Sidecar Stars return to Gillman Speedway
by Gillman Media 11 February 2021
Update 13 February. Mick Headland is a scratching from tonight's meeting due to his Mildura-based passenger Brenton Kerr being unable to travel to Adelaide. The rest of the line-up remains the same.
Despite the COVID-19 border restrictions disrupting the season, Adelaide’s Gillman Speedway has had a great couple of months of Solo racing with local stars Dakota Ballantyne and Fraser Bowes giving the crowd plenty cheer about as they took on interstate visitors Ryan Douglas, Justin Sedgmen, Jason Crump and Jordan Stewart, but now it is time for the Sidecars to take centre stage, starting with the Bowes Family Sidecar Cup on Saturday night (13 February).
Although they’ve only had a supporting role so far this season, the Sidecars have still provided some close and exciting riding with Kym Menadue/Eric Melton, Max Howse/Riley Commons, Brian Silvy/Damian Egan and Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy all being regular finalists.
Menadue and Aaron Silvy have both won a final, while the talented 16-year-old Howse has finished second, behind fellow Broken Hill rider Rick Stephens, in the two meetings he has ridden in.
But they will all have to step up another notch on Saturday night with four regular Australian Championship riders — Mick Headland, Damien Niesche, Byren Gates and Neale Hancock — making their first appearances for the season.
With their years of experience at the top level these four will start as the favourites but it will be interesting to see if their lack of riding goes against them, and one of the regular riders can spring a surprise.
Another rider who shouldn’t be overlooked is Shane Rudloff who can beat the best on his night, but he’s another who hasn’t had regular riding this season and he’s also without regular passenger Scott Morris who is going in for a knee operation next week.
Gates will open at 4pm, racing will start at 7pm, and as well as the Sidecar Cup there will be support events for 500cc Solos, 125cc Solos and Round 5 of the Flat Track Solo Series.
Admission prices will be adults $25, concession $20, and children (under 16) free.
Top photo: Mick Headland and Brenton Kerr who will be making their first Gillman appearance in over 12 months. Photo by Judy Mackay.
Everything You Need To Know:
Meeting Date: Saturday, 13 February 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 pm. Free spectator access to the pits for a close look at the bikes and cars until approximately 6.30 pm.
Nominations:
Sidecars - Bowes family Sidecar Cup : 05-Klae Hobbs/tba, 12-Brian Silvy/Damian Egan, 14-Kym Menadue/Eric Melton, 15-Shane Rudloff/Kaidyn Silvy, 21-Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy, 22-Stephen Fowler/Corey Palmer, 40-Damien Niesche/Mitchell Spear, 43-Daniel Puddy/tba, 50-Byren Gates/Darcy Risstrom (NSW), 57-Chris Bichard/Michael Bell, 82-Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds, 107-Mick Headland/Brenton Kerr (SA/Vic), 108-Max Howse/Riley Commons (NSW), 115-Kane Golding/Isaac Amos, 68-Neale Hancock/Brendan Johnson (Vic)
Solos 500cc : 19-Jake Turner (NZ), 23-Brian Johnson, 47-Nicholas Possingham, 211-Teagan Pedler.
Flat Track Solos : 7-Ronan Lovegrove, 11-Nigel Sadler, 12-Roy Stout, 42-Logan Coombe (out-injured), 46-Sean Chapman, 55-Sean Curtis (out-work), 96-Anthony Stevens, 99-Will Strugnell, 127-Jesse Headland, 238-Dale Hall, 329-Daniel Low, 571-Brock Gates (Vic), 666-Joshua Malloy, 672-Dale Knights, 713-Cornelius Twist, 996-Mark Stevens
Junior Solo Under 16 125cc (on the infield junior track during track grades) : 23-Ben Dixon, 26-Jordan Hargreaves, K48-Kobi Canning, 81-Darcey Timmis, 524-Harry Sadler, 911-Allegra Laanekorb
Junior Solo Under 16 125cc novices : 03-Blake Schlein (Vic), 13-Jackson McPherson, 37-William Nicol, 128-Hayden Kuchel; 50cc : 4-Riley Stout, 16-Riley Edson, 46-Owen Chapman; and Pee Wees : 1-Lila Canning, 4-Riley Stout, 11-Nate Sadler, 16-Riley Edson, 46-Owen Chapman, James Menadue . . . on the infield track at 6pm.
Formats: Sidecar Cup, 20 heats, semi-final and final; Solo Support, 5 races; Flat Track Series Round 5, 12 heats and final; 125cc Solos, 10 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 23, minimum 15. Sunny afternoon. Forecast as at 11 February. [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