Nine o’clock on a bright and frosty Abercrombie morning, EA and I headed north for the 75 K trip to Bathurst for the opening of Ash’s Speedway Museum.
We were both chattering away about who would be there and what else Ash Suttor had collected since we were last there, we were both really looking forward to the day.
We hit Bathurst and across town to the Orange road then turned left at the Motor Registry.
Bloody hell parking might be a problem but found a spot and wandered over to greet some of the mob gathered outside in the sun, you talk about old home week !!, anyhoo the muted roar of many conversations from the large building drew us inside, we paid the $ 10 admission , got our name tags and wandered inside.
Gob-smacked is an understatement, there were so many people, ranging from multi world title holder Ivan Mauger to young Zack Cook from Cowra who is starting off in 125cc Junior Speedway.
In between there was Cec Platt, Kozza Smith and quite a few other younger riders, Kevin MacDonald was there and a heap of the older Short Circuit lads, Max and Brian Gill, Dave Knox, Bill Sims. I said G’day to and had a yarn with Peter White, one of Speedway’s biggest supporters etc you get the picture.
The VSRA’s Bill Powell was there with a great display as was Dave Clifton and Greg Gallagher from the Canberra Bulls Speedway club.
I have never seen so many Skids bikes and memorabilia in one place, JAPS, Jawas, Wessies , Goddens , a Mierson/JAP, a Jawa / Wessie 4V conversion, longtrack bikes, a couple of sidecars,
Racing Suits, hundreds of breastplates, programs , videos, press cuttings from many eras, you name it !! Onya Ash !!.
Here's a few general Pix, I'll post some of the individual bikes after tea
Foss