Speed Week 2023

33rd Annual Speed Week

Lake Gairdner South Australia

Monday 20th March to Friday 24th March 2023

Presidents and Clerk of Course Report

Well what a week that was! As most of you will be aware, the weather played a major part in Speed Week again this year. With a shower that stopped proceedings around 3pm on the Monday, followed by a much heavier storm that dumped about 20mm on the lake. Based on past experiences it was decided to wait it out to see if the lake dried up. It did, but not as quick as expected due to the lack of any wind on the Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday it was Track 1 only and Friday we had both tracks open. So instead of a week we ended up with about two and a half days.

Track 2 was very wet right from the beginning especially for the return road, So it was decided to run the rookies down in groups of 10, corral them at about the two and a half mile and then return them back down the track. This worked well and got a lot of the rookies through their first run. (We are now looking at alternatives for Track 2 location, but it's tighter than you would think).

A feature of this year was the actual lake surface and what was lurking just under it. There was a crust of 20-40mm and then just mud and water. We were very lucky to get done what we did do. And looking back we were probably a bit naive to think that the lake would completely dry out after having so much water on it. The salt was very soft down at the start lines, so much so that the start for Track 1 was pulled 200 metres to the north and spectators stopped from going down there. You could actually see the surface drop as vehicles drove over it. We did have several trucks get bogged either getting on or off the lake or unfortunately for the Clare family when they were prepping Track 2. We were very lucky to have the telehandler there this year and it did a great job.

As usual there were a number of entrants who left after Wednesday (some even left after the storm on Monday). But there was a huge line up in pre-stage for Track 1 on the Thursday. Unfortunately many had to wait all day to get a run if at all, but given the numbers and only one track available, there wasn't much we could do about this. What this situation did highlight was how the vehicles coming from impound adversely affected wait times in the staging lane. Something that we will address for the future and you can look for more information on this for next year.

Of the 208 per-entered for the event we actually had 160 compete, some of those chose not to compete, whilst for others they simply ran out of time (or dollars) to complete their projects and we really feel for these guys, it is a big commitment to undertake a land speed racing program and we wish them all the very best. For them there will always be next year.

I'd like to particularly thank our Timers, Bruce and Peter, our Starter Harry, Race Director - Animal, Timing Slips - Jackie, Event Secretary - Carol, and our Tech guys - Bob, Lionel and Graham for their dedication not only at Speed Week but during the year. Also to our Medical Team led by Dr. Scott Lewis and our Fire Crew led by Russell Branson. As always there are many more I could thank as well, it takes a lot of people to put on an event like this.

Lastly I need to impress on you all that first and foremost this is a club, your club. What I need to reinforce is that the club and the event can only ever be as good or bad as you make it. To make this event happen, we rely heavily on volunteers, and entrants well know they are all required to do at least one shift during Speed Week. This year we had more non-entrants than entrants volunteer which I think is an amazing effort and to them I am truly grateful. I'm sure they had a great time doing it and feel so much closer to the event. However we, (you and me) need to do more as there was times when we were just getting through by the skin of our teeth. And I'm sure you are all thankful for the extra effort put in by Rod Drabsch, Rob Carroll and Stan Suchodolskiy who were rained in for three days at the end of the event while they were cleaning up all the stuff that didn't get done.
During the off-season I want you to have a really good think about those extra things that you can do to help the club make this a better event for all. Our new motto is "Many hands make light work".

Greg Wapling

See you on the salt

Records

There were 56 records set at Speed Week 2023 of these there was 30 Australian records broken and 26 new Australian records set.
Thank you to our Impound officials and volunteers.

200 MPH Club

We want to recognize all those that have reached a significant milestone in Land Speed Racing. To be eligible for the 200MPH club the competitor must have exceeded 200MPH whilst setting a new record for their class. Each new 200MPH club member receives a specially embroidered version of the "red hat" to signify their achievement. Welcome to your 200 MPH club!

David Nicholson #801 and Norm Hardinge #201 are already 200 MPH members

200 MPH Achievers

This is a list of the first time a driver or rider achieved of 200MPH or better at a DLRA event. 

In recognition of their achievement they receive a special DLRA "blue hat with red visor".
Congratulations to all these drivers and riders for achieving this unique and difficult milestone.

Trophies

Land Speed Racing is an unusual sport, there is no prize money, or up until 2016, no trophies, the only reward for an entrant being a timing slip, hopefully with the right numbers on it. The DLRA now presents a number of trophies as a small memento to those lucky entrants in recognition of their efforts.
The Volunteer of the Year is a perpetual trophy honoring Greg Telford and all he did for the club. The recipient also receives a unique commemorative belt buckle.

In the Press

News

Results of DLRA Speed Week, March 20th - March 24th 2023 - Bruce Willmott, DLRA Chief Timer.

NOTE: Any application for amendments to these results must be made on the Results and Records Amendment Form.

Contact can also be made by email at record.certification@dlra.org.au

Sponsors

We are currently pursuing Sponsors for this event, if you or your organisation are looking for a great event to support please read the Sponsors Information

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Latest News

Speed Week Program

Pre-Entries

Advice for Drivers, Constructors, and Race Teams

Advice for Spectators

Advice for Media

 

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