Tracey’s Speedway photos taken in 2007
The timber grandstand is having work done on it
The rear of the grandstands from Hortense Street.
An ‘exit’ from Highpoint Shopping Centre in Van Ness Avenue. I spent many a time waiting for the lights to change at this set of lights before I realised that traces of Tracey’s Speedway were staring me in the face!
The Victoria & Classic and Vintage Speedway Club plaque
TRACEY’S SPEEDWAY
Also known as Maribyrnong & Kirjon Speedway
By Chris Meaden
It was only in recent years that I discovered that the nondescript park I drive past en route to High Point Shopping Centre is the remains of the famed Traceys Speedway. I am amazed that the speedway ever coexisted amongst the suburban houses. How times have changed.
The speedway was known as Maribyrnong Speedway when it was built in 1946. It was soon renamed Kirjon Speedway by the promoters.
Fred Tracey gained control of the speedway circa 1951 after the venue temporarily ceased operating. He renamed it to Traceys Speedway. Why not?!
Many top names raced at the venue including Bob Tattersall and Jimmy Davies from the USA, Frank Brewer, Graham McCubbin, Alf Beasley, Stud Beasley, Jack ODea, Aub Cherry, Ray Fechner. Kym Bonython won the Speedways first 50-lap Speedcar Derby.
Surprisingly only a handful of drivers died at the venue but unfortunately Alf Beasley was one of them in 1958.
Time caught up with the venue and sadly it closed in 1964.
For those interested in taking a step back in time, I would recommend the trip to Maribyrnong. Try sitting in the old grandstand and I swear that you will still hear the faint scream of the Midgets!
You may want to catch a tram to get there, on the same tram line that hordes of people would have traversed in the speedways heyday. Take the #57 or #82 tram.
Maribyrnong Reserve (behind the McDonald Reserve) is on Raleigh Road, Maribyrnong. Melways map 28B7. It is about 8 kms from CBD, as the crow flies.
The Victorian Classic and Vintage Speedway Club conduct its annual Tracey’s Speedway Reunion around April each year. I will endeavor to remind MotorsportArchive.com visitors when the next reunion approaches.
If anyone has any more information or stories to tell about Traceys Speedway, please dont hesitate to contact me (see below for details).
The view from the brick grandstand. Some of the residents behind the back straight fence would have got a close-up view of the action!
The view from The Esplanade, looking towards Raleigh Road (Maribyrnong Road extention)
Helen wrote recollections of your childhood experiences at the Speedway after seeing this page.
“I was born in 1953 and spent my childhood hearing speedway on a Saturday night. My mum would sit and watch the tram as it arrived with an array of interesting people. More likely the highlight of the week. We would wait until 1/2 way when my dad would take us kids over ( we could get in then for nothing). We would then come home smelling of fuel, dirt in your eyes and the wonder or racing cars.
My older brother ( he was about 13 then) us around 7, would wake us up around 5.00 and we would sneak out of the house to go and pick up yes money people had dropped and all the beer bottles as the bottlo would come and we could cash them in. We beat most of the kids around, because we lived over the road. A most memorable childhood, I can still smell the speedway.”