Colin’s Potholes Blog

MGMC &LCC members passed on

MGMC &LCC members passed on

Just recently we have lost 3 motorcyclist of bygone eras.  Harry Vause (aged 92) and the last of the 3 men that walked the bush block (that was to become Mac Park) with Frank McNamara. Harry was also a successful Speedway competitor at Borderline Speedway on his...

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Harry Vause

  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...

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70 years ago -Mac park’s first competitive event

70 years ago -Mac park’s first competitive event

Best known for it's road racing, McNamara Park's first competitive event occurred on this day September 13 1953 - 70 years ago. It was a Scramble on "the new half mile track" which used part of the planned road race circuit. that Frank McNamara had roughed- out with...

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WITTWER TRIAL

WITTWER TRIAL

Seventy years ago, in July 1953, the Mount Gambier Motor Cycle and Light Car Club held their annual Wittwer Trial at Mac Park. This was an observed trial and 24 riders took part. Outright winner was Ron Hellyer on an AJS, (pictured below) with Roger Crowe and Ron...

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FW: Vale Jim Pearson

FW: Vale Jim Pearson

A couple of weeks ago at Isle of Man time I posted about 2 Mount Gambier local motorcyclists Alec Campbell and Jim Pearson who performed very credibly in their first attempt at the sidecar racing there. Alec riding, with Jim in the chair gained a 7th place. A great...

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Mount Gambier Motor Cycle & Light Car Club, Walker Family

Mount Gambier Motor Cycle & Light Car Club, Walker Family

Following on from the family member's blog recently, the Walker name appears prominently in the list of attendees at the Mount Gambier Motor Cycle & Light Car Club inaugural meeting in 1947.  Attending were Messrs A A Walker, H Walker,  M H Walker, N Walker and Miss N...

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Motorcycling Hellyer Brothers

Motorcycling Hellyer Brothers

Families were well represented in the Mount Gambier Motor Cycle and Light Car Club with the Fox, Walker, von Einem, and Hamilton names represented and also the Hellyers, brothers Ron, Ralph and Neville.  Ron was a well known Solo and Sidecar rider with many successes,...

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Vale local Speedway Solo racer Wayne Stanley (Stan) Kerslake

Vale local Speedway Solo racer Wayne Stanley (Stan) Kerslake

When the Borderline Speedway opened in Mount Gambier in 1957, many Mount Gambier Motor Cycle and Light Car Club members competed in Solo and Sidecar races. Bikes were generally standard road bikes modified slightly for track use, as from being used in Scrambles. Bruce...

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Author

  • Colin R Thompson

    Colin is a self confessed motor cycle tragic who bought his first motor cycle in the 1950s. He began racing outfits in Scrambles in the early 1960s with quite a bit of success. Following his move to Mount Gambier in 1972, he soon became involved with the local motor cycling fraternity and so began his interest in the history of motor cycling in the South East, especially at "Mac Park". This ultimately led to the publication of the two volumes of "Potholes and paddocks to the Park". Colin has done several Charity Fundraising events with a Powerpoint on the contents of the books for organisations such as Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal, Queensland Flood Relief, Movember, RFDS and Cancer SA. One is being planned to assist Lifeline. Check out this site for future events.He still has a couple of motor cycles and always a project on the go.

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