ACRES Speedway Racing

So looking forward to Tamworth this Saturday night.

Pam Franz has passed away. Pam and Speedway Sedans are one and the same. Pam and I go back to the mid-80s when I became the Secretary of the Townsville & District Saloon Car Club. Pam was an Executive of the Queensland Saloon Car Association, now Speedway Sedans Queensland and has been so ever since. Through my role, I had much to do with Pam and we met on many occasions when I attended the QSCA State meetings in Brisbane and/or Rockhampton.
And of course, whenever I went racing at the many tracks throughout Queensland, Pam was always there. She was just the most nicest, friendliest, helpful person there ever could be.
What she didn't know about Speedway Sedans wasn't worth knowing.
When I relinquished my position in 2005, I didn't see Pam again until 2022 when I took Brooklyn and Damien racing and nothing had changed. She welcomed me like an old friend and as I was new to the changes in Sedan racing, she was most helpful in guiding me through all aspects of the new racing rules and regulations.
Pam was the face of Speedway, not just in Queensland but throughout the whole country. She will be missed tremendously by everyone. I will certainly miss that friendly smile whenever I'm at a racetrack where she would have been. R.I.P. Pam, my friend.

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Brooklyn raced at Grafton on Saturday night. This was a meeting that Grafton only recently added as a finale to their season. And what a beauty it was. As well as Speedway, they had Monster Trucks, Fireworks and a Demo Derby. The place was packed. In fact they "sold out". All the seating was full and the crowd was a few deep around the fence. And I can't imagine that anyone went home disappointed. The Fireworks were great and although there were only about 8 cars the Demo Derby was entertaining too. And the kids of course, loved the Monster Trucks. Personally, I wouldn't walk across the street to see Monster Trucks but I'm not a kid. And the Speedway racing was first class. CONGRATULATIONS to the Grafton Speedway for a tremendous night.
Brooklyn didn't have the greatest of nights but she finished all three heats and the 20-lap feature. The track wasn't to her liking. The Feature was originally to be 50 laps but there were not enough Fast Fours to warrant it. There were only 12 nominated to start with and to me, that was disappointing enough. But then several didn't show leaving only 7 to race. Come Feature time, there were only 5. Jackson Bailey left everyone in his wake but the race between Stephen Keeler and NSW Champ, Brodie King for second place was tremendous. Brodie eventually won out. Wally Rudder was 4th and Brookie 5th.
Our next race meet and the last for the season will be at Tamworth on June 27th. There's a special event on that night, a Ladies' race and we just might put a friend of Brooklyn's in the Mirage. They tell me there'll be 3 heats and a Feature for the Ladies. Well, I didn't really figure on that. I thought one or two races, but not 4. That's a bit risky. I want Brooklyn to have her 4 races as usual. Anyway, we shall see.
A couple of photos from Grafton below. One shows Brodie King about to lap Brookie and the other where he has lapped her and Stephen Keeler is also about to.

Although Damien is not racing with us anymore, I still consider him part of the Acres Team of course. Now, I did this with Brooklyn for her 20th a couple of weeks ago, so I'm going to do the same with Damien and embarrass him. After all, he turns the big 18 on June 3rd. Let's trace some of his life in (a lot of) photos from when he was born in Johannesburg South Africa. The family moved to Australia in January 2011.
I know I'm a bit early, but what's it matter.
After all, I'll have our Grafton meeting to report on after the weekend.
Happy 18th Birthday to MY BEST BUDDY, Damien.

Nice little article in the May Gwydir News. Thanks once again to the Gwydir News

I got back from Townsville last Thursday night and only had Friday to finish off work on the car after the huge wreck in Lismore on Easter Sunday. Everything went well and Brooklyn and I were off to Tamworth on the Saturday morning.
Brooklyn loves Tamworth and the track didn't disappoint as usual. It's so smooth. Heats one and two were ok and then Brooklyn started on Pole in Heat 3. She drove a fabulous race until an incident when she was spun. (Watch the East Coast Motorsport Media's video very closely in Turns 3 and 4 and make up your own mind on who was a little out of control). Thankfully, she was put back in her rightful spot for the restart.
I was so pleased with the car's performance after the damage that had been done in Lismore.
The next day, off to Gunnedah. It was unfortunate that a few words were said to Brooklyn about that incident at Tamworth and that put a damper on her racing for the day. Nevertheless, she got through all heats and the Feature without any dramas despite the track being the complete opposite to Tamworth. It was a shame that only 5 cars fronted for the racing in Gunnedah. (Hunter Smith was there too but had a problem that prevented him from racing).
We were quite happy with the weekend. Next Saturday, we're off to Grafton for the Fast Fours 50-lapper Firecracker.
The photos below show Brooklyn in the action at Tamworth with Brodie King leading and Belle Jenner and Grant Jackson chasing her down and at Gunnedah where Brodie King is about to lap Brooklyn.

With my 80th coming up on the 18th, let's not forget Brooklyn. She was born in Johannesburg on my 60th birthday. Thus, she will be 20 on the 18th. Let's reflect a little on her 20 years. She has always been a little adventurous. Let's go through her 20 years in photos. She was in South Africa 2006/7/8/9/10. She's a beautiful girl of whom I'm so proud.
No, I won't go through my 80 years in photos.

Big night last night. Gloria surprised me with a gathering of my fellow Speedway friends in Townsville to celebrate my 80th birthday - which isn't until the 18th. We have many friends from all sections of Speedway here in Townsville and most of those sections were represented last night. Bernie Koppe, Peter "Grub" Christopher, Jackie and Bob Moon (Aussie Champ, Tyler Moon's grandparents) representing Solos and Sidecars. Bernie and Grub used to consider Gloria and me their good-luck charms. It seemed everywhere their sons, Scotty Christopher and Trent Koppe went racing and won, we were there. And that included their "World" Title on the Isle of Wight in the UK in 2006.
Jacky Freeman, wife of the late, Wayne who raced Solos. Jacky has just returned from a lengthy overseas jaunt.
Dave and Meryline Roderick who were the Promoters of Townsville Speedway in the late 80s to mid-90s were there. Nice people with whom we became good friends.
Ross and Michelle Bullimore and Bob Huston. Ross and I go right back to June 16 1973 when I first raced at Savanna Speedway. Ross, only a kid then was in that very first race.
Jason Haines and his wife, Louise came all the way from the Atherton Tablelands for the gathering. Jason and I had a great relationship, especially when he was President of the Townsville & District Saloon Car Club and I was the Secretary.
John Parry Snr and I go back to the Savanna days. His son John and wife, Aleta who have only recently moved back from Coffs Harbour, and who followed the Acres Team early in our ventures at Grafton and Lismore were there.
Ron, Ros and Daniel Yarrow. Ron used to race a Mini Modified Production in Townsville but we've run into them at other Speedways far and wide at times.
Noel Schell and Colin Windridge, fellow racers in Townsville. Paul and Socorro Marsh, just the nicest people. Brian Stagg, long time friend and brother of Evan, with whom I raced a thousand times at Townsville and other tracks. (Unfortunately, Evan passed away a couple of years ago).
Alan and Judy Iverson. Al drove a mean F500 and their son, Kaydon too, followed suit as well as, more recently racing a Sprintcar.
Ros and Danny Moscardini. Danny lived down the road from Gloria and me and I like to think that it was I who got him into racing. He raced a mean VC Valiant which I later bought from him.
Rhonda and son, Adam. Adam is one of the hottest Modified Sedan drivers in the State. Unfortunately, his dad, Graham wasn't there. We and the Jorgos have been friends since the early day of the Bohle Speedway.
It was such a nice night catching up with everyone at the Bohle Barn with the band Cranky Pants playing.
Besides Speedway friends, there were other friends there too and I must thank everyone VERY MUCH for coming. You made my night.
Oh, and the cake. Have a look below at the photos on top. The collage cover different classes of Speedway - and we love it all.
(In the photo, Adam is on the left, his wife, Tara on my left and Jason Haines at right).
Oh, as a note. Brooklyn will be 20 on the 18th too. She was born on my 60th birthday)

Well, as it turned out, the damage to the Mirage wasn't as bad as I would have expected and I had it almost ready to race again and nominated for Gatton on the 18th.
Unfortunately, because of a drama back home in Townsville, I had to fly home last Saturday the 11th.
Our beautiful 14-year-old dog, Molly became seriously ill and I needed to support Gloria through a very trying time. And once home, we were able to make the very hard decision to put her to sleep. There was no recovery from her kidney failure and she was suffering quite badly. She passed that very afternoon.
And so Gatton will come and go.
Our next meeting will be Tamworth on May 23 and Gunnedah the next day.'
I'd loved to have done Narrabri on April 25th but now that I'm home, I'm staying a while. I've got a big birthday (80) coming up on May 18th so I'll spend that with my beautiful wife of almost 56 years, Gloria.
After the Gunnedah meet, the next and last for the season will be at Tamworth again on June 27th.
I am hoping that we get a run at Western Sydney Speedway on the 21st but we haven't heard if it's going ahead or not and if it does, what classes they run. Time will tell.
Anyway, see you all at Tamworth on May 23rd.

Hi everyone. Shaq was away but were there any other photographers at Lismore on Easter Sunday? Thanks

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