On January 16, 1958, the first Official Membership Receipt of the Premier Speedway Club, Warrnambool, to the value one shilling was produced to founding Member Mr. Ralph Vick.

Today, only three days shy of the 60 Year Anniversary of the writing of that receipt, the Management, Board and Members of the Premier Speedway Club, Warrnambool wish to offer their sincere condolences to the Vick family on the sad passing of Ralph after a long battle with illness.

Ralph Vick was somewhat of a pioneer. In 1956 he was already building his own Stockcar, as it were, regularly travelling across the Border to Mt. Gambier where he would race.

After the Premier Speedway Club was formed under the guidance of Mr Geoff Emery, and the original race track at the Warrnambool Racecourse was created, it would be Ralph Vick who would chair a meeting to form the Warrnambool Hot Rod Club, after Mr. Emery decided to pursue other business interests.

Ralph oversaw proceedings, as Jack Brittain was elected as President, Burnie Barton as Secretary and Joe Walsh as the treasurer.

As a founding member, Ralph was also a highly competitive and much respected racer, winning many races throughout his career, emphasised by his win in the 1959-60 season when he claimed the 20-lap “Butcher’s Picnic” in his number 33 Hot Rod.

Post his racing career Ralph Vick served with aplomb as an Official of the Premier Speedway Club while continuing to be a driving force behind the scenes.

Today as we mourn the passing of one of Speedway’s True Gentlemen, it should be remembered as we gear up for Premier Speedway’s biggest weekend of the year, that without Ralph Vick and his foresight, and the foresight of others, that quite simply Premier Speedway may not be what it is today…. or exist at all.

Ralph Vick was a Life Member of the Premier Speedway Club.
Thank you Ralph, Rest In Peace.

The Funeral Service for Ralph Vick will take place at Christ Church, Anglican Church, Henna Street, Warrnambool on Tuesday January 16, 2018 at 1.30pm.