Revamped Tolmer Speedway in Bordertown set to be one of the best tracks in the world

When this SA town’s speedway club closed, the community rallied. They dug deep, raised money and rebuilt it into one of the most unique tracks in the country. See the video.

The roar of Dylan Jenkin’s sprintcar echoes across the small town of Bordertown.

He’s testing out his new wheels on the highly anticipated revamped Tolmer Speedway – which president Wayne Rowett said was unlike anything else in Australia.

Curious onlookers gathered trackside to watch their town’s new $3m star attraction in action – a replica of a notorious speedway in the United States – expected to become one of the best tracks in Australia, if not the world.

“Anytime you get a chance to get into a sprint car is amazing and to get on a new track like this that you’ve never driven before – because it’s an American-style track – is really cool,” Mr Jenkins said.

Bordertown speedway driver Dylan Jenkin with his car on the newly completed Tolmer Speedway. Picture: Tom Huntley

The revamped Tolmer Speedway at Bordertown. Picture: Chloe Rose

“It’s great to get out there and get some laps on it ... (I) can’t wait for it to get up and running properly.”

The revamp of the old Bordertown Speedway track cost $3m and has been under construction for the past two and a half years.

The project received $900,000 combined funding from the state government and Tatiara District Council, with the rest of the costs covered by local businesses, contractors, and the community, which contributed materials and labour.

In 2019, the Bordertown Speedway Club announced it was closing due to a combination of poor event attendance, increasing costs and a demanding workload for its few volunteers.

Two years later, based on the recommendations of several sprintcar drivers, the club decided to embark on a project to replicate the I-55 Raceway in Missouri and create a track unlike any other in Australia.

“It seemed like such a fairytale idea at first,” Mr Jenkins said. “There were a few people saying we weren’t going to be able to get it going.

He said the old speedway was “unsafe”, with a small track.

“So we copied a track in America, got the design, pulled the old track out and government support and council support pretty much funded all the materials,” Mr Rowett said.

“To start with it was a bit of a dream but the involvement of the community really helped get the project going.”

Mr Rowett lauded a group of teenage go-kart racers helping with the project since its inception.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t from the work of the community, especially those boys,” Mr Rowett said.

Local go-kart racers Jack Wil, 15, Hilton Rowett, 14, and Cooper Williamson, 16 on the newly completed Tolmer Speedway at Bordertown. Picture: Tom Huntley

Local go-kart racer Jack Will, 15, has been documenting the progression on the project as he and mates helped out with the build.

He said it had been been a rewarding experience working on the track he and his friends might one day race on.

The revamped speedway is locked in to host the second round of the 2024/25 Sprintcar Speedweek, – extending the popular series to five races in the space of just seven days.

Mr Rowett said he and the speedway team were looking forward to the track’s future.

“The practice we’ve had on it has been really successful, time will tell but we think it’s going to be an incredible addition to both Bordertown and the racing community.”