Gillman Speedway came about as the result of the closure of the nearby North Arm Speedway in March 1997.

David Parker, as President of the Speedway Riders' Association of South Australia Inc., inspected many sites before it was decided, with the help of Motorcycling SA President Ivan Golding, to move to the Heini Becker Park Motorsport Complex at Gillman with no more that an old water truck, old Gallion Grader and a Massie Ferguson tractor (which is still going, whereas the other machinery has since died).

The area at Gillman, which was effectively the car park for the Moto Cross track, was covered by truck loads of dirt and rubbish, but the race was on to get a track down by the summer to allow continuity of the sport without a break.

A small 213 metre track was formed using dolomite from the old North Arm track, and used tyres for a safety fence and after an early try out in October, the first official practice was held on Sunday, 19 October 1997.

Low key practice meetings were held on a more-or-less monthly basis while a larger 400 metre track was also formed, with just a basic dirt surface. The 400 metre track was approximately where the current track is, while turns one and two (for Solos) of the larger track doubled as the main straight of the smaller track which ran North-South. The first full meeting on the larger track was held on Saturday, 16 May 1998.

For two years we continued to run low key meetings monthly, usually on Sunday afternoons, until November 1999 when we held a practice session under temporary lights. The practice went well and on Friday, 7 January 2000 we staged our first night meeting which was the South Australian Solo Championship. A second night meeting featuring Australian Sidecar Champions Glenn and Nathan O'Brien was held on 24 March 2000.

Throughout this time work was continuing on turning the venue into what we now have.

With the financial help of a couple of people and the manpower of a few more interested people, riders and parents, over the Winter of 2000 we levelled the existing two tracks and built the 295 metre track we now have.

Still using the generator-powered temporary lights the new track successfully opened on Australia Day (26 January) 2001 with the staging of the Jack Young Solo Cup and the Harry Denton Memorial Shield for Sidecars.

An estimated 1,500 spectators saw Nathan Simpson win the first race in a time of 59.59 seconds which became, and remained, the track record through until Leigh Adams' first ride in heat 11, when Adams reduced the record to 57.81. Adams went on to win the Final from Shane Parker, Travis McGowan and Nigel Sadler, while Townsville's Gary Moon and Chris Hughes won the Harry Denton shield ahead of then current Australian Champions Glenn and Nathan O'Brien from Perth, Justin Plaisted/Mark Plaisted and Ron Parker/Shane Rudloff.

A further two night meetings were held in February and March 2001, including the Australian Under 21 Solo Championship.

After another two seasons under the temporary lights, including a Test Match between Young Australia and Young England, further financial assistance from private individuals enable us to connect to the power grid and erect permanent lighting. At the same time work was constantly going on building up and greening the spectator viewing mounds.

In the winter of 2006 a Junior track was built on the infield to encourage junior development and was opened in October by legendary Rowley Park Speedway promoter Kym Bonython. A bore was sunk to allow us to water the track and irrigate the lawns despite severe mains water restrictions, and new change rooms with showers were built in the pits.

The following winter a VIP/ Function area was built and for the first time the Speedway Riders' Association had clubrooms of their own and somewhere to call home.

In the winter of 2008 a new grader and water truck were purchased with the generous support of our major sponsors.

Prior to the 2009/10 season we erected a wind-break fence along the top of the western mound, and more canteens have been built on either side of the track to cater for the bigger crowds on major event nights such as Australian Championship.

During the winter of 2011 the spectator viewing mound at the western end was terraced, and the main canteen enlarged and re-fitted to allow for a greater variety of food. Also an Airfence Speedway Safety System was ordered and is due to be installed in November 2011. Full details of the Airfence can be seen on the Air Fence tab [left hand menu] on the Gillman Speedway website.

Roofing the pit bays is the next project on the drawing board, and there will be many more improvements in the years to come. For example, the spectator area alongside the back straight has been deliberately left flat as we want to eventually (when funds allow) build a grandstand there.

All of this has been achieved by a dedicated few sponsors and workers, and the patronage of our loyal spectators.

Gillman Speedway is only in its infancy, there are bigger and better things to come.............