Gillman Speedway opening meeting take two!
Gillman Media 5 November 2026
The 2026/27 Gillman Speedway summer season makes a belated start this Saturday night (7 November), after a rain-off a fortnight ago, and it is straight into championship mode with the Gillman Speedway track championships for the Sidecars, Flat Track Solos and the Under 16 250cc Solos.
The main class on the programme will be the Sidecar Championship, and although a number of riders are missing from the line-up for the original rained off meeting, there is still a strong line-up headed by former Australian Champions Trent Headland and Justin Plaisted.
In last year’s championship Justin Plaisted and Brian Anthony were unbeaten in the heats, and led for three laps in the final only to beaten by Trent Headland and Jaxon Rayner.
Almost unbelievably, despite being former Australian champions, both went into the meeting having never won their local track championship. Headland, of course, has now added the track championship to his resume, but just as it has proven to be a hard event to win, it has been even harder to defend the title.
Only one rider, the legendary Darrin Treloar (twice) has been able to successfully defend the title in its 21 year history.
So the question is, can Trent Headland become just the second rider to defend the title, or will Justin Plaisted finally add his name to the honour roll (as a rider, he is already on there as a three-time winner as a passenger with Treloar).
Or maybe someone else is capable of beating the two former Australian Champions?
Maybe Nate Headland and Harry Hearne? Headland is only 20-years-old but he and Hearne beat a top class line-up, including the top five from the previous season’s Australian Championship – Mark Plaisted, Trent Headland, Tyler Moon, Justin Plaisted and Byren Gates — to win the South Australian Championship in February, so they must be a serious chance, while Max Howse (second), Brian Silvy (second) and Kym Menadue (third twice) are all past finalists.
Two surprise names in the line-up are Mildura’s Jayden Mayes, who is making a comeback after many years retirement, and a local favourite from past years, Jim Irwin. Mayes was once Australia #2 behind Andrew Cleave, while Irwin was Australia #4 on four occasions.
With five riders in each heat, which is not ideal, it means there can’t be a fair draw so to give everyone a chance of reaching the all-important final only the top two point scorers will go straight into the final, with the other riders going into two semi-finals, with the winners of each going into the final.
The 500cc Solo Championship was also scheduled for the opening meeting but although the first three from last season’s championship, Dayle Wood, Jake Turner and Harry Sadler, will be riding, it was deemed not enough to run the title. So no title for the Solo boys but they’ll be getting valuable track time for the following meeting’s SA Championship
The Flat Track Championship looks to have a clear favourite in 18-year-old Tyler Battams, but the other places on the podium are wide open, with perhaps Port Pirie long-track veteran David Footner, at the other end of the age scale at 63, talented female rider Chloe Ackerley, Dale Knights and John Blenkin amongst the best chances.
In the 250cc Solo Championship Kobi Canning is the hot favourite with Ruby Chapman and William Nicol in equal contention for second place.
The under 16 125cc Solos are also racing and the line-up includes the Australian Champion Blake Schlein, and the Australian Pairs Champions Ryleigh McGregor and Riley Stout.
As an aside, this season is a milestone one, the 30th season at Gillman after the first official practice was held on 19 October 1997, and for long-time speedway fans that means at the end of this season Gillman will have been running for as long as the revered Rowley Park Speedway!
For those unable to attend, this meeting will be livestreamed, details are below.
Everything You Need To Know:
Meeting Date: Saturday, 7 November 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 4.00pm.
Pit access for spectators: Free spectator access to the pits until approximately 6.15pm.
Racing starts: at 7 pm.
Competitors:
Gillman Sidecar Championship: Thomas Adams/Seth Pascoe (Tas/SA)… Brenten Dwyer/Jarrad Katzorke (Vic)… Nate Headland/Harry Hearne (SA)… Trent Headland/Tilo Schultz (SA)… Max Howse/Chloe Ackerley (NSW/Vic)… Jim Irwin/Kate Barnes (SA/Vic)… Jayden Mayes/Scott Cameron (Vic) … Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan (SA)... Justin Plaisted/Brian Anthony (SA)... Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski (SA)
500cc Solo Support: Harry Sadler (SA), Jake Turner (Vic), Dayle Wood (Vic)
Under 16 250cc Gillman Solo Championship: Kobi Canning (SA), Ruby Chapman (SA), William Nicol (SA)
Gillman Flat Track Solo Championship: Chloe Ackerley (Vic)… Tyler Battams (SA)… John Blenkin (SA)… Rohan Clark (SA)… Jamie Cornell (SA)… Graeme Eberhard (SA)… David Footner (SA)... Sam Horton (SA)… Nicholas Hutchinson (SA)... Dale Knights (SA)… Greg Laanekorb (SA)... Matt Paterson (SA)... Harry Sadler (SA)… Brendan Smart (SA)
Juniors: (on the infield track during the main track grades): 125cc Solos: Owen Chapman (SA)... Cooper Karpinski (SA)… Ryleigh McGregor (SA)… Jett Plaisted (SA)... Nate Sadler (SA)... Nick Salau (Vic)… Blake Schlein (Vic)… Koby Smith (SA)... Riley Stout (SA). 125cc Solo Novice: Toby Monkhouse (SA). 50cc Pee Wee Solos: Hendrix Anthony (SA)… Thaiquein Cook (SA)… Riley Cornell (SA)… Nate Eberhard (SA)
Juniors: Flat Track Solos: Owen Chapman (SA)... Ryleigh McGregor (SA)… William Nicol (SA)… Nick Salau (Vic) … Blake Schlein (Vic)… Riley Stout (SA).
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 https://spacequakesports.com/#/match/solo-sidecar-gillman-championships/mmvj6iwsg. 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. Also by Government legislation, no smoking or vaping allowed inside 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 5 November: Maximum 20, minimum 11. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. 80% (high) chance of no rain [www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/adelaide.shtml]
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.