Speedway kicks off for the new season this Saturday at Wangaratta

A new Speedway season kicks off this Saturday night at Wangaratta City Raceway with the feature events being the Street Stock and Unlimited Sedan series rounds on a show packed with Sedan action featuring kids, Ladies, and the fella’s starting from 4pm.

In the new series for Street Stock’s, competition in the first round will see Wangaratta local drivers up against competition from around Victoria, and even a Tasmanian representative. Shane Roycroft and Matthew Brooks will represent the host club as they hit the track to battle Brock Summers the Tasmanian representative, Rhys Meakins from Kilmore, Hayden Glare from Swan Hill, Tim Hutchinson, Nathan Fawns, and others. Local’s will be looking to start with a Wangaratta member victory to start the series off on the right note.

The schedule also has the increasingly popular Unlimited Sedans competing in their first round of the state Lucky 7s series. Fans will see big fast cars with a bit of noise about them stive to win on Saturday. Corey McDonald has been the benchmark locally in the class at Wangaratta and Wahgunyah, however he will battle Trent Susol, Peter Farley, Anthony McKean, Danny Smith, and Darren Forrest for zthe victory on Saturday. Corowa is strongly represented with Wayne and Brendon Eames, and Garry Coates of interest to local fans.

Speedway Sedan’s Victoria Junior racers will compete in their up to 1500cc cars with Zack and Allie Erickson representing Wangaratta in this category. Zack had some impressive wins towards the backend of the season last year down in Gippsland. The Erickson kids will be competing with some strong competitors from the Alexandra club such as River Paterson, Will Fallon and Brad Marshall whom all won in Top Stars or New Stars last season, whilst Judd Bowers from the nearby Corowa club will also compete.

Sports Sedans will be competing in two separate competitions on race night. Sports Sedans open to all adults will pit Felicity Roycroft Wangaratta’s champion driver of last season against Riley Balins in his first foray in adult racing after a terrific Junior season last year. Also representing Wangaratta are Bianca Ballantyne, Josh Beattie, Dennis Reid, and Katie Meyer. Reid and Meyer have plenty of experience and podium results behind them. Challenging them will be Anthony Knight representing the Corowa club, Knight is keen to give the locals a fight on Saturday night.

Ladies Sports Sedans will also hit the track and Roycroft, Ballantyne and Meyer will be at it again in a field of ten that also includes Tay Barnard, Jaimi Barber, and Leah Orgill sporting Wangaratta club prefixes on their cars. Roycroft dominated this class most of last season and is keen for more of the same however the entry list suggests it will be a battle. Sarah Meakins a multiple times state champion in Ladies events and Bree Walker a winner two weeks ago to start the season in Bairnsdale, are also keen on victory.

Standard Saloon competition will be fierce with the current Victorian champion and the runners up competitor Rhys Lansdown from Wahgunyah and Wayne Sheerman doing battle against former Victorian champion Warrick Howie from Chiltern. Jaimi Barber will again be competing in this class, and Harley Matthews is a new Wangaratta member in this field. Jack Braz fresh off a top five result in Bairnsdale, Courtney Meakins and Wangaratta member Trevor Evans in his Station Wagon are other competitors to keep your eye on. Over many seasons Evans has been a consistent podium finishing racer in the Standard Saloons and the fans love the fun watching a Station Wagon brings to the show.

Entry Fee to enjoy the racing is $25 per adult, $20 for Aged and Disabled Concession, $10 for Kids aged six through to sixteen, children under six free and a family ticket is $60 for two adults and three kids over the age of six.

The gates to the public open from 1pm and racing begins from 4pm. Eftpos and Cash payments available for entry and at the Canteen and Bar on site, No BYO
Public enquiries can be made to 0458 889 974

SPONSOR RECOGNITION FOR Wangaratta Speedway Club
A1 Tyre Service
Aerodrome Automotive
Alpine Truss
Alpine Drilling
Burson’s Auto Parts
Cashiee Wangaratta
Country Concrete
Creative Designs
Edge FM
Fallon’s Bus Service
Grimshaw Sign
Jabek Transport
Jim Snowdon
Kore Concreting
Keam Fertiliser
Mundie Automotive
McDonald’s Wangaratta
McGregor Machinery
North East Fasteners
O’Loughlin Contractor’s
Robinson Truck Repairs
Rouse Transport
Solimo Towing
Snap on Albury
Signpro
Vic Solimo
Tuff Tyres
Tailor Made Kitchens
Thomo’s Cash 4 Scrap
Ussher Plumbing and Contracting
Wangaratta Spring Works
Waw Credit Union
Wangaratta Club
Wangaratta Radiators
Wangaratta Brake and Clutch
Wangaratta Mazda
Wangaratta Offroad & Mechanical

NOMINATIONS
SPEEDWAY SEDANS AUSTRALIA JUNIOR SEDANS
Darcy Dannatt – Alexandra 16
Jaylen Knight – Nyora 17
Blake Beach – Alexandra 18
James Peacock – Avalon 23
Allie Erickson – Wangaratta 27
Zack Erickson – Wangaratta 28
Cruz Paterson – Alexandra 46
River Paterson – Alexandra 47
Brad Marshall – Alexandra 58
Axel Robinson – Alexandra 65
Will Fallon – Alexandra 77
Judd Bowers – Corowa 82
Maddy Beach – Alexandra 88

SSA STREET STOCKS
Matthew Brooks – Wangaratta 22
Dylan Wilkinson – Mortlake 24
Paul Exner/Chris Joseph – Mildura 57
Brian Exner – Mildura 58
Shane Roycroft – Wangaratta 82
Rhys Meakins – Alexandra 85
Nathan Fawns – Redline 87
Tim Hutchinson – Daylesford 88
Hayden Glare – Swan Hill 96
Brock Summers – Tasmania 97

VSC SPORTS SEDANS
Lachlan Hamilton – Goulburn Valley 16
Anthony Knight – Corowa 19
Riley Balins – Wangaratta 21
Dennis Reid – Wangaratta 54
Josh Beattie – Wangaratta 72
Katie Meyer – Wangaratta 76

Felicity Roycroft – Wangaratta 82
Bianca Ballantyne – Wangaratta 88
Garry Gapes – Goulburn Valley 84

VSC SPORTS SEDANS (LADIES)
Jaimi Barber – Wangaratta 12
Tara Johannesen – Goulburn Valley 16
Leah Orgill – Wangaratta 27
Cobie McGraw – Corowa 39
Bree Walker – Rosedale 50
Tay Barnard – Wangaratta 59
Sarah Meakins – Daylesford 67
Katie Meyer – Wangaratta 76
Felicity Roycroft – Wangaratta 82
Bianca Ballantyne – Wangaratta 88

VSC STANDARD SALOONS
Rhys Lansdown – Victoria 1
Harley Matthews – Wangaratta 7
Jaimi Barber – Wangaratta 8
Warrick Howie – Alexandra 41
Jack Braz – Rosedale 42
Bree Walker – Rosedale 50
Trevor Evans – Wangaratta 67
Wayne Sheerman – Alexandra 69
Courtney Meakins – Alexandra 84

VSC UNLIMITED SEDANS LUCKY 7s SERIES ROUND
Trent Susol – Redline 7
Robert Tatterson – Rosedale 11
Peter Farley – Bendigo 12
Garry Coates – Corowa 13
Brendon Eames – Corowa 15
Danny Smith – Horsham 19
Sean Connolly – Bendigo 22
Peter Camilleri – Bendigo 23
Corey McDonald – Mount Beauty 37
Darren Forrest – Drouin 41
Wayne Eames – Corowa 51
Anthony McKean – Rosedale 83

Ends relase.

Written by Speedcafe contributor DMT Sports Media – Dean Thompson