HISTORY: Full throttle success of motorbike racing in Gunnedah

The ongoing success of riders in the Gunnedah Motorcycle Club (MCC) based at Balcary Park has ignited a discussion about the early days of racing in the local community.

Motorbike racing has been part of the sporting scene in Gunnedah for almost 100 years. The idea of a motorcycle track was first flagged in 1924 by Bill Pole, a travelling salesman who was a bike-racing ‘fanatic’.

A small group comprising Leo Melville (BSA agent) and Roy Charters, a stock and station agent, approached then mayor, Emil Westerweller, who agreed to call a public meeting and discuss moves to establish the sport.

Gunnedah Municipal Council made the showground and jockey club track available to the club but it was decided not to use the racetrack, because it would be ripped up by motorcycles; so the first track was formed inside the race circuit and had a circumference of around one mile. Among the early competitors were Bob Miller (riding a Matchless), Sam Miller (Beardmore Precision), Leo Melville and Moss Williamson (Harley Davidsons), Jim Neader and Norm Eather (BSAs) and Charlie Woodhead (Douglas with sidecar).

One of the early enthusiasts was Alf Brown, who had a motorcycle shop in Conadilly Street. He was elected the first secretary of the club, under the presidency of the mayor in 1927 but a few weeks later was badly injured in a fall while trialling at the Werris Creek track. Taken to Tamworth Hospital, he died three weeks later at the age of 27, leaving a young wife and two-year-old daughter.

Racing flourished in the 1930s with the club relocating to the property Coulston, which was owned by the Miller family. Sam Miller was one of the leading riders through the 1930s.

Racing went into recess during the war years, however, the club was re-formed in 1946 under the presidency of Sam Miller.

Apart from Coulston, racing also took place on Noggabri Reserve for a few years and included novelty events such as blindfold races and ‘slowest’ races over 100 yards.

The sport received its biggest boost in the early 1950s when fund-raising suggestions were sought to build a town swimming pool. Motorcycling enthusiasts saw the potential for the sport to raise funds for the pool and were able to acquire land to build a track on the Porcupine Reserve.

The first meeting on the Porcupine circuit was held on Anzac Day 1952 with grade riders from Stanthorpe (Qld), Sydney, Newcastle, Muswellbrook and the Hunter Valley, Tamworth, Inverell and Mudgee joining the locals. More than 2000 spectators paid 400 pounds at the gate, making the day a huge success.

The second meeting in September 1952 was even larger – two planes, a DC3 and a DC 2, were chartered from Sydney to land riders and their gear in Gunnedah. There were almost 500 entries for 39 events run during the day in front of a crowd estimated at 5000 who paid almost 850 pounds at the gate to watch a six-hour programme. The pool appeal benefited by 600 pounds.

The Auto Cycle Union of NSW described Porcupine as the best small circuit in NSW and a “rider’s paradise.”

Within a few years, Gunnedah was the most popular track in NSW and in Gunnedah’s centenary year, 1956, the club was allocated the NSW titles. In the 1950s and 1960s Porcupine Circuit was a popular venue for families to while away a few hours on a Sunday afternoon, with children planning all types of games while their parents took in the racing.

Racing continued to flourish during the early 1960s but then started to wane, petering out in the early 1970s when the track failed to meet regulations of the Speedway Act.

After a lapse of around seven years, enthusiasts tried to revive motorcycle racing in the late 1970s but encountered opposition from residents living in the vicinity of the track who complained about the potential for noise. Most of the home construction had taken place over the previous 15-20 years, when the track was little used.

The first petition from residents opposing the re-opening of Porcupine was rejected in 1978 but the second received a more favourable reaction. This issue was complicated by the fact that the land on the Apex Road side of the track was one of the suggested locations for a village homes complex. The Motorcycle Club responded by circulating a petition, which quickly gathered 1500 signatures. In the end, a compromise was reached – council decided to allow the club to use the circuit for two years on a restricted basis, on the understanding that it attempted to find another circuit.

In September 1979 the Porcupine track roared to life again at a meeting which offered $2000 prizemoney and drew NSW and Australian champion riders. Several big meetings were conducted but when the interim period elapsed, an unfavourable report from the State Pollution Control Commission virtually sealed the Porcupine circuit’s fate. The commission threatened to issue a notice to the club to vacate the site. At the same time the new Gunnedah Shire Council had decided to support an application from the Gunnedah and District Village Homes Association for the re-dedication of the site for the retirement village concept.

In the end, the pressure was too much, so the club agreed to vacate the site and to look for an alternate location, with the backing of council. As a result, land off the Mullaley Road, behind the abattoir holding paddocks, was selected and a long-term lease was signed with the Pastures Protection Board. Once again, club enthusiasts swung into action to build their track, which was designed by Robbie Dall. As with the Porcupine circuit, the main figure in the construction was Snow Jaeger, an expert grader operator.

In July 1984 Balcary Park was put through its paces for the first time and a new chapter in the club’s history began.

Within a few years, Balcary was one of Australia’s best dirt-track circuits and in 1989 the club conducted the second round of the NSW dirt-track titles and the following year the Australian titles.

Two sets of brothers brought Gunnedah into the national racing spotlight in the 1980s – Daryl and Craig Woodhead and Todd and Christian Hardy.

The Woodheads began racing in the late 1970s, forming one of the best sidecar teams in Australia. They won NSW and Queensland championships and open events all over eastern Australia.

The Hardy brothers burst onto the scene in the second half of the 1980s and their duels with the Woodheads drew large crowds to Balcary Park and other circuits.

The Hardy boys were the first to win the Australian sidecar championship, at Broadford in Victoria in 1991 but the Woodheads crowned their success by winning the Australian title at Ballina’s Willow Park the following year.

A few years later (1995), the local pairing of Mick Hinchey and Mark Kenny finished second in the nationals at Ipswich (Qld).

The two sets of brothers remained topline contenders in the 1990s with the Woodheads claiming their 10th NSW title in 1996. They teamed up the following year with Stephen Jaeger and Michael Hope to win the NSW teams title and when Craig Woodhead retired, Daryl linked up with Michael Hope to win the NSW title. In 1998 they were third in the Australian titles at Maryborough (Qld).

Racing continued at Balcary Park into the new millennium and although the number of meetings dropped off around the turn of the century, the club conducted the highly successful NSW Dirt Track championships in 2006.

The club has gone from strength to strength with Gunnedah MCC now awaiting the Motorcycling NSW results, after the club was named in the top four finalists for Club of the Year and Social Media of the Year.

Life member Denise Dall was also nominated for Volunteer of the Year.

Riders Katarna Robinson, Jared Marko, Shaun Fuller, Tom Donnelly Hugo Holmes, Tai McNamara, Lawrence Fairey, Jordan Dall and Daniel Wicks continue to shine on the state and national circuits placing the Gunnedah Motorcycle Club once again in the spotlight.