Australian Champions chase the Bob White Cup at Gillman

Gillman Media 18 March 2026

Australian Champions Mark Plaisted and Ben Pitt headline a field of 13 sidecars who will all be trying to win the annual Bob White Sidecar Cup for the first time at Gillman Speedway this Saturday night (21 March).

Surprisingly, despite winning four of the five Australian Championships held since the Covid lockdowns in 2020, Plaisted/Pitt have yet to win the Bob White Cup and have only reached the final once, in 2021. Nevertheless, as Australian Champions, they will start hot favourites on Saturday night.

The fight for the placings behind them, or for the win if they can’t get the job done, is wide open however.

Their biggest threat could be Byren Gates and Damian Egan who have been finalists in both the South Australian and Victorian Championships in recent weeks and also won the Bowes Family Sidecar Cup at Gillman last month. They would no doubt love to add the Bob White Cup to the Bowes Cup. Damian Egan is actually a previous winner, having won as passenger for Justin Plaisted in 2024.

Kym Menadue and Shane Dolan were finalists last season and produced their best form for the season at the last meeting, with 12 points in the SA Championship, before retiring after a collision in the semi-final.

Shane Hudson and Jack Spear have been a force in all the meetings they have contested this season, while Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski, Josh Pascoe (passenger tba), and Thomas Adams/Seth Pascoe were finalists, along with Gates/Egan in the Bowes Family Cup. Shane Rudloff didn’t do as well as expected in the SA Championship, but has finished third twice in this event so can’t be discounted.

As well as the Bob White Cup, there will also be support events for Flat Track Solos, Classic Solos and Sidecars, 250cc and 125cc Junior Solos. This will be the last appearance for the Flat Track Solos and 250cc Solos this season as regulations don’t allow them to be support events for the Ray White Gawler 2026 FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship which will be the final meeting of the summer season on April 4. After the Oceania Championship there will be further action however, with the postponed Gillman Speedway Classic Championships, and David Adams Tribute meeting, on April 18.

Gates on Saturday open at 4pm and racing starts at 7pm.

For those that can’t attend, the meeting will be livestreamed through the website link [www.spacequakesports.com] for a cost of $25. This is the only official livestream. Any other links touted on any facebook sites are scams and should be ignored.

Everything You Need To Know:

Meeting Date: Saturday, 21 March 2026

Venue: Gillman Speedway (‘Ray White Gawler’ Stadium), 65 Wilkins Road, Gillman – near the Port Adelaide area.

Parking and entrance: Patrons can enter via gates at the western and eastern ends of the venue. There are free off-street parking areas near both gates.

Gates open: at 4 pm.

Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 6.15 pm.

Racing starts: at 7 pm.

Competitors:

Sidecars: Thomas Adams/Seth Pascoe… Stephen Fowler/passenger tba… Byren Gates/Damian Egan... Shane Hudson/Jack Spear… Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan… Jason Mordaunt/passenger tba... Scott Morris/Jye Siddall... Josh Pascoe/passenger tba... Mark Plaisted/Ben Pitt… Shane Rudloff/Kane Golding... Aaron Silvy/Jaron Silvy… Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski… William Walker/Liam Sherwood

Flat Track Solos: John Blenkin... David Footner… Nicholas Hutchinson… Greg Laanekorb… Matt Paterson… Brendan Smart… Con Twist.

Under 16 250cc Solo: Kobi Canning… Ruby Chapman… Connor Machin

Classic Solos 500cc:  Darryl Christopher… John Doolan… Trevor Henderson… Jody McCreanor… Paul Snadden

Classic Sidecars: Peter Engels/Angela McFarlane… Kane Golding/Isaac Amos… Pieter Hoogland/Michael Bell… Chris Rae/Jamie Flood… Aaron Silvy/passenger tba… Paul Snadden/Rob Telfer

Juniors (on the infield track during the main track grades): 125cc Solos: Owen Chapman… Cooper Karpinski... Chase Maul-Dunn… William Nicol… Hayden Pascoe... Jett Plaisted… Nate Sadler... Koby Smith… Riley Stout

250cc Sidecars: Tilo Schultz/Riley Edson. 125cc Solo Novice: Toby Monkhouse.

Admission: Adults $25, Age Pension and Student Concession $20, Children under 16 free. Parking free. Programme $5-includes two chances to win $50 fuel vouchers. EFTPOS available at both entrances, the canteen, bar and souvenir shop.

Concession is limited to holders of the Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card and Student Concession card holders only.

Livestreaming: This meeting will be livestreamed on www.spacequakesports.com. The cost is $25 Australian. Any other claimed links to livestreaming are scams and should be ignored.

Seating: Free grandstand seating, terracing suitable for deck chairs, and large grassed viewing mounds.

VIP Area: The Bob White VIP area is available to anyone who would like to treat their business colleagues, family or friends to the best view in the stadium. Enjoy the elevated view overlooking the track, either from inside the temperature controlled rooms, on the timber deck, or on the enclosed lawn area. The VIP area also has its own bar and toilet. Ring Ivan Golding on 0417 138 378 for more details.

Food and drink: Full bar and catering available. Food includes hot chips, hamburgers, chicken burgers, pies, pasties, sausage rolls, Chiko Rolls, dim sims, hot dogs, doughnuts, coffee, cold drinks, sweets. “Gillman has far and away the best speedway tucker” [Peter White’s Speedway World]

Please note a condition of our liquor licence is no byo alcohol or glass can be brought into the venue.

Smoking, Vaping: by Government legislation, no smoking or vaping allowed within the green fenced area at this venue.

Souvenirs: There is a well-stocked souvenir shop. See the “A Night At Gillman” tab.

Pets: No animals are allowed into the venue except assistance animals, eg guide dogs.

Weather Forecast as at 18 March: Maximum 27, minimum 15. [https://www.bom.gov.au/location/australia/south-australia/adelaide-metropolitan/bsa_pt001-adelaide]

Directions:

The best way to get to Gillman Speedway is off Hanson Road.

If you are coming from the eastern and southern suburbs, get on to Hanson road off Torrens Road or Grand Junction Road, travel north on Hanson road over the train line then take the first road on the left, which is Wilkins road.

From the northern suburbs, travel down the Port Adelaide expressway and take the Hanson Road exit. Once on Hanson Road, take the first exit on your right, this is Wilkins road.

From the western suburbs, Wilkins Road is the continuation of Bedford Street, north of Eastern Parade.

For interstate visitors flying into Adelaide and getting a hire car, Gillman is about 20kms, and 30 minutes’ drive (depending on traffic lights) from the airport.

The easiest and most direct way from the airport, if not going to your accommodation first is:

On leaving the airport, turn left onto Sir Donald Bradman Drive. Continue along Sir Donald Bradman Drive until you reach the end of the airport grounds and turn right onto Tapleys Hill Road. Keep going on Tapleys Hill Road until you can’t go any further. That’s Port Road. Turn left onto Port Road (you can only turn left). Continue down Port Road for about 1 km to the first intersection which is Grand Junction road and turn right. Go 700 metres along Grand Junction Road, over a bridge over a railway line. Stay in the left lane because at the bottom of the bridge you turn left into Gray Terrace. Go to the end of Gray Terrace and turn right onto Bedford Street. Keep going on that road until you get to the speedway. About 2km.

Accommodation: There is plenty of accommodation in Adelaide and suburbs, within 20-30 minutes of the Speedway, ranging from five star hotels to caravan parks and backpacker hostels.

Contact for this meeting: Ivan Golding 0417 138 378.