Mount Gambier Celebrates 50 Years
press release
The Mt Gambier Karting Club hosted a weekend of celebration on the 10th & 11th of July with past and present members and invited guests traveling from all over Sth Australia, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia to participate in events planned for the weekend.
The club originally started in 1960 with the proceeds from a race day held at the Starline Drive-in where hay bales were used to outline the track and to act as padding for the speaker poles.
Above: Eric Hateley racing on the original coltar circuit in Mt Gambier in the 1960's
The club’s first race meeting held at the Glenburnie paddock was on a crushed limestone base, laid by hand with many hours of labour by club members. The track was then topped with a coltar spread, which required continual patching and repairing.
1961 – In looking to become affiliated with the Karting Council of SA rules had to be adhered to such as the fitting of rear bumper bars and chain guards, all four wheels must only leave the track once per race and any fuel could be used apart from nitro. We believe specifications on numbers on the circuit at any one time were also defined.
As years progressed, more and more upgrades of the track continued and it has been reported that the Mt Gambier Sprint Kart Complex has developed to be one of the best in Sth Australia.
To mark this special occasion, club member Neill Baker instigated the idea of producing a history book about the 50 years of the clubs existence. Hence a committee was formed and over the next 18 months countless hours of research, locating pictures and footage, minutes and documents from the 60’s through to present-day was put in motion. Former karter of the club, Marcus Jones, complied the information and collated an outstanding package of a 108-page book and DVD (below) that was launched at a special dinner.
Above: Mt Gambier's karting history can be yours for $35.
Over 170 guests attended the dinner and enjoyed not only the formalities of the evening but also the roving interviews that contributed to the history and humorous stories through the years. From some of the clubs more colourful diggers, stories were relived regarding how the club began and the bartering of the days gone by when a clubrooms and facilities were constructed.
Eric Hateley was one of the special guest who started racing in the early 60’s and although not driving still has a presence at the club today.
The oldest licenced kart racing member, in Australia, Jack Cole at the age of nearly 85, was in attendance for the weekends celebrations. His wife Gwen and all 3 generations of their family, 6 of who followed Jack’s passion for driving, joined them for the celebrations.
Other special guests present for this night of enjoyment and humor were William (Bill) Sturges and his wife Norma. Bill was one of the original members of then Mt Gambier Go-kart Club, which was formed by 32 interested people on the 13th July 1960.
Other special visitors in Mt Gambier for the weekend’s festivities were Carolyn and Jim Nicholls who traveled from Bunbury in WA. Both Carolyn and her father, Frank Fatchen were competitors of the club in the early 60’s.
Above: Classic Kart 31 returns. Owner Peter Ward wheels his Maico engined Continental Frame back to the pits after a demonstration on the Glenburnie circuit.
All Life Members present were welcomed to the stage and were awarded with a Life Membership badge, certificate and the first copies of the club book and DVD package.
The book & DVD are full of articles and pictures of yester year should be of interest to any karter and retails for only $35 or can be purchased seperately. If anyone would like to order email Lynece: willowvale@mezcom.com.au.
All present expressed their appreciation to Brian Sparrow for his motivation, inspiration and hard work, as Club Secretary for the past 19 years, Steward and Clerk of Course with a Level one National Officials Licence. Brian has been able to take the country to the city as both AKASA delegate on the NKC for the past 4 years and currently AKASA co-delegate on the National Karting Council.
Above: Brian Sparrow (right) with 3-time Australian Champion Anthony Higgs who travelled from Perth to visit his home track.
Sunday the celebrations continued as present day karts put on displays of karting action. Vintage and classic owners displayed their karts for the public and held demonstration drives throughout the day and we thank them all for their support.
A Grand Parade was held during the lunch break with new, classic and vintage karts all circulating the track at the same time. Karts were lead on laps of the circuit by a Ute of past members who were greeted enthusiastically by spectators in the grandstand and at other advantage points around the circuit.
Bringing the weekend to a close the club held a come and try day for drivers from days gone by. This was another high note of the weekend with many lining up to rekindle their youth. Some had lost the “drive” but others had just been hiding their passion for many years. Old rivals stood on the grid taunting each other until it was their turn to get back into the seat of a kart
Echoed by all past members was the fun times had by all and that it is great to see karting is still … fun for all the family, young and old, male or female.
What a spectacular weekend of fun, excitement and reminiscing !!
