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Shakedown at Olympic Park

Posted on October 28, 2011

THE sounds of speedway bikes will again emulate from Mildura’s Olympic Park Speedway tomorrow night, heralding the start of a new season of racing.

MOVING FORWARD: Scott Christopher and Trent Koppe (left) make a move on Sunraysia combination Byren Gates and Mick O’Loughlin at last year’s Sidecar Spectacular.

Tomorrow’s event will mark the now traditional free entry Shakedown event, where riders, mechanics, and Mildura Motor Cycle Club members will test their equipment ahead of the regular season – which gets underway next week.

All divisions of speedway competitors will be allowed to have free practice in the first session of the evening, which will commence at 6.30pm. Several rounds of testing will take place – allowing riders to set up their machines – with more involved practice sessions to also take place.

New riders, teams, passengers and machines will also be the order of the night, as the Club showcases the group of riders who will compete throughout the season.

This year’s Sidecar riders are already underway, with top local Byren Gates in action as part of the Sidecar Grand Slam events, which started in Queensland three weeks ago.

Giant-killing local passenger, Simon Cohrs, is also in the action, teaming with South Australian rider Chris Pascoe in the same Grand Slam circus.

Cohrs and Pascoe had a meteoric rise to prominence during last year’s Australian Sidecar Championships when, after an injury to Pascoe’s brother who was swinging, saw Simon get the call, asking if he would be prepared to swing for the quick-learning Pascoe team.

Cohrs took the gig and the team melded just a few hours after they met, when they top-scored in the qualifying meeting for the Australian Title on the same night.

Cohrs has also been a busy lad off the track, taking on the vice-presidency of the Mildura Motor Cycle Club for this year, while also working as chairman of the works group – helping to keep the Club’s structures in order.

Cohrs joins a new group of young and fresh administrators at the Club – a group which is hoped will guide the Club and its racing activities well into the future.

The Speedway Shakedown is free to all patrons, with the event also a chance to study the form of all teams and check out new players.

Riders who have already returned from their overseas seasons will try out, with the regular junior practice session to also be held as part of the night.

Sign on and scrutineering will commence from 5pm, with the Shakedown beginning an hour later at 6.30pm.

Catering will also be available, with more information available by contacting Brendon Gledhill on 5027 4225 or 0419 174 225.

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