LISMORE: OCTOBER 16 PRACTICE NIGHT CANCELLED

STORY: DENNIS NEWLYN

The Saturday, October 16 practice at Castrol Edge Lismore Speedway has been cancelled.

Promoter David Lander was left with no alternative due to the ongoing COVID rules and restrictions.

The requirements for entry for everyone into the ground is double vaccination proof and the social distancing rules will apply despite lock down restrictions being eased.

COVID not only has caused a change of plans for the practice night, but also present NSW Health orders could result in a possible later than scheduled start to the 2021-2022 Lismore season.

Lander says there is some degree of uncertainty going into November and a chance the season will be adjusted accordingly to cope with the ongoing health crisis – and that’s how David Lander describes the situation.

“The NSW Health measures that have been put in place mean this is not just a walk up start to the upcoming season despite lock down restrictions lifted.

“Being double vaccinated is a rule that applies to all public venues which requires mandatory procedures to be adopted and applied under conditions of entry. It’s not like the COVID-free days when running a race meeting was only a formality and you hoped the weather was on your side so a good crowd would turn up. There are now added difficulties that have been put in place because of COVID.

“It’s a whole lot different now and there’s no doubt times have changed – and it will be that way for a while yet – due to COVID.”

The original season opening date remains November 6 with the annual running of the V8 Dirt Modified Lismore Gold Cup, however that could change as daily COVID cases are monitored in mainstream media. Obviously, a sudden downward turn can add even greater uncertainty, before and during the upcoming season.