Borderline ready to fire

Speedway season launches this month with sprintcar action

A national championship, multiple State titles and the time honoured King’s Challenge all loom as highlights of a jam packed 2022/23 Borderline Speedway program with president Cary Jennings (pictured below right) looking forward to the season, which officially launched on November 26.

With nine meetings at the Glenburnie track, January looms as the pinnacle month, with the hosting of the Junior Sedan National Titles from January 5-7 and the Australia Day running of the King’s Challenge.

The season starts with a bang, though, with the South Australian Sprintcar Titles – one of five meetings featuring the most popular of the speedway classes.

The opening night will also see Formula 500 in the spotlight with round five of the SA series with a round of the Victorian series of junior sedans as well.

“We are expecting a lot of cars for this event because with the national titles here in early January, drivers will be looking to get some practice in at the track,” Jennings said.

The opening night will also feature street stocks.

December 10 is the next meeting with a smorgasbord of classes – wingless sprints, competing in a round of the SA series, junior sedans, street stocks and classic super modifieds.

The sprintcars return on December 28 as part of the SA- Victoria Speed Week – an initiative announced earlier this month looking to fill the void left by the hiatus of World Series Sprintcars for 2022/23.

The four round Speed Week sees the Borderline Speedway joining forces with Avalon, Murray Bridge and Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway to provide a weeklong sprintcar competition with around $20,000 in prize money offered at each track, as well as a series prize pool.

The theme of Speed Week will also be running for the Formula 500 with a round of Victorian Speed Week on the same night at the Borderline, with support from super sedans and modlites.

The super sedans program is part of the tri-series with the other rounds being run at Hamilton and Portland.

The strong tradition of Borderline hosting national events continues with the Junior Sedans National Titles from January 5-7 with Violet Thorne set to fly the flag for the locals. “Violet literally started racing last weekend but she will be looking to hopefully get some valuable experience by racing at the national titles,” Jennings said. “Her grandfather and her father both raced so we are looking forward to see how Violet goes.” In its hey day, the Borderline had around 20 junior sedans racing but Jennings concedes, like so many other sports, COVID and no competition saw a drop off and it will take a while for participation to bounce back.

The date every local speedway fan has marked in their diary is January 26 for the stand along Borderline hosted King’s Challenge.

The premier event on the local calendar, the race has historically attracted the best drivers from Australia and the United States to take on the Glenburnie track.

James McFadden is the reigning champ and Jennings knows the defending titleholder will definitely be back to attempt to be the first back to back winner since Kerry Madsen in 2015 and ’16.

Based in the United States, McFadden, who has strong local ties, has joined forces with a new star-studded ownership group with a commitment to at least Warrnambool’s 50th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.

Scott McLaughlin lends his motorsport credentials to Hodges Motorsport, which is headed by Tim Hodges, a Warrnambool local who has made his name as a sports producer and author and has a strong history in speedway.

More star power is added with revered sports commentator and SEN broadcaster Gerard Whateley and Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt.

“It will be great to have James back, he is such a strong supporter of the Borderline, and we are already looking at 10-12 American competitors for the King’s Challenge,” Jennings said. And the King’s Challenge meeting will be all action with a Victoria-SA Wingless Sprints State of Origin Challenge and local street stocks.

February 18 is the next meeting with rounds of the Victorian Formula 500 and a round of the Victorian Wingless Sprints on the program, as well as classic sedans and rods. The sprintcars return on March 4, while March 18 will see the SA Formula 500 Titles, as well as the MJS Street Stock Series.

The season rounds out with the Borderline hosting night two of the Easter Sprintcar Trail – the time honoured series that runs with meetings at Avalon and Warrnambool.