Looking Back - 1939 to 2011 - the Autobiography of Robert V. J. Padula, OAM

1941 - Bikes and Cars

1941 - Auburn - my first bike!

1948 - Brenock Park - Australia Day Celebrations 1950 - Brenock Park STOCK CAR RACING In the outer eastern suburb of Ferntree Gully there was once a stock car racing circuit. It was located at Brenock Park. and stock cars competed there every Sunday around a dirt and dusty track.   I can recall going to these races in 1955. The cars were mainly 1930/40 model sedans, with roll bars fitted and the doors welded.   The whole thing was dangerous for spectators - in 1956 one was killed when a car left the track and ploughed into the crowd. This resulted in the Government closing down the track in May 1956, but it was reopened a few months later for private racing.   The track is long gone, and St Joseph's College was bult on the land in 1965.   The site is dated to the 1880s when horses were raced there.It later became the venue for the Annual District Show. Pre-1950s, the track was used for bicycle and midget car racing, and the location was known as the Ferntree Gully Recreation Ground. In 1948, there was a special Australia Day Weekend function held there.   From the 1960s, stock car racing continued as a form of public entertainment at other centres, including the newly built Calder Park Raceway north of Melbourne. In 1944 a gymkhana held at the Ferntree Gully Recreation ground attracted between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors. Organisers realised that a larger ground was required if such events were to expand. Across the road was 28 acres of land covered with blackberries and weeds. The parish priest, Fr Flynn, after inspecting the site obtained permission from the Archbishop to acquire the property from the owner, Michael Brenock (the station master at Ferntree Gully). The paddock was converted into a recreation ground and was officially opened on Easter Monday, 10th April, 1945 by the Archbishop. Approximately 30,000 people, including 20,000 who had travelled by special trains, attended the opening.  Reports of early athletics events held at Brenock Park describe the track as rough. Representatives of the Victorian Amateur Cycling Union, the League of Victorian Wheelmen and the Victorian Athletic League met with members of the Brenock Park sports committee and arrangements were made to upgrade the facilities. The cycling track was to have two 75 yard straights plus two 145 yard bends banked to 5 feet. The circular running track was inside the cycling circuit and contained three cinder gift and sprint tracks down the centre of the ground. A second oval, approximately the size of the Royal Show arena, was also constructed. A dirt track for motor cycles and speedcar racing was built on the second oval. Gymkhanas and the Ferntree Gully Agricultural Show were also held on this oval. Athletics and cycling carnivals were regularly held at Brenock Park. Apart from the Brenock Park Gift, the New Year Gift and the Australasian Championship were two major athletic events held at Brenock Park. Cycling was held in conjunction with the athletics events. Brenock Park was the finish for a number of Sun Tours including the first Sun Tour in October 1952. The first Sun Tour was raced on a six consecutive days over a distance of 900 miles between Tuesday 7th October and Sunday 12th October. Sixty-one riders nominated for the race and fifty-six actually greeted the starter. 1940s - Brenock Park Brenock Park - midget car races in 1949

1961 - Bright races 1957 - Phillip Island races 1957 - Phillip Island races CAR RACING My first exposure to commercial car racing was at the original track at Albert Park, just south of the Melbourne CBD, in 1953.   There were several other venues which I visited, including: 1951 - Fishermens' Bend Aerodrome - southern suburb 1957 - Phillip Island circuit (south of Melbourne) 1955 - Brenock Park (Ferntree Gully) - stock car races - eastern suburb 1962 - Bright Plantation circuit (north eastern Victoria) 1962 - Sandown Park (SE of Melbourne)   .