Rocky Road To Dublin' title='Rocky Road To Dublin' />Rocky Road To Dublin TabNot many would be familiar with the tragic plane crash at Picton in 1933,that claimed the lifes of two young Bunbury men, Colin Teede and Stan Catlett, but very few. Mountain Maryland Maryland, so famous for its seashore and smooth sailing, also has a wild side characterized by rugged mountain trails and rushing river waters. BUNBURY PRE 1. 95. BUNBURY PRE 1. 95. STAN CATLETTNot many would be familiar with the tragic plane crash at Picton in 1. Bunbury men, Colin Teede and Stan Catlett, but very few would know of the adventurous life of the twenty six year old Stanley Waldo Catlett. Stan was born in 1. Mr and Mrs Ernest Waldo Catlett. Catlett Snr was a jeweller and watchmaker, who lived and conducted his business from premises in in Wellington Street roughley were Souths Furniture store is today. Stan served a mechanical apprenticeship and by 1. Narrogin Trading Co, who at that time had the Ford dealership. His scills in tuning and repairing any type of motor was recognised by the motoring public of the day and his services were always in demand. His obvious love of speed was not only on motorcycles and in motor vehicles, but also in speedboats. The tales of his exploits in scaring the locals on the estuary, from Turkey Point to the Collie River, are still remembered. In 1. 92. 7, after completing a number of successful seasons on the Speedway tracks in Perth, he decided to compete on the lucrative Speedway scene in Great Britain, to defray costs, he joined a tramp steamer as forth engineer and after a four month voyage reached Liverpool, He approached the top English club, Wembley, and with borrowed riding gear and riding an unfamiliar club bike, he made his debut, and was soon competing on the English club circuits and adding adding to his reputation as one of the top Australian riders to enter the English speedway circuit. Racing was conducted over four to five nights a week, consequently prize money earned by top riders amounted to film star status. Catlett was appointed captain of the Wembley side and at the close of the English season returned to Australia with fellow Aussie riders and the English team for a test series in all major cities. The Perth press made much of Catletts return as a passenger occupying a stateroom on the P O liner, in contrast to his departure on a cargo boat working for his passage. Bunbury folk were out in force to welcome Catlett on his return from England and of course he arrived in style, flying into town in a borrowed aircraft, accompanied by the captain of the English team Jack Ormiston as well as Catletts Wembley team mate. Catlett was enjoying another spectacular season when he had one of the worst crashes in his career badly breaking a leg in two places. After seven weeks of convalescing he finished the season and returned home to Bunbury with funds in his pocket and the desire to open his own business. Stan continued earning top money as a star attraction at the Claremont speedway, but he must have realised the need to consolidate his life and a decision was made to open his own garage and workshop. Ramsay family, who were farmers from in the Capel district. They secured land on the South East corner of Stirling and Spencer street and built a garage and workshop for Stan, who had secured the morris dealership for the district. The busy period of setting up the business to open in December of 1. Stan off to Perth to secure stock for the dealership and to enjoy a few days break before the big opening day. Deciding that a good way to relax and enjoy the freedom of the air was to hire an aircraft from the Royal Aero Club he was a member and apparently whithout thought to the consequences and without permission decided on a flying trip to Bunbury. November 1. 93. 3 and the rest is history. Charting Software For Knitting. Editorial Ray Repocholi from the book Bunbury i remember whenThe photo above of Jane Motors was taken in 1. Catlett dealership. Hot FM. The Catlett Story was made possible with the kind assistance of his nephew, Mr Frank Handley, and the family with newspaper cuttings and the family photos Ray Repocholi. BUNBURY SHOWGROUNDSThe Bunbury Showgrounds was originally owned by the Wellington Agriculture Society, The Bunbury council took it over and remaned it the Forrest Memorial Oval, some time later it was renamed to what we know it as today as Hands Oval. On a race meeting on the 2nd of November 1. Charles Wear crashed his machine heavily and was rushed to hospital but unfortunatly lost his battle for life the following day. BUNBURY SHOWGROUNDS LOCATIONuse controls to pause forward or reverse 2 images1. BUNBURYS BACK BEACHIn June of 1. Back Beach of Bunbury was turned into a race track for speed trials, the first event was a flying quarter mile which was won by Ossi Cranston in his A model Ford special at a speed of 8. Desoto and a Austin Special. The standing quarter mile handycap race Ossi found his handycap too great to overcome to win but still set fastest time. Ossi went on to complete the day by winning the four and five mile handycap races along the Back Beach. Ossi Cranston in his A model Ford special. Photo unknown. 1. MOORLANDS MOTOR CYCLE RACINGThe mid fortys saw the construction of a 4. Moorelands opposite the old Picton school, the track was oval in shape and covered with cinders  a by product from steam engines, the machines were all stripped down road bikes that were ridden to the track. As it was just after the war many families did not have cars so Hendersons bus service ran a shuttle to the track for spectators. Time passed and the flat speedway track was closed and a scramble track was built nearby, weaving amoungst the trees and through the wet lands, racing continued until the mid fiftees. Riders of the day included Lieth Cahill, Kieth Sherry, Bill Denning, Rod Thomas, John Nutley, Colin Campbell, Grant Gilmore, Ron Buswell, Bill Oniel, Ray Repocholi, Vic Hough, Bob Dyer, Val Summers, Ross Payne, Doug Cutts and Trevor Whittle. All racing was controlled by the Bunbury Motor Cycle Club. Ray Repocholi cuts up the wetlands. Bunbury Motorcycle Club intertown competition Bunbury Collie Harvey and Manjimup left Ray Repacholi, Vic Hough, Bob Dyer, Val Summers Bunbury Ross Payne Collie Doug Cutts Manjimup Photo Ray Repocholi collection. MOORELANDS SPEEDWAY SCRAMBLE WALKABOUTThe area is currently used for grazing cattle only but will eventually be sub divided for housing once town planning is approved. MOORELANDS MOTOR CYCLE TRACKS LOCATION1. BUNBURY RECREATION GROUNDIt has been reported that Motorcycle racing was also conducted at the recreation grounds off Ocean Drive in the early fifties, The motorcycles raced on the exzisting cycle track. BUNBURY RECREATION GROUND LOCATION1. THE BUNBURY CAR CLUB INCEPTIONAt the showrooms of Walton and Gardiners Holden dealership in Spencer Street an idea was formed to hold a car trial. Sunday afternoon in 1. Allanson near Collie.