Steven Barsby and Khan Thoroughgood honoured at Maryborough Speedway

Just days after a hearse carrying a coffin draped in a checkered flag honoured a 53-year-old speedway legend, he and a teen racer, who also tragically died of cancer, are being remembered at a regional race meet. VIDEO, TRIBUTES.

Two beloved members of the regional Queensland racing community, both lost to cancer, are being honoured on Saturday at the Maryborough Speedway.

A minute’s silence was expected to be held amid the Grand Parade for Steve Barsby, 53 and Gympie teen Khan Thoroughgood, 15 (see his tribute here).

It comes just three days after a hearse carrying a coffin draped in a checkered flag made its way around the dirt track on Wednesday as Steve Barsby was honoured at the Maryborough track, his second home.

It was the first time the club has hosted a funeral procession and a fitting farewell for the Barsby Spare Parts legend who dedicated much of his life to taking part in and supporting motorsports.

A life which centred around “all things cars and mechanical … but first and foremost, family” was then celebrated at the Maryborough Crematorium which heard about Steve’s infant years in Bundaberg before the move to Maryborough where he grew up with siblings Julie and Scott and parents Grant and Jan.

The crowd was told Steve had tried his hand at various sports – tennis, BMX, ten-pin bowling and even ballroom dancing but it was kart racing where he found his passion for speedway and kahnacross racing.

The Alridge State High alum didn’t think much of school.

Steve Barsby has been farewelled with a final lap at the Maryborough Speedway followed by a service at the Heritage Chapel.

This would one day make him all the prouder of his mechanic qualification and auto dealership licence given studying hadn’t come easy.

Straight out of Year 10 he worked at Kopper’s Logs at Takura where he made lifelong friends there and in the Church of Nazarene youth group.

But in 1995, when he started working at the family business, Barsby Spare Parts, he found his “niche” in life.

Cars and speedway were already in his blood – he’d grown up with his dad carting the family regularly to the speedway and after school he’d wandered up to the shed, talking to the Barsby workers and beginning to pull cars apart and building them from scratch.

In his lifetime, cut cruelly short on September 6 at age 56, Steve wrote off four cars including his beloved FJ.

Gentle laughter brought relief to mourners who heard of how none of those four crashes were apparently Steve’s fault and that he’d instead been the victim of multiple misfortunes where backpackers and drink drivers were at fault.

Steve pictured racing at the 2019 SKAA Qld Titles at Maryborough Speedway in the Standard Heavy category.

He had “much better luck” on the track however and was particularly proud of taking out the karting title in the clubman super heavy category at the Dirt Track Championships at Charters Towers in 96.

His mother thought Steve might stay at home forever but then a long-term friendship with Anita, his “real love” blossomed.

The couple welcomed their son Aiden Brock in 2006 and Steve was “besotted”.

When he married Anita, she came with a “ready-made family” – children Sharon, Zoe and Brenden and he loved every minute of being a stepdad and step grandad to eight.

In a tribute read out on Anita’s behalf, the crowd was told “Steve made me feel like everything was going to be ok … he gave the best cuddles and it was my first experience of being deeply understood and truly supported”.

“He was a one-of-a-kind love, loved being a father and was incredibly proud of Aiden”.

A coffin draped in a checkered flag and adorned with trophies helped honour Steve’s memory and passion for racing.

A lover of seafood, strawberries, M & Ms and late-night nachos, Steve loved playing with his grandchildren and was the “biggest kid out”, Anita joked.

He was also a “very thoughtful, kind man who had time for everyone and treated everybody equally”.

An active member of the karting club who played a key role in the construction of the kart track at the speedway, life member of the speedway and former president of the BMX club, Steve suffered multiple strokes in December, 2023 which ended his work life and in February, was diagnosed with cancer.

Even that “did not stop him” from continuing to try and do what he loved and supporting Aiden at the Khanacross track in July.

A tribute read out on Aiden’s behalf said “my dad was an amazing man who helped me out a lot … he would make everything look brand new and would stay up until the last minute to make sure everything was absolutely perfect”.

“I am going to miss having him here to guide me, but I know his friends will be around to tell me when things are not up to his standards and make sure I am doing ok,” the tribute read.

Steve Barsby was a legend on and off the Speedway track where he loved to spend time with his family and club members.

“I will do my best to take care of mum and the shed

“I hope I make you proud – I am really going to miss you dad.”

The Barsby name has for decades been synonymous with the Maryborough Speedway of which Steve was also a generous sponsor.

Maryborough Speedway President Paul Swindells said Steve would be “sorely missed” by all who were lucky to have known him.

“Steve was an asset to the club for many years as a committee member, volunteer and racer,” he told the Fraser Coast Chronicle.

Steve Barsby has been farewelled with a final lap at the Maryborough Speedway followed by a service at the Heritage Chapel.

“He leaves behind an enduring legacy and our thoughts are with his family and the speedway community at this very difficult time.”

The club also paid tribute on its Facebook page, saying its “beloved” Steve had transitioned to “the ultimate racetrack in heaven”.

“Steve was also involved in so many other sporting events and will be deeply missed,” the post read.

“May we all draw strength from his legacy and the love of our speedway family.”

Steven Grant Barsby, much-loved Maryborough businessman and speedway sponsor and member has passed away aged 56.

Maryborough Speedway Karts also posted a tribute, saying it had lost a “true gentleman of our sport”.

“Steve was one of the pillars of our club and spent his life around speedway as a racer, volunteer and sponsor,” the post read.

“Steve was a huge part to our speedway family as a committee member and life member of our club.

“Steve was one of the first members to jump on-board when Maryborough started running SKAA karts some 10 years ago.

“He was not only a driver but an avid volunteer who would always be seen riding the quad, helping with the track or volunteering when not racing.

“Steve was also involved in so many other sporting events and will be deeply missed not only by us but the entire local community.

“Our thoughts go out to Anita, Aiden and his entire family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time.”

Originally published as Steven Barsby and Khan Thoroughgood honoured at Maryborough Speedway