It was a decision, back in the day, that sent tsunami sized shock waves through the Australian Speedway industry and for a time divided the nation’s drivers and fans alike.

A decade on, it remains as perhaps the most significant development in Aussie Sprintcar Racing.

If you knew Brian Healey you knew he was forthright in his opinions, steadfast in his decisions and passionate about Australian and American oval track racing.

The Sacramento based expatriate Aussie He was also deadly serious about bringing the national standard for Australian engine capacities from 372ci to the American standard of 410ci; and he wasn’t about to stop until he made it happen.

Healey had the most important key in starting this revolution – he owned the then named Parramatta City Raceway.
The rest of the country might not have been ready, but Healey certainly was.

He believed that by upping the capcity to 410ci it would not only allow Australian drivers and owners to purchase USA motors more affordably abroad but it would also possibly for American drivers to bring their complete racing packages and sell them here.

This also dovetailed into Healey’s elaborate plan to bring not one, not two, but the ENTIRE World of Outlaw travelling circus to PCR.
Then, on October 4, 2003 the decision was made to buck the national rulings and go to 410ci motors for competition at PCR.

“It wasn’t the most popular decision on a national scale,” recalls then (and now) track manager Steven Green, “but Brian had a vision, he had his own reasons for doing it and he knew that ultimately it would benefit the sport as a whole. And, looking back on it, his legacy is that Sprintcar entrant numbers have never been healthier and the standard of equipment has never been higher in this country.”

Healey ran “PCR” for 8 seasons between 2001 and 2009, along the way pulling off what many believed impossible in conducting five “World of Outlaw Down Under” events with the best one-off assembled American field in Aussie history.

His untimely passing at the age of 65 in 2009’ then saw the Parramatta Speedway change hands but Brian’s work had well and truly been done as the sport had by then eventually merged into a uniform 410ci format nationally.

The newly purchased Valvoline Raceway will hold it’s opening night of the 2014/2015 season with Healey’s good friend and former manager Steven Green back in the role as Track Manager on Saturday night, October 4, 2014.

It will be some eleven years TO THE DAY on October 4 since the first 410ci sanctioned night at PCR fired into life.

What more fitting way to tribute the pioneer of 410’s in Australia, Brian Healey, than honouring him on the opening night of the new season at Valvoline Raceway?

“It’s appropriate in many ways to tribute Brian’s legacy on the first night of the new season,” says Green, “his gutsy move eleven years ago has seen Sprintcar racing progress to previously unseen levels. He certainly changed our sport forever.”

For more information please visit www.sydneyspeedway.com.au