Maffra-Sale Motocross Club is a well-established sports club located in Wellington Shire, Victoria. The club was founded in 1947 and has been operating continuously ever since. With approximately 350 members, the club caters to individuals of all ages, from 5 to 75 years old, who have a passion for various forms of motorcycle sport and recreation, including Motocross, Trials, Enduro, Road racing, Historic touring, and Trail riding.
The club maintains two excellent facilities for its members. The Morrison St Clubrooms in Maffra serve as the headquarters and proudly showcases the club's memorabilia and a historic record of motorcycling in the Gippsland region. The clubrooms can accommodate up to 100 people and are available for hire. The second facility is the 40 grid Motocross track located in Newry.
This stunning 2. 25 km track features a mix of surface types, creating an ideal and safe competitive arena and training ground for riders of all ages. The track is equipped with a canteen operating on club days and most events, wash-down bays, showers/toilets for camping purposes, and an extensive undercover area to shelter participants and spectators during inclement weather.
In recent years, the Maffra-Sale Motocross Club has successfully hosted several major events, including the 2009 Australian Junior Motocross Championships, MX Nationals Round, Senior and Junior Motocross Championship Rounds, and Gippsland Region Motocross Championship Rounds. Additionally, the club organises the annual Great Divide Trail Ride and the Harold Parsons Reliability Ride, becoming highly regarded in the motorcycle sports community.
The history of the club is rich with stories of its early years. The inaugural club ride took place in the Gormandale area, where members shot a rabbit and enjoyed it for lunch. Their first scramble event was held at Glencoe lane in Longford before moving to Myrtlebank, where events were conducted for many years. As the club grew, members would remove the lights from their bikes and race all day at scrambles before riding back home.
The club also had a tradition of collecting funds for charity by taking a blanket around the crowd during these events. These collected funds were used to fit out an ambulance for Sale and support the Maffra District Hospital.
During the 1950s, when membership was low, the club briefly became the Maffra-Sale Motorcycle & Car Club. However, as both clubs gained more members, they eventually went their separate ways. The club relocated its track to the Newry Recreation Reserve, which now serves as the venue for their exciting races. At one point, the club organised a Night Carnival in Maffra, raising enough money to outfit a hospital room at the Maffra District Hospital and earning an Honorary Life Membership.
With its long history, dedicated members, and impressive facilities, Maffra-Sale Motocross Club is an essential part of the Wellington Shire community and continues to provide exciting opportunities for motorcycle enthusiasts to enjoy their sport and foster a vibrant community of riders.