All-star Sidecar line-up at Gillman Speedway this Saturday night

Gillman Media 4 December 2024

After a week off, the Sidecars return to Gillman Speedway this Saturday night (7 December), with strong numbers and an impressive line-up, to contest the Chook’s Grafix Jim Irwin Sidecar Cup.

Heading the line-up are three of the finalists from October’s Australian Sidecar Championship — winner Darrin Treloar, runners-up Justin Plaisted/Damian Egan and fourth placegetters Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner.

Treloar won the championship with regular passenger Blake Cox, but Cox is unavailable, so Jesse Headland is jumping on board. Headland is not just a “fill-in” passenger though, as he and Treloar have won the Australian Championship, FIM Oceania Championship and FIM World Cup together in the past.

Broken Hill semi-finalists from the Australian Championship, Rick Stephens/Nick O’Brien and Max Howse/Riley Commons, along with Josh Pascoe/Greg Black and Shane Hudson/Jack Spear, who both missed a semi-final berth on countback, are also riding, making it seven of the top nine from the Championship in Saturday night’s line-up.

Also in the line-up, making their first appearance for the season, are former South Australian Champions Mick Headland/Brenton Kerr, current and previous Queensland Champions Tyler Moon/Adam Lovell and Brodie Cohen/Josh Murray, and current Queensland #4 Hagan Campbell.

Others with Australian Championship experience are Damien Niesche/Mitchell Spear, Malcolm German/Cameron White and Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski, while Thomas Adams/Campbell Stafford and Stephen Fowler/Jeremy Sherwood have been selected for the final two places ahead of Adam Pascoe/Mark-John Papastamatis, Byron Mordaunt/Jarrad Katzorke, Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds, Josh Kerr/Kate Barnes and Willy Walker/Liam Sherwood who will act as reserves, and contest their own series of support races to press their claims for future selection in the main event.

Other support events will be Flat Track Solos, 125cc Junior Solos and 250cc Junior Sidecars.

For those that can’t attend, the meeting will be livestreamed through the website link [https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv] for a cost of $25. As always this is the only official livestreaming link. Any other links touted on facebook sites are scams and should be ignored.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Saturday, 7 December 2024

Venue: Gillman Speedway Stadium, 65 Wilkins Road, Gillman – near the Port Adelaide area.

Parking and entrance: Patrons can enter via gates at the western and eastern ends of the venue. There are free off-street parking areas near both gates.

Gates open: at 4 pm.

Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 6.15 pm.

Racing starts: at 7 pm.

Competitors:

Chook’s Grafix Jim Irwin Sidecar Cup:  Thomas Adams/Campbell Stafford, Hagan Campbell/Riley Campbell (Qld), Brodie Cohen/Josh Murray (Qld), Stephen Fowler/Jeremy Sherwood, Malcolm German/Cameron White (Vic/SA), Mick Headland/Brenton Kerr (SA/Vic), Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner, Max Howse/Riley Commons, Shane Hudson/Jack Spear, Tyler Moon/Adam Lovell (Qld), Damien Niesche/Mitchell Spear, Josh Pascoe/Greg Black, Justin Plaisted/Damian Egan, Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski, Rick Stephens/Nick O'Brien (NSW/SA), Darrin Treloar/Jesse Headland. NOTES: As at 6/12/24 Thomas Adams out (work), replaced by Adam Pascoe. Damien Niesche out 7/12/24 (injury), replaced by Byron Mordaunt.

Sidecar Support Races (and reserves for Jim Irwin Cup): Josh Kerr/Kate Barnes (Vic), Byron Mordaunt/Jarrad Katzorke (SA/Vic), Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds, Adam Pascoe/Mark-John Papastamatis, Willy Walker/Liam Sherwood. NOTE: As at 6/12/24 Adam Pascoe replacing Thomas Adams in the Jim Irwin Cup. 7/12/24 Byron Mordaunt replacing Damien Niesche in the Jim Irwin Cup.

Flat Track Solos: Seane Chapman, Dale Knights, Greg Laanekorb, Matt Paterson, Con Twist

Juniors (on the infield track during the main track grades): 250cc Sidecars: Judd Plaisted/Kobe Plaisted, Tilo Schultz/Riley Edson, Jobe Zammit-Harvey/Nash Zammit-Harvey. 125cc Solos: Owen Chapman, William Nicol. 125cc Solo Novices (non-competitive): Hope Coats, Oliver Coats, Izabelle Murtagh, Koby Smith.

Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children Under 16 free. Parking free. Programme $5-includes two chances to win $50 fuel vouchers. EFTPOS available at both entrances, the canteen, bar and souvenir shop.

Concession is limited to holders of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession card holders only.

Livestreaming: This meeting will be livestreamed on [https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv]. The cost is $25 Australian. Any other claimed links to livestreaming are scams and should be ignored.

Seating: Free grandstand seating, terracing suitable for deck chairs, and large grassed viewing mounds.

VIP Area: The Bob White VIP area is available to anyone who would like to treat their business colleagues, family or friends to the best view in the stadium. Enjoy the elevated view overlooking the track, either from inside the temperature controlled rooms, on the timber deck, or on the enclosed lawn area. The VIP area also has its own bar and toilet. Ring Ivan Golding on 0417 138 378 for more details.

Food and drink: Full bar and catering available. Food includes hot chips, hamburgers, chicken burgers, pies, pasties, sausage rolls, Chiko Rolls, dim sims, hot dogs, doughnuts, coffee, cold drinks, sweets. “Gillman has far and away the best speedway tucker” [Peter White’s Speedway World]

Please note a condition of our liquor licence is no byo alcohol or glass can be brought into the venue.

Smoking, Vaping: by Government legislation, no smoking or vaping allowed at this venue.

Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop. See the “A Night At Gillman” tab.

Pets: No animals are allowed into the venue except assistance animals, eg guide dogs.

Weather Forecast as at 4 December: Maximum 25, minimum 19. Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. [www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/adelaide.shtml]

Directions:

The best way to get to Gillman Speedway is off Hanson Road.

If you are coming from the eastern and southern suburbs, get on to Hanson road off Torrens Road or Grand Junction Road, travel north on Hanson road over the train line then take the first road on the left, which is Wilkins road.

From the northern suburbs, travel down the Port Adelaide expressway and take the Hanson Road exit. Once on Hanson Road, take the first exit on your right, this is Wilkins road.

From the western suburbs, Wilkins Road is the continuation of Bedford Street, north of Eastern Parade.

For interstate visitors flying into Adelaide and getting a hire car, Gillman is about 20kms, and 30 minutes’ drive (depending on traffic lights) from the airport.

The easiest and most direct way from the airport, if not going to your accommodation first is:

On leaving the airport, turn left onto Sir Donald Bradman Drive. Continue along Sir Donald Bradman Drive until you reach the end of the airport grounds and turn right onto Tapleys Hill Road. Keep going on Tapleys Hill Road until you can’t go any further. That’s Port Road. Turn left onto Port Road (you can only turn left). Continue down Port Road for about 1 km to the first intersection which is Grand Junction road and turn right. Go 700 metres along Grand Junction Road, over a bridge over a railway line. Stay in the left lane because at the bottom of the bridge you turn left into Gray Terrace. Go to the end of Gray Terrace and turn right onto Bedford Street. Keep going on that road until you get to the speedway. About 2km.

Accommodation: There is plenty of accommodation in Adelaide and suburbs, within 20-30 minutes of the Speedway, ranging from five star hotels to caravan parks and backpacker hostels.

Contact for this meeting: Ivan Golding 0417 138 378.