Classic Dirt Track Images.

[Hollywood]

Bluey is still around. I only found out recently that he lives next door to a young bloke that works for me at the mine. I haven't seen him for a million years.

I don't think he has spoken to me since I cost him a maximum score in a very important meeting at J - Park (see attached photo) I was the only one to beat him that night and he wasn't happy.

[Curly3]

Did he stay upright by the way.
I speak to Herney occasionally, he is still a profesional motorbike rider.
He's a Postie in & around Mino.

[Hollywood]

Yes he finished second.

[Curly3]

You'd swear he was going down from that angle. I'm sure he's gotten over it.

[kipo]

This is a great thread. Thought I'd ad some of my pics from my very average speedway career in the late 70's 

Hope nobody minds as I'm only a newbie here.



Rowley Park SA (me, second bike)



Murray Bridge SA



Whyalla SA

[Curly3]

Kipo, that's the great thing about this forum, everyday competitors have the same voice as riders who rode at the top level. Trust me, there wouldn't be to many with a shorter career than me.
You would've ridden in Sth OZ around the same time as Phill Bass & Tim Nunan?
Great photos.

[JAP 454]

Yeah Kipo, welcome and  keep 'em coming, Curly , what a great thread you started !! some awesome shots an stories !! from all !!

OK seeing we are on Speedway , I 'll bet mine was shorter than your's , Steve , Speedway career that is !!, will post a shot of me old Paul Sly framed JAP when I can find one, in the mean time, have a look at this.


 Bert was a fellow St George member and lost his life in a rail accident near Heathcote, The Club's Bert Bayliss Trial was in his memory and I cant recall if it was a Sporting Trial or an Observed Trial , can you help there Don ??

[Curly3]

Thanks Al, I'm enjoying all this reminicing as much as anyone.
Thanks to my 13yo sons developing interest in dirt bikes just a couple of years ago.
After finding several websites of interest the thing that jumped out to me was that Dirt Track ( Short Circuit ),had pretty much become the long lost brother of dirt bikes.
If we can help log some history and educate others on how popular this discipline was in the golden days then it's all good for the future of classic short circuit.   

[kipo]

Kipo, that's the great thing about this forum, everyday competitors have the same voice as riders who rode at the top level. Trust me, there wouldn't be to many with a shorter career than me.
You would've ridden in Sth OZ around the same time as Phill Bass & Tim Nunan?
Great photos.

Those blokes where around, Sam Bass, Phils brother was chief steward at Rowley Park.

Some of the other better know SA riders of that era; Robbie Maxfield, Lou Sansom, Dene Davies, Tony Boyle who died in a speedcar cash and of course John Boulger.

In the outfits there was Dean Taylor and Peter Menz, the Atherton brothers (wild, wild blokes those ones). Ken I'Anson, Brian Schultz. You couldnt beat a Friday night on the Coglin Street hill when they had the solo Aus v's England test. Those where the days!

[Hollywood]

[JAP 454]

Wally and Hoony ,
You are both right about the Street given names, Quote from Old Bike Australia March / April edition, Page 26 ,article about the great Ray Owen " There was no shortage of hard men in the Nunawading club, men like Neil and Leon Street "

The article about Ray Owen is a great read , the mad bastard rode a Hagon JAP in a scramble event and won !!
Fossill

[Curly3]

This appears to be one lap before the crash photo at the end of page 8.
Carl tells me that he lost the left footrest in one of his rare crashes earlier in the day.
A better shot of you Ian.

[JAP 454]

While looking for a photo of my one and only Speedway JAP , I came across this photo of the St.George  C grade Team in action at Nepean in 1972 , yours truly in the lead, either Steve McKenna or Pete Daly obscured and Alan Hill in 3rd, dunno where we came on the day , it was the NSW Teams Champs.
Me bike is the  Goulburn rider, Buzz Burrow's Grasstracker I bought in '71. a fairly early one with BSA rear wheel with a cast alloy cut down brake plate.

[Curly3]

I remember a Hill from St George who was coming up through the grades pretty quick, is that the same Hill in the previous shot Fossil?

[JAP 454]

Yeah , thats him , Curly, Alan Hill  # 515,