Stalwarts to gather for reunion to honour Yandina Speedway

Event organiser Debbie Collier with driver Stephen Freeman and his SC28 production sedan Commodore, current Sunshine Coast Speedway Club president Jim Cowley holding the Greg Soane’s Memorial Trophy, and inaugural winner of the Greg Soane’s Memorial race in 1972 Ray Austin.

IN 1970 Ray Austin carved a track out of Kev Kirby’s cattle paddock and began what was to become known as the Yandina Speedway. Ray was the first president of the amateur Nambour Saloon Car Club which commenced the racing at Yandina. 

Sunday August 16 this year is exactly 50 years to the day since the first race on the track, which later became a professional international standard venue, literally carved from the bush.

“We used a chainsaw and cut the trees down at ground level and we just raced over them,” said Ray. “The trees were the outside fence. It was a real bush track at first ... and because of all the stumps and the trees cut out of the bush you could sort of veer right off track, and come back on.”

“I started racing in open wheelers in 1954 at Lowood race track,” said Ray. “Then I went TQs (Compact Speedcars) and I’ve raced everything since.  I even had a go at a pillion on a motorbike sidecar once. I got dumped on the track but that was a different experience.

“When we started Yandina it was originally a social speedway which developed into a professional speedway. I think cars like they have today are really something out of the box. Looking at what they drive now compared to what I used to drive in 1970’s — I worked a standard 850cc mini modifying it to 1400cc — there’s a world of difference. Still, it went all right.”

“What gets you going is the adrenaline and the fumes from the cars ahead. You look at the bloke in front and you say I’m going to get past him because I can’t stand the stink of his fuel!”

Current Sunshine Coast Speedway president Jim Cowley said, “The club owed its existence to people like Ray.” Jim started racing at Yandina over 40 years ago at 16 and continues to race today. “Yandina was our local track but now it’s a housing estate,” he said. “So we’ve thrown our weight behind Mothar Mountain Speedway in Gympie. At the moment we have 40 to 50 active members who get together for the friendliness, companionship and the thrill of racing. That’s what it’s all about. Whether we win or not it doesn’t matter that much as long as you have a good race with someone. And we do race anywhere around the country from Cairns right down to Victoria and even Western Australia.”

Ray’s daughter Debbie Collier has organised a reunion and a commemorative lap of the old track site, for this Sunday August 16. 

“Dad had the vision and desire for a track close to home,” said Debbie. “Back in those days the starter stood on a 44 gallon drum to wave the Starter’s flag.

“The first Saloon car race meeting was held Sunday 16th August 1970. Nambour Saloon Car Club formed 15th May 1970, commenced the racing at Yandina. Des & Dulcie Atkinson purchased the ground and Sunshine Coast Speedway Club was formed.”

Debbie has produced a video honouring the race track’s proud history. It will be on view at Yandina Historic House after the anniversary.