THIS coming Boxing Day, Wahgunyah Speedway Club will roar with plenty of on track action to thrill the fans from 3pm. The annual Noel McGrath Production Sedan Memorial leads the show along with the Sports Sedan Grand Slam, and the final round of the Colin Young Memorial for the Goulburn Ovens Sedan Association. With three major feature events and supports from Speedway Sedans Australia Juniors, Unlimited Sedans, Standard Saloons and Ladies Sports Sedans, the action on track will be non-stop. In Production Sedan racing, a field of 15 drivers have nominated to compete with some from other parts of New South Wales joining the line-up. Stephen Laidlaw from Gippsland will be headlining the field. The two-time former national champion has done some practice recently setting very quick times. Laidlaw can expect Scotty Hawkins from the Leeton club, Jack Bear from home club Corowa-Rutherglen, Jack Murphy from the Bega club and Zoey Salau from the Swan Hill club to be on the pace amongst others. Wangaratta has a number of entrants in the field keen launch themselves onto the podium, with Bradley Dickson, Leighton Evans, Michael Sayers, Kenneth Mankey, Chris Fitzgerald, and Brayden Creek among them. In the final round of two for the Colin Young Memorial, which began at Rushworth Speedway, Leeton’s Ben and Tom Schmetzer and Corowa’s Billy O’Donoghue, whom were in the top three at the first round, will try to secure overall victory this Tuesday. They will be in competition with the likes of Victorian champion Justin Brockley, who leads a strong entry list of Corowa-Rutherglen members that include Daniel Joosten, Ross Maclean, Stuart Balins, Luke Collis, Robbie Miller, Michael Fleming-Robertson, and Marcus Maclean. Miller was a top five finisher at Rushworth and has hopes of securing a top three overall result, whilst Ross Maclean for many seasons was the man to beat in Goulburn Ovens Sedan competition. In the Sports Sedan Grand Slam feature event, one driver will go home $1000 richer. Rhys Collins and the Claridge brothers, Connor and Bradin, are very quick front running drivers, and it is hard to look past them. They should feature in the finish whilst Daryl Joosten from Albury will hold local hopes of victory. The ladies’ competition in Sports Sedans has a great field of ten entrants, and there are a number of drivers who could figure at the chequered flag in possible podium results. Katie Meyer is a proven winning race driver as are the Chalcraft sisters, Belinda and Lisa. Cobie McGraw and Chloe Creek will represent Corowa in this line. The Unlimited Sedan competition will see favourite Corey McDonald up against Stuart Balins of Corowa, Peter Schmetzer and Peter Camilleri. The class is developing in the area with more drivers in the future coming along into the class. Victorian champion Rhys Lansdown headlines the Standard Saloon class with Micheal Fleming-Robertson, Tony Spale, Keith Cattermole, and Rhys Lavender trying to secure a win for the Corowa members. Speedway Sedans Australia Junior Sedan action will involve Taijan Ussher, Harry Dunn, Maddy Capon and Tyler Claridge. The class is in its early stages in the North East relying mostly on competitors from the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne coming along to compete in up to 1500cc powered race cars. An influx of families getting involved locally will increase numbers as the year continues. Finally rounding out the program are the popular Humpy Holdens for FJ Holden competition. Eight cars will hit the track on Tuesday in spirited demonstration rules. Rules include how competitors pass each other, whilst nothing slows the competition down. Most of the cars are locally based with Joel Copeland, Rod Glare, Warren Dunk, Kate Bunt, David Small, Ray Lavender, Col Saville and David Walton having a skid on Tuesday. Gates to the public open from 9am, and racing starts at 3pm. A full canteen operates on site with hot, cold food and drinks. Entry is $25 for adults whilst the club offers aged pensioners and children aged 12 to 16 a $15 entry, any child under 12 is free. Family tickets are $60 for 2 adults and 3 children in the 12 to 16 age bracket.
