By Chris Mann and Ray Read
GRAHAM "Curly" Walker passed away quietly in hospital on Sunday, January 8 following seven years of serious health problems.
His wife Biddy was with him when he died.
He was 82.
Calm and considered were just two words which described young and enthusiastic speedway driver "Curly" Walker at a time when most of the younger drivers were considered anything but being possessive of these qualities.
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"Under–rated" and "understated" were two other adjectives that could easily describe his attitude to life and racing.
A member of Euroa's famed Andy's Racing Team, Curly's racing career at what was then the Euroa Hot Rod track could be traced back as far as 1969.
He was a highly valued member of the club, working as a mechanic at Andy's Service Station on the Hume Highway and was great mate of racing legend Eric Mann.
Curly was a very good racing driver with plenty of placings recorded in the club's history documents.
These included several wins in the highly sought–after Local Cup, a race specifically reserved for Euroa drivers as a major feature at the end of each meeting.
Curly's racing career was brief, but for one shining moment it was evident to all.
His contributions as a clubman, including an official capacity as a scrutineer, were paramount.
Trophies, numbers and statistics can only tell part of his story.
In 1974 Curly won the trophy for "most improved driver" of Euroa Speedway Club.
He was also awarded a Life Membership of the club along with his mates Eric Mann, Trevor Page and Ray Petrie during that period.
After a break, Curly came back to racing in 1974, taking over car #74 of Trevor Frost, after the owner and his friend "Polly" Parsons were tragically killed in a road accident close to Euroa.
Curly changed the car's racing number to #7 and raced under the Andy's Racing Team banner with Mann and Petrie in the mid to late 1970s
A friend has confided that Curly used a little "trick" when he added cement (or concrete) into the bottom of the race car's doors to add traction to the car on Euroa's dirt surface.
Our photo shows Curly in the Andy's Racing Team FE Holden #7 in full flight – perfectly balanced, poised, focused and determined.
If ever there was an example of how a Speedway Saloon car should be driven, Curly was demonstrating that here.
