OFFICIAL: NEW PROMOTERS TAKE OVER LISMORE SPEEDWAY!

By Dennis Newlyn

A new era commences at Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway for the 2022-23 season under the promotion of husband and wife team Mick and Kim Sauer.

They are excited to be investing into the future of speedway at the historic showground venue and also honouring past traditions following the July 1 takeover.

Promoter David Lander ends his tenure as longest serving promoter at the NSW Northern Rivers venue. Lander took over from Greg Coombes for the 2007-2008 season and during his time he brought international and national title events for major categories to Lismore.

“We’ve had some great years and I know Mick and Kim are capable of carrying on the mantle of one of the most successful tracks in Australia going right back in time. It’s now time for me to move on and I do it with satisfaction and sadness as I have established some wonderful working relationships with many people who have cemented strong friendships. I wish Mick and Kim all the best for the future,” Lander said.

Lander will be available in an advisory capacity as the new season commences.

Mick and Kim Sauer have a prime objective and that is to bring back some of the more traditional events in Lismore’s history – a prime example, the East Coast Sedan Grand National (February 18.) That will also be “old school” night with a nostalgic theme “and we want everyone to bring their oldest T-shirt or jacket,” Mick enthused.

The biggest challenge they face entering their first season of promotion is the devastation and massive damage caused by the floods in recent times – not only to the speedway but also the City of Lismore and its surrounds. There is still so much work to be done to get the speedway up and running due to the extensive damage to the showground and its surrounds.

It really is a case of rebuilding the speedway with the town and that means a lot of hard work involved. The devastation is still being felt in many areas and the Lismore CBD will take literally years to recover. This means potential track sponsorships are also not so easily obtainable. But Mick and Kim Sauer want to help the community overcome such adversity by providing an enjoyable and entertaining family fun night at the speedway to get through what has been the worst period in Lismore’s history.

AUSTRALIAN V8 DIRT MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP

The Sauers have secured the Australian V8 Dirt Modified Championship as one of the stand alone highlights set for two nights (April 8 and 9).

The time honoured Australian Speedcar Grand Prix returns to Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway and will be run on February 4.

NSW SUPER SEDAN & SSA JUNIOR SEDAN STATE TITLE

The New South Wales Super Sedan Championship and SSA Junior Sedan state title will be decided on the April 22 card.

The 2022-23 calendar will run from November 11 through to June 11. The bulk of the season – with regular fortnightly programming – is from the November 5 season opener to May 6. A pre-season practice night (November 4) is set down for the eve of the new season commencement. There are still some dates, and categories, to be confirmed in the 16 fixture season.

NSW WINGLESS TITLE

The list of state titles was further increased when the New South Wales Wingless Sprint Championship was added to the schedule.

The event will be contested at the May 6 meeting.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“We firstly want to acknowledge David Lander for his years of dedication and loyal service he has given to Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway. We are proud to carry on what he has established for this circuit,” Mick Sauer praised.

“We also just want people to go there and have fun and enjoy a night at Lismore Speedway, then we’re all winners. We want to make it family friendly at Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway.”

To coincide with the opening night and the traditional running of the V8 Dirt Modified Lord Mayor’s Cup, a city-centre fan appreciation day will be held on Saturday morning November 5 in the countdown to that night’s opening fixture.

V8 Dirt Modifieds are booked for eight nights. In addition to their national title, the annual Mr Modified series will again be held and is set for three rounds commencing December 26 (Boxing Night), followed by round two (January 7) and the final on March 18. V8 Dirt Modifieds are also scheduled for April 1 as prelude to the two night national title the following weekend. The final meeting of the season for V8 Dirt Modifieds will be May 6.

SPRINTCARS & NSW LATE MODEL CHAMPIONSHIP

Sprintcars are also slated for appearances, with the first show set tentatively for November 19, while later in the season the 410 thundering Sprintcars are confirmed for March 4.

The traditional kids’ Christmas Party has been retained (December 3), with the New South Wales Late Model Championship also decided that night as the major speedway event on the programme. Compact Speedcars and Lightning Sprints are the race supports to a visit by Santa Claus and kids novelty events in what will again be a family entertainment spectacular.

Still on that theme, there will be a Hot Wheels Stunt Show to be a part of the V8 Dirt Modifieds’ January 7 fixture. The stunt team will be making their first speedway appearance. Children and families will be in for a treat when these daredevil performers are let loose on the arena. Still on the family entertainment theme, January 14 will be a Monster Truck night with massive fireworks display also featured.

Other categories listed for race night appearances during the 2022-23 season are Formula 500s, Modified Sedans, Production Sedans, Street Stockers, Modlites and both the SSA and RSA Junior Sedan categories.

The June long weekend will be twilight fixture, commencing at 1pm both days (June 10-11). “Our initial thoughts are to have five or six divisions and all of them running 50 lap races. We are also planning for a country music theme,” Mick explained.

The tentative planning for the Modified Sedans will be a part of their Tri-Series in which the Lismore round supports the two series events set down for Toowoomba Speedway. The Lismore date is pencilled in for November 19.

Proposed 2022-23 Calendar:

4/11/22:    Practice Night

5/11/22:    Fan Appreciation Day City Centre

5/11/22:    Lord Mayor’s Cup Dirt Modifieds, Fireworks, AMCAs, Wingless Sprints, RSA Street Stocks, SSA Juniors.

19/11/22:  Sprintcar (tbc), Modified Sedans Tri Hustle Series Rnd 2,Wingless Sprints, Production Sedans, SSA Juniors.

3/12/22:    Kids’ Christmas Party, Late Models NSW title, Wingless Sprints, AMCAs, Compact Speedcars, Lightning Sprints, RSA Juniors,

                 Santa Clause kids novelty events.

26/12/22: Mr Modified Round 1 Dirt Modifieds, Wingless Sprints, AMCAs, RSA Street Stocks, SSA Juniors.

7/1/23:     Hot Wheels Stunt Show, Mr Modified Round 2 Dirt Modifieds, Wingless Sprints 50 lapper, Production Sedans, RSA Street                       Stocks, SSA Juniors.

14/1/23:   Monster Trucks, Monster Fireworks, Wingless Sprints, AMCAs, Formula 500s Juniors, Production Sedans, SSA Street Stocks.

4/2/23:     Australian Speedcar Grand Prix, Modlites, Wingless Sprints, Formula 500 Juniors, RSA Street Stocks.

18/2/23:   Old School Speedway Night, East Coast Grand National Super Sedans,SSA Production Sedans, SSA Street Stockers, SSA                    Juniors.

4/3/23:     Sprintcars, Wingless Sprints, AMCAs, Production Sedans, RSA Street Stocks.

18/3/23:   Mr Modified Final Dirt Modifieds, Wingless Sprints, Production Sedans, Formula 500s Gilltrans Series, Formula 500 Juniors,                       SSA Street Stocks.

1/4/23:     Prelude to the national title, Wingless Sprints, Compact Speedcars, Lightning Sprints.

8/4/23:     Australian V8 Dirt Modified Championship, Production Sedans, RSA Street Stockers, SSA Juniors.

9/4/23:     Australian V8 Dirt Modified Championship, Production Sedans, RSA Street Stockers, SSA Juniors.

10/4/23:   Rainout.

22/4/23:   Brims Coastal Cement NSW Super Sedan title, NSW SSA Junior title, Modified Sedans, SSA Production Sedans, SSA Street  Stockers.

6/5/23:     Wingless Sprints NSW title, Dirt Modifieds, Late Models, RSA Street Stocks, RSA Juniors.

10/6/23:   Firecracker 50 Night 1 Heats, AMCAs, Wingless Sprints, Production Sedans, SSA Street Stocks, SSA Juniors.

11/6/23:   Firecracker 50 Night 2 Finals, AMCAs, Wingless Sprints, Production Sedans, SSA Street Stocks, SSA Juniors.