Gladstone Showgrounds Speedway

[whowasthatberntpersson]

Despite the poor weather (lots of rain) leading up to this event we still had a top night of racing in very warm humid conditions (but it thankfully stayed dry)

 

This was a mixed car / bike show with Solos, Sidecars and Junior solos. It was also the very first meeting at this venue for the juniors, the track having been put down fairly recently.

 

The solo section was won by veteran Brisbane rider Craig Hyde, Craig had a spell in England in the late eighties and showed he can still ride a bike with a close points win against two North Queenslanders - Damien Koppe (Son of former British based rider steve Koppe (Canterbury, Exeter, etc) and Scott Mckenna. Hydies first ride on the ex Scott Nicholls bike was outstanding, Craig missed the start by a long shot and worked his way through the field with some fine outside moves.

 

The juniors also produced some good racing racing on a track that did break up badly. Nick Morris was dominant in four of his five races having shed a chain whilst leading his first. This ended up costing him as he was pipped to the post by young Matty Day and also Hayden Barr who had his best meeting ever.

 

My first visit to this venue and I have to give it a big thumbs up, good facilities although the pits were crowded with all the cars, good turnout of fans (a local told me they were all going stir crazy because of the weather) so that could explain the large numbers. Good racetracks and it must be said the big track did hold up well despite the car racing, its a huge circular track well over 400 metres.

 

The organisers handed commemorative engraved silver platters to all the junior competetors, a very nice gesture.

 

The Showground Society are hoping to get permission to run once a month.

 

Called into North Brisbane Speedway for a practice on the way home, after a six hour drive. A good turnout there too with Glasgow based Trent Leverington having a spin prior to heading back to the UK.

Edited February 11, 2008 by whowasthatberntpersson

[Pollyanna]

Despite the poor weather (lots of rain) leading up to this event we still had a top night of racing in very warm humid conditions (but it thankfully stayed dry)

 

This was a mixed car / bike show with Solos, Sidecars and Junior solos. It was also the very first meeting at this venue for the juniors, the track having been put down fairly recently.

 

The solo section was won by veteran Brisbane rider Craig Hyde, Craig had a spell in England in the late eighties and showed he can still ride a bike with a close points win against two North Queenslanders - Damien Koppe (Son of former British based rider steve Koppe (Canterbury, Exeter, etc) and Scott Mckenna. Hydies first ride on the ex Scott Nicholls bike was outstanding, Craig missed the start by a long shot and worked his way through the field with some fine outside moves.

 

The juniors also produced some good racing racing on a track that did break up badly. Nick Morris was dominant in four of his five races having shed a chain whilst leading his first. This ended up costing him as he was pipped to the post by young Matty Day and also Hayden Barr who had his best meeting ever.

 

My first visit to this venue and I have to give it a big thumbs up, good facilities although the pits were crowded with all the cars, good turnout of fans (a local told me they were all going stir crazy because of the weather) so that could explain the large numbers. Good racetracks and it must be said the big track did hold up well despite the car racing, its a huge circular track well over 400 metres.

 

The organisers handed commemorative engraved silver platters to all the junior competetors, a very nice gesture.

 

The Showground Society are hoping to get permission to run once a month.

 

Called into North Brisbane Speedway for a practice on the way home, after a six hour drive. A good turnout there too with Glasgow based Trent Leverington having a spin prior to heading back to the UK.

 

 

Thanks for the report on the meeting. I hope the Showground Society gets the permission to run once a month. Nice for the Junior riders to receive commemorative silver platters, too.