As most of you know, I have been track announcer at Goulburn Speedway for this season. While I have worked the mike there for many years in a casual capacity, filling in when the regular announcer was unable to be there, it has only been this season that I have been on staff, so to speak. The reason for this is that the regular announcer had signalled his intention to step down before the start of the season and also that my regular gig at Nowra Speedway, one which I have had since 2006, has been unavailable since the track has been closed.
There are also two reasons for this. Firstly, the arrival of COVID in March 2020 meant that the track had to close for meetings, but, secondly, in the ensuing period, the committee found itself faced with a whole new set of regulations concerning track licensing from Speedway Australia, regulations which it presently did not meet. So, in the intervening period, the committee and a host of willing volunteers have been beavering away at interminable working bees, trying to bring the track up to “spec” so that racing could recommence.
Thankfully this was completed recently with the track being given the “tick” of approval. However, since we are nearly at the end of the 2022-23 speedway season, it seemed unlikely that any meetings would be possible due to the divisions needed to get a race meeting going were already committed to racing at other tracks. The best the committee looked like hoping for was putting in their bids for dates in the next season and kicking off in November this year as would usually be the case.
However, having a perfectly good track lying idle for the rest of the year, basically, didn’t seem like a great idea either so the committee issued an EOI in case any divisions would be interested in running at three dates in this Autumn. Unsurprisingly, they were rushed with offers and last Saturday night racing returned to Nowra for the first time in 3 years.
Car entry was not as high as would be ideal but the end of the season is always pretty busy as most divisions are coming to the end of their season pointscores and championship events are coming along. But it is what it is, as was noted, and the choice between having a low car count and having no meeting at all was a no-brainer.
As has always been, the track itself was in superb condition and remained so for the whole night, drivers at the presentations remarking on what a pleasure it was to come to Nowra because the surface is always great.
The racing itself was sparkling, albeit interrupted somewhat by an intermittent electrical drop-out that affected the control lights, lap scoring board and the canteen. But the drivers quickly adapted to racing “old skool” using just flags and the canteen soldiered on with the patrons being incredibly patient and good-natured about the length of time it took to be served and have their orders delivered.
It was a huge thrill to be back “home” and it sort of felt that I’d never been away. Three of the 5 Feature Races ran without a stoppage, 20 laps, flag-to-flag, an almost unheard of thing, and the drivers were delighted to be back, promising a quick return should their division be invited again.
Our next meeting is on the 8th April, Easter Saturday and the final meet will be later in April. Nowra Speedway is back and, best of all, the remaining two dates do not clash with my Goulburn commitments so I will be able to do both.
This weekend sees the return of the Australian Superbike Championship to Sydney’s Easter Creek Raceway with a double-header night meeting Friday and Saturday. Saturday I have Goulburn but I think I might wander up on the Friday night and check it out, it’s a long time since I’ve been to an ASBK meeting.
AND, this weekend, MotoGP returns with Round 1 from Portimao in Portugal. My good mate George has again offered me the use of his subscription (it’s a bit dearer than last season but still well worth it) so I will get to see it all. I just can’t wait.
Catch you next time.