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The Rowe-Wigzell WonderCar speedcar was later driven by various drivers including Colin Hennig, Steve Stewart and was then later powered by a Mazda rotary engine driven by Steve Hennig at Speedway Park. The vehicle is currently owned by Ian Gear, shown below driving the vehicle (back to it’s Norman supercharged Peugeot engine) at the 490-yard Exhibition Grounds Speedway (the EKKA) in Brisbane, Queensland.
Ian is shown below driving it at a historic meeting at the 390-yard Riverview Speedway, South Australia (also known as Murray Bridge Speedway, or currently the Murray Machining and Sheds Murray Bridge Speedway).
Rowe later went on to build two Norman supercharged Renaults. I am not certain about the first Renault. I know that Greg Anderson drove a supercharged Renault for Rowe, built in 1972 and fitted to an Edmonds chassis, until the closure of Rowley Park in 1979. I’m not sure if this was the first or the second of the Renaults, nor if it was the same car that Anderson won the South Australian Speedcar Championship in the 1973/1974 season.
The second of the two Rowe Renaults was bought by Cec Eichler and was raced under the Kevin Fischer of Murray Bridge South Australia banner alongside the Suddenly #88 Supermodified sprintcar. The norman supercharged midget was also numbered #88 and painted in similar purple as the Suddenly #88 car – see image below. The midget was fitted with fuel injection and looked after by Fischer mechanic Ian Thiele.
Rowe later went on to build a Norman supercharged Volkswagon (which was susceptible to spitting crank cases). Rowe was also the owner of a Norman-supercharged FB Holden, fitted with a floor shifter of his own manufacture.
Bill Wigzell was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on the 11th of June 1979 for service to the sport of motor racing, whilst Alex Rowe was similarly made an OAM on the 26th of January 1987 for service to speedway racing. This honour is one that they share with the likes of Allan Grice, Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife. Ian Thiele is alive and well in Mannum . At his place last week . he has a stunning Supercharged VW 1700 in his workshop office . cheers/
Ian is shown below driving it at a historic meeting at the 390-yard Riverview Speedway, South Australia (also known as Murray Bridge Speedway, or currently the Murray Machining and Sheds Murray Bridge Speedway).
Rowe later went on to build two Norman supercharged Renaults. I am not certain about the first Renault. I know that Greg Anderson drove a supercharged Renault for Rowe, built in 1972 and fitted to an Edmonds chassis, until the closure of Rowley Park in 1979. I’m not sure if this was the first or the second of the Renaults, nor if it was the same car that Anderson won the South Australian Speedcar Championship in the 1973/1974 season.
The second of the two Rowe Renaults was bought by Cec Eichler and was raced under the Kevin Fischer of Murray Bridge South Australia banner alongside the Suddenly #88 Supermodified sprintcar. The norman supercharged midget was also numbered #88 and painted in similar purple as the Suddenly #88 car – see image below. The midget was fitted with fuel injection and looked after by Fischer mechanic Ian Thiele.
Rowe later went on to build a Norman supercharged Volkswagon (which was susceptible to spitting crank cases). Rowe was also the owner of a Norman-supercharged FB Holden, fitted with a floor shifter of his own manufacture.
Bill Wigzell was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on the 11th of June 1979 for service to the sport of motor racing, whilst Alex Rowe was similarly made an OAM on the 26th of January 1987 for service to speedway racing. This honour is one that they share with the likes of Allan Grice, Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife. Ian Thiele is alive and well in Mannum . At his place last week . he has a stunning Supercharged VW 1700 in his workshop office . cheers/
