FATALITIES
HONOUR ROLL
During it's years of operation, the Sydney Showground Speedway, Moore Park saw 28 riders and drivers lose their lives ( either immediately or within a short space of time) as a result of accidents while competing at this famous venue. The first fatality was in 1926 and the last in 1973. 15 Solo riders, 4 Sidecar riders, 2 Sidecar passengers and 7 Speedcar drivers lost their lives. On the 10/11/00 a plaque was placed and dedicated on the wall on what was the Start / Finsh straight at the old circuit ( now Fox Studios). This plaque ( sponsored by the four Vintage Speedway associations in NSW ) honoured ALL those riders and drivers who had made the ultimate sacrifice for the love of their sport. Listed below are their names.
This list is as complete as our research allows, if there are any omissions they are unintentional. Riders or drivers passing away years after an accident are not included in this roll as the line must be drawn somewhere.
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* Francis Paul Pryke rode as Freddie Paul
* * Peter Pantlin drove as Peter Johnson
All care has been taken in the research of these events, if documented proof can be supplied for any other fatalities ( of riders or drivers ) at the Sydney Showground Speedway (only) consideration will be made to add such documentation to the records.
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These two plaques were dedicated and mounted on the wall in front of the old Suttor stand on what was the main straight . The bronze plaque on the left lists the competitors names whose lives were lost and the coloured plaque on the right was supplied by Fox Studios to recognise the fact that Speedway had been held in the arena. Although three omissions were made with the plaque ( whose deaths were not known of at the time of compilation) it is intended to honour ALL of the competitors who lost their lives.
STANLEY TYLERSOLO13/11/1926
SOLO13/11/1926JAMES DONAGHYSOLO26/02/1927
SOLO26/02/1927KEITH McKAY SOLO22/12/1928
SOLO22/12/1928STUART COBCROFT SOLO06/10/1930
SOLO06/10/1930FRANK HARRIS SOLO06/12/1930
SOLO06/12/1930BERT BRENNAN SOLO03/12/1932
SOLO03/12/1932FREDDIE PAUL SOLO03/12/1932
SOLO03/12/1932FRANK ELMS SOLO21/12/1935
SOLO21/12/1935JACK SKELTONSIDECAR 04/01/1947
SIDECAR 04/01/1947NORM HARDY SOLO12/04/1947
SOLO12/04/1947KEV GALLAHERSPEEDCAR07/10/1949
SPEEDCAR07/10/1949JIM HANSBURY SOLO07/03/1953
SOLO07/03/1953BRIAN MOLES SPEEDCAR03/11/1956
SPEEDCAR03/11/1956 BOB STAPLES SOLO15/12/1956
SOLO15/12/1956MERV DOWLINGSIDECAR.PASS.09/03/1957
SIDECAR.PASS.09/03/1957SAM STANTON SPEEDCAR24/01/1959
SPEEDCAR24/01/1959PETER JOHNSON SPEEDCAR07/01/1961
SPEEDCAR07/01/1961JACK BISSAKER SPEEDCAR21/10/1961
SPEEDCAR21/10/1961BARRY ROBINSON SPEEDCAR30/11/1963
SPEEDCAR30/11/1963NICK COLLIERSPEEDCAR27/02/1965
SPEEDCAR27/02/1965BARRY HOPKIN SOLO13/11/1965
SOLO13/11/1965TED PRESTON SIDECAR 05/02/1966
SIDECAR 05/02/1966DENIS DUGGANSIDECAR.PASS. 29/10/1966
SIDECAR.PASS. 29/10/1966LIONEL LEVY SOLO 10/02/1968
SOLO 10/02/1968KEN MAPP SOLO 28/09/1968
SOLO 28/09/1968ROGER BROWNE SOLO 15/02/1969
SOLO 15/02/1969JOHN DUNNE SIDECAR 24/10/1970
SIDECAR 24/10/1970GEOFF CURTIS SOLO 15/12/1973
SOLO 15/12/1973 | ||||||
