JOHNNIE HOSKINS SPEEDWAY FOUNDER CENTENARY CELERBRATION

JOHNNIE HOSKINS FOUNDERS CUP CELEBRATES 100 YEARS IN DECEMBER

The Johnnie Hoskins Founders Cup, honouring one-hundred years of Australian speedway, will be held at the Kurri Speedway on Saturday, December 16. The fixture, promoted and run by the Kurri Kurrie Speedway Club, is part of a two-day event honouring the milestone century of Australian speedway racing.

A day-long celebration will be held to mark the very special day in Australian speedway history exactly one hundred years to the day, December 15 on the very site of the historic speedway fixture at the Maitland Showground, 

The day also will serve as a tribute to the late Johnnie S Hoskins MBE who is widely acknowledged as the man who “invented” Speedway racing as we know it today. It all started with bikes and in later years car divisions were introduced into the sport.

The gates at the Maitland Showground will open to the general public on Friday morning, December 15, there  will be a number of stalls, speedway racing machinery and historic memorabilia displays, food outlets, entertainment, on-track action bike demonstrations, guest speakers and an auction will highlight the day.

A formal dinner, open to the public will be held on the Friday evening in the Maitland Showground pavilion. There will be race footage shown in a spectacular video display as well as interviews featuring personalities from the two, three and four wheel scene. On line booking details will be announced soon.

A planning group are working tirelessly to put together the two days that will honour, in a befitting manner, the sport’s 100 years.

The Kurri Kurri Speedway Club issued the following press release in celebration of the Australian speedway centenary, outlining the schedule of events:

“AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY CENTENARY CELEBRATION:

Exactly one hundred years ago, on December 15 1923, the legendary Johnnie Hoskins introduced the world to speedway at the Maitland Showground.

Originally promoted as the ‘Electric Light Carnival’ and designed to boost attendance at the annual Maitland Show which also featured a performance by the Kurri Kurri Town Band.

To celebrate this historic occasion, Kurri Kurri Speedway Club is hosting an action packed two-day speedway event.

Friday December 15: Speedway Showcase and Dinner: Maitland ShowgroundSaturday December 16: Johnnie Hoskins Founders Cup – race meeting at Kurri Kurri Speedway plans are well underway for an all-day event at the Maitland Showground showcasing;

• An unprecedented collection of over 150 historic speedway motorcycles, sidecars, speedway cars and associated memorabilia.

• A giant screen movie theatre showing historic speedway action with live-stream event coverage and interviews with two, three and four wheel speedway legends and Speedway GP stars.

• Demonstration laps of the Maitland track by historic machines piloted by an array of speedway legends.

• A  Postie Bike GP demo featuring current Speedway Grand Prix speedway stars.

• Special Maitland Speedway media wall/ photo booths for once in a lifetime pictures with historic speedway bikes and speedcars.

• Traditional showground food trucks with everyone’s favourite trackside tucker like Pluto Pups and Candy Floss.

• Limited edition commemorative t-shirts, caps and stubby holders from Speedway Star Racewear.

• All visiting speedway riders and drivers will assemble on the magnificent Maitland showground grandstand for an historic ‘speedway through the ages’ group photograph.

1920s DRESS UP

All exhibitors and visitors are invited to dress up in 1920s gear with prizes awarded for the most authentic riders, mechanics and spectator entries. Anyone wishing to display machines on the day please contact Terry Starbuck to register bikes and sidecars,

Barry Towers for speedway cars. Contact details below.

Anyone able to organise and manage a speedway swap meeting on this day please contact Terry Starbuck. Contact details below.

Anyone willing to help out with event management on the day please contact Michelle Lawler. Contact details below.

This amazing day will finish with a catered Christmas Centenary Dinner in the magnificent Maitland Showground MacDonald Pavilion

including guest speakers and interviews with two, three and four wheel speedway stars plus a centenary auction of amazing speedway memorabilia and sponsor prizes. On line booking details to be announced shortly.

Saturday December 16: Johnnie Hoskins Founders Cup: Race Meeting at Kurri Kurri Speedway.

A star studded race meeting at Kurri Kurri Speedway. Aussie and international riders will be competing for the prestigious Johnnie Hoskins Trophy Founders Cup and eager to get track practice ahead of the traditional Boxing Day meeting and Round Two of the Australian Speedway Championship on January 7. Full details to be announced shortly.

For more information contact Michelle Lawler or Peter Campton. Contact details below.

Contacts;

Michelle Lawler 0488 738873 speedway2023@outlook.com

Terry Starbuck 0412 449236 terry@starbuckvm.com

Barry Towers 0412 151111 barry@towersfig.com.au