from the BAY - (Glenelg) with my Dad to the speedway... Used to watch for the gasometer's to know when we were nearly there.

Used to drive past Kym Bonython's place at the Grange from memory.

Also remember Clem Smith - the stock car champ...

Oh them were the days my friend..

Grrr!!!

AnswerID: 394934

Reply By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Monday, Dec 14, 2009 at 16:01

Monday, Dec 14, 2009 at 16:01

G'day Doug,

Yep, Rowley Park.. brings back many memories and apart from
anything else that was the first place I tried a DimSim........
half cooked, cold and greasy..didn't go with the beer at all..LOL LOL

cheers.....and a Merry Xmas pal.

Michael

AnswerID: 395009