February 16th, 2024$50k to get back to racin’ at the Basin
The Daylesford Speedway Drivers Association, administrators of the Daylesford Speedway track in the Basin Reserve, have set up a GoFundMe page to raise $50,000 for a new concrete safety wall for the historic circuit.
While already part of the club’s six year infrastructure improvement plan, the fundraising efforts have been given greater urgency by the track’s temporary closure after the death of competitor Stephen Douglas at a meeting in February last year.
“Everything’s been on hold since the accident,” says club president Aaron Meakins, pictured above.
“Our land is managed by Hepburn Regional Council who have been very supportive. But DEECA, (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action) who own the reserve, have said we are not to run any more meetings until the report from the Coroner is released and any recommendations are carried out.”
The Daylesford Speedway is the oldest speedway in Victoria and has been in operation for over 60 years after being built in the late 1950s by two returned servicemen, Kim Walker and Keith Cole.
A community-orientated track, its meetings have always had an air of nostalgia about them recalling the rough and ready fender-bending action from the sport’s earliest days.
While the club has struggled with adversity from bushfires to flooding in the past, the current situation has been difficult. There has been no racing now for 12 months and it is a sad experience to visit the site, see fixtures rusting and weeds spreading across the banked corners of the old ring.
There is no clear indication when the Coroner’s report will be released and the situation has obviously been frustrating for the DSDA’s dedicated members.
But ever optimistic, they are using this downtime to coordinate fundraising initiatives so as to be on the front foot once permission is given to hold meetings there once again.
“We are expecting some form of directive from the Coroner regarding safety upgrades,” says Aaron.
“Ultimately, putting a concrete wall in at a speedway is a natural progression that we as a club have to take. It was already in our six-year plan prior to the incident but of course, with losing 95 per cent of our income that we could normally generate in a season, it has put a hold on everything.
“We have had to resort to other avenues to try and get funding to get the place reopened.”
Besides the GoFundMe page which has received $2000 in pledges so far, they have created a legislative council petition for State Government assistance and begun the process of applying for state and federal grants.
Other support is coming from the various competitors and sponsors across the entire dirt track speedway fraternity who have fond memories of the Daylesford circuit which they would like to see continue.
“I’m very optimistic that we will have the work started within the next six months and everything ready for the 2025 season.
“Every club needs to fight to keep their tracks open and Daylesford is the oldest speedway in Victoria. To lose a piece of history like that would be a massive loss.”
Link: www.gofundme.com/f/help-daylesford-speedway-build-a-wall
Words & image: Tony Sawrey
