BigFatDave Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 From www.WorldSpeedway.com: Speedway bikes will return to Arunga Park for a massive two night show on Friday, February 4 and Saturday February 5. After negotiating for some time with David Parker, the manager of Adelaide's Gillman Speedway, the Alice Springs club has named a star studded field of both Solo and Sidecar riders for the weekend of methanol burning action. The Sidecar field includes current Australian Sidecar Champion, Mark Mitchell from South Australia, Current World number 3 and past Australian Champion Gary Moon from Queensland, Victorian's Byren Gates and Warren Monson, both former Victorian Champions, former Australia #4 Ron "the Prince of Port Adelaide" Parker and Daniel Puddy, both from South Australia. The Solos will be headed by Adelaide's International riders Robert Ksiezak, who currently rides in the British and Polish leagues, and Arlo Bugeja, who also rides in the British League. Joining them will be past Australian Longtrack Champion Jason Stewart from Victoria, Western Australia's Aboriginal rider and current WA 4 Sooty Pigram, Adelaide's newest rising star, 16-yea-old Robert Branford and another Adelaide teenager, Ben Hatcliffe. The visiting riders will be bolstered by riders from Alice, Darwin and Gove, who have dusted off their bikes for this two night show. Gillman Speedway Manager Dave Parker, who came up with the idea, said, "I have many friends in Alice from when I raced there with Sidecars and Formula 500s, and I first spoke to Moe McCosker, who put me on to the Club President, Les Roberston, and it went from there". "Gillman Speedway is one of the most successful bike speedways in Australia and runs a round of the Australian Solo Championship every year and has the best riders in Australia racing every fortnight, so to get the best riders to come up and put a show on was not a problem. The number of NT riders nominating will determine what format we will use, but I hand picked these riders knowing that all will give 100% and won't give another rider an inch — there is not a lot of love loss between Speedway riders". This should be a Ripper: BJ and I will be venturing south for the weekend to catch up with a few ol' chums and meet a few new ones. Main interest will be to see if Sooty can actually finish a race!! He's from a well-known Broome family with some amazing musos - . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 Now if only Matt Johnson dusted off the leathers, he might be able to show what he's capable of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted January 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 (edited) Now if only Matt Johnson dusted off the leathers, he might be able to show what he's capable of. Two folks I bumped into on the Ozchamps Trek recently were Phil "Crazy" Mackay and Lyndon Schlein (Rory's Dad) ; both Sidecar stalwarts of the old Bagot Park era in Darwin. They both knew their way around Arunga Park back when the Chairs were Kings. You'd have enjoyed the Best of the Best meeting at Gillman in 2008, Darren Treloar's Big Night Out; probably the last outing of Clarrie the Clown, Clarrie Jones, who's now real crook. On the drive up to Mildura Spiderweb regaled me with the tale of when Clarrie blew one of his balls off at Northline - definitely not for the faint-hearted!! The riders I've heard who'll be coming out of the woodwork for this one reads a bit like a who's who of Central Aussie Speedway. Edited January 15, 2010 by BigFatDave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderweb Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 [ The riders I've heard who'll be coming out of the woodwork for this one reads a bit like a who's who of Central Aussie Speedway. Thats good Dave cant wait ! The plan is the bikes from SA will be taken up there i a container and left at the track so we get there friday lunch time so it will be straight to the track and unload and prep the the bike ect. So I guess I will see you at the Track Big Fella ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderweb Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 [ The riders I've heard who'll be coming out of the woodwork for this one reads a bit like a who's who of Central Aussie Speedway. Thats good Dave cant wait ! The plan is the bikes from SA will be taken up there i a container and left at the track so we get there friday lunch time so it will be straight to the track and unload and prep the the bike ect. So I guess I will see you at the Track Big Fella ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted January 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 Thats good Dave cant wait ! The plan is the bikes from SA will be taken up there i a container and left at the track so we get there friday lunch time so it will be straight to the track and unload and prep the the bike ect. So I guess I will see you at the Track Big Fella ! We get in around fourish then I've managed to convince the Casino that I'm a High Roller (I think the term they used is "Whale") so we've got a camp for the weekend OK; they've put us next door to some Japanese Marine Scientists attending a Convention. They'd better keep the noise down or I'll give 'em something to Blubber about. I'll probably throw down a coupla buckets of Pi$$ then see you there!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 Some of the Alice locals we're expecting to see include Ryan Wark, Phil Miner, Ben Lennon and Peter Henderson in the solos, plus with a bit of luck Kerrin Giezendanner from Tennant Creek will be down as well. In the chairs we're looking at Brian and Arlen Carragher, Cameron Miller and Marcus Seider from Alice, hopefully Shane O’Connell and Joe White from Darwin; Brendon Edge and Cassy Hall from Gove and Tennant Creek boys Shane Cramp and Aiden James, and I'm sure a few other ol' hands will come out of the Woodwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderweb Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Yes I was talking to Peter Henderson at Gillman recently, now we just have to get Ronnys sidecar fireing on all cylinders. Next road trip BFD i will tell you the story about Clarry when we took him Buffalo catching now that will make your toes curl LOL. ps lunchy and Bryn are thing about comming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted January 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 Confirmed so far, thanks to Twig from The Alice; Solo Stars (4 races, 6 riders in each race): SA 121 Robert Branford WA 29 Samsurray “Sooty” Pigram Vic 12 Jason Stewart SA 21 Robert Ksiezak SA 56 Arlo Bugeja NT Phillip Miller Solo Encouragement Scratch Racers (4 races, 4 riders each): SA 49 Ben Hatcliffe NT Ryan Walk NT Ben Lennon NT Justin Clark Sidecar Scratch Races (12 riders, 12 heats plus B and A finals); Aus 1/ SA 35 Mark Mitchell / Tom Golding QLD 13 Gary Moon / Mick Ing V43 Warren Monson /Deven Gates V50 Byren Gates / Michael O’Loughlin SA 55 Ronny Parker / Nik Schwarzer SA 43 Daniel Puddy / Chad Herbert NT 64 Shayne O’Connell / Yancey Lee-Ross NT 17 Joe White / Shane Cramp NT 59 Brian Carragher / Janelle Carragher NT 7 Brendon Edge / Casey Hall NT 34 Cameron Miller / Sam Fidler qualification race NT 32 Arny Carragher / Nick Howord NT 33 Dave Totani / TBA NT 42 Mark Seidel / TBA Matt couldn't get time off to swing for Ronnie then, spiderweb? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 Confirmed so far, thanks to Twig from The Alice; Solo Stars (4 races, 6 riders in each race): SA 121 Robert Branford WA 29 Samsurray “Sooty” Pigram Vic 12 Jason Stewart SA 21 Robert Ksiezak SA 56 Arlo Bugeja NT Phillip Miller Solo Encouragement Scratch Racers (4 races, 4 riders each): SA 49 Ben Hatcliffe NT Ryan Walk NT Ben Lennon NT Justin Clark Sidecar Scratch Races (12 riders, 12 heats plus B and A finals); Aus 1/ SA 35 Mark Mitchell / Tom Golding QLD 13 Gary Moon / Mick Ing V43 Warren Monson /Deven Gates V50 Byren Gates / Michael O’Loughlin SA 55 Ronny Parker / Nik Schwarzer SA 43 Daniel Puddy / Chad Herbert NT 64 Shayne O’Connell / Yancey Lee-Ross NT 17 Joe White / Shane Cramp NT 59 Brian Carragher / Janelle Carragher NT 7 Brendon Edge / Casey Hall NT 34 Cameron Miller / Sam Fidler qualification race NT 32 Arny Carragher / Nick Howord NT 33 Dave Totani / TBA NT 42 Mark Seidel / TBA Matt couldn't get time off to swing for Ronnie then, spiderweb? And YOU didn't volunteer for the role BFD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted January 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 And YOU didn't volunteer for the role BFD? I'm too busy impersonating an inflatable fence, Brynbach! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderweb Posted January 29, 2010 Report Share Posted January 29, 2010 Bfd Matt couldn't get time off to swing for Ronnie then, spiderweb? Ahhh yea but he should have plenty of time on his hands now LOL BFD I'm too busy impersonating an inflatable fence, Brynbach! Was going to have a word to you about hiring you as a wind break for Team Ronny in Alice !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threewheels Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 TWO MORE DAYS TO GO!!!! flying up to Alice Springs in the morning. dave & benny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderweb Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 One more day to go Getting Ronny to have a shave and haircut ready for his Radio Interviews LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted February 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 One more day to go Getting Ronny to have a shave and haircut ready for his Radio Interviews LOL! I always reckoned he'd look good on Radio. Actually, he should have been a Singer - he's got a head like a sewing machine!! If yer reading this, Ronnie, I'm only joking, mate - and if yer not................... See you there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted February 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 Just finished packing (apart from the laptop!!) Weather's looking good - 21 - 36C. Latest from the Centralian Advocate: http://www.centralianadvocate.com.au/artic...6015_sport.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted February 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 (edited) Hey Chopper!! You've gotta tell Robert to stop when the Red Light comes on!! He was very good apart from that; his duels with Robbie Ksiezak in the 6-man solo races had the crowd up and cheering. Full report tomorrow: I'm just heading back to the bar for a few sherbets. Edited February 5, 2010 by BigFatDave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chopper Posted February 5, 2010 Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 Hi bfd, I hear it was pretty warm up there , good drinking weather. Yes Robert has a habit of looking at the ground and not ahead, something he has picked up from motocross, Phil Mckay noticed it from some photos. You may notice we have been sticking a piece of duct tape, with an arrow pointing up on his handlebars. I hear him and Robert K had a few cracking races, he ran out of fuel in his last one. What was the crowd like, it sounds like the track was ok, back to the old days of cars and bikes together. Cheers Chopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted February 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 To be fair to Robert, the Referee may not have been used to seeing Bikes; he was quick to hit the red lights after a fall but in both cases in the 6-man Tag Team events the riders got up and either remounted or removed themselves and their bikes from the circuit, thereby negating the need for a re-start. That said all the riders gave everything, a decent crowd certainly got their money's worth, and the track held together without the need for a major grade, although the Sidecars final was a bit of a lottery with a few decent ruts in turns two and four. Bit like the good ol' days: the Junior Sedans were evenly matched and made for some great racing, and tho' we only had three Formula 500's they put on a good show. The Sidecars were the main event; an ol' Kwaka Z1-powered outfit came out of someone's shed along with a few other interesting pieces of machinery; some high quality performances from Gary Moon, Mark Mitchell, Warren Monson, Daniel Puddy and of course The Prince, who made the final after a thrilling semi against Puddy. Alas Ronnie Parker and Warren both fell victim to the track in the Final, which left us with a nail-biting match race between Moonie and Mark with the Australian No 1 getting up in the death. Great to see Moonie back on the pace: word is his son, who's been piloting chairs, is now looking at Solos. The Burgers were great - thanks to Flo & the Variety Club ladies; the beer was as it should be - Ice-cold in Alice. Only poor spot was the Announcer, who didn't have a clue who was riding or even what race it was on occasion. Ryan Sedgmen would have been pleased with all the mentions he got - if he'd been there he would probably have got even more!! Luckily Bryn wasn't there, he'd have had conniptions!! Seconds out - Round Two tonight, with Quads and Stock Bikes providing the mixed part of the meeting, plus a few more local riders due to take part. If its anything like last night there could be some more uprights on display. Justin Clarke last night almost had his dialled in by the third of the local Scratch races only to Kummagutza while leading: Luckily his amply-padded carcase took the brunt of the fall! (I know - Pot, Kettle etc!!) Robbie K might need a new rear tyre tonight after giving us a you-beaut Burn-out at the end of the Solos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Luckily Bryn wasn't there, he'd have had conniptions!! Conniptions? Er.... are they painful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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