Start your engines please! After a gap of several years Broken Hill Kart Club is in top gear with the reopening of rejuvenated Johnson Speedway.
Take the short drive out of town on Menindee Rd and the blue and white tyres highlight the major transformation of Broken Hill’s revamped go-kart track.
In just six months, local business owners and volunteers got behind the new executive team at the Broken Hill Kart Club Incorporated (BHKCI) to help ensure karting enthusiasts from around the region get to experience low-to-the-ground, high-speed thrills at the track for Season 1, set to start on Sunday March 3.
From day one of the kart club’s comeback, BHKCI has been inundated with questions from parents who are keen to get their kids on the track.
Under the direction of experienced go-kart racer and BHKCI President, Hayden Slattery, the go-kart site has been brought back to life, but Mr Slattery says it wouldn’t have happened without hands-on help from local business owners and volunteers.
There is still work to be done to get the track fully race ready but each stage of that preparedness has been worked through, right up to Race Day.
On Saturday February 10 there’s a planned working Bee from 7.30am until about 1pm. Big news is that Saturday February 24 will see not only another working bee but there will also be rubber on the deck, with an Open Practice Day for BHKCI Members with a Karting Australia (KA) Licence. This will be a full set-up and practice race day.
That means the Timing set-up with transponders on karts will be checked, all track lights will be operational and weight scales set up. There will also be all-important kart Inspections if required by BHKCI to help members have more understanding of the rules and regulations.
On Saturday March 2 there will be a Practice Day and Training Day for officials, plus completion of race day administration. Cadets and any P-plate drivers will be given an induction on the race lights, and flags positioning for starting and entering/exiting In and Out grids.
And then the big day on Sunday March 3 – it’s Race Day.
At the recent BHKCI General Meeting, Mr Slattery thanked the volunteers who have helped to prepare Johnson Speedway for the first race, which is just three weeks away.
“There are so many people we’d like to thank for turning the track back into a space where families can learn, connect, and grow in a safe and positive environment, where karting members from just six years old can learn about road safety and practise driving skills in a fun, supportive environment,” he said.
“I’m truly in awe of Broken Hill’s community spirit so I’d like to thank the following for their tremendous effort on site.”
- Mark Glasson from MGC Carpentry & Earthmoving for use of the dingo and tipper truck.
- Consolidated Fabrication & Engineering for work on creating a canteen.
- Radford Family for the kind donation of a generator to run the site.
- Adkins Hardware for organising all new padlocks.
- Broken Hill City Council for help with the slasher and for organising a safer entrance to the pit gate, along with supply of a street sweeper to clean the track before the first race.
- Darryl Guerin from Seven Day Spares and Accessories for the 12v batteries for our racing lights.
- Broken Hill Hire for the tipper truck and bobcat.
- Brendan Guerin from Silver City Motorcycles for organising the mowing of the infield area.
- Gary James from Pest Blue for the pest control and weed spraying around the site.
- Reece Plumbing for the new toilet systems.
- Bells owner Matt Spresser for donations, help on-site, plus support of the executive team.
“And I’d like to make a special mention,” said Mr Slattery.
“Sharon Hocking has made the formal process of reestablishing an incorporated club possible so we can’t thank her enough.
“And everyone on the executive team has helped to get us where we are today. So, see you all out at the track on race day!”
For more information, get along to the next General Meeting to be held at 7pm Wednesday February 28 at Bells Milk Bar at 160 Patton St, or email [email protected], and remember to keep an eye on the BHKCI Facebook page for updates: facebook.com/BHKCI.
