News

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

Sidecar racing has made New Years return to Gillman Saturday 14th January 2023 with a night full of 3 wheel action and spills for the 2023 Bowes Family Sidecar Cup. 

Mick Headland / Brenton Kerr took home the trophy with 14 Points after a near flawless night and leading from start to finish in the finals. Headland and Kerr stood triumphant in the end after holding off strong competition from Queensland Champions Tyler Moon and Adam Lovell.

Moon/Lovell took every opportunity to make an inside pass on Headland/Kerr, even coming close and drawing level. However were unable make it stick and get the bike ahead. Max Howse/Adam Commons (NSW) waited for their moment, pushed their way under Moon/Lovell on the last lap to take second place. Moon/Lovell settled for third in front of Byren Gates/Michael O’Loughlin (Vic) in fourth place.

Not all riders had a clean night with 2 lengthy delays following incidents in the fist of the Sidecar support races. John Atherton and Greg Black were the first to go down, hitting the fence on the

back straight of the opening lap. The bike twisted the bike towards the fence, throwing both riders hard onto the deck. Black was able to get back up quite quickly, however there was a delay with Atherton being attended to and eventually being taken away in the ambulance. We can report that John spent a couple of days in hospital for observation, however thankfully there are no reported breaks and he is in good spirits.

In the rerun Willy Walker/Jarrad Nash sitting in second place, spun around between turns three and four on lap two, putting their bike backwards into the path of Corey Palmer/Matt Barkla.  With no where to go this sent all 4 riders down onto the track with another lengthy delay as Barkla was treated and the race then abandoned.

See a full race recap from Gillman Media HERE.

Terry Scriven (Terrysproshots Photography) caught all the action. See the full album HERE.

All the results of the night:

1st Mick Headland / Brenton Kerr                                                    14 Points.

2nd Max House / Mr Adam Commons                                            12 Points

3rd Tyler Moon / Adam Lovell                                                            11 Poinjts

4th Byren Gates / Michael O’Loughlin                                              11 Points

5th Rick Stephens / Nick O’Brien                                                      10 Points

6th Aaron Silvy / Jaron Silvy                                                               8 Points

7th Dean Hobbs / Daniel Low                                                            7 Points

8th Nate Headland / Chloe Ackerley                                                7 Points

9th Shane Rudloff / Scott Morris                                                      7 Points

10th Stephen Fowler / Ben Goodridge                                             7 Points

11th Kane Golding / Isaac Amos                                                      6 Points

12th Brian Silvy / Dean Cottrell                                                         5 Points

13th Nathan Fleet / Cameron Diwell                                                4 Points

14th Damion Niesche / Mirtchell Spear                                          3 Points

15th Kym Menadue / Shane Dolan                                                  2 Points

16th Tim Bichard / Seth Pascoe                                                        2 Points

17th Josh Pascoe / Matt Crawford                                                   2 Points

18th Willy Walker / Jarrad Nash                                                        1 Point

SOLO’s

Brayden McGuinness                                                                          12 Points

Steven Graetz                                                                                        8 Points

Teagan Pedler                                                                                       4 Points.

Flat Track Final

1st Roy Stout.

2nd Seane Chapman.

3rd Dale Nights

4th Brent Webley.

Junior 125cc

Ryleigh Mc Gregor                                                                              11 Points

Ambrose Fraser                                                                                   9 Points

Ruby Chapman                                                                                    3 Points

Jackson McPherson                                                                           1 Point

250cc Sidecar

Lachlan Coppin / Hayden Kuchel                                                   11 Points

Kayden Gates / Hartley Ackerley                                                    7 Points