The Geelong Motocross Club was established in 1964 with approximately 20 members on the Breakwater Road site that many of you will fondly remember. It was a flat-track style circuit marked out with car tyres and some bunting. In 1966 the committee and it’s members added some jumps to increase excitement and interest in racing at the circuit in line with what was happening both locally
and around the world.
As the GMCC rider base grew so did the track and over the next 10 years it became quite a technical track for its time with the addition of ski jumps and berms. The start line was the old rubber band style take off with the more enthusiastic racers often getting wrapped up if they jumped the start.
With the introduction of water cooled motocross bikes on the horizon and the helping hand of a few fabricators in the club, a drop forward start gate was added which was made with a steel channel into which a rider would roll the front wheel hard up against the upright. Life member Frank Cambria ensures us all ,it “worked a treat.”
As the years passed a club house was built which was shared with the Geelong Motocross Club and it’s next door neighbour the Geelong Go Kart Club.
In 1982-83 the Geelong Go Kart Club relocated out to Corio (Beckley Park) and the local Buggy Club was formed on the existing go kart site. The buggies only lasted two years before they also moved off to a new home at Avalon. In the same year GMCC took over both sites and developed the motocross track and facilities over the whole 9 acres. The track length grew from 800 metres to 1.6 kilometers although the exact layout was changed many times over the next 20 years.
The popularity of the Geelong Motocross Club continued to grow as it’s reputation for running quality events at both club and state level grew. So strong was the interest that the club reached their capped limit of 300 members. Race meetings were run for Victorian Senior titles, Western Region titles, two day open and club days and were regarded as being amongst the best run in the State.
In 2004 a GMCC two day meeting attracted over 600 entries forcing the club to cap entries at 500 for the following year.
As urban development continued and Vicroads decided to build a road through the Breakwater track, so it became our time to move forward and in 2009 the Geelong Motocross Club relocated to the world famous McAdam Park, Barrabool, venue which sadly had to close its gates in 2014.
With no motocross track of its own GMCC has branched out into running off road/enduro events in recent years. From highly popular club level pony express events, to Victorian Off-Road Championship (VORC) and Australian Off-Road Championship rounds (AORC).
GMCC has even teamed up with legendary off-road racer Shane Watts to run the “Wattsy’s Pony Express” and has been voted as hosting “Round of the Year” in the VORC for 3 years!
This is the start of a new era that will build on the achievements of the past. The Geelong Motocross Club has produced some brilliant riders in its history including Australian Champions Jason Polakow, Steven Andrew and Troy Dorran. Many more GMCC members have gone on to win state and
National titles particularly within the junior ranks.
The committee remains as committed as ever to providing the best they can for its valued members and riders who all form part of the extended family that is the Geelong Motocross Club…