The Greatest Aussie Speedway Race You’ve Never Heard Of
In our motorsporting travels, we love it when we stumble across something that is truly unique.
Over the weekend, we discovered another gem, far away in the Victorian backlots, with a genuinely serious format that has us wanting more.
Get Your Backside Trackside
Over the past few years, we’ve gone all in on regional Victorian speedway. Venues such as Nyora, Rosedale, and Drouin are easily accessible from Melbourne, and they turn on some wickedly fun events, including ramp racing at the latter venue.
Because they are club-run affairs, you don’t mind paying a cover charge to see the action, especially when you get to enjoy a side serving of high-quality country hospitality.
A smidge over two hours driving north-east of downtown Melbourne sits the pretty little town of Alexandra, population 2,801.
The racing at the Alexandra & District Speedway Incorporated has always piqued our interest, but the stars have never quite aligned to get there for an event – however, as it transpires, being an hour south of Winton, it was the perfect stop off on the way home from Saturday’s Festival of Speed.
Located just outside the town, the speedway sits adjacent to the Alexandra horse racing track, which is crisscrossed by the town’s golf course – hopefully, the pair successfully coordinate their calendars.
The first hint that you’re in for something cool is the sign at the gate stating the strict 1am noise curfew – there’s none of this 10pm bullshit in Alexandra.
The Race
While the speedway-attending public is used to short, sharp sprints, Alexandra’s Three Hour Tag Team Enduro is unlike anything we have probably ever seen.
Firstly, the entry requirements are very much loose leaf – if you have a speedway car with a roof, that fits within the provided safety specs, you can have a race, which brings an eclectic mix to the table.
For instance, expect to see Super Sedans up against AMCAs, Standard Saloons, and even pocket rocket 1200cc Junior sedans, as commandeered by adults for the purposes of endurance racing.
Oh, and by the way, on the weekend, there were well over 30 cars on track – which leads to my only criticism of the format – it was really difficult to know where to look, because way too much was happening at any given moment.
The format was simple: teams consisted of one to two cars and a maximum of two drivers, with tags amongst the teams happening back in the paddock, with the pit gate left open throughout the encounter.
This meant that strategy was at a premium—while Super Sedans are bloody quick, more standard machinery was kept in the race by spending extended stints on track.
While typically, with speedway racing, the aim is to go real fast and real left, for the Three Hour, an added twist was thrown into the mix – a right-hand hairpin.
While the oval track has an inside pole line of 570m and some decent banking, the venue’s Dog Leg configuration has a significant detour through the infield and around a tree—think Queensland Raceway’s design, in dirt and running backwards.
Clearly, the setups on some cars were designed around a 180-degree right, with hilarity often ensuing…
For the record, it was a grandstand finish, with the top two split by only 6sec at the conclusion of 274 laps.
The Trackside Experience
Firstly, camping is free, and clearly taken up by many, with the expansive outfield covered in motorhomes, caravans and tents.
Secondly, the fans trackside were absolutley well versed in enjoying their motorsport.
Food and beverage essentials were abundant, as were fire pits, and many families brought their canine friends along for the experience.
Even for those who didn’t BYO a BBQ, a huge sausage and onion roll set you back $3.50, which totally made financial sense.
Further to those camped out with ringside seats next to the fence, a massive hillside provided a brilliant vista over the venue, and with the backdrop of towering mountains, it would be hard to find a prettier speedway.
While the Three Hour has existed since 2011, the crown jewel event at Alexandra is the 100-lap Derby, which has been held on the King’s Birthday Long Weekend since 1975.
Described as the ‘Bathurst 1000 of Speedway Racing,’ the event follows a similar open rulebook, with strategy once again being a factor.
All evidence suggests that it is a truly big deal, so sign us up for that one, too…
Mark Walker (administrator)
A vastly experienced Motorsport Public Relations operator, journalist, commentator and photographer, Mark brings his unique angle to The Race Torque in both words and imagery. As well as serving as our key photographer on the ground at major events around Australia (and overseas), Walker will often chime in with his unique and pin-point sharp viewpoint of the racing world via the keyboard too.
