McFadden goes back to Cricket results back in King’s Challenge

Bumper crowd head to Borderline on Australia Day

A huge crowd, frenetic racing and a pseudo hometown victory made for a successful King’s Challenge at the Borderline Speedway on Australia Day.

James McFadden, who is married to a Mount Gambier local, took the chequered flag, defying a strong challenge from rising star Jock Goodyer, to make it back to back King’s Challenge titles.

A regular visitor to the sprintcar circuit on both sides of the border over he summer break, the US based driver is driving for the newly formed Hodges Motorsport – a team with its sights set firmly on taking the weekend’s Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at Warrnambool – with high profile honours including Jack Riewoldt, Scott Mclaughlin, Gerard Whateley and the brains of the operation – Tim Hodges.

Organisers admit they were somewhat caught on the hop with the size of the Australia Day crowd at the Borderline but in the end, president Cary Jennings (below) said everyone rolled up their sleeves to ensure a successful event.

“The crowd was massive – I can’t remember it being that big since maybe when we hosted the Australian Titles for sprintcars,” Jennings said. “The atmosphere was amazing. The carpark was full and so was the paddock we borrowed as another carpark across the road. We expected about 3000 and we had over 5000 people there.”

And while that is huge for the local Borderline Speedway coffers, it is also a boon for Mount Gambier businesses.

“They had to fuel up with petrol, had to stay somewhere and spend some money in Mount Gambier, especially at the hospitality venues,” Jennings said. “We give them a good program, and a great night’s racing and they go home satisfied.”

Avalon organisers were also caught off guard with the size of their crowd as well as part of the Speed Week extravaganza that wound up at Premier Speedway in Warrnambool for the three day 50th anniversary Grand Annual Classic.

“We don’t really know why the crowds were so good but we think it is a combination of things, including people really starting to get out and about and travelling more,” Jennings said. “All we know is it was so pleasing to see the amount of people coming to support Mount Gambier and the Borderline Speedway and spending money in Mount Gambier.”

No doubt the drivers need credit for the outstanding night of racing on Australia Day but also the track condition, which was receiving plaudits left, right and centre, especially from neighbouring track officials, including Portland and Hamilton officials.

“People were saying it was the best track they had seen in a long time,” Jennings said. “To hear how good people think the track is makes you proud that you are doing something right and it comes back to the years and years of experience of Bill Barrows and his crew and it is no surprise the final was run at a blistering pace.” Lap times just over the 11 second mark were recorded in the title decider.

“That is getting around the track very quickly,” Jennings said. In the end, 66 cars contested the King’s Challenge, the Borderline’s premier stand alone event, and the wingless sprints, who will be back for the February 18 meetings, putting on a good show as well.

Rain affected night two of the Warrnambool racing, with organisers racing the clock to finish night two’s action Sunday afternoon before still looking to run the night three program as scheduled.