Classic meeting at Gillman Speedway this Saturday night - October 2016
October 12, 2016 by Gillman Media
Finally . . . it is time to get back to the speedway when Adelaide’s Gillman Speedway hosts its annual Gillman Speedway Classic Championships this Saturday night (15 October).
The meeting gives fans the chance to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the bikes of yesteryear before the modern-day summer season starts (on 29 October), and admission prices are an affordable $20 for adults and $15 for age pensioners and student concession. Children Under 16, Grandstand seating and Parking are all free.
Racing starts at 7.30pm but the gates will open at 4pm so spectators have plenty of time to have a close look at the old bikes and cars before the pits are closed to the public.
As always the meeting will feature Solos, Sidecars and Three Quarter Midgets.
The biggest number of entries is in the Sidecar classes with 26 bikes over 4 classes, including 2015 Australian Champion Justin Plaisted, former South Australian Champion Kym McConnell, and former leading New South Wales rider Chris Fraser who will all be riding in the Post Classic class.
The British/European/American class is usually the most popular class and Victorian Jon Heaviside is back with two of his restored Vincents to be ridden by Peter Tolley and Doug Cotterell against Geoff Baran’s Norton and Clinton Crabb’s Triumph.
Sydney’s Greg Griffiths (Suzuki 750) is back to defend the Japanese Sidecar Championship against former champion Mick Tucker (Suzuki 500), former Rowley Park riders Steven Lewis (Suzuki 750) and Don Morris (Suzuki 750), and current-day riders Mark Radford (Vic-Honda 750) and Aaron Silvy (Honda 750), while another former Rowley Park rider Hanno Kohn will debut his Datsun 1000 powered bike.
In the Evolution Sidecar class Paul Donnelly/Jake Roberts (Vic-Suzuki 1000) will be hoping for a change of luck after being unbeaten in the heat races for the past two years but not winning the deciding finals.
In the Solo classes Roy Stout and Kevin Webb will be the favourites for the 2 Valve, riders aged 40 or over, class; the under 40 class is an open affair with current-day riders Seth Hickey, Jake Mitchell and Luke Mitchell all riding and evenly matched; while former international rider Robert Ksiezak will make a rare appearance in the Upright 4 Valve class against Jake and Luke Mitchell and another current-day rider, Renmark veteran Gary Fischer.
The Three Quarter Midgets have a good mix of cars for their demonstration runs, including replicas of the Norm Price AJS from the 1950s, the well-known Greg Anderson, Jeff Holding and Graham Snellgrove cars, plus the restored ex-Viv Wilks car.
This year, for the first time, there will also be several Pro Open Flat Track Solo events, will fifteen bikes in each event.
The Classic meeting also pays tribute to a legend of the sport and this year’s special guest is former five-time Australian Sidecar Champion Dennis Nash.
Friday night BBQ
There will also be a BBQ at the stadium on Friday night (14 October), starting at 6.30pm. The BBQ is open to all speedway fans and is a good chance to reminisce with fellow fans and past competitors. Entry is free, with meats and salads available for $5. Drinks will also be available.
Photo: Justin Plaisted/Sam Harrison on the restored David Adams Suzuki. Photo by Judy Mackay.
Everything You Need To Know:
Meeting Date: Saturday, 15 October 2016.
Venue: Gillman Speedway Stadium, 65 Wilkins Road, Gillman – near the Port Adelaide area.
Gates open: at 4 pm.
Racing starts: at 7.30 pm. Free spectator access to the pits for a close look at the bikes and cars until approximately 6.30 pm.
Nominations:
British/European/American Sidecar Championship: Geoff Baran/Matthew Ambrose (SA-Norton 830), Doug Cotterell/Don Morris (Vic/NSW-Vincent 1000), Clinton Crabb/Michael Bell (SA-Triumph 750), Peter Tolley/Ezra Blizzard-Allen (Vic-Vincemt 1000).
Japanese Sidecar Championship: Bryan Brook/tba (SA-Yamaha 650), Greg Griffiths/Nathan McFadden (NSW-Suzuki 750), Hanno Kohn/Matthew Ambrose (SA-Datsun 1000), Steven Lewis/Sean Chapman (SA, Suzuki 750), Luke Mitchell/Brad Lawler (SA-), Don Morris/Scott Morris (NSW/SA, Suzuki 750), Mark Radford/Blake Halls (Vic-Honda 750), Aaron Silvy/Adam Pascoe (SA, Honda 750), Mick Tucker/Ant Diener (SA-Suzuki 500).
Post Classic Sidecar Championship: Clinton Crabb/Dave Kernohan (SA-Kawasaki 1000), Michael Emmerick/Ken Cherrington (SA, Kawasaki 1000), Chris Fraser/Cec Fraser (NSW, Kawasaki 1000), Dean Hobbs/Justin Richards (SA), Kym McConnell/Shane Edwards (SA-Yamaha 700), Justin Plaisted/Cameron White (SA-), Mark Radford/Blake Halls (Vic, Kawasaki z900).
Evolution Sidecar Championship: Clinton Crabb/Michael Bell (SA-Kawasaki 1000), Paul Donnelly/Jake Roberts (Vic-Suzuki 1000), Brad Pitt/Nathan McFadden (NSW-Kawasaki 1000), Shane Rudloff/Scott Morris (SA-Kawasaki).
Solo 2 Valve (Riders aged 40 or over) Championship: Frank Graham (SA, Jawa), Trevor Henderson (SA-ESO), Kerry Marsh (SA-Jawa), Roy Stout (SA, Jawa), George Thomson (SA-Jawa), Kevin Webb (WA-ESO), Martin Williams (Vic, Jawa).
Solo 2 Valve (Riders aged under 40) Championship: Doug Hayden (SA-Jawa), Seth Hickey (SA-Jawa), Daniel Mitchell (SA-Jawa), Jake Mitchell (SA-Jawa), Luke Mitchell (SA).
Solo Upright 4 Valve Championship: Gary Fischer (SA-GM), Doug Hayden (SA-Jawa), Robert Ksiezak (SA-Weslake), Daniel Mitchell (SA-Jawa), Jake Mitchell (SA-Jawa), Luke Mitchell (SA-), George Thomson (SA-Jawa).
Three Quarter Midget demonstrations: SA4 Michael Levy (ESO), SA88 Wayne Hamilton (AJS), E8 Eric Klenke (BSA), BH77 Bob Holland (Jawa), MB19 Dion Holland (ESO), SA2 Grant Coombe (Norton), SE3 Andrew Cameron (Norton).
Pro Open Flat Track Solo demonstrations: Logan Combe (NSW-Kawasaki 450), Jamie Crossley (SA-Honda 450), Doug Hayden (SA-Yamaha 450), Brad Lawler (SA-Yamaha 250), Ty Lynch (SA-Yamaha 450), Luke Magee (SA-Yamaha 450), Dean Maul-Dunn (SA-Kawasaki 450), Robert Medson (SA-), Jake Mitchell (SA-KTM 250), Adam Pascoe (SA-Kawasaki 450), Bruce Russell (SA-Yamaha 450), Anthony Stevens (SA-Honda 250), Will Symonds (SA-Suzuki 450), Lincoln Tucker (SA-Husqvarna 450), Jon White (SA-Yamaha 125).
Championship formats: All championships decided over three heat rides for each rider, with the top four point scorers qualifying for the finals. Finishing order in the finals will determine the championship placegetters.
Awards: Sashes for the placegetters in the final for each championship class. Presentations in the pits after the meeting.
Admission: Adults $20, Age Pension and Student Concession $15, Souvenir programme $5. Children Under 16 free. Grandstand seating free. Parking free.
Concession is limited to holders of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession card holders only.
Seating: Grandstand seating is free for this meeting but is limited to 216 people. There are large grassed viewing mounds and terracing suitable for deck chairs.
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. Also note no pets, other than guide dogs, are allowed into the venue.
Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop including the latest Blackchrome manufactured shirts and jackets. Limited number of Dennis Nash Tribute T Shirts and Posters at this meeting. Eftpos available only in the souvenir shop.
Weather Forecast: Updated Friday : Maximum 29, minimum 15. Mostly sunny day. [www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/Adelaide]
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 new 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. Once you are on Tapleys Hill Road you can’t really go wrong. You only have to make three or four turns and most of those are simple. Just 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, so pretty easy to this point). Continue down Port Road for about 1 km to the first intersection which is Grand Junction road and turn right. You only 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 (you can’t go straight ahead) onto Bedford Street. Just keep going on that road until you get to the speedway. About 2 kms.
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. The Pavlos Motel on Main North Road, Pooraka offers a discount to speedway fans but you must ring the motel direct and ask for the Gillman Speedway discount. Full details are on the Gillman website under the information/accommodation tab.
Contact for this meeting: Speedway Manager, David Parker 0403 364 658