(Photo: Kingaroy Bees)
March 19, 2019
Kingaroy Bees junior motorcycle speedway club is dedicating its first club day of racing this year to long-time supporter Barry Stead.
Barry, 65, died in May last year after a long illness.
Club secretary Tracey Tunstall said Barry had been a dedicated supporter of motorcycle speedway and used to watch champion Kingaroy rider Col Rogerson “back in the day”.
When the Kingaroy Bees began in 2014, Barry made sure he was their number one fan, turning up to as many meetings as he could.
He kept scrapbooks and programs from their events, and collected the young riders’ autographs.
“He just wanted to be a part of it,” Tracey said. “He constantly praised the kids and the club.”
Barry became a familiar sight, manning the entry gate to the track.
One of his most treasured possessions was a trophy presented to him by Cordell Rogerson, Col’s grandson and a speedway champion in his own right.
He was also very proud of his Kingaroy Bees club shirt.
The Barry Stead Memorial Day will be held this Saturday (March 23) at the Kingaroy Showgrounds’ junior motorcycle speedway track.
Racing starts at 10:00am and spectators are more than welcome to come along to watch the Peewees, Superlites, 125cc and 250cc motorbikes in action.
Tracey said the club had already held one successful “Come and Try” day this year, and had another planned for May.
There were also another three or four club days planned, including the now-traditional John Titman Golden Steel Shoe Challenge.
The Bees have also applied to host the Queensland U16s solo and pairs State Championships, which if they are successful will be held in September.
