Clubs have long kept the heart of Broken Hill beating, providing remote residents with an opportunity to connect with others with a shared interest in sports, racing, dance, fundraising.
The Club of the Week section is a new addition to the Barrier Truth where club executives are invited to share details about their clubs including insights into their unique club culture.
Broken Hill Speedway Club
History
Last year, the Barrier Truth was fortunate enough to catch up with Brian Fenton and Jack Stokes who shared a few hair-raising stories about the early days of the Broken Hill Speedway Club.
Mr Fenton managed the Broken Hill Speedway Club for the first six years, building the successful club with Ray Vella and many others back in the 1940s.
“We didn’t have government grants or anything, but we ran the club with 70 volunteers who’d form committees for the food, the grog, for the gate, the pits, and rescue crew and so on, to help with all the events,” said Mr Fenton.
Today
We caught up with Secretary of the Broken Hill Speedway Club, Ali Howse for a chat.
“The Broken Hill Speedway Club has a long history in the region and we’re proud to have around 65 members to start the 2024 race season. My husband Rick Howse is serving as club President, our Treasurer is Matt Quin, and I’m the club’s Secretary,” Ms Howse told the Barrier Truth this week.
“There are two dirt tracks at the Speedway site at 670 Barrier Hwy – one is the motocross track, which provides jumps and challenging bends for motocross riders to race on, and the other track is a speedway track where members can race side cars, solos, and flat track.
“We don’t have members who race cars at the Speedway anymore but they’re always welcome to join the club,” says Ms Howse. “Everyone at the club currently races motorbikes with around 20 per cent of our membership being parents who get their kids involved in racing too.
“Motocross racing is an all-weather sport unless there’s flooding or lightning,” says Ms Howse. “Safety of riders and spectators is always a priority, and the club is governed by both Motorcycling Australia and Speedway Australia which is why we can race both bikes and cars.
“Seven is the age limit to start racing competitively but we hold regular group Demo Days for four years and older, which allows families to give kids a go on the track from an early age.
“The range of personal skills kids and teens develop from being a member of the Speedway club mean we see kids transform from being extremely shy at their first presentation night in front of 70 people, to being so confident that we have to take the mic from them,” she laughed.
“Our Speedway Club members are friendly, supportive of each other and real community minded people who enjoy all the thrills that comes from racing on dirt. The men become mentors and role models for the younger men and boys, creating a safe space to develop lifetime skills by pushing personal limits and learning about healthy competition,” said Ms Howse.
“Like most clubs, we’re always keen to attract more volunteers to keep the track well maintained so if people aren’t able to race but would like to be involved in the club to help out, we’d love to hear from them.”
For more details, visit the Broken Hill Speedway Club Facebook page at facebook.com/brokenhillspeedwayclub or contact Ali Howse on 0429 156 536 or email [email protected].
