WILLMINGTON WARMS TO EXCITING SPEEDWAY CHALLENGE

SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY MEDIA COVERAGE

Feature photo by: Gary Reid… Garry Willmington trackside

News is news no matter what it might be, it always has to be treated and reported accordingly . . . so the fact that Sydney International Speedway at Eastern Creek has consolidated its recent reopening with two more race dates this month, it has to be “put out there”  with as much exposure as possible. That’s the news business and how it works.

Publisher/owner of Illustrated News website/Facebook platforms and long time News Corp daily newspaper speedway correspondent Dennis Newlyn got good space in the sports pages of Australia’s biggest selling newspaper, Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph (May 5). Story details the future planning by promoter Garry Willmington at the venue, also mentions the proposed long-awaited return of bikes to the Sydney scene and article landed in a good position on the footy pages. More importantly, it gets speedway into the mainstream media which always has to be the objective.

By Dennis Newlyn      

When recently installed Sydney International Speedway promoter Garry Willmington opened the front gate of the Eastern Creek venue, it was like walking into a furnace.

The track, which commenced operation in March, 2022, was surrounded in continuing controversy and has been the hottest topic of conversation in the sport.

It was more than just securing the key to the premises after almost 12 months without racing.

The circumstances surrounding the new lease allocation in December 2023 after talks broke down between Greater Sydney Parklands and previous track operators Speedway Promotions to continue their control of the circuit created tension.

In the countdown to a pre-season practice last February and the venue’s successful reopening on March 23, Willmington, who comes from an extensive car road racing background, had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Expectations were high and after announcing four scheduled race dates from March to May, it meant every planning decision came under scrutiny from the speedway fraternity.

“I went there with my eyes open. I knew it was not going to be easy. I don’t like looking back or consumed by negativity. We were criticised for not providing advanced publicity but we were not going to make promises we could not fulfill. We’re putting every cent that comes through the gates back into the place,” Willmington said.

“We want to make it as good as we can for the spectators by making the racing as exciting as possible. Speedway is meant to be non-stop action for spectators and families.”

Willmington is already looking toward next season and the long awaited Sydney return of bike racing is part of his ambitious plans.

Photo: Motorcycling NSW Daniel Rushworth and Sydney International Speedway Track Manager Garry Willmington.

“I am just waiting now for Motorcycling Australia to do a track inspection and the procedure we have to follow to get the inner track ready for bikes. That will also mean removing the inner concrete barrier. We are hoping to do some Sunday events for different categories and by next Spring we are in a position to run bikes at the venue.”

Looking toward next season, Willmington says there will be plenty of racing, “but the first thing I wanted to do was fix the track so that it’s more racy and easier on engines.”

The track layout has now been realigned so that dimensions are exactly the same as the former Parramatta City Raceway. “We intend to run about 16 Sprintcar fixtures, as well as meetings for other car divisions in addition to some mid-week meetings. We are going to run some of these Sunday fixtures to determine the divisions that we believe will provide the best racing entertainment next season.

“I want the venue to be the best track in Australia and then the world,” Willmington concluded.