A lot of discussion is currently taking place as who was the 'inventor' of speedway. There were many dirt track type meetings taking place around the world before the 'official' birth as we like to think of it, took place on 15th December 1923 at Maitland Show Ground in Australia in association with the Agricultural Association & Orphanages (as it states on the cover of the programme), promoted by Johnnie Hoskins. Johnnie was not the only person to promote this sport but I credit him with being the first person to continually do so both in Australia and the UK in a format similar to what we know it today.