World championships in New South Wales State

[administrator]

WORLD SPEEDCAR DERBY
At Sydney Sportsground, New South Wales, Australia:
1938 Paul Swedberg (USA) - 10 laps
1939 Bill Reynolds (Engalnd) - 30 laps
1940 Paul Swedberg - 30 laps
1941 Bill Reynolds - 30 laps

At Sydney Showground, New South Wales, Australia:
1947 Cal Niday (USA) - 15 laps
1948 Ray Revell (Australia) - 15 laps
1949 Bob Playfair (Australia) - 20 laps
1950 Frank 'Satan' Brewer (New Zealand) - 20 laps
1956 Werner Greve (Germany) - 20 laps
1957 Dicky Brown (USA) - 20 laps
1958 Bill Reynolds - 30 laps
1959 Andy McGavin (Australia) 30 laps
1960 Bob Tattersall (USA) 30 laps
1961 Bruce Rickard (Australia) 30 laps
1962 Bob Tattersall 30 laps
1963 Bob Tattersall 30 laps
1964 Kevin Park (Australia) 35 laps
1965 Bob Tattersall 35 laps
1966 Bob Tattersall 35 laps
1967 Bob Tattersall 35 laps
1968 Gary McClenahan (Australia) 35 laps
1969 Bob Tattersall 40 laps
1970 Merle Bettenhausen (USA) 40 laps
1971 Max Butterworth (New Zealand) 40 laps
1972 Ron McKay (Australia) 50 laps
1973 Barry Pinchbeck (Australia) 40 laps
1974 Danny Davidson (Australia) 40 laps
1975 not held
1976 not held
1977 not held

At Liverpool Speedway, New South Wales, Australia:
1978 Barry Pinchbeck 40 laps
1979 Barry Pinchbeck 30 laps
1981 to 1986 - not held
1987 Mark Passerelli (USA)
1988 to 1993 not held

At Parramatta Speedway, New South Wales, Australia:
1994 Rod Bowen (Australia) 20 laps

At Sydney Showground, New South Wales, Australia:
1995 Mark Brown (Australia) 20 laps
1996 Garry Rush (Australia) 50 laps

At Canberra Speedway, New South Wales, Australia:
? Year not known::::Robert Farr (Australia) 30 laps

[tornado13]

I probably attended most of these events from the late 50's to the mid 70's. Although no international sporting body recognizes these events as an official title, some of the very best drivers in the world competed in these events. Each year there would be a couple of American drivers, usually AAA or USAC champions, several New Zealand drivers, a UK, German and even a Japanese entrant, plus the very best from all over Australia. Over 30,000 spectators attended some of these events and the racing was incredible.
We were very fortunate to have witnessed a period in midget racing, now regarded as the Golden Years, at a time when the competitors were household names and the promoters were promoters, not "track operators".
When you look down the list of former Champions you see some of the greatest drivers who have ever lived. Chris McGee.

[administrator]

Regarding the Japanese driver who competed in World Championships in Australia - was his nickname 'Happy'? I am uncertain about his surname - was it something like Hishoro?

[tornado13]

His name was "Happy" Hirano. The car he drove was the Bill Reynold's car painted with Japanese flag.
As a kid I went to a barbecue at the river in Windsor (N.S.W.) for Happy Hirano, and US visitors Bob Tattersall and Jimmy Davies. I fell out of a tree into the river and he rescued me. He was a nice man. Chris McGee

I'll see if I can find an old program.

[administrator]

Bill Reynolds (England), world champion, 1939, 1941, 1958.

Attachments:

[administrator]

Bill Reynolds (England), world champion 1939, 1941, 1958.

Attachments:

[administrator]

How Wikipedia sees the midget car world championships:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midget_car_racing