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Australian Motocross Championships Moorebank
3 September 1961, MOOREBANK - NEW SOUTH WALES
Photos: [Left] The Western Australian riders dominated the 1961 National Motocross Championships at Moorebank (NSW) with Charlie West (second from right) winning his sixth title, pictured with Glen Britza (far left), Gordon Renfree and Bob O’Leary; and [Right] West on the startline with his proud father “Pop”.
Innovation the theme at the National Motocross Championships at Moorebank
In 1961, Willoughby & Districts Motorcycle Club — already the ace of clubs — staged a highly successful Australian Motocross Championship at the Moorebank circuit in New South Wales.
Close to the city and packed with varied terrain, the club showcased its forward-thinking approach that would make Willoughby the largest and most influential club in NSW’s well into the 1980s. Add flawless weather and a full front-page promotion in the Mirror Saturday Supplement, and the result was a record crowd.
For the first time in Australia, a motocross-style format was used on 3 September 1961. The motos were not a full 40 minutes, but the intent — and the impact — was unmistakable.
The starts required the bikes to be in neutral and the rider’s left (clutch) hand on their helmet until the flag dropped. And many interstate competitors were also seeing the now-iconic NSW rugby-jumper riding tops for the first time.
Freshly crowned NSW 125 champion Ray Dole stole the spotlight early, stalking Charlie Edwards before striking on the final lap to win round one. He followed it up with a commanding, uncontested victory in round two. Amazingly, Dole’s engine was from a lawnmower – a Victa powered engine fitted in a BSA Bantam motorcycle frame.
Photo: 1961 Australian 125cc Champion – Ray Dole Victa on his powered Victa Bantam motorcycle
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West wins his sixth Australian title - in the 350s
The 250 class was stacked with Australia’s fastest riders — minus Ken Rumble, who famously refused to race under the new format. Charlie West (WA BSA), John Burrows (VIC Greeves), Les Fisher (NSW Jawa), Gordon Renfree (WA BSA) and Blair Harley (NSW BSA) lined up for what became an all-out war.
Renfree was the first casualty, clutch trouble ending his title hopes.
Harley faded next, leaving West and Fisher locked in a brutal duel, with Burrows never far away. Roared on by a home crowd, Fisher set the fastest lap of the day and grabbed the lead — only for his Jawa to seize on the final lap. West took the win, then dominated the second round to secure another title.
A quirk in the points system meant no tie-breaker, resulting in a rare three-way tie for second: Glen Britza (WA), John Burrows (VIC) and Blair Harley (NSW), all on 64 points.
In the 350s, West and Burrows went head-to-head again. West claimed both wins, while Burrows’ second race ended just 100 yards from the line with a broken chain. Fisher, saving himself for the bigger 500 class, sat out the second leg. West’s win in the 350cc class was his sixth and final National motocross title before he headed to race in Europe later that year, finishing off his racing career overseas.
Photo: Charlie West, his father “Pop” and Gordon Renfree at Moorebank.
500 class delivers the showdown everyone wanted
The 500 class delivered the showdown everyone wanted. West took the first leg after Fisher ran off the track, but Fisher responded with a spectacular second-leg win. Tied on 76 points, the title came down to a deciding third race.
Exhausted, after racing in three classes with each race around 40 minutes, West led for six laps before Fisher powered his Triumph past to claim the crown.
Lionel Bauers, the 1958 double sidecar champion, dominated to add yet another Australian title to his tally – with Ray Wilson in the chair.
Innovation was the theme of the day. Most of the changes proved very popular to the riders and spectators, except for the new starting method which raised eyebrows among visiting riders.
Also, it would take years of campaigning — and even a riders’ strike led by John Burrows — before the ACUV finally allowed riders to replace traditional leather jackets with the colourful rugby-jumper riding tops.
Photos: [Left] Les Fisher (right] with Roy East; [Centre] Lionel Bowers and Ray Wilson won the Unlimited Sidecar Championship on a Norton; and [right] John Burrows wearing the new coloured rugby jersey which he famously advocated for with the Auto Cycle Council of Australia to replace compulsory leather jackets in Australia.
1961 Australian Motocross Championship Results
125cc
1. Ray Dole
(NSW, Dole Victa Special)
2. Charlie Edwards (NSW)
3. Len McEnroe (VIC)
250cc
1. Charlie West (WA, B.S.A.)
Equal second
Glen Britza (WA, Greeves), Blair Harley (NSW, B.S.A.) and John Burrows (VIC, Greeves)
350cc
1. Charlie West (WA, B.S.A.)
2. Gordon Renfree (WA, B.S.A.)
3. Gerry Vial (NSW, B.S.A.)
500cc
1. Les Fisher (NSW, Triumph/B.S.A.)
2. Charlie West (WA, B.S.A.)
3. Gordon Renfree (WA, B.S.A.)
Unlimited Sidecars
1. Lionel Bauers – Ray Wilson (VIC, Norton)
2. Neil Tough (NSW, Norton)
3. Alwyn Sobey – John Cortney (VIC, Ariel)
