Blewitt Springs

Scrambles/motocross in 60s and 70s

Port Noarlunga

A popular venue for scrambles in 50s and 60s was the Port Noarlunga track situated south of town along the road to Moana. The track was laid out to the east of road and was largely flat except for a sharp rise at the western end. The track narrowed at the top of the rise and ran for a short distance around some bushes before plunging back down to the flats. This was located at the end of the main straight, creating a mad rush after the start to be first through the restriction. It was a great place to watch races from.

The photo below - kindly provided by Alan Thompson from the Vintage and Veteran Club - is of a Handicap Sidecar Event circa 1953/1954 for bikes up to 750 cc. Alan is the rider of bike 271, an AJS 500 (motor bored out to around 600cc) with Don Blewett swinging. Notice Don's somewhat different facing backwards style. The other two riders are Reg "Tige" Symonds (284) on an Ariel Red Hunter (bored and stroked to 600 cc) and Laurie Wilson (56) followed by Bill Butler (wearing the Shamrock helmet).

Sellicks Beach

Sellicks Beach was one of the earliest venues for motorcycle racing in Australia.  Official races commenced in 1917 and finished in 1953 - unofficial meetings started as early as 1913. The course was laid out over a 1.6 kilometre stretch of beach between Silver Sands and Sellicks Beach – at each end, riders had to make a 180 degree hair-pin turn, going backwards and forwards over a set race distance – 10, 20, 50 and even 100 miles. No fatalities were recorded.

Sellicks was renowned for the variety of makes that raced, from the locally made Payneham Elliot through to  makes such as Brough Superior, Vincent, Veloce, Norton, Indian, Harley Davidson, Arial, BSA and AJS. Many famous motorcycle riders began their racing career on the beach.

In April 1925, an American by the name of Paul Anderson rode an 8 valve Indian motorcycle over the ½ mile at a speed of 125 mph breaking the record for that class of motorcycle at the time. He also broke the record for a smaller class of machine by riding a 3½ horsepower 4 valve Indian at 103.44 mph over the same distance.

Re-enactments were held on the 12^th of January 1986 – as a 'Jubilee 150' event - and again on January the 19th 1992.

In 1986, a crowd estimated at 40,000 attended causing 'grid lock' in surrounding roads. Some of the older bikes running in a special demonstration event  included a 1907 Moto Reve 150cc, 1911 Rudge Brooklands 500cc, a 1913 Douglas 350cc, a 1914 Rudge and a 1923 BSA 250cc. Some riders from the last event in 1953 were in attendance including Les Diener, Len Dyson, Les Smith, Doc Watson, Bill Pfieffer and Ian Baldock.

Sellicks Hill

Old Sellicks Hill Road – which can still be traversed starting from the Victory Hotel car park – was used for hill climbs during the early 1900s.

Sheidow Park

Borderline Fleurieu Pensinsula but close enough! It was the venue for the Australian Titles - year uncertain but probably 1954 or 1956.

Waitpinga

The first official hill climb in South Australia was held on an unsealed road near Waitpinga, south of Adelaide. The longest ever hill climb in Australia, the Waitpinga meeting in April 1935 attracted 5000 spectators.