Sport
3 October, 2025
Gil Speedway returns to the track
With much-needed renovations recently completed, the Gilgandra District Speedway Club (Gil Speedway) will host its bumper grand re-opening meeting on Sunday, October 5.
“Let’s cut the opening ribbon and start racing,” Gil Speedway said. “Such exciting times for us. Getting ready for some awesome racing. We can’t wait to see everyone back at the track with their backside’s trackside.”
Sunday’s meeting is set to feature Wingless Sprints, the NSW Super Sedans, ACMA Nationals, and V8 Dirt Modifieds with more than 180 drivers, including interstate competitors, set to attend. Racing Sedans Australia (RSA) Junior Sedans, Fender Benders, Street Stockers, Fast Fours, and Modlites will also be held.
It has been more than eight months since the January Australia Day long weekend double header that attracted more than 500 spectators.
With the key support of Gilgandra Shire Council and also plenty of in-kind volunteer labour, major renovation works commenced in February and include a new racing wall, pit gate and catch fence, after Gil Speedway received a Crown Lands funding grant.
An inspection of the speedway site was also completed in late August. The goal was always getting back to racing on the October long weekend and it will happen.
A track re-surface was also completed last week and Gil Speedway also now has an AED defibrillator onsite in case of emergency.
At the re-opening this Sunday, gates open at 10am when scrutineering commences and spectators are encouraged to arrive before the official re-opening which will take place around 3.30pm before racing commences at 4pm on Sunday afternoon.
Special guests will include NSW parliament member of the legislative council, Stephen Lawrence, and general manager of Gilgandra Shire Council (GSC), David Neeves.
GSC’s business paper for the September 16 council meeting demonstrated the detail in and importance of the Gil Speedway project.
“Following Speedway Australia’s annual track inspection on September 24, 2023 at the Gilgandra Speedway, it was identified that urgent works were required to the cement wall and catch fence to continue racing,” the GSC business paper stated.
“Speedway Australia reduced the Gilgandra Speedways Star Rating from a three-star, down to a one-star, impacting their ability to run divisions and highlighting an urgency to complete the necessary improvements.”
In November 2023, Gil Speedway approached GSC for assistance with an upcoming application to the 2023-204 Crown Reserves Improvement Fund for replacement of the speedway cement track wall, for much-needed and urgent replacement of the wall, allowing the club to continue racing and hosting events in support of the local community and economy. In May 2024, GSC was successful in receiving a grant funding allocation of $477,413 (excluding GST).
Key construction project elements included the new 1.3 metre high concrete safety wall, a new six metre high pit gate and 4.7 metre high catch fence along with reinstating existing light poles and other works.
Total expenditure was finalised at $636,785 however, the GSC has made a $55,818 contribution to design and project management and offered a 15-year interest free loan totalling $103,554 to ensure the project stayed on budget. In August, council met on site with Contractors Conseth Solutions, Gilgandra Speedway, and Speedway Australia for a project completion inspection.
Following the inspection by Speedway Australia, the Gilgandra Speedway has now become eligible for a five-star rating, provisional of renewal of the crowd control fence. The club is currently completing this element using volunteer labour.
“At the completion of these minor works the Gilgandra Speedway will become only one of two (five) 5-star tracks in NSW, the other being Sydney International Speedway.
With a (five) 5-star rating the Gilgandra Speedway will be able to race all national divisions and titles, including sprint cars and monster trucks,” states council’s September business paper.
Gil Speedway will also be a part of the Street Parade on Saturday, October 4 as Gilgandra readies itself for a huge weekend with the Goin’ to Gil Festival.
Amongst all the new works, Gil Speedway held its annual general meeting in August and elected the following committee, David Murray (president), Louise Harland (secretary), Zoe Howard (ASS secretary) Michael Broom, Nathan Harland and Richard Howard (vice-presidents), Kelly Broom (treasurer), and Hannah Harland (canteens co-ordinator).
The club also hosted the RSA Awards in July, with Gil Speedway members Nathan Harland and Jye Pope receiving special awards.
This weekend’s grand re-opening is part of a huge 2025/2026 calendar for Gil Speedway, which opened back in 1988.
Following meetings are set to be held in November this year before the Australia Day weekend double-header to kick-off 2026 with further meetings scheduled for February, March, April and May.
