Sport
9 October, 2025
Gil Speedway is back in action
Gilgandra Speedway roared back to life for the 2025–26 season opener on Sunday, October 5, with the event marking not only the return of racing excitement but also the official celebration of the venue’s extensive upgrades.
The Speedway committee, led by secretary Louise Harland and president David Murray, have worked tirelessly to transform the track.
The result is a five-star speedway venue that is now the envy of many tracks across the eastern seaboard; and being the second only in the state, behind a five-star Sydney track.
The club’s enthusiasm, commitment, and determination have been widely praised for delivering a venue that now stands among the best in the country. The Gilgandra Speedway first raced in 1991, and it has operated ever since, with only a brief pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, and during the past eight months for the upgrades.
The Gilgandra Shire Council has long shared a close partnership with the Speedway committee, and when the need for an upgrade became clear, council was eager to assist.
From November 2023, council has helped secure funding through grants and provided a loan to cover financial shortfalls. Two years and more than half a million dollars later, with strong guidance from the Speedway Association of Australia, the project has come to fruition. A new concrete barrier wall has been installed around the 426-metre clay racetrack topped by a new safety ‘catch fence’ to protect spectators, together with a pit gate upgrade, to allow for the resumption of racing.
Speedway race meetings attract an average of 80 drivers, 40 volunteers and 350 race patrons injecting spending into the local economy while providing an exciting venue for locals to gather and socialise. The return of racing was celebrated with about 180 cars competing across nine divisions, from national and state divisions to crash and bash, wingless sprints, V8s, and junior races.
Gilgandra Shire Council’s mayor Doug Batten extended thanks to the contractors involved in the project, acknowledging their perseverance and the high quality of their work despite the challenges faced.
Mayor Batten said they were proud to have partnered with the committee on such an important community project.
“This development contributes greatly to the economic vitality and community spirit of our region,” he said.
Also present was Stephen Lawrence MLC, representing the NSW minister for lands and property, Steve Kamper MP. Mr Lawrence praised the collaboration and the scale of the achievement, noting that the state government contributed a $500,000 grant from the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund to help bring the project to life.
“I remember seeing the grant application and thinking how impressive it was,” Mr Lawrence said.
“Most applications are for much smaller amounts, so this success is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of Louise Harland and everyone involved, including the council. They clearly put together a compelling and competitive submission.”
Mr Lawrence also expressed his excitement to experience the new track firsthand, joking that he might slow things down when he took a lap later in the day.
The reopening event drew a large crowd of competitors, spectators, and community members, all eager to witness the rebirth of the much-loved venue.
With a world-class track, enthusiastic organisers, and strong community support, Gilgandra Speedway looks set for a thrilling and successful season ahead.
