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Next
Meeting:
OPENING
NIGHT
Saturday October 25th
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ADULTS: |
TBA |
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PENSIONERS/ STUDENT
CONCESSION: |
TBA |
STUDENTS:
(13-15 years) |
TBA |
CHILDREN:
(12 & Under) |
TBA |
FAMILY:
(2 Adults & up to 4
Children under 12) |
TBA |
Sign-In Box
Opens
at 2pm
Gates Open at 5pm
Racing from 6pm!!
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The Speedway City racetrack complex
began life as Speedway Park back in 1979
- the same year as the stadium's
predecessor, Rowley Park, closed its
gates for the final time. Rowley Park
operated for 30 years from 1949 but this
famed speedway track was running on
borrowed time by the mid-1970s. Its
facilities were becoming dilapidated,
and Rowley's close proximity to housing
developments meant that a replacement
venue was becoming a high priority. The
Racing Drivers Association which
conducted racing at Rowley Park, began
considering several sites for a new
racetrack, including parcels of land at
Globe Derby and near Grand Junction
Road. The decision was finally made to
purchase a large block of land at
Virginia, adjacent to Adelaide
International Raceway with plenty of
room for car parks and a large pit area
- both these features being in short
supply at the famous brickpit.
A licence extension was granted for
racing to continue at Rowley Park for a
further couple of years in 1977, after
the local Council could see that work
was underway for the new stadium at
Virginia, and Rowley's final show was
held in April 1979.The grandstand
seating was transferred from Brompton to
Virginia, but most of the other
infrastructure was brand new, including
an impressive two-storey administration
complex boasting media room, officials
centre, sponsors room, and VIP bar.
After an enormous amount of effort
involving contractors with speedway
connections, and also volunteer labour
from RDA members, Speedway Park opened
its gates on November 2, 1979 with a
crowd of over 7000 on hand to welcome a
new chapter in Adelaide's oval track
history.
The RDA conducted racing at this venue
initially, with Jim Niemann installed as
manager for the first season, carrying
over his duties from Rowley Park, before
he left to continue a career in retail
electronics. One of the highlights of
this debut season was the running of the
1979/80 national Sprintcar title, which
although hampered by unkind weather,
eventually saw Steve Brazier defend the
title he had won at Warrnambool the
previous year.
Graeme Lewis was appointed manager at
Virginia in 1980 and oversaw the
successful early years when large crowds
ventured out weekly to this northern
location, witnessing some fantastic
racing from a variety of sections, both
bikes and cars.
John Hughes, currently head of World
Series Sprintcars, became manager after
Graeme Lewis, and the RDA leased out the
stadium to a private promotion team -
MJS Promotions, headed by local
entrepreneur Mike Powell. Malcolm Cribb
eventually became manager under Mike
Powell, after John Hughes left to take
up his involvement in World Series. Mal
Cribb helped oversee some extensive
improvements to Speedway Park, including
a greatly increased pit area with
concrete pads for competitors, large pit
office, on-site methanol bowser and
car-washing facilities. This upgrade
helped consolidate the racetrack's
reputation as one of the best
purpose-built speedway venues in the
world, a view echoed by the many
overseas competitors who raced there
during the 80s and 90s.
One of the highlights for MJS was
conducting the 1988 Australian Sprintcar
titles, won by George Tatnell. The RDA
had been briefly involved again in
running Speedway Park with a four-man
team headed by Gary Hoffmann, the others
being Sam Matheson, Colin Zytveld and
Graham West, and once MJS departed the
scene, Graeme Lewis returned as manager,
overseeing racing the early 1990s until
the track was sold by the RDA early in
1996.
Speedway Park was put up for tender, the
successful bidders being speedcar driver
Bob Sincock and former Rowley promotions
girl Wendy Turner. This livewire pair
formed a company (Speedway City Pty Ltd)
and renamed the venue. Speedway City was
born and is already preparing to gear up
for its fourth season at Virginia -
potentially one of the most successful,
with the running of the 1999/2000
Australian Sprintcar titles as a
definite highlight.
During its 20 year history, Speedway
Park/Speedway City has hosted some
phenomenal racing and seen several
national titles decided. The stadium is
about to embark on another chapter as we
approach the new millenium.
To quote Speedway City's early slogan.
"We're Back On Track!" The Fastest Dirt
Track In South Australia
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