30th.October 1937.......... 25th March 1955.
This photo shows the 4 major Sportsgrounds in the Sydney Moore Park complex. From the bottom of the photo going up.
1. The Sydney Sports Ground
2. The No2 Cricket Ground.
3. The main No 1 Sydney Cricket Ground
4. The Sydney Showground.
The Sports Ground and the Showground were the two major Speedways in Sydney.
The Sports Ground Speedway 1937 to 1955.
The Showground Speedway 1926 to 1996.
A post war Sports Ground programme. Friday February 13th. 1948. It contained 23 events Solo and Sidecar only.
Senior Solo riders on the programme were Lionel Van Praag, Vic Duggan, Aub Lawson, Jack Arnfield, Max Grosskreutz, Frank Dolan and Jock Hollis.
Encourage were, Wal Johnson, Noel watson, Jack Gates, Don Lawson, Norm Field, Norm Gillespie, Jim Taylor and J.Clementson.
Junior were Ken Le Breton,Moff Jones, Arthur Trudgitt, J. Wylie, Bernard "Bat" Byrnes, Lionel Levy, Bill Melluish and R. Phillips.
Sidecar riders were, Jack Carruthers, Lionel Benson, Clarence "Clacker" Levy, Ern Adlam, Ern Steward, M. Ellis and G.Grainger.
"Bat" Byrnes won the Handicap Final of the Night Event 23 over 4 laps from Jock Hollis and Noel Watson.
SPORTS GROUND TRACK RECORDS......at 24/10/1952
SOLO.
1 lap Flying..................Lionel Levy......... 16.2 secs.
1 lap Clutch..................Lionel Levy......... 18.2 secs.
2 lap Flying..................Aub Lawson....... 33.0 secs.
2 lap Clutch..................Aub Lawson,
Lionel Levy
Jack Biggs(Vic.).. 34.6 secs.
3 lap Flying.................. Ray Duggan....... 49.6 secs.
3 lap Clutch.................. Aub Lawson...... 50.4 secs.
4 lap Flying...................Aub Lawson...... 66.8 secs.
4 lap Clutch...................Tommy Miller (Scotland) 67.0 secs.
SIDECAR.
2 lap Flying............ Jack Carruthers............ 37- 1/5 secs.
2 lap Clutch........... Jim Davies....................39- 1/5 secs.
3 lap Flying........... Jack Carruthers............. 56 secs.
3 lap Clutch........... Jim Davies.................... 56 secs.
4 lap Clutch........... Jim Davies.................... 74 secs.
SPEEDCAR.
1 lap Rolling.................. Frank Brewer (USA)....................16- 4/5 secs.
2 lap Rolling.................. Ray Revell..................................33- 3/5 secs.
3 lap Rolling.................. Frank Brewer (USA).................... 50- 3/5 secs.
4 lap Rolling.................. Frank Brewer (USA).................... 1min 6- 4/5 secs.
4 lap Standing............... Andy McGavin............................ 1min 16- 2/5 secs.
5 lap Rolling.................. Bill Reynolds.............................. 1min 26 -1/5 secs.
5 lap Standing............... Frank Brewer (USA).................... 1 min 30- 1/5 secs.
6 lap Rolling.................. Reece Discombe (NZ)..................1 min 44- 1/5 secs.
6 lap Standing............... Jack Brabham.............................1 min 51 secs.
7 lap Rolling...................Reece Discombe (NZ)..................2 min 2- 2/5 secs.
8 lap Rolling.................. Frank Brewer (USA).................... 2 min 25- 3/5 secs.
9 lap Rolling.................. Jack Brabham............................ 2 min 39- 4/5 secs.
10 lap Rolling................ Bill Annabel
and Jack Ferguson..................... 3 mins.
12 lap Rolling................ Frank Brewer (USA).................... 3 min 31 secs.
15 lap Rolling.................Frank Brewer (USA).................... 4 min 25 secs.
20 lap Rolling.................Jack Brabham.............................6 min 6- 4/5 secs.
30 lap Rolling................ Andy McGavin............................ 8 min 54- 2/5 secs.
50 lap Rolling................ Beale Simmons (USA)................ 16 mn 49 secs.
TRACK was 418 yds in circumference.
' Dirt track ' Speedway started at the ground on October 30th 1937. 12 riders and drivers lost their lives as results of accidents on the dirt track up until it's closure in 1955. Previous to that early motorcycles raced at the ground from 1907 on a concrete track.
They were:
SOLO.
Len Behrmann 1945, Norm Clay - 20-1-1950, Ray Duggan - 20-1-1950, Norm Gillespie - 2- 4-1948, Bob Hibbert - 10-5-1946, Ken Le Breton - 5-1-1951, Jack Sharpe( John Sharpe Gibson) - 22-10-1948, Noel Watson - 6-11-1953.
SPEEDCAR
Bill Annabel - 23-10-1953, Jack Daly - 5-1-1946, Les Dillon - 22-5-1938,
Claude Miller - 25-4-1939
The Tapes are up! The start of a 1937- 38 race at the SSG. l to r. Cec Garland, Jim McLeod (NZ), pioneer rider Frank Arthur and Queenslander Vic Huxley.
Lionel Van Praag leads the field ( as usual) at the SG. Lionel was a WWII War hero, an ace pilot and an Australian icon. In later years he was a Director of the Sydney Sports Ground Speedway.
I was fortunate enough to see Lionel ride.
Afternoon solo action at the Sports Ground.
Without doubt, Queenslander Max Grosskreutz had to be one of Australia's if not the World's most talented riders. He won the Australian solo titles in 1929 and 1936. He was runner up in 1931,1932 and 1948 ( with Bill Melluish). He also built very successful bike frames.
The ever popular and talented Bill Melluish ( Bill raced under the name of Bill Francis when he started in the Hunter Valley ) with his white jacket and red heart. Bill was runner up in 2nd with Max in the 1948 Aussie Title. Sitting on the bike in the background with the English New Cross club jacket on is Ray Duggan. Ray lost his life here on the 20-1-1950.
The Sports Ground was situated on the corner of Driver Ave.and Moore Park Rd. Moore Park. Sydney. The Sydney Football Stadium and it's carpark now stand on that very sacred Speedway site.
The Sports Ground "Tigers"
They raced the Newcastle team on Friday 21st October 1949.
l to r. Back Row.: Arthur Trudgitt, Lionel Benson, Jim Taylor(Capt.) Allan Quinn, Joe Lasagna,
Front Row: Bill Bowker, Clive Gressor and Norm Field.
"Wild" Bill Rogers leads Jack Arnfield in to turn 1 at the SG. Rogers was an incredibly talented rider, one of the pioneers, an Australian Solo Champion in 1932 and 1947 and was runner up in 1949. Jack made some Test appearances for Australia.
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"The best Speedway track in the World" said Jack Parker, English Test Captain and Speedway Solo legend.
One of the famous Levy family and a crowd favourite at the Sports Ground, Clarence
" Clacker" Levy with passenger Neil McDonald. Neil later became a top Sidecar rider and also won a NSW Junior Solo Championship.
The fabulous style of Jim Davies, probably the world's greatest sidecar rider in his day. Jim won the Australian Sidecar title in 1947,1948,1950 and 1951.
The one and only "Chook" Hodgekiss with passenger Jack Young on one of Chook's famous twin JAP outfits. "Chook", one of the sports most colorful characters, won the Australian Sidecar title in 1952 at Rowley Park SA and was runner up in 1950 at the Sports Ground.
l to r. Bert Martin (Harley) and Peter Speerin on a Chook Hodgekiss twin JAP. Peter toured England with Jim Davies in the 1950s.
Outfit regular, Jack Helback with passenger Bill Bryden.
Click here to go to the
Sports Ground Page 2
Kev Gallaher, an accomplished sidecar rider, and his passenger. Kev lost his life in a Speedcar at The Royale on 7/10/49.
Chook Hodgekiss Twin J.A.P. and Ern Adalm
Vincent H.R.D. Twin.
Ern Adlam and his passenger on their H.R.D.
Jack Carruthers and passenger Reg Dee on the Vincent outfit.
South Australian Don Willison rode in Sydney in the 1950s.
The Official opening of the Sydney Sports Ground Speedway by Mr E.A.Buttenshaw, Secretary for Lands on the 13.11.37. (the first Speedway meeting was held on October 30 1937 2 weeks before this event )
On the line from l to r. Jim Mc Leod (NZ), Ray Duggan (NSW), Frank Dolan (NSW) "Putt" Mossman (USA) and Bob Hill (USA).
Right:
L to r. "Bluey" Wilkinson, "Cordy" Milne USA.,Jack Milne USA, and Wilbur Lamoreaux USA
in 1938
VISITORS
An aerial view of the Moore Park area in 2003. The lower oval is now the Football Oval and the Sports Ground Speedway track used to stand where the car park is now shown.
( bottom RH corner of pic )
The No2 Cricket gound has gone and the Sydney Showground ( top arena) is now Fox Movie Studios. The outline of the old Sydney Showground Speedway track is still visible but it is now concrete
Details as per introduction on top of page.
lower arena: The Sydney Sports Ground and Moore Park area as it was in 1938.
On the 19th June 2004, members of the Veteran Speedway Rider's Association of Australia and the Vintage Speedcar Association of NSW together with ex officials and fans gathered at Aussie Stadium Moore Park in Sydney to dedicate a memorial plaque ( left ) in memory of the Sydney Sports Ground Speedway and its former competitors. Aussie stadium now stands partially on the old Sports Ground site.
Peter Speerin and Jack Young on the Jack Carruthers HRD outfit in the pits at the Sydney Sports ground Speedway in 1952.
It's 52 years later and after officiating in the plaque unveiling Peter Speerin sits on an ex Jack Carruthers HRD outfit at the old Sydney Sports Ground Speedway site, now Aussie Stadium at Moore Park in Sydney. In the chair on this day is Jack Helback an old racing mate of Peter's .
Jack also rode outfits at the SSG.
