The annual event pays tribute to the man who is considered to have formally started the sport.

It began at West Maitland Showground in 1923 when Johnnie Hoskins was elected charity carnival organiser for the Local Hunter River Agricultural Horticultural Society. When the secretary resigned, Hoskins took on his position, too. 

Hoskins was a true entrepreneur and he convinced the committee to allow motorcycle races around the showground’s trotting track.

On December 1923, the following notice appeared in the  Maitland Daily Mercury:

“Motor cycle races will be a novel feature of the sports carnival to be held on December 15 on the Show Ground. 

“The track is in splendid order, and it is expected that over 40 entries will be received for the different motor cycling events. 

“This will be the first time that motor cycling races have been held on the Show Ground, and the events should therefore prove of great interest.”

Hoskins moved on to Newcastle, then Sydney and Perth, and it was in Western Australia where he made his greatest impact. 

So much so that he then went to the United Kingdom. where he was asked by the ­chairman of Wembley Stadium to promote motorcycle racing at the venue in 1929.

That’s history, but today the memories are renewed with the annual event in his name. 

The Founders Cup committee focused on ­holding the event in the Newcastle area and for many years it was held at the Newcastle International Motordrome. 

With the closure of that venue and the establishment of the venue at Loxford Park, the event has found a new home.

The full entry list for this year’s Johnnie Hoskins Founders Cup is:

Rohan Tungate (NSW), Max Fricke (Victoria), Brady Kurtz (NSW), Todd Kurtz (NSW), Joey Ringwood (NSW), Kieran Sproule (NSW), Tyler King (NSW), Ryan Edwards (NSW), Luke Richards (NSW), Marty McNamara (NSW), Jye Ethridge (NSW), Josh Pickering (NSW), James Dimmock (NSW) and Matt Pickering (NSW).

Johnnie Hoskins Trophy – December 20

Jason Crump Classic – December 26

2015 Australian Speedway Solo Championship – January 10

2015 Australian Under-21 Speedway Solo Championship – January 17

Oceania Sidecar Championship – February 14