Echoes of Ekka Speedway: Heritage Pioneer Brian Hunter Celebrates 93rd Birthday

BRISBANE, QLD 

In an era when Brisbane’s Exhibition Ground (the Ekka) echoed with the roar of twin-cylinder engines and the distinctive scent of burning castor oil, men like Brian Hunter put their lives on the line for the pure thrill of speedway sidecar racing. On the 2nd October, family, friends and speedway friends gathered at Kallangur to celebrate the 93rd birthday of a true Queensland motorsport pioneer.

Born in 1933, Brian Hunter represents the golden age of Australian dirt track racing. During the mid-1950s, Hunter swung in the passenger side for legendary speedway driver Ron Johnson, a towering figure on the track.

In those historic decades, Machinery Hill at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground served as the bustling pit area for speedway sidecars. Drivers and passengers tinkered on raw iron under the shadows of the showground structures before charging out onto the tight, high-banked oval in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans.

The 93rd milestone reunion, organized by Hunter’s niece Di Jackson, brought together generations of speedway heritage. Among the attendees at the Kallangur gathering was Lorraine Honour, who traveled from Bundaberg to honor Hunter’s legacy. Her late husband, Brian Honour, was a key teammate and mechanic alongside Hunter in Ron Johnson’s iconic speedway outfit during the sport's formative post-war era.

Photo: taken by NDC archives, Brian holding framed photo of him and Ron Johnson under machinery hill Ekka grounds. 

A deeply emotional highlight of the birthday celebration was the presentation of an archival photograph captured under Machinery Hill at the Ekka, showing Brian Hunter mounted beside Ron Johnson on their sidecar outfit. The historic image was presented to Hunter by Nomad Dirt Culture host Jocelyn Dare—the daughter of his former driver, the late Ron Johnson.

Reunited with the framed memory and holding the photo close, Hunter reflected on his time swinging on the dirt with Johnson.

"They were good days at the Ekka," said an emotional Brian Hunter to Jocelyn Dare. "You look like your father! Same strong nose and cheeky! I miss him dearly... Meeting you was the best Birthday present, thank you Jocelyn."

"When I was very young in the 50s, your dad would often come to my home to see my uncle Brian, and they would tinker and talk bikes and speedway," recalled Di Jackson. "I wanted to give him something to look back at, with fun in his heart again."

As speedway continues to evolve across Australia, the legacy established by pioneers like Brian Hunter, Ron Johnson and Brian Honour remains the foundational bedrock of the sport. Nomad Dirt Culture is proud to preserve and honor the history of those who paved the way on the dirt tracks of Queensland.

About Nomad Dirt Culture: Nomad Dirt Culture (NDC) is an independent Australian media network dedicated to preserving motorsport heritage while backing the next generation of grassroots racing. Through full-service digital media, PR distribution, and archival preservation, NDC connects the rich history of dirt track racing with modern audiences nationwide.

Media Contact: Nomad Dirt Culture Editorial Team At Email: info@nomaddirtculture.com