Want to be a part of Mac Park History?
We are selling square-metres of Pavers for $65 to all members and friends of Mac Park. For this you get an engraved paver within your square-metre, a very low cost method of leaving your mark at Mac Park forever!
Go to our "Downloads" page for a Paver Order Form.
The Club:
The Mount Gambier Motorcycle Club Inc. has many claims to uniqueness. It is one of the oldest motorcycling clubs in the country with a rich history dating back to at least 1913. It is the only motorcycle club in Australia, and one of very few in the world, to own it's own road racing circuit.
Mount Gambier Motorcycling History:
Mount Gambier has had a love affair with motorcycles since the early 1900s and when registration and licensing was introduced in 1906, there were 9 listings for the town. Interest continued to grow in this form of transport and the competitive nature of the residents came to the fore. One of the challenges they often indulged in was the ride to the Centenary Tower. The first recorded successful climb was in 1911 although several attempts had been made earlier.
In 1913 when the formation of the Mount Gambier Motor Cycle Club occurred (November 4th 1913) there were approximately 120 motorcycles registered in Mount Gambier.
On November 26th 1913 the first Club run was held. The Club disbanded on the 10th Nov 1914 when they joined with the motorists, but the motorcycling spirit lived on and in 1928 the Mount Gambier Motor Cycle Club was reformed. In 1931 a Speedway was created at the Recreation Reserve and several meetings were held on an 18 foot wide banked track before nearby residents complained about the noise and meetings stopped. Other activities included racing on a track at Yahl and Sports Days.
The Great Depression curtailed activities to a large extent and not much activity was recorded in this period and the MGMCC faded away. In the local newspaper, the Border Watch of Saturday July 18th 1936, the proposed formation of a Motor Cycle Club was once again heralded.
“A meeting of motor cyclists will be held at Bullock’s Cycle Emporium on Monday night (July 20th, 1936)when the proposed formation of a Sporting and Social Club will be discussed”. From this meeting the Mount Gambier Motor Cycle and Light Car Club was formed.
Although there does not appear to have been much reporting of the activities quite a bit of informal action reputedly took place, but in 1939 the Second World War came and activities were curtailed once again. Following the cessation of hostilities and the return of the servicemen, throttle hands again twitched, although the availability of bikes was a problem and the Mount Gambier Motor Cycle and Light Car Club was re-activated in January 1947. The Club President was Mr Kingsley Osborne, the Captain Mr Ron Hellyer and the Club colours Maroon and Gold. A meeting place was always a problem and Members met at various venues such as the old Pipe Band rooms, a Cellar at Fox Bros shop (members urged to bring their own electric radiators), a Cordial Factory and under the Grand Stand at Vansittart Park.
Post War Competitive Activities:
Saturday 31st May 1947 saw the opening meeting of the Buck’s Hill Scramble Track and it was this venue that helped the enhance the Club’s reputation and over several years, meetings including the 1948 South Australian Championship, were at this popular track. Several light car Specials were built and raced at this venue to add to the interest. Around this period speed trials (including on a salt lake flat at Beachport), road trials, Observed Trials and Hill Climbs were also part of the Club’s activities.
In August 30th 1951 a busy 3 month’s programme of events were scheduled and included a Tower Hill (Vic) Scramble, an Observed Trial, Woodside Road Races, Speed Trials, Ballarat Airstrip, Bucks Hill Scramble, a Dance and a Christmas Social.
While all these activities were going on Members harboured a dream of a Road Race Track of their own and began holding events to raise money towards this end. In December 1958 the first Motor Cycle Racing under lights took place on a track at the Mount Gambier Showground and gate takings were earmarked for the Road Race Circuit.
On the grid at Mac Park is the post Second
World War Club Captain Ron Hellyer (left),
Des Hastings and Max Hellyer (Ron’s son)