One of Australia's and indeed one of the world's oldest and longest running Speedway venues. Speedway was conducted at the Show Grounds at Claremont, W.A. for over 70 years running from May 14th.1927 to March 31st. 2000. John S Hoskins started it off in 1927 and one of it's most famous promoters was 10 times world solo finalist, Aub Lawson. Mr J.W Davies a local business man was another of it's famous promoters. There were 18 fatalities at the 641 & 1/4 yard race track, one was a spectator. A remembrance plaque, sponsored by the members of The Veteran Speedway Riders Association of Australia was laid at the site on 31st August 2003.
A Claremont Speedway programme, they were not dated on the covers.
One of Claremont's favourite sons, Sig Schlam, a top solo rider of the day shown here on the left with Frank Browne in 1930.
Placegetters in the 1930 2 mile Australian Solo Championship at Claremont. L to R. Bill Dunne 3rd. Jack Chapman 2nd. and English ace Arthur Atkinson 1st. - 1.3.1930.
Arthur Atkinson again, this time receiving the trophy for the Western Australian Solo Championship win on 18.1.1930.
These 3 1930 solo photos courtesy of Western Australian fan ,
Rod Baltovich.
Ken Wylie accepts the trophy for the inaugural Western Australian Speedcar Championship - 1947.
Murray Hoffmann at Claremont Circa 1960 in his McGee Holden midget.
Laurie Stevens in his locally built Repco Holden # 7. The car was sponsored by Kayes Engineering and was a metallic blue and silver in colour - circa 1960.
Here's an odd photo - this is just how the photo was sold ! Peter Sharp driving the green and gold Vauxhall Vagabond engined midget # 18.
Peter lost his life in this car later in the season.
Charles Lindberg sets up the rockets on the Wylie midget.
Test firing at the Show Grounds.
Ken Wylie laps the Claremont Show Ground track in 1947 with the " Rocket Car ".
A photo from viewer Rod Baltovich in W.A.
The Claremont Show Grounds in 1932.
A Concours D'Elegance under way on the infield.
Three different Claremont programme covers. L to R: 1956.....1958.....1970..
Claremont Speedway Fatalities
Ray Barber
Ken Chapman
Ronald Deas
Eric Doyle
Troy English
Neville Gorman
John Hamilton
Trevor Hobbs
Maurice McMillan
Percy Mulligan
Harry Neale
Des Noble
Bernard Perrie
Errol Reed
Gordon Rowland
Peter Sharp
Neil Schiller
Bob Stephen here
Sidecar
Stockbike
Solo
Solo
Spectator
Sidecar passenger
Speedcar
Solo
Solo
Solo
Speedcar
Solo
Solo
Speedcar
Sidecar
Speedcar
Solo
Sidecar
13.01.75
07.02.58
27.02.37
09.04.55
11.03.95
12.10.73
15.02.57
20.02.70
28.11.47
02.03.29
06.02.59
17.12.71
31.12.28
31.10.58
05.02.82
20.11.59
18.12.37
04.12.93
 | ||||||
This list is as accurate as possible. If there are any errors or substantiated omissions , please advise me.
Vic Ctercteko who rode at Claremont in the first few seasons of operation.
The plaque in memory of W.A. great Sig Schlam.
Thanks to Ken Brown for his help with material on this page.
Above . Three photos from Ken Brown. The Claremont Show Grounds as they are today
( 2005 )
Left: W.A. and Claremont star Solo rider and President of the VSRA for 2003-2005, Chum Taylor with the remembrance plaque at the Show Grounds.
Left and above, Claremont midget driver and sign writer to many W.A. midgets, Roly Richardson in his Holden midget WA88 in the mid to late 1960s.
Roly is now restoring this car.
Left, WA88 running the red Holden engine with the big extractor and 3 x double Weber carburettors. Thanks Roly for the great pics.
Roly and WA88 in action at Claremont.
Some W.A. input from Ric Yates and his friend Brian Rees......Thanks boys.
A page for some photo input from W.A. viewers of 'Vintagespeedway'
The wording on the Claremont plaque - words by the late Jim Shepherd. ( thanks to Steve Clark for sending. )
Unfortunately Ken Brown - W.A. Historian tells me there are a couple of mistakes on the plaque.
I have corrected them here with this text but cannot change the plaque itself.
S
10
J.W.
