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This coming Saturday, the 24th of February, sees sidecar talent from across Australia coming together at Gillman for the 2024 Safe Fire Electrical South Australian Sidecar Championship, presented by the Speedway Riders Association of SA.

Fans, soaking up the heart-stopping sidecar action, will be guaranteed to get a little extra bang for their buck, with Gillman deciding to add an SA Division 2 Sidecar Championship for the riders who don’t qualify for the Safe Fire Electrical main show.

Adding to the anticipation of the night’s action, the MSA Speedway Sports Manager has notified that the qualifying process of the night will involve 23 teams on the night, who will have two one-lap time trials to qualify for the main event and join the four seeded riders, the top four from last year’s Championships being fully seeded.

As of the 19th of February, last year’s Safe Fire Electrical South Australian Sidecar Championship duo, Mark Plaisted/Ben Pitt, are back fresh from their last successful outing in 2024, having won the Bowes Family Sidecar Cup, put them as a pair to watch. Can they add another SA Speedway Sidecar Championship Title to their impressive trophy shelf? Joining them registered from 2023’s top 4, are third-place finishers Nate Headland/Jaxon Rayner, fourth-place finishers Mark Mitchell/Tony Carter and Mick Headland/Jesse Headland, who will be all geared up for the night.

Adding to the mix of talent on the track, former Australian Sidecar Champion Trent Headland and SA former Championship Winner Dave Bottrell will be joining the fray. You’re not going to want to miss a second of the 2024 SA Sidecar Championship story. 

As usual, the SA Sidecar Championship will follow, with 16 riders competing over the 20 heats and a semi-final offering one last chance to enter the Main finals. This will leave 11 riders to battle it out in the Division 2 Championship. Following the same format, riders will compete in a semi-final and final at the end of their heats.

For everyone already planning their day of wrangling kids and packing cars, gates will open at 2 pm, and qualifying will start at 4 pm. The Championships will begin at the regularly programmed time of 7 pm.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate on the night for Adults – $25, Student/Concession – $20 & Children U16 free. Adding to the savings, parking is free, and if you purchase a $5 program, you will be entered into a draw for 2 chances to win a $50 fuel voucher.

For anyone unable to make it trackside and needing to stay in for the night, all the action will be live-streamed through https://www.spacequakesports.com/ppv for the low cost of $25.

Full Rider lineup:

Mark Plaisted / Ben Pitt (Seeded)

Nate Headland / Jaxon Rayner (Seeded)

Mark Mitchell / Tony Carter (Seeded)

Mick Headland / Jesse Headland (Seeded)

Brian Silvy / Glen Zaworski

Kym Menadue / Shane Dolan

Shane Rudloff / Scott Morris

Max Howse / Riley Commons

Byron Mordaunt / William Lepoidevin

Rick Stephens / Nick O’Brien

Dean Hobbs / Daniel Low

Tim Bichard / Seth Pascoe

Aaron Silvy / Jaron Silvy

Stephen Fowler / Jeremy Sherwood

Kane Golding / Cameron White

Trent Headland / April Cottrell

Nathan Fleet / Cameron Diwell

Wayne Lethbridge / Grant Simounds

Chris Walker / Jamie Flood

Josh Pascoe / Greg Black

Matt Crundwell / James Crundwell

Matt Binns / Jarrad Katzorke

Darryl Woods / TBC

Dave Bottrell / Darcy Risstrom

Justin Plaisted / Damien Egan

Damien Niesche / Adam Niesche

Paul Snadden / Nick Johns

After a short break, Sidewinders U16 Speedway Club returned to action last Saturday, February 10th, for the 2024 Clyde Mundy Memorial. A competitive field of 7 junior speedway talents took to the track with hopes of claiming the Clyde Mundy Memorial Honors for 2024.

Riders fought it out over 10 heats of intense racing, as junior speedway racing fans made the most of the cooler evening weather. At the end of the heats, the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th highest point scorers came together in the Semi-Finals to determine who would get that last spot in the Main Final.

Unfortunately, Hayden Matthews was unable to start the semi-final, leaving William Nicol, Hayden Kuchel, and Owen Chapman to race it out between them. Hayden Kuchel seized the opportunity and advanced to the final, joining Blake Schlien, Connor Machin, and Riley Stout.

In the end, it was Blake Schlein’s night, as he clinched the A Main Final win, followed by Riley Stout, Connor Machin, and Hayden Kuchel.

Alongside this thrilling action, 14 up-and-coming novice and non-competition riders showcased their talent, providing a glimpse of the South Australian talent pool that will make an entrance into the competition world in the coming years.

Take a visual walk through the night’s action HERE with Judy Mackay capturing all the action.

 

2024 Clyde Mundy Memorial Results –

Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	TOTAL	SEMI-FINAL	FINAL	PLACING
Blake Schlein	3	3	3	3	12		1	1
Riley Stout	3	3	2	2	10		2	2
Connor Machin	2	3	3	2	10		3	3
Hayden Kuchel	DNF	2	3	1	6	1	4	4
William Nicol	3	2	2	1	8	2		5
Owen Chapman	2	2	FX	2	6	3		6
Hayden Matthews	1	1	DNS (rerun)	1	3	DNS (rerun)		7

Sidecars made their return as the featured race entertainment last Saturday, February 3rd, at Gillman Speedway, hosted by the Speedway Riders Association of SA for the 2024 Bowes Family Sidecar Cup. The event always holds special significance as it celebrates the contributions of a family spanning three generations of racers. As a highlight, all three generations of the Bowes family – Len, Shane, and Fraser – were present, reminiscing on the memories of the night. With three Australian Champions among the lineup, the atmosphere was electric, offering plenty for spectators to enjoy.

With a history of three Australian Championships under their belts, Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt were poised for a perfect streak of wins. However, an infield exclusion in heat 5 saw them entering the finals behind points leaders Dean Hobbs and Daniel Low, tied on 12 points with Kym Menadue and Shane Dolan. 

Determined to secure victory for the night, Plaisted and Pitt launched a final charge, leading all the way to claim the win. Competition for the second-place podium spot was intense, with Hobbs/Low and Menadue/Dolan battling it out. Ultimately, Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan clinched second place by a mere 0.096 of a second ahead of Hobbs & Low. Trent Headland/April Cottrell, the semi-final winners, rounded out the fourth position.

Congratulations to all the riders who participated in the Bowes Family Sidecar Cup and support classes of the night. For a comprehensive review of the night’s action, check out Gillman’s Speedway article HERE and browse through the fantastic photographer’s albums below for a visual journey through the event.

Judy Mackay

Terrysproshots Photography

Derick Thomas Photography

2024 Bowes Family Side Car Cup

Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	TOTAL	SEMI-FINAL	FINAL	PLACING
Mark Plaisted/Ben Pitt	3	3	3	3	Xi	12		1	1
Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan	2	3	3	2	2	12		2	2
Dean Hobbs/Daniel Low	2	3	3	2	3	13		3	3
Trent Headland/April Cottrell	3	2	2	Xi	3	10	1	4	4
Chris Walker/Eric Melton	2	Xi	0	3	3	8	2		5
Nate Headland/Jack Spear	3	2	Xi	2	3	10	3		6
Nathan Fleet/Cameron Diwell	1	1	2	3	2	9	4		7
Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy	2	1	3	1	1	8			8
Josh Pascoe/Greg Black	0	1	2	3	1	7			9
Justin Plaisted/Damian Egan	3	3	N	N	N	6			10
Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski	1	2	1	2	0	6			11
Shane Rudloff/Scott Morris	1	1	1	1	2	6			12
Wayne Lethbridge/Grantley Simounds	1	0	2	1	0	4			13
Stephen Fowler/Jeremy Sherwood	0	R	1	0	2	3			14
Thomas Adams/Cameron White	Xi	2	Xpf	Xpf	N	2			15
Byron Mordaunt/William Lepoidevin	FX	N	N	N	N	0			16

FX – Fell Excluded

N – Non Starter

Xi – Excluded infield

Xpf – Excluded Passenger Fell

 

Flat Track Solo Scratch Races

Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	TOTAL	CONSOLATION FINAL	FINAL	PLACING
Kyle Machin	3	3	3	3	12		1	1
Seane Chapman	2	3	2	3	10		2	2
Dale Knights	3	2	1	2	8		3	3
Graeme Eberhard	2	3	3	2	9		4	4
Greg Laanekorb	1	0	1	1	3		5	5
Matt Paterson	1	1	2	F	4		6	6
Kristy Schultz	0	0	0	0	0	1		7
Con Twist	0	0	0	1	1	2		8
Troy Knights	0	0	0	0	0	3		9
Stuart McKenzie	0	1	0	0	1	4		10
Mingyu Zhao	0	0	0	0	0	5		11

Under 16 125cc Junior Solo Scratch Races

Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	TOTAL	CONSOLATION FINAL	FINAL	PLACING
Ryliegh McGregor	3	3	3	3	12		1	1
Hayden Pascoe	2	3	1	3	9		2	2
Hayden Kuchel	1	1	3	2	7		3	3
Connor Machin	3	2	0	2	7		4	4
Riley Stout	2	2	2	1	7	1		5
Ruby Chapman	0	1	1	1	3	2		6
William Nicol	R	0	2	0	2	3		7
Owen Chapman	1	0	0	0	1	4		8

R – Retired 

 

Junior Demonstration Riders of the Night

Last week, South Australia’s Ivan Golding was honoured with the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the annual Australian Day Honours List. 

The current chair of Motorcycling Australia’s (MA) Track Commission, the 88-year-old South Australian is honoured with the OAM for his outstanding services throughout his life dedicated to both Australian Speedway racing and the wider sport of motorcycling.

This prominent award recognition is a reflection of an exceptional history within the sport of Motorcycling and the discipline of Speedway for nearly 70 years. From humble beginnings riding around an oval track at Murray Bridge, Golding soon became a wealth of knowledge in the discipline and with a passion for promoting and developing the sport that has well and truly continued to this day.

With his passion for the sport, it was no surprise Ivan would progress from competing in the sport to utilizing his skills within the administration behind the scenes of the sport. Over his extensive history within the sport of Motorcycling, Ivan has dedicated himself as an MA Board Member, MA Councillor, President of Motorcycling South Australia, and President of the Murray Bridge Motorcycle Club.

Not only working behind the scenes in the sporting structure, Ivan’s impressive CV of qualifications and endorsements include Referee, Clerk of Course, Scrutineer, Starter, and age certainly not slowing him down; he continues to utilize them all.

Speedway, however, was always a constant passion and lure despite his many years in the sport overall. Currently, he is spending his golden years in volunteer roles as the Chair of the MA Track Commission, the President of the Speedway Riders Association of South Australia, and the current president of his beloved Gillman Speedway Stadium, which leads the way in hosting National Level Senior speedway competitions within SA, including the recent 2024 Oceania Speedway Championships.

Reflecting on the award, Ivan said, “I am extremely humbled and had no idea I would receive such an honour. I have loved every minute since I started back in 1983. I certainly don’t do any of this for awards but hope the sport gets more recognition through this award, instead of me.”

In Golding’s true fashion of modesty, he has supported the sport over the last three decades by sponsoring many riders who competed both nationally and internationally. All with the goal of giving back to the sport that he has loved and no want for recognition in the process.

We couldn’t think of a harder-working, more passionate, and deserving figure in the sport. Congratulations to Ivan Golding OAM!