Con Migro
Class of 1960
Class of 1960
'Mr Speedway'
Con was one of the first students to attend Mount Lawley Senior High School. Starting in 1956, he spent his first year of high school at the old Highgate Primary School while the new high school was being built.
A keen sportsman, Con played football and softball at school, but said that he “hated school.” He left as a 14 year old to work as a clerk at Tip Top Paints.
Other interests also beckoned. Con progressed through the leagues in the WAFL, played basketball and joined the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Mount Lawley Young Liberals.
As a student, Con came into possession of a free pass to the new Claremont Speedway and described it as “love at first sight”. Soon he was invited to do some track commentaries and speedway promotional work.
His part-time job blossomed and soon Con’s voice could be heard at speedway tracks across Western Australia, as well as at motocross and at Wanneroo raceway.
He soon had a radio program, and as the voice of speedway, especially through those iconic speedway commercials, Con has been on radio and television ever since. He has written for local, national and international publications, and hosted a weekly television show, ‘Night Thunder’ on the 7 Network.
Con was offered the role of Speedway Manager in 1972, a post he held for over 30 years. He didn’t miss a race meeting there in over 35 years. Con was instrumental in the establishment of the Perth Motorplex in Kwinana.
As a promoter, Con brought the international attention of the sport to Claremont. By inviting world class competitors he fostered the development of local competitors as they strove to compete. The World Sprintcar Championship that Con ran in 1987 is often considered to be the greatest speedway event in Australian history.
He managed the Australian Speedway World Cup team in Europe, has been a Director on the Australian Speedway Control Council, and President of the Australasian Speedway Promoters Association. He has been inducted into the Australian Speedway Hall of Fame in 2007, the American Sprintcar Hall of Fame, and awarded Life Membership of the Veteran Speedway Riders Association of Great Britain.
As a Rotarian he has helped raise over $200,000 through his speedway connections and was honoured as a Paul Harris Fellow in 1992. He has volunteered as a driver with the Leukemia Foundation and People Who Care and has been on the board of the School Volunteer Program.
As a commentator and a promoter, Con Migro has been a household name in WA and Australian Speedway and motor sport for a generation.