A BRIEF
HISTORY OF M.H.R.C. – M.S.D.C. 1964 – 2009
By Peter
Greville
The need for the formation of a car speedway club in this area
came into being as a result of a combination of factors that
occurred locally during the year 1964.
Firstly the popularity of speedway racing throughout Australia
during the late 1950’s to late 1960’s was at its highest levels
ever achieved. It was an unprecedented era of the sport. Many
tracks relatively close to Mildura were already operating
tracks, such as Warrnambool, Mt Gambier, Renmark, Murray Bridge
and Nyah West and many Mildura people had already witnessed
racing at some of these or other venues.
Ross Crick had moved to the area from Gippsland and had competed
in speedway racing at Trafalger and he was hopeful that others
in Mildura would be just as interested in racing.
Several local Traffic Patrol Officers including Jeff Surman were
encouraging many local youngsters who had cars, to instead of
congregating in the streets, to get involved in a form of actual
motor sport competition of some sort.
At this time sufficient amounts of old road cars could be
cheaply obtained and unlike Go Karts and T.Q.s that were
specifically designed and constructed which required a
reasonable amount of engineering skill, the barring out of a Hot
Rod consisted of a basic roll cage, front and rear crash bars, a
side nerf bar and the removal of all glass and other unnecessary
items Generally anyone with access to a welder could field a Hot
Rod with a minimum of expense.
A public advertisement was placed in the local paper by Ross
Crick, calling for interested persons to form a car speedway
club. This public meeting on the 18.6.1964 was conducted in the
clubrooms of the Mildura Sporting Car and Go Kart building based
behind the Airport. Around 50 people were in attendance and
office bearers and committee persons were elected. Subscriptions
of ₤1. for membership was set and motions of naming the club
“Mildura Hot Rod Club” with club colours of green and gold were
passed.
The constitution and rules were drawn up by the committee and
were presented and passed on the 10.7.1964 and a bank account
was opened containing ₤23.0.0.
The committee’s next task was to find a suitable location to
conduct its racing activities. An area of land off River Road
seemed promising until the river flooded and rendered this site
totally unusable. An offer came in from Mr Albert Timmis via
John Timmis that the club could utilize a portion of land off
Deakin Avenue, Mildura South that was leased by him. This offer
was accepted and by unanimous decision the area became known as
Timmis Raceway.
The first track was marked out which included a “dog leg” on the
western swamp side. There were a number of large Mallee trees
scattered throughout the infield area, their trunks and upper
branches were painted white for increased visibility for the
drivers to avoid them.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF M.H.R.C. – M.S.D.C. 1964 – 2009
The first club race meeting was set down for the 13.9.1964 and
many members got busy to build or purchase a car ready to race
from elsewhere for this event.
It was decided that adult spectator admission would be set at
4/- with children admitted free.
Sixteen nominations were received for this first meeting,
however thirteen competed on the day.
Eighteen events were conducted with half the programme
comprising of scratch and handicap motorcycle races. An
extremely large crowd attended this first event resulting in a
very healthy gatetaking. The distinction of being the first
driver to roll his car went to Barry Mills and his 1936 Dodge
sedan.
Spectator facilities at this time must have been fairly
primitive as any reference to toilets being built cannot be
found until nearly a month after this first meeting was
conducted.
Another very well attended meeting followed on the 18.10.1964
with the number of Hot Rods nominated rising to twenty seven,
obviously a lot of activity was taking place also a very real
problem of trying to control dust stirred up by the cars was
starting to emerge. In addition to this the Victorian Health
Commission had heard of the Club’s activities and immediately
stopped all further racing until a 3ft bank with a 4ft high wire
mesh fence was erected around the track. It was also during this
time that the remaining infield Mallee trees were removed. A
series of well attended working bees soon saw that all of the
Health Commission requirements were satisfied. By the middle of
1965 a Ladies Committee had been formed and was steadily
increasing in numbers.
Between 1965 to 1966 club membership numbers had risen as well
to around 140.
Many visiting drivers from Walpeup, Loxton and Renmark were now
joining our drivers on a regular basis to compete for the prize
money, trophies etc. that were on offer.
In these early years between 1964–1968 the Mildura Hot Rod Club
became known as one of the most active clubs as far as
membership, the number of race cars participating and the number
of meetings staged per season. In 1967 it was decided that
ongoing heat and dust problems that had plagued the club at
times must be rectified so a working group and a track fund was
established so that racing under lights at night would be a
great deal more comfortable for spectators and drivers alike.
However the installation of track lighting was going to be a
major undertaking in more ways than many realised. Around 1967
an A Grade section of drivers was established “The Stars”
included Peter O’Rourke, Rob Mills, Brian McMillian, Jack
Herberte, Alan Roberts, Laurie Uchtman, Ross Crick, John Timmis,
Alec Brooks and regular visiting drivers of Rod Manning, Tom
Petch and Don Grant.
The final race of the afternoon or feature event of the
programme was known as the Butchers’ Picnic” Both A and B Grade
sections were combined with the fastest cars starting from the
rear grid positions. This event usually provided some
unbelievable entertainment for the crowd.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF M.H.R.C. – M.S.D.C. 1964 – 2009
In 1968 rules for the introduction of production cars was
implemented by the Committee and this class of racing soon
became a popular drawcard with spectators and drivers alike. Car
numbers in this section increased with Morris Minors, Ford
Zephyrs and Consuls and FJ-FX Holdens being among the most
widely chosen models.
At the end of the 1968 Season the lighting and track alterations
proceeded in earnest and due to the enormity of this combined
project many delays occurred. A 50 KVA electricity transformer
was required at a cost of over $1,600.00 alone. Racing was
suspended until this major task was completed.
John Timmis asked members to keep a look out for any palm trees
for the safety fence for the front and back straights. The palm
tree trunks laid end to end became our most famous safety fence.
The track and lighting programme was finally completed under the
control of works foreman Rob Mills and finally on the 13.4.1974
the first meeting under lights was staged with a large crowd in
attendance. It was during this time that Modified Production
cars and Super Modified or later to be known as Modified
Sprintcars were introduced.
As the Hot Rod division’s popularity had been taken over by
these newer classes to a fair degree, it was decided the club’s
name should be changed to Mildura Speedway Drivers’ Club. This
was done in 1976 and now provided a broader representation to
all involved, regardless of the type of vehicle they raced.
In 1979 it was again decided that due to the increasing
performance and speeds being obtained by the cars it would be
necessary to again increase the track size. Under control of Bob
Watt as foreman the current track was constructed to the same
dimensions and design as the then new Speedway Park track at
Virginia in Adelaide.
Incidentally all of the Timmis Speedway tracks have been
different shapes and sizes but have all been located in about
the same area.
In 1981 the clubhouse was constructed with funds that had been
generated by the very active Ladies Social Committee.
The current track built in 1979 and still in service today is
420 metres around, measured 1 metre off the pole line and its
composition now is 95% clay. Over the years just about every
class or division of speedway have raced at this track at some
stage. Also over the years Timmis Speedway has been the venue
for a host of visiting American sedan and open wheel Sprintcar
drivers. Not to mention a very large amount of Australia’s
finest drivers in all sections having competed here as well.
Many many State and Australian Titles have been conducted here
and the facilities at the venue are amongst the finest you will
find anywhere within Australia with the only exceptions being
found in some metropolitan city centres.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF M.H.R.C. – M.S.D.C. 1964 – 2009
Many bone jarring accidents have taken place on the Timmis
track. Injuries have occurred but fortunately this track remains
fatality free. It must be said that the lighting, safety fence
and catchfence, the crash and rescue personal and fire fighting
equipment are all of the highest standard.
The sport in Sunraysia, like elsewhere, from its very humble
beginnings has developed into a semi professional activity in a
lot of instances. Many drivers have acquired sponsorship
arrangements with individuals and/or businesses that reduces
their own out of pocket expenses to a degree. From the cars that
were once towed to the Timmis track by rope or A bar back in the
1960’s today find themselves chauffeured within fully enclosed
custom built trailers or in other cases fully decked out buses
or trucks. Many helpers and people working in voluntary
positions on race nights at Timmis along with the many office
bearers and committee members over the last 45 years are the
people that have made Timmis Speedway such a fantastic facility
that we are all proud to be part of today.
Kindest Regards
Peter
New Page 1
Next
Meeting
Allstars Sprintcars
Saturday April 17th 2010
Adults
-
$20.00
Pensioners -
$15.00
12 to
15 -
10.00
Under
12 -
Free
Gates
Open Times
Racing Starts 7pm
Gates open 5pm
Hotlaps 5.30pm
