Bairnsdale Speedway Association hosted a New Years Eve race meeting to entertain motorsport fans prior to the start of 2024 and on a warm day once the dust was settled the winners included Chase Ingram from Warragul, Mal Siely a local Bairnsdale man, Josh Thomas the clubs number one Standard Saloon competitor, Alistair Bastian from Lucknow, and Troy Wilson from Lakes Entrance.
Junior Standard Saloon competitors competed in the latest points round for the ‘Skidz Driving School’ Next Gen Junior Standard Saloon series with drivers from as far as Southeast Melbourne attending the event. Jack Stewart from the Latrobe Valley claimed a win in the first of three qualifying races with Dylcan Sweet having his best race day since he began competing a racing incident put Liam Ingram out of the finishing results whilst looking good for second place, whilst his brother Chase Ingram rounded out the three heat race wins in the very next race after a gap between races to clear the crash scene. Unfortunately, another crash in heat three to Ella Sheedy put her out of the race and another lengthy stoppage was required to clear the scene. Leading every lap in a twelve-lap final, Ingram went on to claim the win in front of Sweet, Tannah Lee from Bairnsdale, Tom Braz, and Stewart.
Mal Siely won the first heat in Limited Sportsman before Darren Adams who finished second in heat one reversed the result in the second heat race. Most of round three for all classes was cancelled due to serious racing incidents and the Sportsman moved into a final over eight laps with Siely finishing one and a half seconds in front of Adams, Daniel Hurley, and Chris Woeltjes.
Standard Saloon racers each competed in two heat races with the third round cancelled and Shane Stewart by a huge seven second margin started off round one with victory. Brendan Sheedy, and Gus Argoon closed out the first-round race wins. Argoon won the first heat race of the second round with Stewart also winning once more before Josh Thomas won the last qualifying heat race. Leading from lap two after getting past Stewart, Thomas who has an outstanding win rate at Bairnsdale Speedway went on to win the fifteen-lap final from Stewart, Jack Braz, David Streeter, and Jack Yeomans.
Sprintcar action seen a handful of local stars in action with Kyle Stathopoulos joining the fray from Melton. Alistair Bastian claimed victory in heat one before Koby Noonan claimed the win in the second. In the twenty-lap final veteran Wiseleigh race drivers and farmer Mark Laity sat in second for much of the race before Noonan passed him to chase Alistair Bastian out in the race lead. Bastian went on to win by just .603 of a second in the end from Noonan, Laity, Ethan Bastian, and Rod Dennison.
Division 2 Hot Rods were having an important hit out prior to their upcoming Victorian title at Bairnsdale and Trafalgar racer Rob Tatterson claimed a terrific win in the first heat race by just .102 of a second in the end from Troy Hutchison from the Latrobe Valley. Lakes Entrance racer Ben Crittenden rolled his car whilst in third putting him out of the race meeting. Troy Wilson from Lakes Entrance won heat two by less than half a second before going on to lead every lap in a ten-lap final to defeat Hutchison Rob Tatterson, Andrew Tatterson, and Melissa Tatterson in the final.
All drivers involved in crashes have since been confirmed as either recovered or sore yet recovering after medical checks.
Bairnsdale Speedway Association would like to thank their business partners for their support.
A1 Trailers
Active Sound Systems
ARB
Assist A Lift
Aussie Septic Solutions
Bairnsdale Autobarn
Bairnsdale Automotive
Bairnsdale Bearings & Industrial
Bairnsdale Radiator
Bairnsdale RSL
Bridgestone Service Centre Bairnsdale
Buchan Towing
Dennison Quality Roof Restorations
East Gippsland Locks and Keys
East Gippsland Plumbing and Drainage
East Vic Hydraulics
Eastern Signs & Designs
EG Printers
Eureka Garages & Sheds
Eye Care Plus
EZ Print
Gillicks Busline
Gippsland Treated Pine
Gippsland Truck Centre
Granite Rock Quarries
Great Southern Kitchens
Kennedy Trailers
Logue’s Autowreckers
M & S Laity
Mitchell Valley Excavations Pty Ltd
Patties
Phaselink Electrics
Rivera Concrete
Riviera Automotive
SKIDZ Driver Training
SS Auto
Tambo Waste
Tim Bull
Todd Plumbing Supplies
TRFM & Gold 1242
Wayne Trinder Plumbing & Gasfitting
Westpoint Motors
WGI Earthmoving & Heavy Haulage
Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
For Bairnsdale Speedway Association