Rosedale Speedway History
The Rosedale Speedway Association was born on the 18th October 1971 when approximately 30 people held a meeting on what is the Speedways current site. With a common aim to form an association to conduct Speedway, it took just five months for a hard working committee and group of members headed by Dave Williams to build a Race Track and conduct their first race meeting on 27th February 1972.
From virtually an open paddock, a 1/3 mile D shape, solid gravel track was formed with the existing horse racing track. A safety fence made from railway sleepers, five inch planks backed with earthen banks kept wayward cars on course, while spectators could watch from the original 180 seat racecourse Grandstand. Right from day one it was considered one of Victoria’s best Speedways with big time races attracting Australia’s best drivers to the ever improving venue.
Always innovating with ways to entertain the spectators, a change was made around 1979 from Sunday afternoon racing to Saturday night under brilliant lighting. Then in the mid 80’s a four car touring American Sedan Team challenged the local drivers on two occasions and found the racing to be very close. But the biggest attraction to have come to Rosedale Speedway was the greatest ever driver, multiple World of Outlaws Champion, Steve Kinser.
In the early 90’s, due to continual maintenance of the old timber fencing and speed that race cars were now attaining, the Rosedale Speedway Association committee started planning for a major upgrade of the venue. During the next few season and costing in excess of $100,000 the venue was rebuilt from scratch. Gone was the rotting timber fence and in its place grew a 1.2 metre high concrete wall, incorporating a 4.2 metre steel posts to carry the wire rope for the catch fence and was reshaped to more of a true oval. New lighting was installed and hundreds of cubic metres of dirt from near by road works were used to raise the spectator banking above fence height for better viewing.
From 1995 and into the new millennium, a concerted effort was made to attract Australia’s best drivers back to Rosedale with high prize money features, culminating in 2001 with the 50 lap Super Sedan Challenge, paying $10,000 to win.
Now with a venue of national standard, Rosedale Speedway Association continues to improve the race formats and venue facilities to provide race drivers and spectators with the best speedway possible. As recently as the 2004-2005 season the Rosedale Speedway Association was voted by their peers, the State Club Award (the best club/track in Victoria). |
