BUNBURY
BLICKS RACEWAY 1965
In 1965 the club had to leave Blunders as mining had commenced in the area so with the assistance of many local earthmoving companies, Blicks Raceway was built with a back up track built at a Boyanup Gravel Pit. Even though Blicks was built on tidal flood plain it was the Bunbury Car Club's first purpose built Hard Track.
With Hard Track racing came many new innovations, Ladies and Mechanics races and the Butchers picnic being the last races of the day with all Sedans and Super Modifieds involved.
An Association was formed at this time with the Bunbury Motor Cycle Club whose members competed on a regular schedule.
The track was built by volunteers with the assistance of local business houses and was situated at Pelican Point Eaton on the edge of the Collie River. Racing was held at low tide and in the event the track was too wet the Club shifted to the Hurst Road Gravel Pit site.
The race track and spectator area was built next to Blicks Caravan Park and as many photos show, the Shoalhaven Caravan Park and Boat Shed can be seen over the river.
With the lease due to expire in 1970 and not to be renewed, the search was on for a new home for the Bunbury Car Club.
Potential sites included:
Part of the Hay Park Sporting Complex, farmland off Treendale Road Australind, farmland off South West Highway Waterloo, and the current site of the Bunbury City Speedway on North Boyanup Road.
This photo shows the car prior to being made into a Speedway racer.
Judy Jones (nee Doig)
Judy began racing in 1965 at the age of 16 in a Mark 1 Ford Zephyr much to the disgust of her father.
She raced the car through to 1967 then Judy retired the car and her dad gladly cut the car up with an axe and took it to the tip.
Judy then replaced the car with a Ford Customline V8 that she raced until 1969 when she married and gave Speedway away.
Judy began racing in 1965 at the age of 16 in a Mark 1 Ford Zephyr much to the disgust of her father.
She raced the car through to 1967 then Judy retired the car and her dad gladly cut the car up with an axe and took it to the tip.
Judy then replaced the car with a Ford Customline V8 that she raced until 1969 when she married and gave Speedway away.
RICHARD HARTZER 34 FORD HOT ROD
GEOFF PROSSER
Geoff started his mechanical apprentiship in Bunbury at Flanagan Motors in Spencer Street in the mid sixties.
Even at this early age Geoff had aspirations to build an engineering empire so started his own business that he worked at night and on weekends. By the time Geoff was 19 he had completed nearly four years of his apprentiship and had a flourishing business.
Geoff first built a Modified Hot Rod to race at Blicks, it was based on a Stretched Super Mod with 2 Holden Grey engines in line, running four carburettors with dual wheels at the rear. (see red car below)
Over time Geoff's attention shifted from Speedway to Drags and he was instumental in starting the South West Drag Club.
The Club went on to organise a Drag meeting on one of Bunbury's main streets which was a huge success.
Even at this early age Geoff had aspirations to build an engineering empire so started his own business that he worked at night and on weekends. By the time Geoff was 19 he had completed nearly four years of his apprentiship and had a flourishing business.
Geoff first built a Modified Hot Rod to race at Blicks, it was based on a Stretched Super Mod with 2 Holden Grey engines in line, running four carburettors with dual wheels at the rear. (see red car below)
Over time Geoff's attention shifted from Speedway to Drags and he was instumental in starting the South West Drag Club.
The Club went on to organise a Drag meeting on one of Bunbury's main streets which was a huge success.
Geoff Prosser - twin engine - dual wheels
Geoff Prosser - This car started out in Speedway and Geoff changed it to a Drag car
Nanette Melvin
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This slideshow has content on the Raceway including people, cars and some fantastic racing shots. Check out the background for interesting views of the area.
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The Bunbury Car Club Dinner and Presentation Night, 3/5/1969.
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BUNBURY TROTTING TRACK
In the late sixties the Bunbury Lions Club held the Annual Fair at the Bunbury Trotting Track with Motorcycle Stock Bike racing featuring during the day.
This was a "one off" event, very successful and no damage done to the horse track as the bikes ran road type tyres, not knobby scramble tyres.
This was a "one off" event, very successful and no damage done to the horse track as the bikes ran road type tyres, not knobby scramble tyres.
BRIAN MCRAE
That Honda Scamp
Brian McRae with the backing of South West Power World owner Ray Trebly came up with the idea of racing a 600cc Honda Scamp at Blicks in the final year.
Ray being the Honda dealer in Bunbury at the time found a damaged new car and Brian proceeded to build a speedway car. Brian went on to win many races that year including the South West Championship.
As the car was very light and unstable Brian continuously found himself upside down at the hand of the bigger Holdens and Fords. He set a record that year, winning an award for being upside down on 10 occasions.
Blicks also ran a Mechanics and Ladies race on the day. Brian's younger sister Allison drove the car to many wins as did Phil Bruce in the Mechanics race.
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Walk around shots taken in 2009. A lot of local kids go exploring over here and probably will never know the history of the area.
