THE Borderline Speedway is once again on the radar for Limestone Coast motorsport fans, with the dirt track season fast approaching.
A full calendar has been released, with some big nights of racing set down.
The usual sprintcar feature nights are again in place, with the season set to kick off with the SRA Sprintcars on November 23.
The World Series Sprintcars converge on the clay oval on December 28, with the Kings Challenge on January 23.
The winged action continues on March 21 when the Tyson Perez Memorial 360 Allstars sprintcars join the Wingless Sprints for one night during the wingless two-night SA title.
The season will also finish with a bang, with round two of the annual Easter Sprintcar Trail, plus the usual fireworks display at the end of the night.
Apart from the winged warriors, the season promises plenty of high-octane action, with three SA titles and a national title.
On January 4, the 70th annual SA Speedcar titles comes to the Blue Lake City, with good support from the Wingless Sprints for round two of their Summer Slam.
The night will also include the Streetstock Blue Lake Classic.
February 22 will see the Super Sedans SA title, with the national championships to be run the following meeting on March 7-8.
The SA Wingless Sprints SA title will also run over two nights, set down for March 20-21, with the 360 Allstars sprintcars on the second night.
For club president Cary Jennings it has been a big off season, with plenty of preparation going in to ensure the venue is kept up to standard.
“The work has not really stopped on the administration side of it,” he said.
“We have been to meetings and conferences and different people in the club have been busy since Easter.
“We have done a bit more ground work – Bill (Barrows) and a few of the boys have been out there working hard.
“We have extended one of the canteens, put extra drainage on the infield and an automated sprinkler system is now set up.
“We are always doing upgrades.”
Spectators will benefit from the hard work in the off season, with the big year of racing sure to attract many to the venue.
The calendar this season is something Jennings seems quite proud of.
“Every year we try to have a national title at our complex,” he said.
“We are capable of hosting it and are in the top five speedways in Australia.
“We want to make sure we stay at the top with the calibre of events we put on.”
Jennings said there was still a bit of familiarity about the season, despite all the big title fights.
“We always start off with the SRA Sprintcars, which usually fields around 40 competitors,” he said.
“People are hanging out to see the sprintcars again and we finish the season with them as well.
“Complementing the World Series Sprintcars we will have about 50 Formula 500s for their own Speedweek round.
“They always put on a good show.”
The new year kicks off with a bang, which Jennings said would provide some entertaining nights.
“After Christmas we have a big start for the new year with a streetstock feature, a wingless feature and then top it off with the 70th Annual SA Speedcar title,” he said.
“We have hosted the speedcars for a while now and hope to pick up a national title in the next few years.”
The Super Sedans national title could possibly be the last time Limestone Coast fans see Dave Gartner in action, with this season likely to be his last.
The Wingless SA title will be another big feature event.
“For the wingless SA title we put in a proposal to have a two-night show,” Jennings said.
“It would normally attract around 50-70 competitors and with that many drivers you can put on two good nights of racing.
“On the Saturday night we have the Tyson Perez Memorial 360 Sprintcars, so that night will be a ripper.
“We normally have the Tyson Perez in February, but they agreed to have it with the wingless sprints, which should attract a big crowd.”
Jennings said he was pleased with the season calendar, with plenty of variety for motorsport fans in the region to enjoy.
“All the shows we have this season are quality shows,” he said.
“Along the way there will be some national champions here.
“We start with the sprintcars and finish the season with the Easter Sprintcar Trail and a few crackers.
“That is always a popular night to finish off.”
