Vale Harry Vause.
With the passing of Harry Vause last Thursday at the age of 92, a link to the history of Mac Park was lost. Harry was, with the late Laurie Fox and Maurie von Einem, one of the three Mount Gambier Motor Cycle & LIght Car Club members who walked the 40 acre scrub block with owner Frank McNamara, with the idea of establishing a home for the Club and a road race circuit. When Mr Clarry Ploenges died in 1952 the Club was unable to use Buck’s Hill any more for racing and so the search was on for a new property.
Harry was very active in the MGMC&LCC and held positions of Vice President and Club Captain whilst he raced in Scrambles, Night Scrambles, Reliability and Observed Trials, plus Borderline Speedway. He made his debut on the speedway at the third meeting and was noted as an “öutstanding performer” and going on to win many races there.
Many will remember Harry as the cheery RAA Serviceman for O G Roberts for many years.
Incidentally, Harry’s wife Eleanor (nee Dunn) was the first President of the MGMC&LCC Ladies Committee who contributed so much towards the achievement of establishing the circuit.
I was fortunate enough to spend quite a bit of time with Harry when researching for my ‘Potholes and paddock to the Park’ books and he recounted some great stories of the General Stuart Tank and how he and 2 other mechanic members got it going and used it at Mac Park. Harry drove it many times before and after work towing the Roller around in the wet. But that is another story. RIP Harry.
