Day's Park Raceway - The Final Race Meeting

News of a kart circuit awaiting to be bulldozed to oblivion is never good, but that is unfortunately the case with the Gold Coast Kart Club's Days Park Raceway.

For 25 years the track has been home to the Gold Coast club and has produced many national and state champions. However, despite the club owning the property, the residential housing sprawl (plus the fact a school has been built at the location) sees kart racing forced out.

The club is currently considering a number of options and locations for a new home. More information about this will be published once confirmed.

 

The Final Race Meeting - by Rod Green

A sea of conflicting emotions washed over competitors and spectators at Gold Coast on the 16th & 17th of February at the last ever race meeting held at Day’s Park Raceway.  Feelings of sadness, frustration, anger and despair, were mixed with joy, hope, determination, and excitement, as the178 karters and their supporters made sure that we went out with a bang, and not a whimper.

We had karters, who had only just joined the club, devastated, after finding out that the track was closing, just there to “have a go”. Many others who we don’t see very often couldn’t stay away. A number of people who have been out of the sport for years re-joined and got their license just so they could race at the big finale.

The racing was of an excellent standard with many exciting and daring passing manoeuvres witnessed. The Winners were Aaron Seaton, Sam Howard, Mitchell Whitehead, Ben Stewart, Trent Moore, Lee Castle, Barclay Holden, Geoff Urhane, Wayne Nipperness, Sam Missen, & Benjamin Dunley.

After the meeting, long time members who have been coming to our track all their lives began souveniring pieces of the track to take home to help ease the pain.

Dot Hilton, the wife of our founding president, was there to see the last few races and she stayed for the trophy presentation. A shower of rain at this time failed to dampen the spirits of the members who had stayed to share in the sausage sizzle and reminisce about old times.

Personally, I was overcome by emotion on the last lap of Clubman Light, so much so that I missed the apex and spun out at the end of the straight. The memories will never fade.

It is amazing to see the how this devastating blow to our club has galvanised our members. Our club spirit has never been stronger, and I am sure that as the enormity of this occasion sinks in, the support for our club, rather than dying, will grow to new heights at the approach of our new facility - which, unfortunately, is still a long way off.

Many thanks must go out to all the people who, in spite of the black cloud hanging over us, have helped make this last meeting such a great success. Thank you, Jo Yarwood, the Galos Family, Kathy & Alan Thompson, Geoff Salmon, Mick & Frank King, Robbie Daniels, Alf & Maureen Capri, Tom Keneally, Stan Sands, John Sewell, Darryl Williams, Corrine French, Belinda Woods, to name a few, & don’t forget the Canteen Ladies.

Results - Last Chance To Race Meeting: (raced over 2 heats, pre-final and final, with the final the decider)

Clubman Heavy: 1 Sam Missen, 2 Lane moore, 3 Andrew Scott
Midgets: 1 Aaron Seton, 2 Cameron Butler, 3 Nathan Pearce
Clubman Light: 1 Barclay Holden, 2 Geoffrey Uhrhane, 3 Greg Heslewood
Sen ARC Evol Light: 1 Richard Dimmock, 2 Scott Sorrenson, 3 Pete Nolloth
Sen ARC Evol Heavy: 1 Larry Fyee
Rotax Light: 1 Geoffrey Uhrhane, 2 Kane Rowsell, 3 Damien McPhee
Rookies: 1 Mitchell Whitehead, 2 Jordan Conder, 3 Ashton Crockett-Gardner
Rotax Heavy: 1 Trent Moore, 2 Joel Allingham, 3 Nick Smith
Qld TaG Light: 1 Lee Castle, 2 Kristopher Wall, 3 John Flack
Jnr ARC Evol Heavy: 1 Ben Stewart, 2 Luke Baldry, 3 Steven Giofere
Clubman Over 40s: 1 Wayne Nipperess, 2 Ivo Dal-Cin, 3 Nigel Ward
Clubman Heavy P-Platers: 1 Mitchell Boulton, 2 Bradley Durien, 3 Dylan Hunter
Qld TaG Heavy: 1 Benjamin Dunley, 2 Gerry Brookes, 3 Nick Smith
Jnr ARC Evol Light: 1 Sam Howard, 2 Lucas Ward, 3 Hayden Cooper

 

Home