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This coming Saturday night, February 18, will see the running of the 2023 Graham Baker Shield, one of the most iconic of the Sidewinders Club’s annual events – and 2023 seems to be a changing of the guard somewhat at this year’s event!

With no previous winners in the field, Harry Sadler & Ashley Jansen-Batchelor now on 250cc machines, and being joined there by the likes of Darcey Timmis and Jordan Hargreaves, it means one of the new generations of sideways stars will have their name engraved on the shield this year!

Slight favourite going into the meet will be Kobi Canning,  who is having a cracking summer so far, but look to the 2023 Silver Helmet winner, Blake Schlein to be right in the mix, along with Ryleigh McGregor, Seth Pascoe and Blake Hocking.

And with a total of 22 entries – there are a number of ‘future-future’ stars in the making to watch out for as well – in both, the Novice and Pee Wee classes!

$5.00 at the gate for adults, kids under 16 free entry! Programs $3.00
Sidewinders awesome canteen open all night
Gates open at 5.00pm, tapes up at 7.00pm – so get down to 8^th Street, Wingfield and get a spot on Graham Baker Hill and watch the speedway stars of the future battle for his Shield.

                                                                                             (Below: Kobi Canning)

Rider Line Up:

10 solo riders for the Graham Baker Shield and support classes. A total of 22 riders and 42 events. Its going to be a massive night!!

(Below: Blake Schlein)                                                                                                                                       (Below: Ruby Chapman)

         – Pics by Derick Thomas Photography – 

Gillman was buzzing Saturday 11th February 2023 for the Bob White Cup and the special anniversary celebrating 50 years of Speedway Riders Association of SA. All eyes were on Darrin Treloar and Blake Cox to see if they could make the night their own.  They certainly didn’t disappoint, riding hard all night and taking a clean sweep of all their races.  Tyler Moon and Adam Lovell were not able to pull the upset off, trailing just behind the Treloar / Cox duo finishing the night in second place with 14 points. Shane Rudloff and Damian Egan finished the night in Third place with 13 points, only losing throughout the night to Moon / Lovell and Treloar / Cox. Shaking off being infield  excluded on their 39th event, Rick Stephens and Nick O’Brien negotiated the semi final chaos of a fall from Jake Treloar/ Eli Wright and a non start from Max Howse/ Riley Commons to make it into the final and come fourth overall for the night.

Congratulations to Kayden Gates and Harley Ackerley for taking out the junior section. Placegetters were Ellie Treloar / Preston Kraft 2nd and Laclan Coppen / Hayden Kuchel 3rd.

With a night of fairy tale finishes and plenty of game changing challenges from falls, race retires and non starters there was no shortage of action. During the races and in the pits thought you couldn’t shake the feeling of the special nature of the event, paying homage to Bob White but also celebrated the achievement of 50 years of the Speedway Riders of SA Club.

Seeing both the growth of Motorcycling Clubs in SA and the exceptional riders that have been developed by the clubs, definitely showcases the tight nit community in South Australia and we cant wait to see both the exceptional talent to come and many more years of the club.

Huge thanks to Derick Thomas Photography for the photos. See the whole album HERE. 

Results Bob White Cup 2023:

1st Darrin Treloar / Blake Cox 15 Points

2nd Tyle Moon / Adam Lovell 14 Points

3rd Shane Rudloff / Damien Egan 13 Points

4th Rick Stephens / Nick O’Brien 8 Points

5th Nate Headland / Jaxon Rayner 10 Points

6th Jake Treloar / Eli Wright 7 Points

7th Max Howse / Riley Commons 11 Points

8th Byren Gates / Michael O’Loughlin 7 Points

9th Dean Hobbs / Daniel Low 6 Points

10th Brian Silvy / Dean Cottrell 6 Points

11th Mark Mitchell / Tony Carter 5 Points

12th Kane Golding / Isaac Amos 4 Points

13th Tim Bichard / Seth Pascoe 4 Points

 

Bob White Cup 250cc Junior Speedway Sidecars 

1st Kayden Gates / Harley Ackerley

2nd Ellie Treloar / Preston Kraft.

3rd Laclan Coppen / Hayden Kuchel.

Exciting three-wheel sidecar action returns to Gillman Speedway this Saturday night (February 11) for the running of the fifth Bob White Sidecar Cup, which this year will be held in conjunction with the Speedway Riders Association of South Australia Inc, 50th Anniversary Cup.

A star studded field of local South Australians along with interstate riders from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland have nominated for the event all eager to get their names engraved on the Bob White Cup in memory of a great man, who did so much for the sport.

Australia’s most successful Speedway competitor Darrin Treloar (passenger Blake Cox) are aiming for their fourth win from four attempts after pulling out of last year’s event due to their tow vehicle breaking down while travelling across the Hay Plains.

Treloar / Cox, have rewritten the record books winning an amazing ELEVEN Australian Championships and 42 state Championships (24 in their home state of New South Wales), won the first three Bob White Cups held (2019, 20 & 21), before the streak was broken last season and will start the meeting as the pre-race favorites, a tag they carry prior to competing in any event.

Defending title holder Mark Mitchell / Tony Carter are making their first appearance for the season and will be aiming to make it back to back wins. Reigning Queensland Champions Tyler Moon / Adam Lovell will be competing in their third meeting at Gillman and have put in some impressive performances in the previous two outings.

Former Victorian Champions Byren Gate / Mick O’Loughlin (third last year) will be aiming to finish a steps higher on the podium by the end of the night.

A number of New South Wales teams have nominated including Broken Hill youngsters, Max Howse / Riley Commons and experienced campaigners, Rick Stephens / Nick O’Brien, who have finished fourth on two occasions, in 2019 & 20.

Third generation racer, Jake Treloar (passenger Eli Wright), is entering his second full season of senior speedway sidecar racing. Jake is the teenage son of Darrin, and the Grandson of the late Garry Treloar, who was a top line rider in the 1970’s and 80’s.

Treloar / Wright surprised the critics in their Australian Championship debut at Gillman last year finishing in eleventh place with 6 points, and higher than what his famous father Darrin did way back in 1986.

The South Australian list of riders includes a number of former Australian Championship finalists, including Damien Niesche / Mitchell Spear (who have been runner up twice, including last year) and Shane Rudloff / Damian Egan (who were third last season), along with last year’s surprise packet in the Australian Championship qualifier, Dean Hobbs / Daniel Low (who scored an amazing 10 point haul starting the meeting as a reserve), with reigning South Australia number two Kane Golding / Issac Amos also not to be taken lightly.

A host of local South Australian teams make up the remainder of the field which include second and third generation racers, Nathan Fleet  /Cameron Diwell, Nate Headland / Jason Rayner, Josh Pascoe / Matt Crawford and Adam Pascoe / Axel Brereton, who have also entered, along with male/female combination of Chris Walker / April Cottrell from Victoria.

Sixteen riders will do battle over twenty heats with the top three point scorers progressing straight through to the A Final, with the next four highest point scorers (four through seven) to contest the semi-final (B Final), with the winner going on to compete in the four rider, four lap final against the top three point scorers on the night.

It should be a good night’s racing.

Event Details:

The National Karate South Australian 500cc Solo Championships finally happened last Friday 3rd February after unexpected summer rains postponed the original race date scheduled for the 28th January 2023. With far more favorable conditions providing an evening of fast paced racing, riders from VIC and NSW took on the local SA guns determined to make up for lost time and steal away title. 

After 48 solid races, SA’s own Rory Schlein claimed his 5th SA SOLO Championship Title after a perfect night in front of fellow local Jake Turner in second place. NSW rode strong rounding out the finals with Jack Morrison in Third and Michael West coming fourth. Being beaten by Morrison in the semi finals Declan Knowles (VIC), Maurice Brown (NSW) and Brayden McGuinness (SA) finished their night in fifth and sixth and seventh place overall respectively.

Showing girls can always throw it to the guys Teagan Pedler finished ninth behind Victoria’s Patrick Hamilton and narrowly beating fellow SA racers Steven Graetz in tenth place and Roy Stout in 11th. Liam May rounded out the field for South Australia back at 13  between Victorians Tom Dixon in 12th and James Crundwell in 14th place for the night.

Full Results breakdown HERE .

See the points results for the SA Solo Championship at Gillman Speedway below:

Sidecars:

Flat Track: 

125cc Juniors:

All pics – Derick Thomas Photography.

The Sidewinders Silver Helmet is a long standing event from the 70’s and 80’s where the final sees a 6 lap journey for 6 riders (up from the usual 4 laps & riders), with riders starting with a handicap of a certain amount of metres (back from the start line), that has been determined on their ability by the club and officials. This gives opportunity for newer up and coming riders to be able to win a title. Previous riders that have won are handicapped out of contention to win multiple times, giving chances to other riders to own the title. 

This year it was brilliant to have a total of 11 (competitive) riders enter the event (25 in total entries), which saw the need for 2 semi finals to see who would advance to the final.

THE FINAL: The final saw Nicol lead through the first 2 laps, holding Ambrose at bay, while Schlein had caught McGregor and was looking for a way around, heading into lap 3 and McGregor and Schlein found a way through on Ambrose, followed by Nicol on lap 4.

After that McGregor did everything he could to keep Schlein at bay, but coming out of turn 4 with a lap to go Schlein made a nice clean move to lead into turn 1, which he then held to the end to record a first up Silver Helmet win, with McGregor a fine 2^nd.

While all this was going on at the front Pascoe and Canning were trying everything they could to make up ground from starting rear of field, but they were baulked in their efforts at every turn. First by Schlein & McGregor setting a hot pace, and then by Ambrose and Nicol in the second half of the race.

In the final couple of laps, Canning did manage to get the better of them both to come home 3^rd, while Pascoe had to settle for 5^th after managing to get one up and in front of Nicol on the final lap.

With the likes of the older juniors such as Ashley Jansen-Batchelor, Darcey Timmis and Harry Sadler (out earlier after a crash), not featuring in the Silver Helmet final for the first time in many years, this was very much a ‘changing of the guard’. The Sidewinders Club and junior speedway, certainly have a bright future with the abilities that were on display, not only in this race, but across the novice and pee wee classes as well.

Huge shout out also to Hayden Kuchel, who had his final ride on a 125cc slider, as he now looks to continue his speedway journey on a sidecar. Everyone at Sidewinders gave him a warm round of applause as he did a well deserved parade lap to say ‘seeya’ to his solo career at the Club.

Do yourself a favour – head down to Sidewinders for one of their next meetings – take the kids – and check out the future of speedway here in SA – Great things are always happening there and the racing is always edge of the seat thrilling as well!

Terrysproshots Photography caught all the action. See the full album HERE 

SIDEWINDERS 2023 SILVER HELMET MEETING, RESULTS:

                   RESULTS               1^st three in each semi go through to the final.

       SILVER HELMET – FINAL

      START