Friday night is speedway night — SA Solo Championship at Gillman
Gillman Media, 2 February 2023
There is a throwback to days of old this week with Speedway on a Friday night (3 February), when Gillman Speedway will stage the rescheduled National Karate South Australian Solo Championship which was rained off last Saturday night.
The field remains largely the same, so, following an impressive performance in the Gillman Championship last month, when he showed local fans what they have been missing for many years while he has been living in Britain, 2020 British Champion Rory Schlein will go into the meeting as a clear-cut favourite — 14 years since he last competed in the championship, and 16 years since he last won it!
It is hard to imagine Schlein won’t win, but with the title decided by a winner-takes-all final, it only takes one slip-up, or conversely one top ride by another rider, to affect the result.
Should Schlein falter, his biggest threat seems to be last season’s #3, Brayden McGuinness, but it really is wide open after that with Maurice Brown, Jack Morrison, Patrick Hamilton, Jake Turner, Michael West, Liam May and Declan Knowles the most likely to challenge for a berth in the final or semi-final.
With so many of the riders evenly matched, and the added incentive of earning the right to apply for a work permit to race in the UK if they finish in the top four, whatever the results this meeting could see some of the closest racing of the season.
Support events will consist of another strong, and evenly matched, line-up of Sidecars, plus Flat Track Solos, 250cc Junior Solos and 125cc Junior Solos.
In the Sidecar events Shane Hudson/Adam Constable and Kane Golding/Isaac Amos, who were unavailable last Saturday night, have come into the line-up, but even with the addition of these two teams, most of the teams are capable of reaching the final if they are in form.
Spectators who attended the rain-off on Saturday night will get free admission on Friday night provided they can produce their receipt from Saturday. The same programme will be used as well so they won’t need to buy another programme.
For those that can’t attend, the meeting will be livestreamed through the website link below. Please note this is the only official livestreaming link, any others touted on facebook sites are scams. People who paid for the livestreaming on Saturday can use the same log in as last Saturday and they will be accepted.
Everything You Need To Know:
Meeting Date: Friday, 3 February 2023
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 4pm.
Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 6.30pm.
Racing starts: at 7 pm.
Riders:
500cc Solos - SA Solo Championship : James Crundwell (Vic), Maurice Brown (NSW), Tom Dixon (Vic), Steven Graetz (SA), Patrick Hamilton (Vic), Declan Knowles (Vic), Liam May (SA), Brayden McGuinness (SA), Jack Morrison (Vic), Teagan Pedler (SA), Rory Schlein (SA), Roy Stout (SA), Jake Turner (SA), Michael West (NSW)
Sidecars : Tim Bichard/Seth Pascoe, Nathan Fleet/Cameron Diwell (SA/Vic), Kane Golding/Isaac Amos, Dean Hobbs/Daniel Low, Shane Hudson/Adam Constable (NSW), Damien Niesche/Mitchell Spear, Adam Pascoe/Axel Brereton, Josh Pascoe/Matt Crawford, Shane Rudloff/Scott Morris, Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy, Brian Silvy/Dean Cottrell,
Flat Track Solos : Richard Bunting, David Footner, Troy Knights, Greg Laanekorb, Matt Paterson, Con Twist, Brent Webley
Solos Under 16 250cc : Ashley Jansen-Batchelor, Harry Sadler, Darcey Timmis
Under 16 125cc Solos (infield track) : Ruby Chapman, Ambrose Fraser (Vic), Jordan Hargreaves, Blake Hocking, Kobi Canning, Ryleigh McGregor, William Nicol, Hayden Pascoe, Blake Schlein (Vic)
Under 16 250cc Sidecars (infield track) : Lachlan Coppen/Hayden Kuchel, Amelia Silvy/Tayla Lucas
6 p.m. pre-meeting junior riders (infield track) — Under 16 125cc Novice Solos: Owen Chapman, Jaxon Fraser (Vic), Axel Smith, Riley Stout. Pee Wee Solos: Jett Plaisted, Nate Sadler, Kolby Schultz. 50cc Solos: Jett Plaisted, Kolby Schultz. Greysen Fraser (Vic).
Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children Under 16 free. Parking free. Souvenir programme $5- includes chances to win $50 fuel vouchers. EFTPOS available at both entrances, 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://spacequakesports.vhx.tv/products/south-australian-solo-championships-jan-28 (the cost is $25 Australian). Any other claimed links to livestreaming are scams.
Seating: There are large grassed viewing mounds and terracing suitable for deck chairs. The Grandstand only has 120 seats available for this meeting due to ongoing refurbishment.
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.
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 2 February: Maximum 19, minimum 13. Cloudy. Slight (30%) chance of a shower.
[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.
Contact for this meeting: Ivan Golding 0417 138 378 or email contact@gillmanspeedway.com