Riverview Speedway
Encyclopedia
Riverview Speedway, sometimes referred to as Murray Bridge Speedway is a Dirt track racing
venue that is located in the town of Murray Bridge, South Australia
, only 66 km from Adelaide
. Racing at the speedway generally takes place between September and May meetings are held every second Saturday night. Racing has been held at the venue continuously since opening in 1958
identity Kevin Fischer, along with Les Schulz, a dry cleaner, started Riverview Speedway in 1958 on the relatively unpopulated eastern side of the Murray River
. The track was cut into the side of a hill which provided spectators with an unimpeded view of the entire track.
The speedway itself has changed significantly over the years, gradually growing in size to cope with the speed of the cars. During the 1970s the track was increased to 300m, a length it would keep until 1999 when the Murray Bridge Sporting Car Club and Motorcycle Club decided that to compete successfully it needed a track to attract Sprintcar
racing which is the most popular form of the sport. In order to do this the track was lengthened to its present 360m and clay was added to the dolomite surface. Due to the location of the track, a massive amount of earthworks were needed to fill in what was a 15m drop beyond the back straight (western side) to allow for the addition of 60m worth of track.
Since its beginning, Riverview Speedway has run both bikes and cars during their meetings with the track being a regular stop for numerous Australian championships including the Australian Sprintcar Championship
, Australian Speedcar Championship
, Australian Super Sedan Championship
, Australian Solo Championship
, Australian Sidecar Championship, Australian Under-21 Solo Championship
and the Australian Formula 500 Championship as well as many South Australian State titles.
Riverview also had a smaller "sidewinders" track for junior speedway riders on its infield from the early 1980s until approximately 2007 when it was replaced by a concrete
Burnout pad. The junior track was approximately 120m long and was made of dolomite.
On November 12, 2011, Riverview Speedway will host the 2011 World Sidecar Speedway
Championship, the first time the track has hosted a world championship event.
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
venue that is located in the town of Murray Bridge, South Australia
Murray Bridge, South Australia
Murray Bridge is the fourth most populous city in South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. It is located east-southeast of Adelaide and north of Meningie....
, only 66 km from Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. Racing at the speedway generally takes place between September and May meetings are held every second Saturday night. Racing has been held at the venue continuously since opening in 1958
History
Murray Bridge based car dealer, and known South Australian speedwayDirt track racing in Australia
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks in Australia.-Australian Capital Territory:Mount Ginn speedway Watson A.C.T-New South Wales:-Northern Territory:-Queensland:-South Australia:-Tasmania:-Victoria:...
identity Kevin Fischer, along with Les Schulz, a dry cleaner, started Riverview Speedway in 1958 on the relatively unpopulated eastern side of the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
. The track was cut into the side of a hill which provided spectators with an unimpeded view of the entire track.
The speedway itself has changed significantly over the years, gradually growing in size to cope with the speed of the cars. During the 1970s the track was increased to 300m, a length it would keep until 1999 when the Murray Bridge Sporting Car Club and Motorcycle Club decided that to compete successfully it needed a track to attract Sprintcar
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
racing which is the most popular form of the sport. In order to do this the track was lengthened to its present 360m and clay was added to the dolomite surface. Due to the location of the track, a massive amount of earthworks were needed to fill in what was a 15m drop beyond the back straight (western side) to allow for the addition of 60m worth of track.
Since its beginning, Riverview Speedway has run both bikes and cars during their meetings with the track being a regular stop for numerous Australian championships including the Australian Sprintcar Championship
Australian Sprintcar Championship
The Australian Sprintcar Championship is a Dirt track racing championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion. The single championship meeting runs in either late January or early February and has been held year after year since 1963...
, Australian Speedcar Championship
Australian Speedcar Championship
The Australian Speedcar Championship is a dirt track motor racing championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion. The single championship meeting runs in either late January or early February and has been held year after year since 1935...
, Australian Super Sedan Championship
Australian Super Sedan Championship
The Australian Super Sedan Championship is a Dirt track racing championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion. The championship is held over a single meeting has run annually since the 1971/72 season and is awarded to a different state of Australia each year by the...
, Australian Solo Championship
Individual Speedway Australian Championship
The Australian Individual Speedway Championship is a Motorcycle speedway championship held each year to determine the Australian national champion...
, Australian Sidecar Championship, Australian Under-21 Solo Championship
Australian Under-21 Individual Speedway Championship
The Australian Under-21 Speedway Championship is a motorcycle speedway championship held each year since 1987, with the exception of 1994 and 1995, to determine the Australian Under-21 national champion. The event is organised by Motorcycling Australia ....
and the Australian Formula 500 Championship as well as many South Australian State titles.
Riverview also had a smaller "sidewinders" track for junior speedway riders on its infield from the early 1980s until approximately 2007 when it was replaced by a concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
Burnout pad. The junior track was approximately 120m long and was made of dolomite.
On November 12, 2011, Riverview Speedway will host the 2011 World Sidecar Speedway
Sidecar speedway
Sidecar Speedway is a motorcycle sport involving 4 crews of a rider and a passenger competing over 4 laps on an oval shale surface. Rules are governed by the national speedway federation and are not dissimilar to conventional speedway rules....
Championship, the first time the track has hosted a world championship event.
Lap Records
as of October 4, 2008- Open SprintcarsSprint car racingSprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
: 00:11.0 - Ryan Farrell, February 10, 2005 - 360 Sprintcars: 00:11.9 - Darryl Wright, March 17, 2008