Friday night is Speedway night at Gillman Speedway this week
Gillman Media 7 April 2021
Adelaide’s Gillman Speedway hosts a rare Friday night meeting this week (9 April) to avoid a clash with Mildura which is running on Saturday night.
The trophy event this week is a new event, the South Australian Division 2 Sidecar Championship, sponsored by Chook’s Custom Grafix, who are responsible for many of the graphics on the Sidecars.
An interesting line-up shows several riders capable of winning the championship but if there has to be an outright favourite, on this season’s form it would be Kym Menadue and Eric Melton. They’ve had a very successful season and qualified for the final in all six meetings they have contested, including the South Australian Championship in which they finished third behind Mick Headland/Brenton Kerr and Warren Monson/Andrew Summerhayes.
Brian Silvy/Damian Egan and Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy have also been finalists in several meetings so it would not surprise if either team were to take out the event. Both Silvy brothers, at their best, have the speed and ability to win, the only question mark is can they produce their best in the race that matters.
At the opposite end of the scale, two teams that have hardly ridden at all this season, Klae Hobbs/Colby Higgins and Mitchell Spear/Glen Zaworski, are also serious contenders.
Hobbs looked good in the few rides he had in the Bob White Cup at the last meeting, while we have seen what Mitch Spear (usually on the back with Damien Niesche) can do behind the handlebars in the past, particularly at the end of last season when he won rounds two and three of the Sidecar Super Series, and finished third overall despite missing the first round.
Impressive first year duo Kane Golding and Isaac Amos have ridden well against good opposition during the season. Of late they have thrown away a few points by running infield but they can’t be overlooked for at least a semi-final berth.
That leaves one semi-final berth to fill and that could go to the experienced Chris Bichard/Michael Bell, although Victorian teenager Connor Curran, after a successful junior career, remains an unknown quantity at senior level, and could be an outside chance.
There will also be support events for 500cc Solos, Flat Track Solos, Classic Sidecars and 125cc Junior Solos, with Liam May making a welcome return to the 500cc Solo ranks after missing the whole season with a shoulder injury.
Note, with the change to a week night meeting, racing will start at 7.30pm instead of the usual 7pm to allow spectators more time to get to the track after work.
Top photo: Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy (21), Brian Silvy/Damian Egan (12) and Kym Menadue/Eric Melton (14). Photo by Derick Thomas.
Everything You Need To Know:
Meeting Date: FRIDAY, 9 April 2021.
Venue: Gillman Speedway Stadium, 65 Wilkins Road, Gillman – near the Port Adelaide area.
Covid restrictions: COVID Plan in place. The QR code system will be operating. Everyone entering the venue will be required to check-in by scanning the QR code or filling in the alternative paper record sheet with a name and contact phone number. Family members who have the same address can sit together but others must adhere to the social distancing rules for outdoor sport and recreation activities of 1 person per 2 square metres. Hand sanitiser will be placed at the gate, toilets and all sales areas. COVID Marshals will be in place.
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.
Racing starts: at 7.30 pm. Free spectator access to the pits for a close look at the bikes and cars until approximately 7.00 pm.
Nominations:
Sidecars – Chook’s Custom Grafix South Australian Division 2 Championship : 05-Klae Hobbs/Colby Higgins, 12-Brian Silvy/Damian Egan, 14-Kym Menadue/Eric Melton, 21-Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy, 31-Darryll Woods/Willy Walker, 46-Mitchell Spear/Glen Zaworski, 57-Chris Bichard/Michael Bell, 74-Connor Curran/Ronnie Curran (Vic), 82-Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds, 115-Kane Golding/Isaac Amos, 88-Matt Crundwell/Jamie Crundwell (Vic–OUT), 101-Paul Snadden/Greg Black
Solos 500cc : 14-Liam May, 20-Anthony Davey, 23-Brian Johnson, 39-Steven Graetz, 47-Nicholas Possingham, 88-Blake Ridley, 211-Teagan Pedler
Flat Track Solos : 11-Nigel Sadler, 12-Roy Stout, 46-Seane Chapman, 55-Sean Curtis, 99-Will Strugnell, 181-John White, 329-Daniel Low (OUT), 602-Graeme Eberhard, 672-Dale Knights, 713-Con Twist
Classic Sidecars : 23-John Atherton/Jaron Silvy, 82-Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds, 88-Matt Crundwell/Jamie Crundwell (Vic-OUT), -Peter Engels/Sean Chapman, 101-Paul Snadden/Greg Black
Junior Solo Under 16 125cc (on the infield junior track during track grades) : 15-Seth Pascoe, 23-Ben Dixon, 27-Travis Clarke, K48-Kobi Canning, 81-Darcey Timmis, 524-Harry Sadler
Junior Solo Under 16 125cc novices : 1-Hayden Pascoe, 03-Blake Schlein (Vic), 37-William Nicol; 50cc : 4-Riley Stout, 11-Diesel Waddell, 16-Riley Edson, 46-Ruby Chapman; and Pee Wees : 1-Lila Canning, 4-Riley Stout, 11-Nate Sadler, 46-Owen Chapman . . . on the infield track at 6pm.
Formats: Chook’s Custom Grafix South Australian Division 2 Championship 12 heats, semi-final and final; 500cc Solos 7 scratch races; Flat Track Solos 8 scratch races and a final; Classic Sidecars 4 scratch races; 125cc Solos 6 scratch races, 4 handicap races.
Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children Under 16 free. Souvenir programme $5. Grandstand seating free. Parking free.
Concession is limited to holders of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession card holders only. Eftpos available at both gates and in the canteen.
Seating: Grandstand seating is free for this meeting and 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] Eftpos available at the main canteen.
Please note a condition of our liquor licence is no byo alcohol or glass can be brought into the venue.
Pets: No pets, other than guide dogs, are allowed into the venue.
Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop, including the new season shirts, hoodies and caps [see A Night At Gillman tab on Gillman Speedway website].
Weather Forecast: Maximum 24, minimum 14. Partly cloudy. Partly cloudy. Slight (20%) chance of a shower. Forecast as at 7 April. [www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/Adelaide]
Directions:
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