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HISTORY OF ALBANY SPEEDWAY CLUB
The idea of Hot Rod racing first occurred in 1962, after a meeting of interested persons, in Keith Bailey's parent's kitchen. However, the Albany Hot Rod Club ( as it was then known) was formed in May 1965 at a meeting held at John Manley's wrecking yard, attended by approximately 25 persons. Tim Horner, Keith Bailey, Peter Spice, Peter Hunt, Geoff Roots and Wayne Graham were some of the original members attendiing. After this meeting many Hot Rods began construction around town. By mid 1966 there was still no racing venue, and Ted Roots and a few members procured the use of the old George Street rubbish tip.
The original triangular shaped track was built up on undulating ground and racing commenced in September 1966. A mixture of 48 to 54 Fords, Chevs, Buicks, Dodges and a variety of other makes were amongst the first cars. The club ran successfully for a number of years, holding special meetings at other venues such as Ocean Beach, Denmark. The track at George street had to eventually close, due to the Shire requiring more room for fill. It was resituated further up the road in the same area and was to last for several years until going into recess in 1969. A kidney shaped track was put down on the present site and racing recommenced in 1972. However, there was a rift in the club, and a split in direction.
There were several tracks put down over the next few years, with earthworks starrted at the present Hanrahan road Refuse Site. The most serious attempt at starting a new track was made by Trevor "the whiet ghost" Harding, Alan Tarbottom and a group of solo supporters, at the Motor Drome near Albany Airport. Timbers were carted from Denmark/Walpole area and practice runs were held on the site. Unfortunately, both Tarbottom and Harding were to leave town for employment reasons, and the track progressed no further. Timbers were salvaged from the safety fence and were used at the present site to construct the track fencing.
Over the years the timbers were replaced as they rotted away, and a second fence was constructed inside the original fence. This was eventually replaced with the existing concrete walls, which took a number of years to complete. The original track fencing remains buried under the spectator banking. As fill became available, the bcak straight was slowly filled, much to the disbelief of many members and eventually it was filled to its present state. Night Racing began in the 1980's when the club borrowed funding to construct six light towers, and then another two towers a few years later. The catch fence was constructed to meet the top insurance category, at the same time, and the facility was well under way to becoming one of the top tracks in WA.
The track facilities have also grown over the years and now boasts a huge clubroom, canteen and PA Box Complex, all debt free. A new toilet block was built on the back straight during 2004, and further upgrades to the clubrooms and lighting are planned. Attwell Park Speedway has hosted numerous State Titles, three national Titles for Modified Sedans and the 2001/2002 Super Sedan National Title.
These National Titles have put the Albany Club well and truly on the map, at a national level, and we have received accolades from the top drivers on our track, and club organization. During recent years Albany has had two National Champions and numerous State Champions, photos of whom are prodley displayed on our clubroom walls, along with honour boards for our acheivers. Albany is a very proud club with a huge tradition and a club with drivers that attain their best in their division.
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If Microsoft Made Cars................. |
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For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.
Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.
Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull over to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.
Occasionally, executing a manoeuvre such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive, but would run on only five percent of the roads.
The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.
The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.
Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
Every time a new car was introduced, car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again, because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
Oh yeah, and last but not least . . . you'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off!
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WHEEL TORQUE
