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Rowley Park Speedway program in its first year and the Rowley Park Speedway final program ever...................    Motordrome Program 1936 which was on Anzac Highway Camden, a Kilburn Speedway Program 21st December 1946,  a Skyline Motordrome Speedway Program 1955 and a Thunderbird Raceway ( Virginia ) Program from 1971....

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Borderline Speedway
( Mount Gambier ) The name Borderline Speedway apparently come about because the locals recon that everyone is a 'borderline case'. We have great memories of this circuit located near the world famous Blue Lake. The circuit is aproximately 372 metres and is known as the Bullring. Borderline Speedway is aproximately 8 km's east of Mount Gambier on the Princess Highway. Borderline Speedway was origionally started 50 years ago over the Victorian border where they had acquired 12.5 acres of timber ground next to the Golf Course on Casterton Road but was scrapped before the first ever race meeting because of safety concerns. Thats when Hot Rod racers got together and purchased land at Glenburnie and the rest is history. Many great drivers have come out of Borderline Speedway likes of ( Super Modifieds ) David Vears, Bill Barrows, Graeme Button, Doug Tucker, Terry Clarke, Byron Clements, Jim Williams, Ray Scott, Robert Cutting, ( Stock Saloons ) Lance Bath, Roger Jennings number 99 fuel injected Honda Civic , again Robert Cutting in his GTR-XU1 Torana and Mulga Buttons number 17 Mini.... The safety fences at Borderline Speedway were the fences from Rowley Park Speedway after its closure. This great circuit is not like most others that it is not run by a promoter or promoters but instead it is successfully run by the club meaning all proceeds are returned to the track and grounds. A credit to all those involved.

Elliston Speedway 

The Elliston Speedway was formed in the late 1928 or early 1929 with A. Bartholomeaus as President and A. Inkster as secretary. The commitee comprised of W. Robinson, F. Caroll and H. Flavell..... The very first speedway race meeting was thought to have been held on Eyre Peninsula on 25 / 02 / 1929 at which 1000 people attended and consisted of five races around a one mile circuit on Hamp Lake.... The Main Event was the Eyre Peninsula 10 Mile Open Championship that was won by in 1929 R.A. Seargent, 1930 C. Wiseman, 1931 C. Morley and 1932 H.C. Flavel.... Riders from Port Lincoln had suggested a dirt track session so in 1932 a small speedway track was built at the Colton Showground. L Friedericks from Port Lincoln won most of the events on a 350 Rudge.... In the same year a Gymkhana was held at Elliston....

Kilburn Speedway
Kilburn Speedway was formed by Rocky Marshall in 1945 - 1951 just off Churchill Road. Kilburn Speedway was about 474 yards in diameter. It hosted great racers likes of Sir Jack Brabham ( Australian Speedcar Champion of 1948 at the Sydney Showground ), Harry Neale Wally Watson, Laurie Jamieson, Jack Young, George Robertson and World Champion Speedway rider Vic Duggan in 1949 attracting a record crowd. Vic Duggan Australian Champion 5 times.  Vic Duggan in the 1949 season held the fastest time for the 4 lap scratch at Wembley Speedway with a time of 73.6 seconds and an average speed of 42.04 mph: Vic Duggan passed away in 2007.  In 1950 Jack Young defeated Victoria's Andy Menzies ( World record holder of the 1/4 mile lap record ) in January while Jim Davies won the Australian Sidecar Championships at Kilburn Speedway in February 1950. A Plaque was placed on the reserve in 2003. This Plaque is for the dedication of Rocky, riders, drivers and all the people involved in the running of the Kilburn Speedway. ( photo of the Memorial plaque ).

Murray Bridge Speedway
( Riverview Speedway ) was another very popular speedway circuit and still is. It was established in 1958. In 1962 the Murray Bridge Sporting Car Club and the Murray Bridge Motor Cycle Club took over the ownership and has been running it ever since. Mostyn Buchanan was and still is the Speedway Manager at Riverview Speedway. This Speedway circuit has had 5 changes over 50 years. The circuit was lengthened and made wider with banked corners and is a 300 metre oval circuit. In about 1999 it was again altered making it now aproximately 360 metres and the club rooms and pit area were also rebuilt. A credit to the Murray Bridge Sporting Car Club and Motor Cycle Club. Moss Buchanan is currently taking a long over due holiday after 36 years being part of this very successfull Speedway. Names likes of Graham Cowland & Charlie Hage were just two of the local Holden drivers. This venue can hold aproximately 6000 spectators and currently runs a historic race meeting yearly showing some of the many race cars, motorcycles and side cars we grew up with.
Murray Bridge Speedway as at 23/1/08.

Whyalla Speedway
Whyalla Speedway was formed on August 19 1970. The Whyalla Speedway circuit was built in record time on the Iron Knob Road with its first official race meeting being run on April 30 1972. The R.D.A. of S.A. arranged 58 Adelaide drivers to attended to the first ever meeting including Bill Wigzell, Doug Sunstrom, Ray Skipper, Garry Wise and Gentleman Joe Brandler (who rarely ventured away from Rowley Park Speedway), John Crowhurst, Tony Orland, Ian Jones, Phil Hosking and Rob Marchant. etc.etc: The Whyalla Speedway Club then continued improving the site but at a much slower pace. To race night race meetings it had to hire lighting from Adelaide for 2 years. After this 2 years it was shown to be successfull and were able to raise the funds to purchase there own lighting.

RiverlandSpeedway
Riverland Speedway is still currently running and is on the Main Road between Berri and Renmark next to the Riverland MotoCross Club. ( awaiting more information. ) .

Speedway  City  / Park ( Virginia )...              

Speedway City formally Speedway Park was formed as Rowley Park Speedway was nearing its end... Land was purchased by the R.D.A. at Supple Road Virginia right next to Adelaide International Raceway after looking at different possible locations. Speedway City's first Official Race Meeting was November 2. 1979. ... The track length is 430 metres ( 470 yards ) from the pole line. Speedway Park / City is 4 yards shorter but twice as wide as Kilburn Speedway. It also has a 42 acre public car park, something that was lacking at Rowley Park. Speedway City has hosted some brilliant Speedway Action since 1979 and is still currently running. ( Photo above was the developement of Speedway City early February 1979 while Rowley Park Speedway was still in its final season and a photo of Speedway City today )

Skyline Motordrome Speedway.

Skyline Motordrome Speedway was started by the late Bill Evans at the Heathfield Oval and operated from 1955 to 1959. In 1958 Skyline Motordrome Speedway was to become Stirling Speedway. Skyline introduced " Hot Rod " Stock Car Racing into Australia. Skyline / Stirling Speedway caused plenty of legal battles in it's time. Skyline Motordrome Speedway hosted some of the countries best Speedway drivers likes of Clem Smith, John H Ellers, Murray Hoffmann, Alf Shields, Alf Beasley, Stud Beasley, Dean Hogarth, Jack Odea (Vic.), Harry Wittle ( N.S.W.), Neville Wells (N.S.W.), Tom Cuddon (N.S.W.),Neville Shephard (N.S.W.), K.L. Munro, Ron Woods, Ted Fullgrabe, Bruce Donald, John Allen, Ray Evans and many more that were also competing at Rowley Park Speedway in that era. The Skyline Speedway used the same flag formation as Rowley Park except a Blue flag was to Start the race and a green flag was the caution flag. The Skyline Motordrome Ltd. head office was at 44 Grenfell Street, Adelaide. Speedcars and Stock Cars / Hot Rods were mainly run here and the Speedcars at this race circuit in the 1950's cost around 2000 pounds. ( For more information go to the picture section and the two 1955 program's of Skyline Motordrome Speedway.).

For more South Australian Speedway Circuits please click on read more below...  If you have any photo's, stories, information or advertising you would like put on this site please feel free to email us

Motordrome Speedway.                                   

Motordrome Speedway was located on Anzac Highway Camden from 1935 to 1940.  Camden Motordrome was located on the corner of Anzac Highway and Morphett Road at Camden. The South Australian Midget Car Racing Association and the Auto Cycle Union ( A.C.U. ) hosted the Motordrome. Speedway Race Meetings were cancelled frequently due mainly to injuries. The official program cost 6d.and hosted drivers likes of Bill Allen ( U.S.A. ), D.Ekins, W.a. Clarke, Vic Greenand Bud Stanley etc. etc; also Solo riders Dick Wise, Les Fredericks, Jim West and Bob Hughes etc. etc; and Sidecar super star Spence Miller. Officials at the Motordrome were Clerk of the Course Wal. J. Murphy, Judge A.J. Moyle, Track Steward K.J. LumbersStewards S.R. Pitman and F.W. Mitchell, Starter J.H. Gilbert Track Manager G.L. Morris and assistant track manager was C.H. Newland. ( A picture of a Motordrome plauque and a 1936 Program in pictures.)

Waikerie - Ramco Speedway.

Waikerie Speedway also Known as Ramco Speedway. 1928. This Speedway was run at the Waikerie Race Course and conducted by the Mid Murray Speedways. Waikerie Speedway had a back straight where they would reach speeds of around 70 mph and got crowds of around 2000..... Waikerie Speedway still has a Speedway circuit known as Sunline Speedway Waikerie and currently runs a race meeting once a month.....

Smithfield Speedway 1926 - 30

Smithfield Speedway at Smithfield raced Solo's, Sidecars and Light Cars. Admission was 1/8 and tax 4d. Smithfield Speedway hosted riders likes of Harry Mangham who in 1928 won The Australian 15 Mile Solo Championships and The South Australian 5 mile Championships in the same year. Harry Butler won both the 5 mile South Australian and Australian Championships at Smithfield Speedway in the same year. other stars to compete here were Alan Lewis ( Victorian Champion ), Ned Kelly, Dick Wise, Max Hall, Jack Hanson, Vic Bogner and Len Stewart.

Burra - " Blink Bonnie" Speedway.

Burra Speedway was known as Blink Bonnie Speedway and was run by the Burra Sporting Car Club in March 1928 on Blink Bonnie Lagoon the year after Burra had snow. Blink Bonnie was known for its high standard of racing giving it the title of " Worlds fastest dirt track " due to local competitor Barney Rodgers and other competitors likes of M Hall, J. Williams, V Treloar and A Edgecombe. Officials were Messrs N H Pearse and W.H. McWaters. The Starter was Mr R.A. Lewis along with other officials G.H. Dollman, W.V. Bass, F Holmes, G Smith and H.E. Finlay.

There were other South Australian Circuits that came and went likes of Northfield Speedway ( North of Adelaide ) 1920, Thebarton Oval 1922 - 1928 ( The first commercial quarter mile Speedway on grass. ) and run under lights, Loxton September and October , Maitland Speedway ( Maitland Showgrounds ) 1923, Wayville Show Grounds 1926 / 27 until 1933 / 34 and reintroduced again in 1986 after 53 years, Moonta Speedway held at Kadina December 1926, Appilla January 1st 1927, Burra 1927, Port Pirie Oval 1927 - 1930, Jubilee Oval Adelaide 1929, Naracoorte 1929, Mount Gambier Oval 1931 and also at the Parafield Aerodrome in 1932, Wallaroo Beach Speedway in 1949 ( run by the Northern Y.P. Club ), Loxton Speedway 1954, Port Pirie one mile circuit 1956, Para-Line Speedway ( Campbelltown ) 1957, Bell Bay at Hamley Bridge 1956 to 1959, Thunderbird Raceway ( Virginia ), Coober Pedy Speedway, Strathalbyn, Roxby Downs, Port Lincoln etc. etc; more to come.

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Glen Dix.
Glen Dix OAM 2009. Glen Dix the great legend of the checkered flag at Rowley Park Speedway and other great motor racing events including every one of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix's, The Port Adelaide Football Club's Outback Oddysey, Bay to Birdwood events, Hill Climbs and many other Australian Motor Sport events..... We remember sitting on the Coglin Street mound and listening to the drunken yobbo's chanting " Dixie's a Dick Head "
Another one of the great memories of Rowley Park Speedway.
Glen Dix was born at Victor Harbor in 1934 and went to Riverton High School.
Glen Dix worked at Marine and Harbours at Port Adelaide for 40 years before retiring.
Glen loved both Motor Sport and waving the checkered flag bringing joy to both young and old. ( Glen Dix top left and above on board the Clem Smith Pace Car .. photo thanks to Scott Rackley ).

Harry Neale Memorial.

Harry Neale ( The Black Prince. ) was South Australia's greatest driver who started his racing career at Kilburn Speedway just after it opened in 1945.... Rex Sandy was with Harry Neale when he had his very first drive in a Speedcar....Both Harry and Rex were'nt sure about that drive as the car wanted to slide all the time because of the straight chain drive and Harry started to wonder if he would ever get used to it.... Harry Neale did get used to it well over the next six years and finally won his first Australian Speedcar Championship, the first of six firsts in this event.... Harry Neale was best man at Rex Sendy's wedding and Harry's gift to Rex was a New Zealand two shilling piece--- all Rex was worth! Rex kept that coin and made it into a key ring! Harry won the Australian Championship in the 1953 season after following Sir Jack Brabham for most of the race. Harry Neale won it again in the following seasons 1954 / 55 / 56 / 58 and 1959 beating divers likes of Bob Tattersal ( U.S.A. ), Jack O'Dea ( Victoria ) and Ray Revell ( N.S.W. ). Harry Neale and his Repco-Holden Speedcar held the Sydney Showgrounds 3 lap record in 1957 and in 1958 won the Australian Grand Prix and the World Derby held in Brisbane. Harry Neale at Skyline Speedway in one season had 36 wins and 2 minor placings from 39 starts ( a record that has never been broken ). Harry Neale was tragically killed at Claremont Speedway ( W.A. ) on February 6 1959 at the age of 39. Harry won six Australian Speedway Titles, eleven State Speedway Titles and many more heats and feature races.... The memorial after Harry Neale has been won by many big names... 1960 / 61 and 61 / 62 Dean Hogarth.... 62 / 63 Andy McGavin ( N.S.W. ).... 63 / 64 Jim Davies ( U.S.A. ).... 64 / 65 Bill Curnow.... 65 / 66 Kym Bonython.... 66 / 67 Bill Wigzell.... 68 / 69 Bruce Rickard.... 67 / 68 and 68 / 69 Joe Brandler.... 70 / 71 Peter Maltby.... 71 / 72 Doug Sunstrom.... 72 / 73 George Tatnell.... 73 / 74 again Bill Wigzell.... Other drivers to win are likes of Phil Herreen and Trevor Green..Speedcar Racing Rowley Park in 1950 in preference to Kilburn Speedway some of the drivers including Harry Neale stayed at Kilburn and were not R.D.A. members. When Harry Neale finally came across to Rowley Park he found his favourite number 4 had been reissued to Peter Spicer. Harry then added the 1/2 to his number and the famous 4 1/2 came into existence - much to the delight and amusement of the Rowley Park crowd. Harry was 6' 4" tall and the joke was carried still further when sidecar passenger Shorty Schirmer arrived on the scene with the number 1/2 on his leathers.

Harry Neale 4 1/2 passes as Bob Downing is about to collide with 'Joe Blow.

Past winners Dean Hogarth, Kym Bonython, Bruce Rickard, Joe Brandler, Peter Maltby and Doug Sunstrom.

Harry Neale was written up in the Australian Woman's Weekly where he was reported as saying that if his fellow competitors couldn't drive like men they should take up knitting! Alan Golding distributed bags of knitting to all the other drivers at the next race meeting and when Harry Neale's car was pushed out onto the circuit he was confronted with all his competitors knitting furiously! Harry Neale's one word cannot be printed for the sake of women and children....

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Rick Harvey Memorial.

Rick Harvey was one of the most liked and a champion Speedcar driver at Rowley Park Speedway. Rick Harvey unfortunately died in 1956 as a result a serious road accident while on duty as a Police Officer. Richard Harvey 27 of Dover Gardens and Constable John Raggatt of Warradale Park were involved in a tripple smash hitting head on with the third Motorcyclist Giovanni Cragnolin from Glenelg who was killed instantly. Constable Raggatt and Rick Harvey both died later as a result of serious injuries including a fractured skull, concussion and a fractured leg. The accident happened on Tapley's Hill Road, West Beach at the turn off to the drive-in theatre.... A few years later it was decided to dedicate a race meeting after the popular driver for Speedcars.. "The Rick Harvey Memorial" with the first race meeting being at Rowley Park Speedway in the 1959 / 60 season.... The first ever winner was won by Kym Bonython.... 60 / 61 season also Kym Bonython.... 61 / 62 Bruce Rickard.... 62 / 63 Jim Davies (USA).... 63 / 64 Jim Davies (USA).... 64 / 65 again by Bruce Rickard.... 65 / 66 Bob Tatersall (USA).... 66 / 67 again by Kym Bonython.... 67 / 68 Joe Brandler... 68 / 69 Bill Curnow.... 69 / 70 Dennis Freeman.... 70 / 71 Greg Anderson.... 71 / 72 Dean Hogarth.... 72 / 73 again Dean Hogarth.... 73 / 74 George Tatnell (NSW).... 74 / 75 Bill Wigzell.... 75 / 76 Geof Pilgrim (WA).... 76 / 77 Doug Sunstrom.... and 77 / 78 again Dean Hogarth.... 78 / 79 Trevor McIntosh ( Trophy and Sashes for the 78 / 79 Rick Harvey Memorial were presented by Mr. Alf Shiels, former promotor of Rowley Park Speedway and owner of the car Rick Harvey drove for many years.... Rob Kelvin was also trackside with Alf ) and in 1979 / 80 the first winner at Speedway Park went to RexHodgson....

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Trivia.... Glenn Ridge remembers growing up in Adelaide with Rowley Park Speedway. Glenn Ridge the host of channel nines The Car Show went to Rowley Park Speedway with his family on friday nights and has many great memories including the smell of the methanol....

1960's Speed Boat Shine On had a 179 Holden motor in it until the present motor a 313 Chrysler. It won many events up to the seventies. The first owner was Brian Graves. He named the boat Shine On after his father who use to race at Rowley Park and was nick named Shine Graves. The boat was bought by the present owners about 32 years ago from Brian and it has been used ever since as a ski boat.

Stats from a Brisbane Poll in November 1973.... Speedway popularity in order .... 1. Production Saloons.... 2. Litre Speedcars.... 3. Solo's.... 4. Sidecars.... 5. late model Saloons.... 6. Modified Sprints and lastly ......Speedcars....... Im sure it would have been a different result if the poll was done in Adelaide.

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If you have any photo's, stories, information or advertising you would like put on this site please feel free to email us