AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY WARRNAMBOOL: PASSING OF LIFE MEMBER STEWART OWEN

Vale Stewart Owen

Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway Club Management, Board and Members would like to express our deepest condolences on the passing of Life Member Stewart Owen, aged 97 years.

Stewart became involved in 1958 with the Warrnambool Hot Rod Club when meetings commenced at the Warrnambool racecourse.

He then ventured out to the current venue at Allansford for the opening meeting at the Premier Speedway on December 5, 1970 – when the Governor of Victoria Rohan Delacombe switched on the lights.

Stewart was also at Premier to witness the first running of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in January 1973, when just 25 competitors came to race. He never missed a Classic since.

In 1959 he was asked to help out with the broadcasting and stayed on the commentary team until 2004.

He commentated on the racing, gave summer cricket updates, birthday greetings and even read the Tattslotto numbers out.

Stewart was a passionate club historian and recorded not only race events and their times but the number of rollovers and crowd numbers.

Along with his wife Clarice they were keen lawn bowls players and Stewart also played football and cricket.

He played cricket with Nestles because he worked there for 48 years as a fitter and turner.

On behalf of everyone at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway, thank you Stewart for your dedication and contribution to the Premier Speedway Club.

Our thoughts are with his family at this time.