THE MOTORSPORT ART FORM: ARCHERFIELD'S ORIGINAL SIDECAR GLORY

This image isn’t just a photograph, it’s a piece of our bloodline. Pulled directly from the “big blue scrapbook” of Jocelyn Dare’s father, it holds his 45 years of untouchable racing history. It features the legendary Ron Johnson(right side rider in photo), officially recorded as the world’s tallest speedway racer during the golden years, standing at an imposing 6’5 at the Iconic Ekka track. Ron didn’t just race on these tracks, he was a pioneer who literally helped build them.

When Archerfield Speedway was sold and officially closed its doors in June 2023, it left the Queensland motorsport community heartbroken. To this day, it remains a deeply painful moment in Australian history.

But this is not about scorekeeping. This is about the sacrifice, the grit and the COURAGE it takes to create a moment that makes history. The real value of these tracks was never just about economics coming to town, it was about the innovations that sparked ideas, the new local businesses that opened around the area and the absolute possibilities that happen when a community fiercely supports an athlete’s dream. This comes down to four generations of motorsport legacies that have kept the oil hot and the culture alive.

The glue to our sport was never about hype. It is about keeping our history alive. 

Nomad Dirt Culture has picked up the bricks, mixed the cement and built a foundation to tell the true story without bias of who gets to be remembered and who doesn’t. This is our artform. The Australian Motorsport Art form. 

This image is pure evidence that this was never just a race track. This is our legacy. This is our culture.

What era did you attend, before the sprint cars or during the bikes’ glory days? What is your precious memory on those grandstands?

Drop a comment below and share this post to keep the true history alive.