The Bunbury City Kart Club was formed on 11th June 1981 by five members: Vince Ciallella, Vince Marney, Bob Clayden, Terry Haskett & Vernon Marney. The price of a club membership was $7.

The newly formed club put in an application to the Bunbury city council for land to build their own track. A fast growing enthusiastic bunch of members attended many Bunbury city council meetings before on the 7th of January 1982; the club was allotted around 10 acres of land exactly where they had chosen. The clearing of land and construction of the track commenced on 28th February 1982.

Palmer’s earth moving company were very generous by donating the use of their equipment (dozer, trucks, rollers, loaders etc.) for the building of the track.  Murray Hanson was kept busy on the dozer pushing down trees and on the loader moving mountains of dirt. Bob Clayden worked the track with his grader every weekend until it was completed.

Other members were kept busy clearing logs and roots and burning them in piles right around the track area. They also erected 500 meters of safety fence. The big moment finally arrived when the 605mt x 6mt circuit was completed, and the privilege of putting the first kart on the track, went to grader owner, operator, Bob Clayden on 12th April 1982 (Easter Monday)

The track was inspected by Frank Swan, the then president of the W.A.K.A. By AKA (reg. number 6/82 signed by Mrs K Staples, WAKA Secretary)

This was the official recognition of the club in the karting world. Terry Haskett had the honour of being the starter of the first ever race on the Bunbury City Kart Track on 20th June 1982.

The first invitation race meeting was held on 25th July 1982. It Poured rain in the morning and almost flooded the track & pits. However officials and competitors persevered and the track came out perfect and everyone enjoyed an excellent race meeting.

The membership of the club grew to a whopping 135 members in the first year. This was reason enough to have a club newsletter. The “Kart Torque” first came off the press in September 1982. With the first issue being auctioned. The successful bidder was John Denton who paid $37 for the masterpiece. This publication was one that allowed members to share all their racing news, views & brags.

The next year with the 1983 state championships to be held at Bunbury and fast approaching, a brick toilet, kiosk complex valued at over $20,000 at the time, was erected in 9 weeks. Many members took time off work to complete the building, just in time for the state championships in march 1983. It was a huge event, with dancing girls / umbrella girls and radio west caravan broadcasting on site.

In 1986 the club hosted the national and state championships in the one year. The club was being recognised for hosting well run events on a brilliant track. The club hosted another state championship on the 5th & 6th November 1988. Then in 1990 the club hosted the state and national championships in the same year again. Ever improving, a roof was built on the front patio in 1989.

With all of these large meetings on top of invitations & club runs and forever working to improve conditions, a lot of members started to burn out. With the economic climate at the time and karters leaning more toward the sealed tracks over clay, the club membership started dropping. After many discussions, in 1991 the club mourned the loss of the dirt track, when it was to be replaced by a new hotmix surface. Ron Franklin, complete in black suit & tie with a black flag, led the other karters around  the BCKC dirt track for the last time.

This was the start of a new era, when the hotmix track was laid, with the first race meeting on it, on 16th February 1992. The club hosted 3 State championships on the hotmix track in 1994, 1997 and 2006.

The Bunbury City Kart Club also hosted street meetings, (Racing along Blair St) in 1993, 1994 & 1995. These were very popular grand prix races with around 100 entrants; however the organisation and work to achieve these meetings was massive.

In 1995 a perpetual memorial trophy was originated for the first time, after the passing of the clubs long and dedicated caretaker, Ted Langdon. This trophy, known as the Ted Langdon memorial trophy, is awarded to the club person of the year at the presentations at the end of each racing season.

On the 16th November 1996 the first ever night meeting was run using portable lights and generators. This was an experiment to see how popular night racing would be and how many lighting towers would be needed to light the track sufficiently.

Permanent Lighting towers were installed and first used in late 1998. The lighting was well received by the competitors and spectators. Another lighting tower was added in 2000/2001 after a minor track extension.

In 2005 there were more improvements with new fencing being erected and new grids constructed. The front patio was also enclosed in 2005. In 2007 the side patio was built, making much more room for after racing presentations and celebrations etc.  2008 was a big year with the erection of the grandstand in the pits and also new pit shelters. At the end of year presentations in 2008, the new track name (The Chris Wark Raceway) was unveiled, much to the astonishment of Chris. (A very well kept secret), and an honour well deserved.

Lights for the flag points were installed in 2009 making fewer officials necessary. In 2010 Tiered limestone walls were built around the building / viewing area and new turf laid with new reticulation. Blue metal scalps were laid in the pit area to make it more user friendly for trollies etc.