Motor Racing
16 January, 2025
Blue Ribbon Speedway opens 2025 with a blast
Horsham’s Blue Ribbon Raceway kicked off its 2025 season with a fantastic night of dirt track action featuring a wide variety of six classes of Speedway racing on Saturday, January 4.
Despite the 40-plus degrees heat in the lead-up to the event, the track staff produced a fast and juicy race surface that provided plenty of passing, thrills, and spills for the large crowd in attendance.
The main class on the night was the Southern Street Stock Series, with almost 30
competitors suiting up for battle, with competitors from South Australia coming over to take on the home state.
After a hard-fought series of heat racing and a last chance B Main, the top 20 point scorers fronted for the 30-lap final with 15 laps running in each direction to keep the competitors on their toes, proving they need to be just as skilled going in both traditional (left) and non traditional directions.
Victorian Mitch Viney would prove to be a worthy winner. After qualifying in Pole Position, he was never headed in the 30-lap final. Thomas Garner from the southeastern corner of South Australia would finish a well-deserved runner-up and rounding out the top four podium were Victorian’s Bhoe Paterson and Jayden Blomeley.
After a solid mid-field battle, Jayden Edwards, Mick Clark, Mark Jennings and Bryan Brown would all finish on the lead lap, while Ricky Throckmortan and Matthew Martin rounded out the top ten. Jack Jordan, Darren Flatman, Matt LePoidevin, Cameron Merrett and Peter Morris were the final finishers, while Patrick Hall, Drew Flatman, Alex Merrett, Brooklyn Winterfield (B Main winner) and Hayden Glare were listed in the did not finish column.
The Unlimited Sedans were out in force to gain valuable laps in the lead-up to their state championship scheduled for Saturday, February 1, at the Blue Ribbon venue.
Warrick Taylor proved a powerhouse, clean sweeping all three heats and the 15-lap final over the seven other competitors. Corey McDonald was second, followed home by Anthony McKean, Jaryd Carman and Daryl Nicolson one lap in the rears.
Steve Perry proved too strong in the Production Sedan final, taking his Holden Commodore to Victory Lane over locals Shaun Queale and Dean Hughes, both sporting Ford Falcons. Rounding out the top half dozen were Mark Riley, Alex Miller and Blake Adam.
The popular V8 Truck final would be curtailed early after front-runner Luke James lost a wheel. Second at the time was Dean Thomas, who was awarded the race victory over Fletcher Mills and Truck debutants Maxi Muller and Jacinta Jones. James was placed as a did not finish after causing the race stoppage.
South Australia’s Riley Greig was too strong in the 1200 Junior Sedans, taking all three heats and the 12-lap final in convincing fashion. Jack Mills led the final early before conceding the lead and filling the runner-up position. Libby Ahearn and Rebecca Johnstone were next, while Archie Thomas’ luck ran out after blowing his differential.
A small field of only three Limited Sportsman were in attendance. The night started well for Shaun Hutchins taking the opening heat, but from that point, a determined Craig Ansell would take the next two and the 8-lap final. Ash Harrison ran consistently all evening in third.
WRITTEN BY PARIS CHARLES