Mallala Racetrack

When most people in South Australia talk about the hey day of racing they talk about the old Rowley Park Speedway which started as a quarry and is now a housing estate. Then they will talk about the Mallala Sportspark and remember when Bob Jane used to drive here in a Jaguar and Allan Moffat in a Cortina and Stormin' Norman Beechey in a Monaro or Clem Smith in a red F-J Holden. Well one of these men at the age of 70 is still here almost every day of the week. That's because he has owned the place for 20 years. In July over 30,000 people flocked to Mallala to watch Brock and his contemporaries battle it out on exactly the same circuit that Clem raced on for the first time in 1961. Now this place wasn't always a race track - it started as an Air Force Base. "There's not much of the building left only concrete slabs where there was a workshop hanger and the taxi area is the southern hairpin. The rest is outside my boundary. This is the Officers Mess and over there is the original bar. The original fire place is still here and you can almost hear the noises now can't you! It's been my life, Motor Racing and a top part of it. You are very much hands on, but I've had to slow down a bit now. I really love the place."

Clem has remained dedicated to turning this place into one of the most awarded Motor Racing Circuits in Australia and he has done it as one man's visions - almost single handed. It is a credit to his devotion to perfection. Mallala Motorsport Park is 56 kilometres North of Adelaide up the Port Wakefield Road. The Circuit hosts some of the most exciting motor cycle and car racing in the State in Veteran and Modern classes. Adelaide's Mallala Circuit just celebrated the 80th anniversary of Australian Premier sedan car racing with the battle of the V8's, and on August 23 and 24 you can see the fabulous two litre touring cars of Brad Jones, Geoff Brabham, Jim Richards and all the other fender benders right here at Mallala. For more information email: info@postcards.sa.com.au