29.6.2014, Walkerville Oval, Gauteng: Bekker returns to take the Golden Boot
It was a sunny winter's day
for most of Sunday afternoon at the Walkerville raceway for the 'Boet
Strydom/ Dot Engineering Golden Boot' race meeting, with the
grandstands packed and the crowd kept enthralled as spectators saw
the return of Byron Bekker to the track, his first competitive race
meeting since 2012 after suffering a knee ligament injury while
racing in the UK. Jannie de Jager was also making a race comeback
after 3 years, but unfortunately Mac Magill could not make the
meeting due to other commitments. Byron won all 3 of his heats with a
maximum score of 9pts. placing him firmly into the main final, and he
went on to win the Boet Strydom Golden Speedway Boot. 
The other WSRC riders had a mixed day: Neil Pettit, on his back-up
bike, managed a win, a second and a third place, putting him in the
final alongside Bekker, while last year's winner Lyle Kotze fell in
heat 1. He managed to remount to come in 4th, but made up for the
spill with a win and a second place, which got him through to the
final. The fourth place spot in the 'A' final was taken by a
much improved Brandon Devine who had a 2nd, 4th and a win. Gio
Nunes had a problem with his bike and didn't race in his first heat.
However he soon made it up by streaking ahead and winning the
Consolation final. In the 'Speedway Stars' 'C' Final, Bobby Devine
clinched the 1st place spot.
Seen left; returnees Bekker & de Jager.. Click for slideshow.
In the Sidecar class, two of the Butler brothers came through from
Klerksdorp with their combinations, but bad luck hit Edwin and
Estelle when their bike blew the motor in the first race. Gordon,
being the only other participant, therefore withdrew from the match,
and it was decided that the sidecar Golden “Dot Engineering” Boot
event will be re-run at the end of August.
By the time of the 3 final speedway heats the wind had come up and a
light drizzle started, and the weather got really cold such that
Byron, who for the last decade has usually been in the UK at this
time of year, thought he was back riding in Britain again ! FULL
RESULTS
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27.06.2014, George Showgrounds, Western Cape
A very sparse crowd turned out on a bitterly cold night for the latest “Fast Friday” Bike & Quad Oval show at the George Showgrounds, with the number of competitors in the various racing classes appreciably down on the previous meeting, with no entries at all for the Rage Buggie division.
Four riders competed in the Speedway class, – Harry Saggerson, Dillon Bown, Tyrone Hodges and Corne Kapp. Giving his rivals a 50yd handicap, Harry S. comfortably won the opening heat from Bown and Hodges. However, a seized engine in his second ride saw Bown take the honours.
The MX Flat Track races were enlivened by Rene Weyers, a popular rider whose win in one of the ‘B’ division races was much acclaimed, and young Ricardo Otto who continues to go from strength to strength under the tutelage of father Riaan.
At the interval one of the top MX Flat Track riders, Slade Pullen, had a first ever ride on a speedway machine. A very promising four laps followed with Pullen looking a ‘natural’ although he has expressed his intention to remain with the Flat Track class and not switch to the speedway division.
Due to engine problems only two riders came to the tapes for the third Speedway heat, with Saggerson riding his father Andy’s bike. Sadly, he lost control of his machine on the second bend and fell hard into the solid brick wall stock car barrier surrounding the track. Saggerson's crash helmet was split in two by the impact and he was taken by ambulance to hospital for precautionary x-rays. Harry was kept in hospital overnight suffering from concussion, but tests have shown no permanent damage although he has suffered severe bruising and will be wearing a neck brace for the next six weeks.
The quad bike final and further MX Flat Track races followed before the meeting had to be ended prematurely due to the absence of medical cover after the ambulance had left the track.
The decision to continue with night time racing in the depths of winter, rather than switch to a Saturday afternoon schedule or temporarily suspend operations until Spring, backfired on the Allied Speedway promotion at this latest “Fast Friday” show at the George Showgrounds. The not inconsiderable financial losses that surely were suffered at the meeting must put the financial viability of future Bike & Quad Oval shows in question and it is considered unlikely that the gate takings and competitors’ fees could have covered the many expenses incurred in staging the show.
These shots and video taken at the previous meeting of May 30th by Lloyd Austin are included for an appreciation of the huge 480m. dirt oval. Reporter: David Austin.
Solo Speedway Results
Ht 1: Harry Saggerson, Dillon Bown, Tyrone Hodges, Corne Kapp (ef)
Ht 2: Dillon Bown, Tyrone Hodges, Harry Saggerson (ef)
Ht 3: Dillon Bown, Harry Saggerson (f) – Race stopped and not re-run.
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1.6.2014 Walkerville: Monarchs Triumph
The 'Wild Bunch' line-up at Sunday's team match, Slideshow
Kallie Britz, Mac Magill, Damien Devine, Harvey Hamish, Peter Buck, Gio Nunes, Donovon Butler, ?, Kosie Harmse, Derrick Hilliar.
At WSRC's annual Monarchs v. Wild Bunch team meeting the Monarchs ran out convincing winners thanks to the unbeaten performance of their skipper Neil Pettit, for it was the second half before their sidecar team-mates took a heat win, Kallie Britz and Donovon Butler of the Wild Bunch taking the chequered flag in the initial 5 chariot heats before Edwin & Estelle Butler were able to produce their more typical form with a win in Ht.25. Gio Nunes, the Wild Bunch skipper, took a fall in his first heat which affected his points tally, so it was timely and apt that the meeting was to see the welcome return to the track of former National champ Mac Magill who was able to keep up the Wild Bunch's efforts. Other than a Ht.21 set-back, he conceded team points only to the unbeaten Pettit. With a few more rides under his belt he should be capable of returning to his past form and give Pettit and a fit Nunes a run for the prize money. Results Slideshow (Cyril Forman & others.)
Message from
the Commitee:
"Thanks to all the supporters, photographers and
riders who came to the very successful Monarchs vs Wild Bunch team
race meeting held on Sunday 1st June 2014. The
Monarchs not only dominated the track with their team winning the
day, but they dominated the stands with great spirit and good
vibes.
Thanks to all from the Monarchs MCC who came to support the
riders and for the contribution towards medals and prize money! To
everybody who jumped in to help, – from manning the pit gates,
driving the water truck, scoring, start marshals etc – thank
you.
Thanks also goes to all the sponsors, especially Trevor from
Ansley Racing who gave the winners of the 4x1 lap race a generous
cash donation. To Trevor and Peter Buck for the hard work on
Saturday to get the track prepared, – the riders appreciate it!"
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Video below, from an intrepid group of bikers on a winter morning breakfast run that ended up in Walkerville:
"..... we went go see what else is happening in the deep south. We found a bunch of
maniacs on really odd looking bikes trying to kill themselves on an oval
racetrack made of dirt.."
30.5.2014 : George Oval, Western Cape,
Following a major track upgrade that necessitated the cancellation of April’s meeting, the latest “Fast Friday” Bike & Quad Oval show promoted by Allied Speedway was held on a cold winter’s evening at the George Showgrounds.The track overhaul achieved the desired result of a perfect racing surface and enabled the riders to show their paces in support of the other racing classes that are a regular feature of the programme. The planned Garden Route Championship was shelved for the time being but a full quota of races was held.
The top George Oval rider, Harry Saggerson, continued his domination of the speedway division, his only blemish being a fall on the 3rd bend in his second ride whilst leading. Harry’s father, Andy, also rode and acquitted himself well despite not having ridden competitively for several years. A welcome addition to the sport was newcomer Jean Pierre Hildebrand who took his first rides on a speedway machine at the meeting and showed much promise. Hildebrand, a former motor-cross devotee from Knysna, decided to try speedway after visiting the Cape Crusaders stand at the recent Knysna Car Show.
On the 17th May several of the Crusaders riders journeyed to East London for the Bike & Quad Oval event staged at the Amalinda circuit. They performed admirably even though severe mechanical difficulties were encountered in the latter stages of their race programme.
The next “Fast Friday” is scheduled for 27th June although with the onset of winter this may be changed to a Saturday afternoon staging. Reporter: David Austin.
SOLO SPEEDWAY RESULTS:
Ht 1: Dillon Bown, Riaan Otto, Andy Saggerson.
Ht 2: Harry Saggerson, Corne Kapp, Jean Pierre Hildebrand.
Ht 3: Dillon Bown, Jean Pierre Hildebrand, Harry Saggerson (f.ret).
Final: Harry Saggerson, Dillon Bown, Corne Kapp, Andy Saggerson, Jean Pierre Hildebrand.
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23.5.2014, Site Update: S.A. v Europe 1952; S.A. v New Zealand 1953
Reports and photos from the two Test Match Series of the 1952/'53 season, S.Africa v Combined Europe and S.Africa v New Zealand, together with a summary of league and individual championships have been uploaded to the Henry Long Collection, Chapter 7.
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A team of sidecar and solo speedway
riders together with supporters made a 5-hour journey to Boshof in Northern Cape to compete in
the Saturday Race Night at the Boshof Oval. They complemented a
10-event programme of otherwise 4-wheelers, (Quads, Mods, Hot-Rods &
Saloons, etc,) on the large, fast 415m dirt circuit, staged under
floodlight as the evening passed and temperatures fell to 3◦ C.!
With one machine out early Lyle Kotze
and Gio Nunes shared a bike, - many thanks Gio for the loan and
standing down a ride - , the former winning his 2 rides. Neil Pettit
took the flag in the other race. Lyle also came out as jockey to
Donovan Butler, the pair winning their first heat, but brother Edwin
B. proceeded to show them the way home in the Final. The squad
was well received by the crowd and have been invited by the local
promotion to make a return visit if dates and other matters can be
agreed upon. Results
Mini-collages & slideshows courtesy of Theunis Coetzee Fotografie.
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14.5.2014: WSRC to ride at Boshof Oval, Nr. Kimberley.
The next event at Boshof Oval near Kimberley, Northern Cape this Saturday 17th May, will feature the sidecar and solo speedway bikes of the WSRC from Walkerville. They will join up there for the first time with the saloons and hot-rod classes for a full programme of dirt oval racing.
BOSHOF OVAL RACING, Boshof Showground,
Voortrekker St, Boshof 8340.
Starts 17H00, Entrance R40p/p
(R10 for under 13s.)
tel. Pieter Esterhuizen – 082 377 3198
(for Gauteng, tel. Pat - 082 578 5941 )
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13.5.2014, George: The Cape Crusaders Are Born
At a recent meeting of interested parties it was unanimously agreed to form a speedway team with the prime objective of encouraging individuals to take up the sport. The initiative has the full backing of the George Motor Club whose track at the local Showgrounds will be the team’s base and also the Bike & Quad Oval promoter Bobby Hack of Allied Speedway. Relevant office holders have been appointed with Dillon Bown taking up the position of Chairman and Bobby Hack President.
The team will be known as the Cape Crusaders and ride in red and white race jackets emblazoned with the teams name and appropriate insignia. Each rider has been allocated a racing number which will be incorporated on the back of the race jacket. Other initiatives in the pipeline are the formation of a supporters club and raising the sport’s profile throughout the Southern Cape and adjacent regions. The latter has already begun with a static display of speedway machines and memorabilia at the Knysna Car Show last weekend whilst this coming Saturday, 17th May, the Cape Crusaders will be racing in the Eastern Cape at the Amalinda circuit in East London, a new venue for Allied Speedway.
The next George meeting will be on 30th May when the first leg of the Garden Route Championship will be staged.
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3.5.2014: The Henry Long Collection
Henry Long, South Africa's most successful speedway rider of all time, has passed over his collection of scrapbooks and photo albums to Speedway-SA for archiving. A decade of press cuttings and pictures from the late 1940s, including rare action shots from the Old Barn Speedway at Alberton in 1946, and on through the 'fifties heyday of speedway in the Union, prior to his retirement, are being sorted and scanned, and the first few seasons can now be seen online. The exercise will continue, with further material posted on to this site weekly, season by season.
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30.3.2014, S.A. National, Rd.1, Walkerville, Gauteng
There was great turn-out of past and present riders of all classes, as well as other WSRC members and family for the first round of the 2014 S.African National championship at the Walkerville Dirt Oval outside Johannesburg, held in memory of recently departed Arthur 'Archie' Bruins,.
In the solo speedway Premier class current champion Gio Nunes started the day with 2 wins but had to concede points to former champ Neil Pettit and 17 year old Brad Devine in his latter races for a score of 10pts. Pettit proved unbeaten throughout the day and has started well in his bid to regain the SA title, rattling up a maximum 12pts. In the seniors 'Speedway Stars' class Hansie Kleynhans took the chequered flag three times, beaten only in Ht.11 by Pettit and Lyle Kotze, but earning full points for his class. On the other side of the coin it was disappointment for both Kotze and Damien Devine, the latter struggling to get his motor going for his first 2 races while Kotze suffered falls in his first and last speedway rides, - he also tracked in the Flat Track races, coming third on the day.
The sidecar races have become true family affairs, with former jockeys all mounting their own machines in 2014, father and son Kallie and Konrad Britz, as well as the 3 Butler brothers now all matched against one another on their own combinations. Edwin Butler, partnered by wife Estelle lost out to brother Gordon in his first ride but thereafter proceeded to be first over the line each time out, including the 'big-bash' Ht.30 final heat of the day when 5 chariots took to the track. These races were watched with interest by 4-times former champ Colin Aitken, who still holds the Walkerville sidecar track record, set 5 years ago back in 2009. FULL RESULTS
Quad bikes, Flat Track and Peewee class made up the day's programme, - see Gallery for action pics.
The next Walkerville Dirt Oval race meeting will be on Sunday June 1st. CCJ.
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Gathering of club members, past, present & future.
A few shots from Sunday's meeting, courtesy of Hannes Bronkhorst and Mark Hooper.
Present and past members of WSRC gathered at Walkerville, 30.3.2014. (Click to enlarge.)
REAR:
Sean Todd (s/car), John Allsop (s/car), Lionel Botha (ex-sp), ? ,
Estelle Butler (jky), Edwin Butler (s/car), Lyle Kotze (spdwy), Gordon
Butler (s/car), ? , Colin Aitken (ex-s/car), Gio Nunes (spdwy), Neil
Pettit (spdwy), Jannie de Jager (ex-sp), Kosie Harmse (jky), Donovan
Butler (s/car), Brad Devine (spdwy), Chris Veldman, Deon Swart (ex-sp),
Byron Bekker (spdwy), Damien 'DJ' Devine (spdwy),
FRT: Kosie Botha
(jky), Kallie Britz (s/car), Konrad Britz (s/car), Peter Buck (spdwy),
Bobby Devine (spdwy), Denzil Kent (ex-sp), Bobby Bulmer (ex-sp), Danie
Fourie (ex-sp), Juan Pierre Kotze (jky), Derrick '2Dogz' Hilliar
(s/car), Hansie Kleynhans (spdwy), Grant Frank (spdwy), 'Mr van',
(v.d.Merwe, gr'dad of the late Terrance de Capitao, s/car jockey.)
BELOW: PeeWee event, - the future!
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28.2.2014, George Showgrounds, Western Cape
The speedway section at the second “Fast Friday” meeting in George was beset by injury, absences and persisting mechanical gremlins with only three riders able to come to the tapes including promoter Bobby Hack. Riaan Otto and Dillon Bown were prominent absentees but the racing on offer highlighted the gap between Harry Saggerson and the local aces. Two heats and a final were staged with an identical finishing order in each, Saggerson, Tyrone Hodges and Hack. Saggerson won his races with ease, in all instances half a lap in front of his opponents. His pit team included his elder brother Oliver, a former rider himself and another product of the UK's Northside training track.
The programme also included the traditional fare of Quad bikes, MX Flat Track and rage buggies, with 31 events in all making it an action packed evening, but in the solo speedway area the unavailability of new machinery and spares will continue to impede the progress of the southern Cape riders and the expansion of the speedway class unless fresh supplies can be sourced.
An interesting piece of news to emerge from the meeting is that it is hoped to bring some UK speedway riders to South Africa in the near future. The proposal is for a national tour from Cape Town to Johannesburg, encompassing 6 tracks in 5 weeks and negotiations are currently underway with potential sponsors. The next “Fast Friday” race night will be on 28th March. Reporter, David Austin.
Below, the George speedway 'team': L > R Corne Kapp; Andy Saggerson; Dillon Bown; Steve (Flag
Marshal); Oliver Saggerson; Lydon Geldenhuys; Harry Saggerson; Tyrone Hodges.
Kneeling is Johan Kuyler.
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28.3.2014, George Showgrounds, Western Cape
The third "Fast Friday” race meeting at the George Oval took place on a perfect autumn evening and was highlighted by an increased number of competitors in the speedway division. The mechanical wizardry of ex-patriot Englishman Andy Saggerson ensured that all bar Tyrone Hodges had the opportunity of a ride and afforded the likes of Lydon Geldenhuys, Johan Kuyler and Corne Kapp further experience on the large, pacy dirt oval.
The star of the February "Fast Friday" event, Harry Saggerson, was unable to repeat that performance being beaten into fourth place in his first race by Dillon Bown, evergreen promoter Bobby Hack and Geldenhuys. But that was no surprise as Harry had been ill all week with flu and only got out of his sick bed to race. A bonus however was that Harry was able to guide his good friend and fellow rock band member Geldenhuys to that third position. The speedway division was backed by the usual programme of Quad bikes, MX, Flat Track and rage buggies with the stock cars being given additional track time ahead of a major meeting in April.
Speedway developments are that two Bike Oval events are planned for East London and negotiations are underway to stage regular meetings at Port Elizabeth. Further, plans are in hand for a return visit to George for the Walkerville speedway/sidecar team and a reciprocal visit to Johannesburg in September for the Southern Cape riders.
The 4th "Fast Friday" will be held on 25th April with the staging of the first round of the Garden Route Championship. Reporter, David Austin.
Solo speedway results: Ht 1: Bown, Hack, Geldenhuys, Saggerson, Kapp (ret), Kuyler (ret);
Ht 2: Saggerson, Bown, Geldenhuys, Hack (ret); Ht 3: Saggerson, Bown, Geldenhuys, Hack (ret).
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Arthur Bruins, 11.1.1947 - 23.3.2014. R.I.P.
Speedway-SA is sad to report the passing of Arthur Bruins in a road accident yesterday, March 23rd, age 67. 'Archie', as he was know to his friends, was a champion of the sport of speedway, both on the track in his youth and subsequently, in present times as a committed follower and supporter of Walkerville Speedway Riders Club, where he was a generous benefactor and through his business, DOT Engineering, has been the prime sponsor of the S.African National Championship for many years, last won just 3 months ago by his own grandson, Gio Nunes.
Arthur was the South African speedway champion for 3 consecutive years, 1976-'78 as well as the SA Golden Helmet Match Race Champion in 1977 when he took the title from his brother James. Prior to these successes, he was noted in a press report of 1973 as the only rider able to give support to Transvaal skipper Dennis Newton in their match against the OFS. A year later at Klerksdorp, against Western Transvaal “ … the Jo'burg Angels were splendidly served by Arthur Bruins, … who already ranks amongst the best riders in S.Africa,” being headed just once all night. The following week at the Bloemfontein opening meeting he won the Individual event there from its rider/promoter Vic Pretorius. In November '74 Arthur led a quartet of riders to Rhodesia and took part in the Rhodesian Open, but falls and engine failures, - only one bike was left by the end of the night - , meant all returned South unrewarded.
In 1975 Arthur and James rode against the WCSS troupe of touring world champions, - Mauger, Briggs, Olsen, Muller - , in Cape Town, Jo'burg and Durban, and though, understandably the Republic was without successes, the standard of local riders was much improved such that by the start of the 1977/'78 season it was reported that “..brothers Arthur and James Bruins have been the dominating SA riders in the past couple of years..” As if to demonstrate this, at the start of the season Arthur (seen above in the colours of the Wembley Lions in 1977,) lowered the track record at Wembley, the scene of his first 2 championship wins, to 78.0s. As top South African rider in the SA Open Championship, (won by visiting Scotsman Bert Harkins,) he was awarded the 1978 National title at the new Rainbow track promoted by Boet Strydom. In the next season at Rainbow, in a Best Pairs competition, “... Arthur Bruins, always good to watch, had a mixed day with 2 wins, 2 falls and 2 engine failures!“, but he had won the opening Individual Track Championship there from Graham Long, (son of Henry Long,) after the two had topped the heats with scores of 14 and 12pts respectively, and repeated that order in the 4-man Final.
It is with sad irony that, as a biker, Archie lost his life yesterday not on the track but on the road, on his machine near Sasolburg whilst returning home from the Buffalo Rally in Mossel Bay. Arthur Bruins' help and support to all on the South African speedway scene will be sorely missed.
THE MEMORIAL OF ARTHUR BRUINS WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY THE
28th MARCH AT 2PM
AT WALKERVILLE SPEEDWAY TRACK/SHOWGROUNDS. CCJ.
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22/23.3.2014, Inzell, Germany: Ivanov takes World Ice Speedway Championship again.
The 2014 Ice Speedway World Championship concluded today with the eighth 'Ice Gladiators' round at Inzell in the Bavarian Alps, with Daniil Ivanov taking his second World title.
Russian riders once again dominated the competition, filling the top 5 places, with Swede Stefan Svensson best placed Westerner. Ivanov won 6 of the 8 rounds, leading the scorers throughout the series, which has seen several riders succumb to injuries. Austrian Frankie Zorn suffered a broken pelvis after a fall in Moscow at Rd.1, which could end the 43-year old's career, then 5000 miles away in the far East at Rd.3 in Blagoveshchensk his fellow countryman Harold Simon suffered severe cuts from spikes, as did Rene Stellingwerf in Rd.5 at Assen, NL, when hit by Gunter Bauer. The Dutchman's leg muscle was shredded whilst the German fractured his arm, but with a titanium plate inserted returned after just 2 weeks to race in front of his home crowd this week-end and make the Semi-finals on both days.
Entering the Inzell meeting with just a 7 point lead Ivanov let that slip somewhat when, unbeaten in the heats, he failed to score in the Day-one Final. But he made no mistakes in the concluding round, going through the card unbeaten to finish 11 points ahead of fellow countryman Dmitry Koltakov overall.
Venues:
Rds 1 & 2, Krasnogorsk (Moscow,) Russia
Rds 3 & 4, Blagoveshchensk, Russia,
Rds 5 & 6, Assen, Netherlands,
Rds 7 & 8, Inzell, Germany.
Overall Scorers, (Russian unless stated.) :-
1. Daniil Ivanov 151, 2. Dmitry Koltakov 140, 3. Dmitri Khomitsevich 126, (seen right.)
4. Igor Kononov 107, 5. Sergej Makarov 102, 6. Stefan Svensson SW 73, 7. Jan Klatovsky CZ 44, 8. Günther Bauer GY 40, 9. Stefan Pletschacher GY 34, 10. Grzegorz Knapp PL 31, 11. Vitaly Khomitsevich 30, 12. Per Anders Lindström SW 30, 13. Antti Aakko FN 28, 14. Pavel Chaika 27, 15. Max Niedermaier GY 25, 16. Rene Stellingwerf NL 21.
Daniil Ivanov in action at Assen,NL, Rd.6.
Video of World Champ ice action, pits
preparation, and Ivanov interview.
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2.3.2014, Walkerville, Gauteng: 1st Rd, Regional Championship
With a weekend of ongoing rain, the track for WSRC's 1st Regional Championship round at Walkerville was damp and slippery but the meeting still went ahead, so racing was quite challenging for the riders. Gio Nunes and Neil Pettit swopped wins in their encounters, - 2 each - , Gio taking the day's top prize, while Lyle Kotze (photo rt,) was affected by bike problems and could only compete in 2 speedway rides.
To cap his day, Lyle took a fall in the Moto-Cross class Heat 16 but gamely came out two heats later for his last speedway heat. Hansie Kleynhans took the seniors' Speedway Stars class. Gordon Butler and Johan Herbst (pic.1) started off well in the Sidecar class with 2 wins but engine gremlins stopped them in their third so Edwin & Estelle Butler (pic.2) took the pot at the end of the day with 10 points. Roy Campbell took 1st place in the MX class, (Lyle Kotze made 3rd,) Brandon Herbst and Devin Raubenheimer topped the score charts in their respective Peewee Pro and Ama classes, whilst amongst the Quad bike racers it was Seef Fourie that secured the day's prize. FULL RESULTS
Vic Pretorius, 23.11.1938 - 19.2.2014, R.I.P.
News has been received of the passing recently of Vic Pretorius at the age of 75. Vic was the S.African National Speedway Champion of 1972, winning the title at Klerksdorp. During the sport's revival of the 'seventies he represented the Republic in Tests Matches against Rhodesia between 1971 and '75 and was rider/promoter at Bloemfontein, his home town, when he re-started speedway there with a new circuit in 1973.
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31.1.2014 George Showgrounds, Western Cape
The first George race meeting of 2014 heralded a change in race day for Allied Speedway’s 'Bike and Quad Oval' shows. Meetings will now be staged on the last Friday night of every month under the banner of "Fast Friday". This will enable racing to take place exclusively under floodlights rather than the previous day/night arrangement and also prevent clashes with other weekend sports and social activities. The first "Fast Friday" at the George Showgrounds was the regular mixed programme of speedway, Quad bikes, MX Flat Track and rage buggies and attracted an healthy crowd on a fine summer's evening.
The speedway section included two new riders although only Lydon Geldenhuys was a true beginner to the sport. The other, expatriate Englishman Harry Saggerson, acquired his skills at the Northside training track near Workington and is the youngest son of Andy Saggerson who has put much effort into establishing the George speedway school and the Showgrounds as a speedway centre in the Southern Cape. Harry was last seen in competitive action in 2006 at the Wild Thing Raceway, Glenvista shortly after the Saggerson's relocation to South Africa. The action was sadly plagued by mechanical gremlins and a couple of mishaps with Saggerson laying his machine down on the George bend resulting in a badly sprained hand. With Harry off track, Tyrone Hodges and Dillon Bown diced it out for honours. In the third heat Lydon Geldenhuys lost control of his bike coming out of the pit bend and fell in front of Bown. Bown succeeded in avoiding Geldenhuys but damaged his ankle after clipping Lydon’s machine. Tyrone Hodges emerged as the top rider on the night. The next 'Fast Friday' race night will be on February 28. Reporter, David Austin.
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