Dave Hammond (that lunatic vintage racer and vinduro YZ100 punter) was talking to Darren Conroy at Castella vinduro
BBQ/offroad bike registration (up at Juzva's place in hills of Vic last week).
Darren told Dave how to find the infamous old Wallan venue. I got a text from Dave on this Monday at 4.30 pm: "I'm on the main straight of Wallan!"
He later told me on phone that the track still exists in its entirety. He could see parts of it. The whoops and tyres are all still there. The only difference
at all, Dave says, is that 'nature has taken over'. He said there were fully grown trees growing in parts of the track. He estimates the last meeting
was held circa 1978. (32 years). He believes that a new neighbour's complaints at the time is what shut the venue down. (Rather than the usual story ... of encroaching
suburbs or new dams being built.)
The only apparent man-made intervention is the storage of a few old Melbourne trams on the property (now fully decayed and rotting away).
Dave says one is actually sat on main straight.
I think it's somehow sad or poignant that Vic's most famous track still exists ... out there alone and neglected.
Photo sequence is from Melb newspaper, reporting on 1971 International series with Ivan Miller, the Owen brothers and a returning Gary Flood.
Footnote: Miller was so fast, he was out front and showing off on his Husky 400. Pulling cross-ups like we kids had never seen in our lives. After that
day, at school we started calling cross-ups "Millers" instead. Man, that guy could ride!!!!
