Local rider Cameron Stronach has had much success at Barbagallo Raceway.
Camera IconLocal rider Cameron Stronach has had much success at Barbagallo Raceway. Credit: Supplied/John Innes

Wangara-based Motorcycle Racing Club of WA celebrates 60 years

Tyler BrownWanneroo Times

THE Motorcycle Racing Club of WA will celebrate 60 years of history with a reunion at its Wangara clubrooms this Saturday.

A group of motorcycle enthusiasts who wanted to race their bikes on a bitumen surface founded the club in 1955.

They used to race on part of an old airstrip called Caversham Circuit before moving to Barbagallo Raceway (then Wanneroo Raceway) in the late 1960s.

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In the 1970s, the club had offices above Stolarski Motorcycles in Murray Street, Perth, then moved to Stirling Street, Perth to share with WAMCA (now Motorcycling WA) before setting up a permanent clubroom in Wangara in the early 1980s.

The club has been a major promoter of motorcycle road racing in WA from state and national championships to international events, including a round of the Swann Series in 1972 and the Kings of Wanneroo International in 2008 and 2009.

It has also been able to promote and host its own road race meetings, practice days and rider training courses known as RidedaysWA (previously Racecraft).

The club has catered for a variety of motorcycles over the years, moving with the times and the available machinery, with categories including production road bikes (street bikes) from 250cc to 1300cc, formula one to superbikes, 125cc and 250cc grand prix bikes, superstock and supersport (600cc), sidecars and entry level classes.

Age groups varied from 16 years to over-45s but in recent years, 14-year-olds have become eligible to compete on 125cc grand prix and 250cc production machines.

Competitors who started with the club and went on to achieve national and international success include George Scott, Michael Dowson, Peter Radford, Alan Watts, Lindsay Fagan, Geoff Rous and Bryan Staring.

Former and current competitors, crews, officials, members and supporters as well as Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts are expected to attend the anniversary celebration.