AUSTRALIAN SPRINTCAR LEGEND RECEIVES OAM

SPRINTCAR LEGEND RECEIVES OAM

Feature photo by: Savage Shots

Legendary Mount Gambier speedway racer and administrator Bill Barrows has received the Order of Australia Medal for Services to Motorsport.

Bill played a pivotal role in the formation of what is now Speedway Australia, and has received multiple accolades over his career, including 2018 Australian Speedway Awards Volunteer of the Year and 2019 Hall of Fame.

“I’m so pleased to accept the award. I had an inkling that something was happening because over the last few years we’d had enquiries from people, but I didn’t think much of it, but when I was notified a few months ago to inform me I had been nominated and then a letter following to congratulate me, I was very pleased to accept it and I’m really looking forward to the ceremony in Adelaide in a few months.”

“It means a lot to me, because this has been a passion of mine and to see my efforts to be appreciated at this level is very fulfilling. I was never in the sport for accolades, but this is certainly a great honour.”

The old cliché of “behind every successful man is a great woman” is reinforced in Bill’s marriage to his wife Sue, who was unapologetic for her view on the honour.

“I’m very biased” she laughed, “because I think he deserves it!

“I know a lot of women who wouldn’t allow their husbands to do what Bill does, and I’ve seen him sacrifice a lot of his own time and money for speedway, but he’s never let it negatively effect the family, so I’m very proud of him and the award.”

This is Bill’s second Federally recognised honour after receiving a Federal Bravery Medal for intervening in a Speedway Hot Rod incident at Borderline Speedway in 1991 that ignited a ferocious petrol fire, helping to rescue a driver at his own peril.

His honours also extend beyond Australia, being recognised with an Outstanding Contribution to the Sport Award in Knoxville, Iowa, USA in 1995 for his involvement in Australian Speedway, along with his induction into the Knoxville Sprintcar Hall of Fame.Bill started competing in speedway in 1968 in Hot Rods before moving in 1973 to Super Modifieds (that would eventually become Sprintcars,) claiming an Australian Sprintcar Championship runner up, four state Sprintcar Titles and the 1985 President’s Cup.

Bill was instrumental in the inception of World Series Sprintcars with John Hughes and was a forerunner in the formation of Speedway Australia. A leading member of the Australasian Speedway Promoters Association, he was also President of the Sprintcar Control Council of Australia.

Bill has also been a lifelong supporter of his home track, first becoming President of Borderline Speedway in 1973 and has held this position numerous times over the ensuing years as a driving force behind the extensive redevelopment of the track in the late 1980’s, 1994 and again in 2017.

Speedway Australia congratulates Bill Barrows for this national honour and once again, offer our sincere appreciation for his vast contribution to making Speedway the great sport it is today.