02/11/2026
Info on Birdwood track
In the late 70s my family and I attended dirt events, had many name change of event name: Motorkhana / Dirt Sprint / Autocross / Autokhana organised by Renault Car Club (RCC) at Birdwood, it was an old GoKart track adjacent to the Birdwood Football Oval.
The event became a series RCC DGM (Des Graetz Memorial) Series.
It has many different track configurations: short, long, twisty, slalom. As the area was not a large parcel of land, was ideal for Hondas.
Many other car clubs came to enjoy the event: SDCC, Ford Owners CC, VWCC, SCC, A7CC, Modified Mini (Hot Bricks), Rally Sport CC, NDCC, Walky, to name a few.
My memory is a bit foggy on dates when the club started competing up there. Looked up a few magazine, and not much said.
John Needham may remember, he was a member from 1972.
I found an December 1977 magazine, Birdwood was mentioned: event 6/11/1977 Renault CC Dirt Sprint at Birdwood.
November 1978 magazine, an article about an Motorkhana event on 5 November 1978 – 26 entries from HCC (8) / RCC (11) / VWC (7) with results from HCC: Kevin Johns came 13th; Mal Leo 15th; Graham Johns (Kev’s brother) 22nd ; Jenny Leo (me) 24th;
Peter Needham (John’s brother) 23rd ; Rollo Ross =4th; Graeme Harrison =1st; Bruce Harrison 25th.
Of note David Beams (RCC) 13th (which should be 14th); Mal Dodd (VWCC) 3rd ; Rob Coppins (RCC) 11th
In 1999 our club took over the running of the six-round series until 2003.
The Track was leased from Birdwood Council.
As Birdwood population grew and a Soccer Oval was built right next to ‘our track’, concerns from the locals for safety, so the club’s lease was not renewed.
