Click on BIRTH sign and read about those early years.
This is where 'it is widely accepted' to have started in Australia. West Maitland Showgrounds, NSW and this is the site of the original Grandstand as it was when photographed in 2003.
Read the story, written by Johnnie Hoskins himself of how he ended up at West Maitland in 1923 and how his first meeting came about. The rest is history. Click on red heading.
Visitors to West Maitland.
His story of Speedway from the very first day, by John S himself.
Maitland Showground. The big 1/2 miler on the left just about follows the original outline of the track used in 1923. The smaller track on the right is training track for trotters. The Johnny Hoskins Trophy Speedway meeting was reintroduced on this small track in Dec. 1996. Lionel Hoskins came out from England to present the trophy.
THE FIRST EVER 'SPEEDWAY' PROGRAMME at West Maitland.
The first winner at the first 'Speedway' meeting at West Maitland Showground was:
Heat 1. over 2 miles.
W.Crampton on a 3 1/2 HP Norton.by 10 seconds to C.Datson on a Harley 7/ 9 HP, by 45 seconds to S.Pinfold on a 2 3/4 HP Douglas.
Five entrants started , it was won by 4 lengths
in a time of 3min 37 secs.
That was an average speed for the two miles of 33. 2 MPH or 53. 1 KPH.
A HUGE "Thank You" to Brian Lear for the scan of this historic programme and information.
The FIRST SPEEDWAY EVENT.
1st
2nd.
3rd.
3 min 37 secs.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
3 min.
1st.
2nd.
Struck a post.
3 min 17 secs.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
3 min 30 secs.
Only four started.
The advertisement in the Maitland Mercury newspaper on the 15.12.1923 promoting what was to be the first 'Speedway' meeting. The Mercury is still operating in 2003.
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One of John S' sons, Lionel Hoskins with the Johnny Hoskins 1996 trophy. Won by Tony Rose of Qld.
On Sunday 18th of May 2003 - on behalf of the members of the Vintage Speedway movement,a bronze plaque was mounted on one of the walls of the original Grandstand at Maitland Showground
Click on the sign to read the story.
The Maitland commemorative plaque.
An add from the Maitland Mercury newspaper, 5.4.1950, advertising the appearanace of Frank "Satan" Brewer the American Speedcar ace.
3.1.1952 an advertisement for what was to be the last ever Speedcar programme at Maitland Showground.
The Maitland Mercury advertisement for what was to be the last ever Speedway meeting to be held on the famous Maitland Showground Track on the 29.3.1952
From The Guinness Book of Records - (1986)
I get a lot of 'pickers' and criticism about this page and the West Maitland history.
See the Guinness Book of Records ( 1986) statement at foot of this page for their official statement of the origins of dirt track Speedway in Australia.
I also don't think anybody really thinks Johnny Hoskins 'INVENTED' Speedway.
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(I have added the results to the above programme 'digitally'.
One idiot in Ireland said I had "defaced the original programme !! ")
An early Agricultural Show at West Maitland Showgrounds.
