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The Australian Speedcar Championship is: a dirt track motor racing championship held in Australia each year to determine the: Australian national champion in midget car racing. The single championship meeting, "run over two nights in either late January." Or early February, has been held each year since first being run at theββTracey's Speedway in Melbourne in 1935.
Over the years there have been at times more than one Australian Championship meeting held in Australia (and sometimes in the same city) due to being sanctioned by different governing bodies. There were also times during the "1950s." And 1960s when several track promoters around the country staged meetings which they claimed were either an Australian Championship. Or sometimes even a World Championship, "usually in defiance of not being awarded the right to host the official championship."
While there have been drivers who have won more than one Australian Speedcar Championship, only three drivers have ever won both the national Speedcar championship and the Australian Sprintcar Championship. They are the George Tatnell from Sydney who won the Speedcar title in 1972β73, 1973β74 and 1976β77, plus the Sprintcar championship in 1987β88. Adelaide's Phil March won in his Nissan powered Speedcar in 1985β86, and also won the Sprintcar championship in 1998β99. The third driver was Sydney's Robbie Farr who won the 1997β98 Speedcar title and the 2003β04 Sprintcar championship.
Andy McGavin and Ray Revell from Sydney, with five championships each are the most successful drivers in the championships history (all won before 1964β65). Western Australia's Mike Figliomeni, Warrenne Ekins from Darwin and Adam Clarke from NSW have each won the event four times while five drivers have won the event three times. Twelve drivers from the United States have won the championship.
Australia's first Formula One World Champion Sir Jack Brabham won the event, winning the championship in 1948β49.
The oldest Australian champion was Bob Holt who won the 1998β99 title at the Northline Speedway in Darwin at the age of 58. Holt, originally from Sydney, began racing Speedcars in the early 1960s and was one of the leading competitors at the Sydney Showground during Australian speedway's "golden era".
Unlike other national championship meetings in Australian speedway racing, overseas drivers are permitted in the Australian Speedcar Championship. Eight winners of the title since 2002β03 have been Americans, while one New Zealander Michael Pickens won the title in 2015β16.
The 2011β12 Australian Speedcar Championship was due to be, held on 16β17 March 2012 at the Maryborough Speedway in Maryborough, Queensland. The meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather conditions caused by Cyclone Yasi.
The current (2022β2023) Australian Speedcar Champion is United States driver Brady Bacon, who won the title at Eastern Creek Speedway in Sydney, New South Wales.
Winners since 1935β»
Year | Venue | City/State | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
1935 | Bob Finlay (Vic) | ||||
1935β36 | Les Gough (Vic) | ||||
1936β37 | Bert Woodman (SA) | ||||
1937β38 | Harry Shaw (Vic) | ||||
1938β39 | Ted Gray (Vic) | ||||
1938β39 | Beal Simmons (USA) | ||||
1939β40 | Dinny Patterson (NSW) | ||||
1945β46 | Ray Revell (NSW) | ||||
1947β48 | Cal Niday (USA) | ||||
1948β49 | Sir Jack Brabham (NSW) | ||||
1949β50 | Ray Revell (NSW) | ||||
1950β51 | Ray Revell (NSW) | ||||
1952β53 | Ray Revell (NSW) | ||||
1953β54 | Andy McGavin (NSW) | ||||
1954β55 | Andy McGavin (NSW) | ||||
1955β56 | Andy McGavin (NSW) | ||||
1956β57 | Ray Revell (NSW) | ||||
1957β58 | Len Brock (NSW) | ||||
1958β59 | Andy McGavin (NSW) | ||||
1959β60 | Bob Tattersall (USA) | ||||
1960β61 | Andy McGavin (NSW) | ||||
1961β62 | Bob Tattersall (USA) | ||||
1962β63 | Jimmy Davies (USA) | ||||
1964β65** | Sydney Showground Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Peter Cunneen (NSW) | Lew Marshall (NSW) | Blair Shepherd (Qld) |
1965β66** | Sydney Showground Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Johnny Stewart (NSW) | Len Brock (NSW) | Blair Shepherd (Qld) |
1966β67** | Sydney Showground Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Johnny Stewart (NSW) | Blair Shepherd (Qld) | Bill Goode (Qld) |
1967β68** | Sydney Showground Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Johnny Stewart (NSW) | Howard Revell (NSW) | Barrie Watt (Qld) |
1968β69** | Sydney Showground Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Blair Shepherd (Qld) | Bill Goode (Qld) | Barrie Watt (Qld) |
1969β70** | Sydney Showground Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Bob Morgan (Qld) | Blair Shepherd (Qld) | Ron Wanless (Qld) |
Year | Venue | City/State | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
1970β71** | Sydney Showground Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Ronald Mackay (NSW) | Johnny Fenton (WA) | Ron Wanless (Qld) |
1971β72** | Sydney Showground Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Ronald Mackay (NSW) | Charlie West (WA) | Johnny Fenton (WA) |
1972β73** | Sydney Showground Speedway | Sydney, NSW | George Tatnell (NSW) | Col Henning (SA) | Johnny Fenton (WA) |
1973β74 | Redline Raceway | Ballarat, Vic | George Tatnell (NSW) | Brian Dillon (Qld) | Johnny Fenton (WA) |
1974β75 | Rowley Park Speedway | Adelaide, SA | Johnny Fenton (WA) | Ronald Mackay (NSW) | Greg Anderson (SA) |
1975β76 | Liverpool International Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Johnny Fenton (WA) | George Tatnell (NSW) | Ronald Mackay (NSW) |
1976β77## | George Tatnell (NSW) | Ronald Mackay (NSW) | Johnny Fenton (WA) | ||
1977β78 | Brisbane Exhibition Ground | Brisbane, Qld | Ron Wanless (Qld) | George Tatnell (NSW) | Danny Davidson (Qld) |
1978β79 | Claremont Speedway | Perth, WA | Ron Wanless (Qld) | Howard Revell (NSW) | Bill Sutherland (WA) |
1979β80## | Barry Pinchbeck (NSW) | Johnny Fenton (WA) | |||
Year | Venue | City/State | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
1980β81 | Speedway Park | Virginia, SA | Keith Mann (WA) | Steve Stewart (SA) | Terry Wigzell (SA) |
1981β82 | Avalon Raceway | Lara, Vic | Keith Mann (WA) | Peter Curtis (NT) | Terry Wigzell (SA) |
1982β83 | Archerfield Speedway | Acacia Ridge, Qld | Geoff Pilgrim (WA) | Ian Lewis (Vic) | Ronald Mackay (Qld) |
1983β84 | Northline Speedway | Darwin, NT | Keith Mann (WA) | Rex Hodgson (SA) | Danny Davidson (Qld) |
1984β85 | Melbourne Speedbowl | Melbourne, Vic | Jim Holden (Qld) | Ray Bishop (Vic) | Jack Porrit (NSW) |
1985β86 | Speedway Park | Virginia, SA | Phil March (SA) | Ray Bishop (Vic) | Gary Dillon (SA) |
1986β87 | Claremont Speedway | Perth, WA | Tom Watson Sr. (WA) | Gary Dillon (SA) | John Sears (SA) |
1987β88 | Parramatta City Raceway | Sydney, NSW | Stephen Gall (NSW) | Paul Lindberg (Qld) | Phil Herreen (SA) |
1988β89 | Rockhampton Speedway | Rockhampton, Qld | Graham Jones (WA) | Paul Lindberg (Qld) | Ray Bishop (Vic) |
1989β90 | Northline Speedway | Darwin, NT | Warrenne Ekins (NT) | Neville Lance (WA) | Phil Herreen (SA) |
Year | Venue | City/State | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
1990β91 | Claremont Speedway | Perth, WA | Warrenne Ekins (NT) | Graham Jones (WA) | Tom Watson Jnr (WA) |
1991β92 | Speedway Park | Virginia, SA | Phil Herreen (SA) | Tom Watson Jnr (WA) | Greg Farrugia (NSW) |
1992β93 | Bendigo Raceway | Bendigo, Vic | Warrenne Ekins (NT) | Mike Figliomeni (WA) | Neville Lance (WA) |
1993β94 | Parramatta City Raceway | Sydney, NSW | Warrenne Ekins (NT) | Neville Lance (WA) | Rod Bowen (NSW) |
1994β95 | Charlton Raceway | Toowoomba, Qld | Mike Figliomeni (WA) | Warrenne Ekins (NT) | Neville Lance (WA) |
1995β96 | Claremont Speedway | Perth, WA | Mike Figliomeni (WA) | Warrenne Ekins (NT) | Joe Little (WA) |
1996β97 | Newcastle Motordrome | Newcastle, NSW | Craig Brady (NSW) | Troy Jenkins (NSW) | Joe Little (WA) |
1997β98 | Avalon Raceway | Lara, Vic | Robbie Farr (NSW) | Troy Jenkins (NSW) | Mark Brown (NSW) |
1998β99 | Northline Speedway | Darwin, NT | Bob Holt (NT) | Dave Lambert (NSW) | Toby Gibb (WA) |
1999β2000 | Western Auto Raceway | Ballarat, Vic | Mike Figliomeni (WA) | Michael Kendall () | Shayne Alach () |
Year | Venue | City/State | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
2000β01 | Speedway Park | Virginia, SA | Adam Clarke (NSW) | Darren Jenkins (NSW) | Craig Brady (NSW) |
2000β01 | Archerfield Speedway | Acacia Ridge, Qld | Mike Figliomeni (WA) | Todd Wanless (Qld) | Warrenne Ekins (NT) |
2001β02β¦ | Speedway City | Virginia, SA | Adam Clarke (NSW) | Brett Morris (NSW) | Joe Little (WA) |
2002β03 | Speedway City | Virginia, SA | Cory Kruseman () | Adam Clarke (NSW) | Craig Brady (NSW) |
2003β04 | Speedway City | Virginia, SA | Tony Elliot () | Brett Morris (NSW) | Lance Beale () |
2004β05 | Perth Motorplex | Perth, WA | Steven Graham (NSW) | Michael Pickens () | Dene McAllan (WA) |
2005β06 | Parramatta City Raceway | Sydney, NSW | Davey Ray () | Jerry Coons Jnr (USA) | Adam Clarke (NSW) |
2006β07 | Toowoomba Speedbowl | Toowoomba, Qld | Jerry Coons Jnr () | Mark Brown (NSW) | Dene McAllan (WA) |
2007β08 | Perth Motorplex | Perth, WA | Davey Ray () | Scott Glazebrook (WA) | Rick Geneve (WA) |
2008β09 | Riverview Speedway | Murray Bridge | Kevin Swindell () | Brad Kuhn () | Neville Lance (WA) |
2009β10 | Avalon Raceway | Lara, Vic | Nathan Smee (NSW) | Brendan Palmer (QLD) | Sid Whittaker (QLD) |
Year | Venue | City/State | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd place |
2010β11 | Lismore Speedway | Lismore, NSW | Davey Ray () | Adam Wallis (Qld) | Michael Pickens () |
2011β12 | Maryborough Speedway | Maryborough, Qld | Not Held (inclement weather) | ||
2012β13 | Perth Motorplex | Perth, WA | Neville Lance (WA) | Daryl Clayden (WA) | Casey Shuman () |
2013β14 | Speedway City | Virginia, SA | Adam Clarke (NSW) | Alex Bright () | Ryan Jones (SA) |
2014β15 | Premier Speedway | Warrnambool, VIC | Adam Clarke (NSW) | Nathan Smee (NSW) | Alex Bright () |
2015β16 | Valvoline Raceway | Sydney, NSW | Michael Pickens () | Andrew Felker () | Alex Bright () |
2016β17 | Archerfield Speedway | Acacia Ridge, Qld | Rico Abreu ( ) | Brady Bacon ( ) | Nathan Smee ( NSW) |
2017β18 | Murray Bridge Speedway | Murray Bridge, SA | Kaidon Brown () | Dayne Kingshott () | Alex Bright () |
2018β19 | Perth Motorplex | Kwinana Beach, WA | Dayne Kingshott () | Adam Clarke () | Jason McDougal () |
2019β20 | Premier Speedway | Warrnambool, VIC | Carson Macedo () | Alex Bright () | Kaleb Currie () |
2021β22 | Archerfield Speedway | Acacia Ridge, Qld | Matt Smith () | Kaidon Brown () | Travis Mills () |
2022β23 | Eastern Creek Speedway | Sydney, NSW | Brady Bacon () | Kaiden Manders () | Thomas Meseraull () |
** The championship was run as a national series between 1963/64 and 1971/72 (with the final round always held at the Sydney Showground), following which it reverted to a single championship meeting.
## 1976β77 and 1979β80 Championships were run over three rounds at three different tracks with a pointscore deciding the winner
β¦ 2001β02 Championship was sanctioned by NASR and not Speedcars Australia as previous (and after)
1977β78 Controversyβ»
The 1977/78 championship at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground remains controversial. In the feature race the field, led by defending champion George Tatnell who had built up almost half a lap lead, was under the yellow caution flags with 8 laps remaining due to a stalled car on the narrow track. With the restart imminent, officials erred by switching to the green light half a lap before the field reached the start line, catching out most of the field, including Tatnell. Local driver Ron Wanless powered past Tatnell and "built up a winning lead before the Sydney-based driver could respond." Instead of calling for a restart as they should have, officials unbelievably allowed the race to finish, though Wanless was shown the "racing under protest" flag. Post-race Tatnell immediately protested, as did Adelaide driver Rex Hodgson who was third before the restart. But was passed at the early green light by another local driver Danny Davidson. The officials failure to restart the race after the green light error led to conspiracy theories that as it was local Brisbane drivers who benefited (at the time, the local bodies assigned officials to national championship meetings), officials had no intention of admitting they were wrong, thus there was no intention of correcting the problem. There was also a theory that going green early was a common practice at the Exhibition Ground and that knowing the local drivers would be ready for it, the locally supplied officials gave the early green to give them an advantage in an effort to have a home town winner. After numerous protests and votes by committee's, Wanless was eventually awarded the win from Tatnell and Davidson. If any body had bothered to read the ASCC rule book of the day the rule clearly said the race could and would be started after a stoppage when the track was clear which was agreed and affirmed at the drivers meeting before the event began, consequently Wanless was declared the winner by the ASCC (Australian Speedcar Control Council) affirming also that the Chief Steward made the correct decision.