Historic grass banked track in Auckland, used from 1925. Now buried under the Grafton Valley motorway.
The park was originally developed from 1923-1925 for football usage, with terraces developed to accommodate several thousand spectators. The edge of the field was banked and was used for cycling events in at least 1926 (Phil O’Shea competed) and 1928.
The park was leased to the Stadium Company, who organised events on the grounds, including cycling competitions. By 1927 there was noticeable subsidence.
The banking was briefly used for speedway in 1945. In the 1960’s sporting had shifted out of the park. The football field remained till the ~1980’s and was then used as a dumping ground for spoil from the Grafton Road cutting. The spoil was later levelled for the Grafton Valley motorway, leaving the park buried beneath 30ft of ground, which the motorway now runs over.
Likely a 1/6 mile track (~268 meters) like the later Papatoetoe Track.
Grafton Gully, Auckland. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-65850-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22331590, also for more aerial images. (Have a look at the same location on Google)
Sources
- Local History – https://timespanner.blogspot.com/2009/09/blandford-park.html
- Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blandford_Park
- New Zealand Cycling Legends 01 – Phil O’Shea – Wizard on wheels, Kennett Brothers
- Papers Past
- 1923 – Blanford Park Scheme, largely funded
- 1926 – Phil O-Shea raced
- Jan 1927 – Motorcycle Gymkana held, including long jump on motorcycles (pictured in Barnstormers article, also on Google Maps location)
- May 1927 – Blandford Park Stadium Company president confirms reopening
- Feb 1928 – Auckland Cycle Club racing, “one mile handicap of six laps”, thus a 1/6 mile track
- 1929 – Motorcycle event, reopening of track?
- Aug 1937 – Auckland Broadsiding Club was seeking a license for here or Western Springs
- https://historicspeedway.co.nz/blanford-park/