It is the people behind the scenes that make the picture work. At Mildura’s Olympic Park Bob Crump is one of those people. Wade Aunger sat down with the man to find out more about what makes him tick.
Pictures: Wade Aunger
People notice the bright track lights that line the Olympic Park Speedway.
People notice the starting grid tapes apparatus when it swings down in front of the officials tower and the flashing lights that signal a start is imminent.
People notice the four motorcycle riders who come to the tapes and dig the dirt with their boot heels as they tip the bike to the right and let the back wheel spin freely.
People notice the brightly dressed grid girls in their colourful lycra who line the riders up in their positions.
But few people notice the figure that swung open the pit gate and let those riders into the coliseum.
There’s a glint and a sparkle in his eye as the bikes idle past him, turn left and head back to turn four before returning to the gates for the start.
He’s seen it all a million times.
In around 45 years the near 90 year old gentleman has marshalled some of the greatest speedway riders in the world on to the Mildura dirt in front of him and then back into the pits some four laps and just over a minute later.
And he’s done that for his sons and his grandson, more times than he can remember.
Bob Crump is about as Mildura as the mighty Murray River that idles lazily past the 70 year old Olympic Park Speedway he adores.
He’s traveled the world watching his grandson Jason in search of an incredible three World Championship victories and seen some of the best arenas in the universe.
So what’s been the best track he’s ever seen?
“You can’t go past Mildura,” he says, his face breaking out in a delighted grin as he savours even the thought of what he’s just said.
Does he love Speedway as much now as when he saw it decades ago?
“Too right,” he smiles, “it’s getting better all the time.”
It’s Sunday morning.
He could be doing anything today.
Doing what other 89-year olds are doing.
But he’s not.
He’s down on the gate, watching the up and coming stars of the future, both talented kids and raw novices alike, as they idle through his gate.
“You can tell a lot by the way someone rides into the corners,” he says, describing how you spot someone with talent, “you need a certain bit of courage to ride these things you know.”
Bob should know.
And he does.
He’s seen an enormous amount through those twinkling blue eyes.
He wasn’t allowed to race himself as a youngster – his own father thought Speedway bikes were far too dangerous.
“I think he thought I’d probably end up killing myself, and he might have been right,” again that smile and a hint of a laugh.
Bob’s sons rode though.
They rode fast.
“They all had a go, all my sons. And did pretty well. They didn’t exactly disgrace themselves did they? All the boys got going pretty well but then they fell in love and that was the end of it.”
History will show that Phil Crump, one of those sons, would go on to be one of the all-time greats of the sport both here and overseas.
The four times Australia titleholder and 13 times Victorian champion was also a member of the victorious 1976 World Team Cup Aussie line-up and rode with enormous international distinction from 1971 to 1990.
He was third in the 1976 Individual World Championship as well.
His name is etched in stone forever in this country and abroad.
Anyone who knows anything about Aussie Speedway says the name Phil Crump in either hushed tones or out loud and proud.
Bob’s grandson (and Phil’s son) Jason however, took it to another level.
The triple-world champion is regarded as the single most successful Australian Speedway rider of all time.
The list of honours that fall below his name is truly staggering.
Internationally revered and feared Jason is without question one of the Goliath’s of the solo motorcycle and SGP planet.
And now, a fourth generation is starting to raise some hell – this time on the bitumen where a Superbike or MotoGP career beckons for Jason’s son Seth.
Bob can barely contain his grin.
The proud look that breaks out on his face when asked about his children, his grandchildren and now great grandchildren is undeniable.
The grin swings open like the pit gate he pushes to release or retrieve the solo or sidecar outfits on race night.
“He could be anywhere,” says Mildura Motorcycle Club stalwart Jason Stewart, “but he’s here. This is what he loves doing and this is where he loves being. He’s a bloody legend. Everyone loves Bob. He’s the kind of man our club is built on.”
Bob will more than likely open that pit gate at Mildura until he’s not physically able any longer.
His passion for Speedway, his pure joy in watching the youth, the veterans and those that sit in the middle is unlimited and there’s little doubt it’s part of what keeps him young.
I follow him out of the pits into the carpark where he climbs into his car and looks to head home.
“Cheerio,” he says to me as I shake his hand and he drives off.
I stand there and watch him leave and a huge smile breaks out on my face too.
I just met one of the legends of Australian Speedway.
He’s a legend not for what he did on a motorcycle himself but for the men and the legacy he brought into this sport.
Next time you’re at Olympic Park Speedway Mildura I want you to do something.
Notice the bright lights, the starting tapes, the glamour girls and the daredevils who come to the line by all means.
But notice first, the gatekeeper who let them on to the track in the first place…
