Speedway legend’s car, trophies on show

The car and trophies of WA speedway legend Geoff Pilgrim are part of a new exhibition at the Bunbury Geographe Motor Museum.

Pilgrim, who died late last year, raced predominantly at his home track in Perth, but was a prominent figure in the early years of the Bunbury Speedway, thrilling crowds with his flair and audacity on track.

Former speedway driver Colin Resta, who also has one of his cars in the museum, said Pilgrim was a fan favourite in Bunbury.

“If he was coming down it would be in the paper and everyone would know he was coming down to race,” he said.

“There would always be a big crowd, he was a crowd-pleaser and a top driver.

“He’d be going around in this thing with one front wheel up in the air.

“We first came to meet Geoff when him and his mates would come down in an old bus when we were racing and they’d sit on top of the bus and watch.”

Mr Resta was influential in the opening of Bunbury Speedway.

“We built the speedway and Piacentini and Catalano’s donated the machinery and lots of man hours went into building the track and the fence,” he said.

BGMM manager Christine Green said she was proud to be able to display some local racing history in the museum.

“It is amazing to have this type of history available for the Bunbury community,” she said.

“We are very proud to have it here.

It is extraordinary to be a part of knowing there will be history that people can link this to and people will have their own stories.