13/11/2025
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP
PRE-WAR RESULTS
The WA Solo Championship dates back to the very first season of the Claremont Speedway.
Below are some newspaper reports on the pre-war runnings of the state title.
Both The Daily News & The West Australian published reviews back in the day – along with several others – when the newspaper was the main source of information.
Four championships were held in the prewar days.
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1927-28 SEASON
The Daily News (Perth, WA) – Monday 28 November 1927
MOTORCYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Contested at Speedway
Under the terms of its agreement with the Speedway Company, the W.A. Motor Cycling Association is entitled to conduct two night meetings a year for its own benefit. The first of these was held on Saturday night in the presence of a very large crowd.
The principal event on the programme was the State championship, over two miles. Out of three starters in the first heat, Kinnear was the only one to finish. Dunne fell, and Metcalfe had engine trouble. Hales, Glendinning and “Sig” Schlam toed the line for the second heat which easily went to Schlam. Datson had an equally easy win in the next heat from Chick and Walker. The final was a thriller. Schlam was off like a shot when the pistol fired, but Kinnear, riding finely, forged to the front. As the riders passed the stand, Datson dashed through on the inside and lead the field. Travelling at great speed, the finalists headed for home and a great finish was expected. Datson crashed and Schlam had a rather comfortable win from Kinnear.
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The West Australian (Perth, WA) – Monday 28 November 1927
MOTOR CYCLING
Claremont Speedway
On Saturday night the State motor cycling championship, over two miles, was decided at the Claremont Speedway when the WA Motor Cycling Association conducted an electric light meeting. There was a splendid attendance, and the programme was productive of some good racing.
In the first heat of the championship Kinnear was the only rider to finish, Dunne falling and Metcalfe’s machine failing. Schlam had no difficulty in defeating Hales and Glendinning in the second heat, and Datson was untroubled in winning the third from Chick and Walker. The final promised to be thrilling, and so it was. Schlam gained the jump out from the gun, but Kinnear sprang a surprise by chasing and heading him. His advantage was short lived, however, for Datson darted through on the inside as they passed the stand the first time, and established a lead of about 12 yards from Schlam, who was just in front of Kinnear. With three quarters of the second lap covered, and while the riders were travelling at a great rate, Datson came, off, and Schlam went on to win comfortably from Kinnear.
Results:—
State Championship (two miles).— First heat: Kinnear (4 Indian), 1; time, 2.27 1-5. Second heat: Schlam (3½ B.S.A.), 1; Glendinning (3½ Douglas), 2; time, 2.14 2-5. Third heat: Datson (2¾ Harley Davidson), 1; Chick (2¾ New Hudson), 2; time 2.45 4-5. Final: Schlam, 1; Kinnear, 2; time, 2.21.
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1928-29 SEASON
The Daily News (Perth, WA) – Monday 26 November 1928
KIRKPATRICK A CHAMPION
His Impressive Showing
EXCITING RACING PROVIDED
Lustily cheered on by the assembled Speedway “fans,” young Fred Kirkpatrick romped home in the principal event of the evening — the State one-mile championship — at the Claremont Speedway last night. He rode steadily, showing admirable control, and his victory was as popular as it was deserved.
C. G. Walker, one of the most capable riders at the Speedway, did splendidly in the opening heat. Dunne and Mason were his opponents. Walker shot away right from the gun, and thereafter was never troubled. Dunne struck trouble, and Mason found the job ahead of him too much. Walker’s time was 1min. 8 3-5sec, the best time for the distance. This now stands as the track record for the one mile.
Parsons and Ewing provided great excitement in the second heat. The former early assumed the lead, and it looked as if he were to have an untroubled run. Ewing had, however, other views upon the matter, and turned on the taps to some effect. Rapidly he reduced the lead and drew almost level. There was a shout from the crowd, who visioned a probable victory for Ewing. Parsons had still a good bit of reserve, and he opened up to win in good fashion. Kenny and McCormick were the place-getters in the third heat, the former’s mount, as usual, showing plenty of pace.
There was a roar of disappointment from the crowd when the announcement was made that R. West, the Eastern States crack, would not be a competitor. Kinnear went on as a substitute, and an able one he proved. With Perrie and Chick, he made a good race of it. With about a lap to go the distance between the first, and last rider was only about three lengths. Chick ran a good first, with Kinnear in the place. Harry Butler and L. McCormick, Stan Catlett and Glendinning, and Kirkpatrick and Templeton were the place-getters in the remaining heats.
STARTING DIFFICULTIES
Under the conditions of the State championship the three riders in the heat were required to roll over the line together. Repeatedly the starter wisely declined to signal a good start, as the riders concerned, even after several attempts, were separated by same distance, thus giving the front man an advantage over the backmarkers. In the sixth heat the tendency of some of the riders to open out some distance from the starting line instead of crossing the line with the other competitors was particularly noticeable. In this heat the starters were Catlett, Glendinning and Reeve. Even after several false starts the riders could not cross the line together, and when the starter (in evident despair) did fire the gun, Catlett had a lead of several lengths. In this connection Catlett came in for some criticism from the crowd, and some pointed remarks from the superintending official. Strangely enough, in the final, Catlett was the one to suffer most by the poor start. In this connection stern action is desired so that this growing tendency on the part of riders may be effectually stopped. The finalists were Parsons, Catlett and Kirkpatrick. On three occasions, the starter refused to signal a good start. When eventually the race did begin, the riders set forth in very earnest fashion with the championship sash and incidental prize money as a sufficient incentive. Kirkpatrick rode in splendid fashion and was as steady as a rock. Catlett crashed soon after the start. Parsons made valiant attempts to overhaul the leader, but he could not lessen the distance to any great extent. A good margin separated the first from the second man, and the time was 1.9.
The meeting was organised by the W.A. Motor Cycling Association and attracted a good crowd.
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The West Australian (Perth, WA) – Monday 26 November 1928
CLAREMONT SPEEDWAY
Surprise in Championship
A surprise victory in the State one-mile championship and the overturning of H. Butler’s sidecar outfit were features of the successful dirt track meeting conducted at the Claremont speedway by the Motor Cycling Association on Saturday night. R. West (Victoria) had been announced to appear, but did not do so.
From a ‘B’ grade rider to State champion in a fortnight is the remarkable performance of Fred Kirkpatrick, who won the chief event. Kirkpatrick, who is only 17 years of age, has won £100 in three meetings.
The heats of the championship provided few thrills, the winners having comfortable victories. Walker’s ride was the most impressive, and the fastest, the mile taking 1.8 3-5 (about 53 miles an hour). Parsons won well, but Brown succumbed to a seized valve. Butler won his heat convincingly. Catlett gained a break of three lengths in his heat, and won easily, while Kirkpatrick carried off the honours in the last heat. Walker, Butler, and Kenny met in the first semi-final, with Walker on the inside, and Parsons nearest the fence. Walker secured a great start and was leading by 10 lengths when his cylinder came adrift, leaving Parsons to win by 50 yards from Kenny in 1.11 3-5. In the second heat Butler and Catlett provided a great race until Butler’s engine gave trouble. Catlett won from Chick in 1:11 3-5. In the third heat Kirkpatrick narrowly beat Kinnear after a close race. On a graded trade Parsons, Catlett and Kirkpatrick met in the final, with Kirkpatrick on the inside. Kirkpatrick took the lead, and skilfully surviving a broadside at the turn, was leading from Catlett, when the last named fell. Parsons was never in the Hunt, and the ex “B” grader became the State champion, winning by nearly half a lap in 1.9. Kirkpatrick was presented with the championship sash by Mr. T. A. L. Davy, M.L.A. Walker’s time (1.8. 3-5) however, was the best for the night, and is now the track record for the distance. The world’s one mile record is 1.3 3-5, made by V. Huxley at Adelaide.
Details:—
STATE ONE-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP.— First heat: C. Walker (Harley), 1; T. Mason (F.N.), 2; time, 1.8 3-5. Won by 150 yards. Second heat: S. Parsons (A.J.S.), 1; J. Ewing (HarIey), 2; time, 1.9 3-5. Won by 35 yards. Third heat: C. Kenny (Rudge), 1; B. McCormick (A.J.S.), 2; time, 1.12 1-5. Won by 20 yards. Fourth heat: A. Chick (B.S.A.), 1; E. Kinnear (Zenith), 2; time, 1.11. Won by 25 yards. Fifth heat: H. Butler (Douglas), 1; L. McCormick (Harley), 2; time, 1.18. Won easing up. Sixth heat: S. Catlett (Harley), 1; R. Reeve (Rex Acme), 2; time, 1.11 3-5. Won easily. Seventh heat: F. Kirkpatrick (Douglas), 1; L. Templeton (Ariel); 2: time. 1.14. Won by 50 yards. First semi-final: Parsons, 1; Kenny, 2; time. 1.11 3-5. Second Semi-final: Catlett. 1; Chick. 2; time, 1.11 3-5. Third semi-final: Kirkpatrick, 1; Kinnear, 2; time, 1.11 2-5. Final: Kirkpatrick, 1; Parsons, 2; time, 1.9.
NOTE:—
Defending WA Champion Sig Schlam returned home from racing in England on the Wednesday after the title meeting.
On April 20, 1932, Fred Kirkpatrick (22) was killed in a cycling accident.
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1929-30 SEASON
The Daily News (Perth, WA) – Monday 20 January 1930
LOCAL RIDERS BEATEN
Englishman’s Championship
SATURDAY’S SPEEDWAY
With a State Championship title in the balance and riders keen to capture the coveted distinction, the large crowd at the Claremont Speedway last Saturday was treated to a fine programme of close and exciting cinder track events.
The star of the evening was Arthur Atkinson who clinched the championship in decisive manner. Pitted against the cream of our local riders, he showed consistent form and with the help of his speedy single cylinder machine he proved to be the fastest rider of the night.
No less than 27 riders had nominated for the big event, this necessitating nine heats. In addition, there were three semi finals and a grand final. Fred Kirkpatrick (the then holder of the one mile State Championship title), Cecil Walker and Ron Deas set the programme going by fighting out an exciting contest. Kirkpatrick won, and Cecil Walker in making a gallant attempt to catch up to the leader, crashed. The time was 1.7 4/5. Ron Johnson captured the next heat in convincing style, reducing the time to 1.5. Catlett, Murphy and Harry Watson (another English rider making his second appearance on the local track) made an exciting event of the third heat. Watson showed improved form and captured the lead from the gun until Catlett turned on the taps and romped home in 1.6 1/5. Cyril Schlam, Jack Sharp and Bill Coleman figured in one of the most exciting tussles of the night. Sharp early took the lead with Cyril Schlam going great guns in an effort to reduce the lead. Time after time, Sharp stuck to his advantage despite Schlam’s mighty efforts to wrest the lead from him. As they entered the last “straight,” Schlam made a splendid effort and won the race right on the line.
ENGLISHMAN LOWERS RECORD
Bob McCormick captured the fifth heat from Harry Lewis and Vic Ctercteko and Sig Schlam rode in his usual fine fashion to capture the sixth heat. Ted Kinnear made the International look to his laurels and chased Schlam home in good style. Then Arthur Atkinson (who made such a splendid debut last week), was pitted against Glendinning and Devlin. Unlike many of the local riders, Atkinson hugged the grass and rode wide on very few occasions. Most of the local men including Sig Schlam rode very wide at Press box corner, several of them running dangerously close to the fence. The fact that Atkinson lost nothing by riding close to the grass was shown by his heat time. He covered the distance in 1.4, thus breaking the existing record by 4/5 of a second. The Englishman’s fine performance was loudly applauded. Len Stewart made a good job of the eighth heat, whilst Sid Parsons captured the last heat in 1.9. This incidentally, was the slowest mile time recorded in the course of the evening. Kirkpatrick, Johnson and Catlett were matched in the first semi final. Continuing his brilliant earlier form, Catlett rode very convincingly and captured the event m 1.4 1/5. In fairness to Johnson, it must be conceded that he secured a very poor start as he was fully two lengths behind his opponents when the starting gun boomed. The Schlam brothers and McCormick were matched in the second semi final. As they invariably do, the brothers made an excellent race of It, Sig proving the winner after a very interesting contest. The time recorded was only 3/5 of a second outside the record. In the third semi final, Atkinson had as opponents Stewart and Parsons. Although energetically chased by Stewart, Atkinson had little trouble in winning in 1.5 3/5.
THE GRAND FINAL
Atkinson drew the inside position in the final, Sig Schlam being on the outside and Stan Catlett in the middle position. The finalists were sent away to a very slow start. Atkinson with better acceleration than his rivals hopped to the front and maintained his advantage to the end. Schlam made a determined effort to reduce the lead and looked like doing it on several occasions, but Atkinson won by a good margin from the second man. The time recorded was 1.5. The victory of the English rider was very popular. He rode very convincingly, his handling of his mount in the loose stuff being pretty to watch.
To a certain extent the programme was marred by a large number of false starts. With a championship hanging in the balance, as on Saturday night, false starts are excusable, provided the number is reasonable and the circumstances warrant them. Stern official action is needed to see that such an excessive number of false starts do not recur. Within recent weeks, this bad practice has been on the increase. In most cases, the fault has been entirely that of the riders, some of whom, persistently hang back for a fast run. In some of the events on Saturday, for instance, no less than three false starts occurred in one heat. It is a hard job to put an end to such a state of things for the officials try their hardest to get the riders away to a good start. In the interests of the public, effective and immediate official action is needed.
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The West Australian (Perth, WA) – Monday 20 January 1930
CLAREMONT SPEEDWAY
State Mile Championship
Victory for Atkinson
With a State mile championship to be decided, there was more than usual interest in the meeting at the Claremont Speedway on Saturday evening, 27 riders seeking the championship honours. It was necessary to run this event in nine heats, three semi-finals and a final, and, as a consequence, the programme proved rather long, as the usual handicap was also run.
Honours of the night again went to Arthur Atkinson, whose riding since he arrived from England has been excellent. In his heat of the championship, he was opposed to Glendenning and Devlin, and was not troubled to beat them in the fastest time of the evening–1.4–which is also a record for a mile. The previous best being 1.4 4-5. In the third semi-final he was opposed to better riders in Stewart and Parsons, and, strangely enough, although he won decisively, his time was not as fast as that announced for his ride in the heat. The final was rather unsatisfactory. Considerable interest had been aroused in the meeting of Atkinson with Catlett and Sig Schlam, but when the riders scored up to the line in straggling fashion and the gun was fired, Atkinson had a considerable advantage over the others, of whom Schlam fared the worst. He set sail after the other two and soon passed Catlett, and was beaten by about the margin that Atkinson gained in the start. The time was 1.5, indicating that Schlam’s time, had the start been equal, would probably have bettered the record of 1.4 4-5, which he had held prior to Atkinson’s earlier ride.
Walker, Kirkpatrick (the older) and Deas were opposed in the first heat of the championship, and they drew away together in an interesting race until Walker fell, in the last half lap, leaving Kirkpatrick to win in 1.7 4-5. Ron Johnson had no difficulty in winning the second heat from Edmonds and Ewing, after a bad start in the smart time of 1-5. Catlett, Watson and Murphy contested the third heat, Watson getting away from the gun. Catlett soon overhauled him, however, and won rather easily in 1.6 1-3. C. Schlam and Sharp soon left Coleman behind in the fourth heat, and Sharp took the lead. Schlam tried unsuccessfully to pass him three times, and eventually got through in the last half lap to win in 1.8 4-5. McCormick won the next heat from Lewis and Ctercteko in 1-7 2-5, and S. Schlam, despite an early advantage to Kinnear, won the sixth in 1.5 3-5. Atkinson won his heat, as already described, and Stewart and Parsons qualified for the semi-finals without serious opposition. Kirkpatrick, Catlett and Johnson met in the first semi-final, Catlett getting a jump from the gun. Johnson made an interesting race of it, getting within striking distance twice, but spoiling his chance by running wide on the bends. Catlett’s time was really good— 1.4 1-5. Schlam had little trouble in winning the second semi-final from his brother and McCormick in 1.4 3-5, and Atkinson defeated Stewart and Parsons in 1.5 3-5. The final resulted in Atkinson winning from S. Schlam and Catlett.
The results were as follows:— State Mile Championship.— First heat: Kirkpatrick, 1; Deas, 2; time, 1.7 4.5. Second heat: Johnson, 1; Edmonds, 2; time, 1.5. Third heat: Catlett, 1; Murphy, 2; time. 1.6 2-5. Fourth heat: C. Schlam, 1; Sharpe, 2; time, 1.8 4-5. Fifth heat: McCormick, 1; Ctercteko, 2; time, 1.7 3-5. Sixth heat: C. Schlam, 1; Kinnear, 2; time, 1.5 3-5. Seventh heat: Atkinson, 1; Glendinning, 2; time, 1.4 (record). Eighth heat: Stewart, 1; Carrick, 2; time, 1.6 4-5. Ninth heat: Parsons, 1; Potter, 2; time, 1.9. First semi-final: Catlett, 1; time, 1.4 1-5. Second semi-final: S. Schlam, 1; time, 1.4 3-5. Third semi-final: Atkinson, 1; time, 1.5 3-5. Final: Atkinson, 1; S. Schlam, 2; Catlett, 3; time; 1.5.
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1936-37 SEASON
The Daily News (Perth, WA) – Monday 14 December 1936
(By “Servo”)
Winner of the West Australian dirt-track championship at Claremont Speedway on Saturday, “Mick Murphy” was compelled to win his preliminary heat to complete two laps with his front tyre off!
“Murphy,” whose victory on Saturday gave him his third winning race in two meetings, had as competitors Charlie Lish (England) and Jack Clementson (Inglewood). They started off well and “Murphy” jumped to the front, as usual.
After covering one of the three laps, he found that he could not take the corners at very fast speed, and he had to cut off his engine frequently. The reason was that the front tyre—a beaded edge one—had worked away from the bead. The tube was intact and remained so throughout the race, but the loose cover prevented broadsliding at fast speed. “Murphy’s” time for the three laps suffered as a consequence, but he managed to keep in front to the end. He had better luck with his tyre later, and did not have to suffer the same handicap in later races. His luck was better than that of L. Murphy, the Englishman. The latter’s front tyre pulled off also, but it jammed, causing him to take a hard tumble.
MORTON’S DEBUT
Apart from “Murphy’s” brilliance, the big feature of the meeting was the performance of the English captain, Wal Morton. Advance reports had promised speedway patrons that Morton would be something “out of the bag.” So he proved.
Of his six starts, he had five wins and a second. The peculiar throaty roar of his machine hummed around the track in business-like fashion, and Morton gained immediate popularity with patrons. They love a game performance, and Morton is a rider who combines determination and ability in effective fashion.
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The West Australian (Perth, WA) – Monday 14 December 1936
SPEEDWAY RACING
A HIGHER STANDARD
Murphy and Morton Successful
With the West Australian championship the main attraction, exciting dirt-track racing was witnessed at the Claremont Speedway on Saturday night, victory in the championship going to “Mick” Murphy. The standard of riding was higher than on the opening night, the Englishmen having become more accustomed to the track, which is considerably larger than those on which they had competed in England, while they also experienced less trouble with their machines. A feature of the racing was the first appearance of the English captain, Wal Morton, who showed himself to be a rider of class in recording five wins and a second in his six starts. In the first heat of the West Australian championship, J. Sharp gave the crowd a thrill as he daringly shot through on the inside of J. Sweet in the first lap to successfully fight out a keen finish. M. Murphy had a few anxious moments in his heat with C. Lish and J. Clementson, but the Englishman, T. Bravery had his task made easier through the withdrawals of R. Clarke and J. Preston through engine trouble, his time for the three laps being 1min. 16 1-5sec. W. Morton quickly raced to the front in the fourth heat to win rather easily from D. Hemingway and L. Murphy, and T. Lewis proved a little too experienced for his younger opponent, N. Schiller in the fifth heat. As was anticipated, a thrilling duel was witnessed between Sharp and Morton in the first semi-final; for two laps they raced side by side, but with less than a circuit to go, the English captain’s machine jumped and he almost came to grief, leaving Sharp a rather easy winner. Again in the second semi-final, M. Murphy and Lewis fought every inch of the way, Murphy taking advantage of Lewis’s broadsiding with a circuit to travel, and slipping through on the inside. In the third semi-final, however, Bravery was untroubled to win, Schiller falling soon after the start, and Sweet having trouble with his machine. From the inside position, Murphy, who is an artist at leaving the starting gate, quickly shot away to the front in the final. Bravery and Sharp however, were almost on his wheel, and though the same order was maintained until the finish, Murphy had to establish a new course record to hold off Bravery’s strong finishing run. He covered the three laps in 1min. 16sec., which under the new conditions is a record for the track, lowering by a fifth of a second “Tiger” Lewis’s time of 1min. 16 1-5sec. established on the opening night. At the conclusion of the final, Murphy was presented with a silver cup by the manager (Mr. J. W. Colebatch).
Following were the results:–
West Australian Championship.–First heat: J. Sharp 1, J. Sweet 2, A. Hopkins 3. Time, 1min. 17 2-5sec. Second heat: M. Murphy 1, C. Lish 2, J. Clementson 3. Time, 1min. 20 2-5 sec. Third heat: T. Bravery 1. Time, 1min. 16 1-5sec. Fourth heat: W. Morton 1, D. Hemingway 2, L. Murphy 3. Time, 1min. 18sec. Fifth heat: T. Lewis, 1; N. Schiller, 2. Time, 1min. 20sec. First semi-final: J. Sharp 1, W. Morton 2, D. Hemingway 3. Time, 1min. 16 2-5sec. Second semi-final: M. Murphy 1, T. Lewis 2, C. Lish 3. Time, 1min. 17sec. Third semi-final: T. Bravery 1, J. Sweet 2. Time, 1min. 10 4-5sec. Final: M. Murphy 1, T. Bravery 2, J. Sharp 3. Time, 1min 16sec. (track record).
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NOTE:—
Mick Murphy’s real name was John Glass.
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