Beasley Memorial Race Honors Aussie Midget Pioneer Tonight at Avalon Raceway

Lara, Victoria, Australia | Oct 27, 2011 - This Saturday night Avalon Raceway will be hosting The Beasley Family Memorial (tonight in Australia). This year commemorates the 21st Anniversary of this prestigious event...

The Beasleys: L to R. Alf Beasley,
Arthur "Pop" Beasley and Stud Beasley

The “Beasley Family Memorial” is in dedication of Victoria’s legendary Beasley family (Arthur “Pop”, Stud & Alf), all three of whom pioneered midget racing in Australia.

Arthur "Pop" Beasley made his debut as a "Thunderbug" with a home made car in races at the Penrith Speedway, NSW in 1928. Among other things the car had two bucket seats and didn't even have a coat of paint. Arthur Beasley, "the dark horse" of the meeting won every event he entered and took home prize money of 170 Pounds, a small fortune in 1928. In 1933 Arthur took 6 1/2 hours off the light car record from Sydney to Brisbane and later broke the Sydney to Melbourne record as well. He won the Phillip Island Grand Prix in 1938.

Previous podium winners.
1st Harley Bishop, 2nd Andy Pearce,
3rd Ben Dillon, 4th Craig Smith

A wartime romance led to marriage and the young Beasleys. Alf and Stud, were on the scene when the second World War broke out. Stud and Alf both joined up and served their country. Arthur joined up again and joined his boys in the Army. After the War the Beasleys, as a family in Speedway, had it all their own winning way. Arthur eventually retired from racing and the boys carried on the tradition by competing against Australian & International drivers country wide. 'Pop' devoted his entire life to the roar of the Mighty Midgets & was the first VSDA President. Alf won the Victorian Title in 1955 while Stud followed suit in 1957. Sadly Alf was killed at Tracey’s Speedway on January 11th 1958 which lead to “POP” presenting the Alf Beasley Memorial Trophy as an annual commemorative event. The race continued until the closure of Tracey’s Speedway in 1964.

After 45 years involved in and dedicated to the Mighty Midgets “POP” sadly passed away on May 21st 1979.

Stud carried on for several more years before ill health forced him into early retirement and in October 1991 the legendary dynasty was finally ended with the death of Stud at age 70. Third generation racers Clark Beasley (son of Stud) migrated to the USA and younger brother Leroy (Still heavily involved with the VSDA) made his debut in midget racing at the final meeting of the 1991 season at Mildura. The absence of the Beasley influence opened thoughts of establishing a commemorative trophy to honour the three deceased members of the Beasley dynasty in respect of their contribution to midget racing for almost sixty years. The inaugural “BEASLEY FAMILY MEMORIAL” was established in 1992.

~ HONOR ROLL ~
1992 - Darren Power
1993 - Darren Power
1994 - Ray Bishop
1995 - Mark Brown
1996 - Rained out
1997 - John Mills
1998 - Ray Bishop
1999 - Ian Lewis
2000 - Race not Held
2001 – Mark Brown
2002 - Paul Farrel
2003 - Colin Patterson
2004 - Peter Bourke
2005 - Troy Jordan
2006 - Darren Power
2007 - Harley Bishop
2008 - Mark Brown
2009 - Race not Held
2010 - Mark Brown
2011 - Harley Bishop