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Mildura Speedway Drivers Club is set to host the Victorian Modified Production Series

Mildura Speedway Drivers Club Media Release

By Carol Adamson ( Publicity Officer Mildura Speedway Drivers Club)

Mildura Speedway Drivers Club is set to host the Victorian Modified Production – Australian Multiskill Series round 5.

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With 25 cars nominated Mildura will roar on Saturday night as the Modifieds race around Timmis Speedway. 6 local drivers including our very own AUS 1 Champion David Smith will be out there to bring home the chequered flag for Mildura.

Visiting drivers include Kellie Atkins and Kim Kileen from Hamilton, Mark Sheen formally from Mildura, Billy Rieck and Brenton Mills from Avalon and the inspiring Graham West in his Holden LJ Torana.

West leads the series points heading into Saturday nights Racing and is Known to drive well on Timmis Speedway soil. Nick Hill from Nyora is sitting in 2^nd on the leader board close behind West and will be looking to increase his chances of taking out the series championship. Drivers are also travelling from Swan Hill, Rosedale, Portland and Bendigo and a Father and son team in Gavin and Chris Hill from Warrnambool both in XF falcons.

Supporting the Modifieds will be Wingless Sprints including Darren Burgess, Jason Bolitho, Zac Tyson, Anthony McMillan, Mitch Gladman and Angelo Halacas.

Vintage Classic Super Modifieds will also take to the Timmis Circuit. Vehicles not seen in Mildura for many years. Drivers include VIC 9 David Moore, SA11 Barry Sullivan, SA30 Malcolm Summerville, SA42 Dave Germein, SA49 Glen Catford, VIC 62 Shane McConnell and SA Chris Brown.

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As an added popular show for the crowd there will also be a 2 round competition of burnouts on the night.

Gates open at 5pm with racing to start at 7pm

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Mildura Speedway History

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

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