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Post by bobjeffreson on Aug 30, 2011 6:50:24 GMT 10
Terrific to see Dick Briton in the pits last Sunday. He is a true speedway legend, in both the super modifieds and then sprintcars. The days of Briton, Warner and Rush were some of the best racing seen, especially on the big Westmead 1/2 mile. Dick built his own cars in the early part of his career and they were always FAST.
I first saw Dick in this car. Good enough to beat most of the local products, however the car in the background, Bill Warner's factory built Mooneyes CAE mod, made the local cars look 2nd rate.
Dick got the message real quick and went home and built this hot rod. He dropped a Corvette under the bonnet and everything changed. Rushy turned up in a lightweight Fortune Holden powered mod and the real racing began.
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Post by laurie27 on Aug 30, 2011 9:01:00 GMT 10
Yes Bob, they were the days. As a young kid I was down to Westmead when I could just to see those awesome modifieds.
It was great to have a few words with the legend. His passion is still there, the smile when you talk about Westmead & the Sydney Showgrounds.
Again thanks Dick for presenting the Trophy's.
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Post by mandmdavis1 on Aug 30, 2011 13:36:04 GMT 10
yes. Bob. Laurie.....I remember Dick years ago . when he came to brisbane to race at the ekka
he used to leave his car at friends of ours at hamilton ESSO sevo. even the sprintcars he had
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Post by grahame13 on Aug 30, 2011 22:57:59 GMT 10
Dick was very obliging guys and he really enjoyed watching his grandson and son in law race. He still has a passion for the sport and after my driving efforts on Sunday in Both the Speedcar and Amca I am sure on fathers day we will have a cold one and I will get some valued pointers on car set up and my driving style, or lack of it.......lol
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ando
SSME Member 
Posts: 50
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Post by ando on Aug 31, 2011 19:21:21 GMT 10
he might teach you and your kid how to drive past someone not thru them  |
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Post by scott 45 on Sept 1, 2011 11:04:04 GMT 10
Ando,
How good would that be
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Post by grahame13 on Sept 1, 2011 20:50:48 GMT 10
Scott and Ando would never have hit anyone, have you guys?  ?? |
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Post by bobjeffreson on Sept 2, 2011 7:11:24 GMT 10
Grahame,
Something I've kept since 1966. Sh!te that's a long time ago.
I notice that Dick liked to drive in comfort.....even put a leather covered seat in the rod...  
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Post by robhod on Sept 2, 2011 12:16:06 GMT 10
Great to see the race number 6 still being used.
Rob
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Post by grahame13 on Sept 2, 2011 19:49:12 GMT 10
Bob, you have some amazing memorabilia. Would love the read that mag, if you ever remember please bring it to the track.
Rob, It was Corey's dream to be able to use his pops number........I hope he can do his pop the honor to win a title one day for him.
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Post by bobjeffreson on Sept 2, 2011 21:35:18 GMT 10
Grahame,
I'll certainly bring the mag to Luddenham so you can see it in the flesh.
Sadly, the only reference to Dick and his new modified, is on the contents page...... 
Check out the subscription rates... $4....I couldn't afford that and bought them singlely, at 30 cents or 3 shillings each. This was just after the decimal change over. I think I was earning $15:00 per week back them.
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Post by lobonsw21 on Sept 3, 2011 16:55:51 GMT 10
Yes Bob and Laurie.....I can remember when both Britton and Warner would start off 650yards which was 3/4 of a lap when the Super Modified's used clutch starts and dice all the way during the feature and on most times either one would take the win and this was also the same at the old Showground
I also have a Westmead program when Rush won the NSW JUNIOR Super Modified Title signed by him and many others of the day
GB
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Post by bobjeffreson on Sept 9, 2011 7:04:07 GMT 10
How ironic.....
This posted on Sprintcar World 2 days ago......
Dick Britton Leaves A Big Mark In Championship Records
Ross Allen posted Wednesday September 7, 2011.
NSW sprintcar driver Dick Britton won his first Australian Sprintcar Championship at Windsor Speedway in NSW back in 1964. He relegated the then defending champion, Bill Willis, to second place, robbing the Victorian of the opportunity to become the first back-to-back winner of the prestigious event.
Ironically, the same thing happened to Dick Britton the following year in 1965. Fellow New South Welshman, Bill Warner finished ahead of Britton in the Championship decider at Windsor Speedway. But the irrepressible Britton did become the first ever driver to win the Australian Sprintcar Championship twice in a row with victories in 1966 and 1967.
In 1966, Britton turned the tables on Warner at Westmead Speedway in Sydney, NSW with third place going to Garry Rush to give NSW drivers a 1-2-3 championship finish. In 1967, again at Westmead Speedway, Britton finished ahead of Garry Rush and Ray Brett (NSW).
Britton’s win in 1967 meant that in the four year period from 1964 to 1967, he won the Championship three times and finished second in the other – a truly remarkable effort.
At Sydney Showground in 1971, Britton scored his fourth Championship victory defeating Joe Scruise from NSW and Les Harrower from Victoria. Britton had the speedway world wondering how many more times could this top NSW driver win the Championship.
Three Championship events went by with no Dick Britton on the podium and many of the pundits believed that Britton’s amazing Championship record had come to an end.
But in 1975, there was that man again and at the top of the list. Dick Britton captured his fifth and final Championship title in Brisbane, Queensland. He finished ahead of Victoria’s Graeme McCubbin and Garry Rush from NSW.
But his Championship podium record wasn’t to end there. In 1981, again at Brisbane in Queensland, Britton finished third to Garry Rush from NSW and Bill Barrows from South Australia.
Dick Britton won the Australian Sprintcar Championship five times, finished second once and finished third once. His Championship podium record extended across an unbelievable period of eighteen (18) years.
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