Welcome to the Gold Coast Speedway

'Laurels' Wash-Out - Posted 20 April, 2008

by Gavin Elmes

Saturday night's 'Laurels' meeting was called off after a day of persistent showers.

With sunny spells up to 3pm, it was hoped that the meeting might have been

possible, but a heay downpour around 3.30pm wiped out the junior section and

a further heavy shower around 4pm made the senior track too treacherous to

consider any hope of racing. The miserable weather then continued through the

evening.

The 2008/2009 speedway season commences on Saturday, 6 September, possibly

with the rescheduling of the 'Laurels'.

Meanwhile, the next meeting at the Gold Coast is the annual Classic Day &

Sel Walton Memorial on Sunday, 8 June (Queen's Birthday Holiday Weekend).

Juniors and modern sections will be included, depending on entries received.

All nominations and enquiries to race secretary, Mandy Wintle on 0432 420540.

Sidecars Spectacular! - Posted 31 March, 2008

by Gavin Elmes

It was the 12-strong sidecar section which stole the show at Labrador, after the

350cc title and solo sections of the programme were wrecked by withdrawals.

There was a most frightening crash in the last of the sidecar heats. With the four

outfits jostling for positions well into the race, the father and son team of Gary

and Ben Schofield flipped their machine. Their airborne outfit struck Michael

MacKenzie/ Ben Street at chest height, wiping both off their mount, which then

careered into the safety fence. It looked ugly, and it was an immense relief to

see all four walk back to the pits.

The racing was full of argy-bargy of an acceptable degree throughout the

programme, with the final being contested by Darren Cafe/Don Morris (NSW),

Wayne Munck/Yolanda Wilken, Robbie Wilson/Cameron Bell and Glen Vercoe

/Chris Lewis. Again it was neck and neck racing with positions changing, until

Munck headed infield on the last lap and Wilson forced a way under Cafe to take

the win. Vercoe came home third. Cafe and Wilson had earlier engaged in a

ding-dong in the heats, where they swapped the lead several times before Cafe

took the flag. The first turn of the first semi-final was memorable, with the four

outfits sweeping four abreast through pits bend.

Racing in the Qld 350cc title was fast and furious, and despite the low turn-out

due to withdrawals, the racing held interest. The dices between Darcy Ward and

Tyson Nelson, and Ward and Alex Davies (NSW) were particular highlights. Davies

was first away in the final, as Ward and Nelson battled it out behind him, with

Ward taking second. Clinton Dennis was fourth. Picture shows (L to R) Tyson

Nelson, Darcy Ward, Alex Davies and Clinton Dennis.

Solo racing got away to a messy start with a first bend tangle in which Ashley

Cathcart and Scott Smith came down leaving Smith trapped under his bike. All four

riders were able to take part in the rerun, which Smith won from Hugh Skidmore

(NSW), Anthony Perks (NSW) and Cathcart. However, Smith was then forced out

of the meeting with a back problem. Perks, who had raced at Newcastle the

previous night, completed the meeting on an ailing motor. Michael Penfold, who

also competed at Newcastle, withdrew from the Gold Coast programme. Western

Australian visitor, Leigh Boujos, improved rapidly as he got the measure of

the track and turned in some creditable rides. He has entered for our next meeting.

Junior racing attracted 16 riders, including Cameron Heeps of Western Australian. Of the programmed 19 riders, there were two advised withdrawals and one non-appearance. Heeps was unlucky to come down in the first of the semi-finals and be excluded. Nick Morris (pictured) went through the card unbeaten, collecting the final win over Jake Allen, Jake Moore and Mathew Day.

Results:

Qld 350cc Championship: 1. Alex Davies, 2. Darcy Ward, 3. Tyson Nelson, 4. Clinton Dennis.

Solo Points: Hugh Skidmore 13, Ashley Cathcart 11, Harley Horwood 10, Leigh Boujos 9, Anthony Perks 4, Scott Smith 3.

Sidecar Points: Robbie Wilson/Cameron Bell 11, Wayne Munck/Yolanda Wilken 10, Darren Cafe/Don Morris 9, Glen Vercoe/Chris Lewis 7, Bob Hill/Nick Bain 7, Gary Schofield/Ben Schofield 7, Paul Newman/Daniel Newman 6, Ben Cooper/Ryan Spann 5, Jeff Barth/Steve Craker 4, Michael MacKenzie/Ben Street 3, Anthony Schofield/Les Tighe 2, Peter Wilken/Kelly Cooper 1.

Sidecar Semi-Final A: 1.Darren Cafe, 2. Robbie Wilson, 3. Paul Newman, 4. Bob Hill

Sidecar Semi-Final BE: 1. Wayne Munck, 2. Glen Vercoe, 3. Ben Cooper, 4. Gary Schofield (dns)

Sidecar Final: 1. Robbie Wislon, 2. Darren Cafe, 3. Glen Vercoe, 4. Wayne Munck (dnf)

Junior Points: Nick Morris 12, Jake Allen 11, Mathew Day 11, Harley Brigden 10, Jake Moore 10, Zaine Kennedy 10, Cameron Heeps 8, Joel Porter 8, Ellis Perks 6, Scott Schofield 5, Jack Strong 4, Billy Grimes 4, Tyson Snow 4, Bryce Brigden 3, Jake Hinchliffe 2, Cody Keen 1.

Junior Semi-Final A: 1.Nick Morris, 2. Jake Allen, 3. Harley Brigden, 4. Joel Porter.

Junior Semi-Final B: 1. Mathew Day, 2. Jake Moore, 3. Zaine Kennedy, 4. Cameron Heeps (fell).

Junior Final: 1. Nick Morris, 2. Jake Allen, 3. Jake Moore, 4. Mathew Day.

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Next Meeting: Sel Walton Classic - Sunday, 8th June 2008

Visitors to date.

1. Alex Davies, 2. Darcy Ward, 3. Tyson Nelson, 4. Clinton Dennis.