Sandown start

In our feature on Sandown Park in OBA 45, we stated that it was 1967 before motorcycles appeared at the Melbourne track. Veteran racer Ron Matthews rang to point out that the first meeting was actually October 16, 1966 when the bikes were given three spots on the otherwise car programme. At that meeting, the motorcycles were housed behind the main grandstand and entered the circuit down a grass slope onto the main straight, while the cars used the pit area on the inside of the track. Dennis Skinner won the first motorcycle race held, for Sidecars, defeating another Vincent outfit ridden by South Australian Alex Campbell. The up to 250cc race went to Alan Hopkins ahead of fellow Yamaha rider John Maher, but most impressive was BGrader Gerry O’Brien on a Bultaco who finished third. The feature event for motorcycles, the 6-lap Unlimited, attracted 40 starters and was won by Dick Reid’s Manx Norton ahead of Bill Pounds Vincent/Norton, Steve Oszko and Bill Horsman. Reid’s primary chain broke just after he crossed the finish line!