THE QUEENSLAND BROTHERS WHO CREATED A GLOBAL SPORT: NEW ARCHIVES DETAIL SPEEDWAY’S PIONEERS AS NDC PRESSURES PREMIER CRISAFULLI FOR HERITAGE PROTECTION

With primary evidence proving Australian-born pioneers Albert and Frank Hunting established promotional speedway across Queensland, NDC leverages 2 to 3 million monthly organic impressions to demand physical heritage protection, recognition of fallen racers and a return to the global stage.

BRISBANE, QLD


As momentum builds behind Nomad Dirt Culture’s (NDC) formal appeal to Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, newly published historical archives curated by Australia’s preeminent speedway historian and author, Tony Webb, have delivered irrefutable proof of Queensland's foundational role in world speedway history.

While administrative bodies and state planners continue to oversee the slow erosion of regional venues, primary archival documentation backed by official company records, historic race programmes, and international research—confirms that Australian-born brothers Albert and Frank Hunting established promotional speedway for the state of Queensland while building a global racing framework.

Historical Evidence (1926): Rare archival photograph documenting early Ekka speedway practice—noting required headlight and horn equipment—sourced directly from the Tony Webb Collection and preserved internationally via Defunct Speedway UK

The Historical Truth: Queensland’s State Pioneers & Global Legacy

According to official Hunting family biographer Tony Webb, while pioneer promotional work took place across New South Wales and Queensland in the mid-1920s, it was the Hunting brothers who spearheaded promotional speedway for Queensland, establishing a vital talent pipeline to the world stage:

• Queensland State Pioneers: Between 1925 and 1927, the Hunting brothers opened and promoted key venues across Queensland, including Oxley, Davies Park (West End), Toowoomba, Ipswich, and the Brisbane Exhibition Speedway (The Ekka).

• The First World Talent Pipeline: The Hunting brothers discovered and gave first speedway rides to legendary Australian icons, including Lionel van Praag (Australia’s first World Champion), Frank Arthur, Vic Huxley, Max Grosskreutz, and Charlie Spinks.

• Media & Institutional Firsts: The Hunting brothers launched the world’s first speedway magazine (The Speedway News) in 1926, ran the first Speedway Grand Prix in 1929, and created the original Speedway Coat of Arms and motto.

"Australian-born Albert and Frank Hunting were the true speedway pioneers... The claims of other pioneer promoters pale into insignificance in comparison." — Tony Webb, Official Speedway Historian & Author

Post-War Ekka Heritage: Ken Longson and Keith Cox in the pits beneath Machinery Hill at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds—where hundreds of speedway riders prepped their machines before hitting the dirt. Photo courtesy of the Keith Cox Collection & Tony Webb Archives.

Social Proof & Media Scale: 2 to 3 Million Organic Monthly Impressions

By partnering with Tony Webb to safeguard this collection, NDC has connected Queensland's 125-year heritage directly to the modern fight for venue survival.

As an independent, legally structured commercial media house, NDC generates 2 to 3 million organic impressions per month across its platforms, backed by a cumulative media footprint exceeding 11.5 million organic views.

Supported by international stars including 2026 Speedway World Champion Jason Doyle and thousands of local racing families, the community is demanding that state leaders stop ignoring our history.

Where is our replacement track? 

The Direct Call to Action for Premier Crisafulli

With the eyes of the Queensland motorsport community locked on state leadership, Nomad Dirt Culture formally calls on Premier David Crisafulli and the Minister for Sport to execute the following mandates:

1. Physical Recognition at the RNA Showgrounds: Erect a permanent, physical golden plaque at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds (The Ekka) to officially recognise the birthplace of Queensland promotional speedway and to honour the fallen racers who gave their lives to the sport. The new Golden Plaque made is at NDC office waiting). Queensland’s motorsport legacy deserves a physical monument, not a temporary, easily dismissed QR code.

2. Acknowledge Queensland’s World Champions: Formally recognize the lineage of Queensland-born World Champions and international competitors who built their foundational careers on our local dirt tracks, taking Australian dominance to the global stage.

3. A Pre-Olympic Speedway Grand Prix: Commit state backing to secure and host an FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Queensland ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, returning the world championship to the state that helped pioneer the sport's global expansion.
   

"This is not just motorsport. This is our culture. This is our family legacy." — Jocelyn Dare, Founder of Nomad Dirt Culture, Daughter of Ron Johnson "King of the Ekka". 

Primary Source References & Archival Citations

1. Webb, Tony. The Hunting Brothers Archival Collection & Research Papers. Documented references to programmes, venue leases, and company filings (1925–1938).

2. Skinner, John & Webb, Tony. The Defunct Speedway Archive. Official digital repository of the Tony Webb Photographic Collection and Hunting family biographical records.