Horsham Motor Sports Club left major concerns about public liability insurance in a cloud of speedway dust, as it launched its season at Blue Ribbon Raceway at Kalkee.

The club, which at one stage contemplated shutting down its speedway this season, successfully completed its 44-race, 12-class program on Saturday night.

Club spokesman Henry Berry said officials had been concerned about early delays because of hot weather in the afternoon but the program moved quickly after sunset.

“Spectator feedback since Saturday has been really positive with comments like `terrific night’s racing’ and `great night on Saturday at the speedway’. This is a great start to a speedway season”, Mr Berry said.

“We were very nearly forced to cancel the season due to the public liability problems.”

The season opened with Vintage Rods then Vintage Super Modifieds provided early action and howling Humpy Holdens and Golden Oldies put new perspective on memories of classic cars.

The humpy Holdens included HJ, FX, FE and EJ models.

All but 27 of the 90 drivers travelled from more than 30 kilometres to compete.

Go-kart racing produced most of the crashes with drivers keen to get off to a good start for a 2002-2003 series.

In modern classes, Laharum’s Josh Liston stepped up to Production Sedan ranks from juniors while Matt Gerlach led most junior events.

Other drivers to stand out in Production Sedans and Street Stocks included Horsham district’s Steve Ellis, Jason Taylor and Shannon Eltze.

Horsham drivers are keen to collect early points in a bid to win a club championship.

SOURCE: The Mail-Times Sep 18, 1967