Sidecar stars return to Gillman for the Jim Irwin Cup
Gillman Media 21 January 2026
After a seven week break while the international Solo Championships were the feature events, the Sidecars return to Gillman Speedway in Adelaide this Saturday night (24 January) for the Jim Irwin Cup meeting.
The meeting has again attracted a high class line-up and amongst the first to nominate were three of the finalists in last season’s Australian Championship, Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner, Justin Plaisted/Brian Anthony and Queensland’s Tyler Moon/Adam Lovell.
They alone virtually guarantees an exciting final, but other star riders were quick to follow with their nominations include Max Howse/Riley Commons (NSW), Taylor Green/Callum Innes (NZ) and Shane Hudson/Jack Spear.
Howse and Commons were consistently amongst the front-runners last season, reaching the final of the South Australian, Victorian and New South Wales Championships. They were also finalists in last season’s Jim Irwin Cup along with winners Headland/Rayner, and Moon/Lovell.
Former NSW rider Shane Hudson hasn’t done much racing in recent years but has twice been an Australian Championship finalist, while the Kiwis have been a welcome addition to Gillman this season and surprised by winning the final on the opening night, but showed that was no fluke by also reaching the final of the two other feature events held so far this season, the Gillman Championship and the Paintmaster SA Spectacular.
The latter two feature events were both won by Headland/Rayner which probably earns them the tag of favourites for Saturday night.
Further nominations followed from a number of riders who have qualified for finals this season, in Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan, Josh Pascoe/Dale Knights, Nate Headland/Harry Hearne, Shane Rudloff/Jake Doyle and Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski, while a surprise nomination was former South Australian and Australian Champion Mark Mitchell, with current passenger Tony Carter making the trip over from his base in Warrnambool for the meeting.
Rounding out the line-up are NSW’s Zac Campbell/Jason Williams, big improvers this season Byron Mordaunt/Scott Cameron and Jason Mordaunt/Peter Robinson, and Adam Pascoe/Seth Pascoe, while William Walker/Liam Sherwood, Scott Morris/Jye Siddall and Darryll Woods/Brady Jarvis will have a full programme of rides in the support events while no doubt hoping also to get a run in the Irwin Cup heats.
Other support events are the Flat Track Solos, and (subject to the heat policy for juniors) the 125cc Junior Solos.
Gates 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 apart from the official Gillman Speedway page are scams and should be ignored.
Everything You Need To Know:
Meeting Date: Saturday, 24 January 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: Zac Campbell/Jason Williams (NSW) …Taylor Green/Callum Innes (SA-NZ)... Nate Headland/Harry Hearne (SA)… Trent Headland/Jaxon Rayner (SA)… Max Howse/Riley Commons (NSW)... Shane Hudson/Jack Spear (SA)… Kym Menadue/Shane Dolan (SA)... Mark Mitchell/Tony Carter (SA/Vic) … Byron Mordaunt/Scott Cameron (SA/Vic)... Jason Mordaunt/Peter Robinson (SA)... Scott Morris/Jye Siddall (SA)... Josh Pascoe/Dale Knights (SA)... Justin Plaisted/Brian Anthony (SA)... Shane Rudloff/Jake Doyle (SA/Vic)... Brian Silvy/Glen Zaworski (SA)… Willy Walker/Liam Sherwood (SA)... Darryll Woods/Brady Jarvis (SA)
Flat Track Solos: John Blenkin... Graeme Eberhard… David Footner... Jesse Headland... Matt Paterson… Con Twist.
Under 16 250cc Solo demonstrations: Kobi Canning.
Juniors (on the infield track during the main track grades): 125cc Solos: Cooper Karpinski…Hayden Pascoe... Riley Stout. 250cc Sidecars: Tilo Schultz/Riley Edson. Others: Toby Monkhouse (125cc Solo novice and 50cc, Hudson Monkhouse (pee-wee).
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 21 January: Maximum 41, minimum 25. The forecast maximum has changed daily for the last four days, but the latest is 41 maximum, but low 30s by start time at 7pm. [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.