As well as running professional fortnightly Speedway meetings during the summer months, the promoters of Gillman Speedway are committed to giving more riders, both senior and junior, the opportunity to compete, and as such run a number of "Come And Try" and Practice days during the year.

Senior (Over 16) Practice Sessions

Practice meetings are held on Sunday mornings on the first Sunday of the month during the winter months (May to October inclusive), and when there is enough demand, twilight practice sessions are held on Thursday afternoons/nights during the summer months. These Thursday night practice sessions are usually attended by Novice riders looking for extra track time and tuition, and riders wanting to test repairs or alterations they have made to bikes, but beginners are also welcome. For further information contact the Training Administrator Seane Chapman on 0424 874 440.

Come And Try days are also occasionally held for adults, and this opportunity is usually taken up by riders from other disciplines like Motocross, Road Racing or Quads, who want to try their hand on a Speedway Solo or Sidecar, but they are also open to anyone, even if they have never ridden a motorcycle before.

Juniors (Under 16)

The Junior Come And Try days are for children under 16 and give the chance for youngsters to try out a Junior Speedway Solo or Sidecar (or even a mini-bike for the real youngsters).

The children are taught all the basics by licensed trainers, who are all current or former riders, and then given individual practice time on the Gillman Junior Track.

The children are supervised at all times, and the track has no fence, so there is very little chance of them being injured, but just in case St. John's medical staff are also on hand.

There is no cost involved, and children do not need their own bike or gear. The Come And Try Days are basically just for the children to have a go, and maybe decide if they would like to take up the sport.

Other Gillman Speedway Officials are also on hand to answer any questions about the sport at junior level.

If any children do decide they would like to continue with the sport, they can then progress to further training with the Sidewinders Juniors Speedway Club, which has its own track at Eighth Street, Wingfield and has been running since 1978.

At the Sidewinders track, children will continue to be taught by licensed trainers, and have individual track time until they progress to the next stage which is novice riders on the track together but starting on opposite sides of the track. When they reach the next stage of proficiency they can then compete in actual races against other novice riders until they finally reach the age and proficiency to be allowed to compete in the open events against all other riders.

When the children are at the stage of competing in races, they have the opportunity to race every weekend in the summer months, with the Sidewinders Club and Gillman operating on alternate weekends. So one weekend they can compete at the Sidewinders track, the following weekend on the infield Junior Track at Gillman, where races are held during breaks in the senior programme.

The Sidewinders Club has its own website (www.sidewinders-speedway.com) and anyone wanting further information can contact the Club President, Angus Bugeja, on 0428 234 346, or by email (contact@sidewinders-speedway.com).