Amber and Hayley Spence among Gympie’s rising stars of speed
The rising stars of the racetrack in Gympie are one big family, and it is that sense of community and the burning desire to compete and win that is producing these outstanding and emerging champions of motorsport.
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A pair of Gympie region twins fell in love with the Mothar Mountain Speedway during a family night out, and now have passion for competing on the track.
Victory College students Amber and Hayley Spence became “obsessed” with racing three years ago.
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Their father, Steven Spence from Spencey’s Auto Repairs, was invited by a mate to compete at the speedway one night.
With Amber and Hayley there to witness the atmosphere, the family immediately fell in love with speedway.
Mr Spence arranged a car for Hayley, and Amber looked into go-karting but soon followed Hayley into the world of the speedway.
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Hayley is now in the Top Stars Junior Sedans after three seasons, and Amber is in the New Stars Junior Sedans with two seasons under her belt.
They have both had several podium finishes and Hayley recently got bumped up to ‘A’ Main for the Queensland Title.
Amber said she loves getting involved with anything her twin sister is doing.
“Doing it together just makes it better,” she said.
“She’s my best friend,” Hayley said.
With all their similarities, come their differences: Amber is an aspiring actress at Perseverance Street and Hayley wants to join the police force.
Hayley also loves her animal family, with everything from alpacas to 20 ducks on their property in the Gympie region.
Now that they are 16, the time has come for the twins to get their Ls – and fight for who gets to sit behind the wheel.
Meet 21 stars from the Speedway and Gympie Motorcycle Club:
Preston Klee
Age: 13
Division: New Stars Junior Sedans
Preston drives a Datsun Sunny 1000 on the speedway but his dream is to drive in the Modified Sedan class in a Ford Falcon FG and help “make Mothar Mountain one of the best tracks to race at”.
Preston is in his second season of racing and came in second place in the Junior Sedans New Stars for the 2021-2022 season after starting racing in September 2021.
“I have learnt to know my car inside out and its capabilities and limits and my confidence on the track has grown,” he said.
Preston has been going to the track since he was a newborn, with his dad Cameron Klee being involved in the speedway most of his life.
“I have always enjoyed racing and being at the racetrack, I think it‘s in my blood,” he said.
Joshua Rigby
Age: 18 years
Division: National 4‘s
Josh, driver of a CE Mirage, got his first win at Kingaroy this month and backed it up with a second win at Maryborough after claiming the Gympie Club Champion title several times since he began racing at age 13.
“Josh would love to win a Queensland title one day, and hopes to do well this season as the title is being held at our home track,” his mother Linda Rigby said.
Josh and his brother Aidan are third generation speedway drivers, following in the footsteps of Ivan Rigby and their father Doug Rigby.
Aidan Rigby
Age: 15 years
Division: Top Stars Junior Sedans
Aidan, also a driver of a CE Mirage, started racing at the age of 11 at the speedway. Aidan won his first Queensland title at the age of 14 and holds the New Stars Gympie lap record and the Roma Top Stars lap record.
“He has worked hard to improve his skills and track speed and gone on to achieve many great wins,” mum Linda Rigby said.
He then had a follow-up win in Maryborough last season, becoming the first Junior Sedan driver in the 17 year history of the race to win back-to-back Queensland titles, Ms Rigby said.
Aidan aims to improve to compete at the National Junior Sedan title in South Australia and wants to claim his third Queensland title before moving into the senior divisions.
William Pagel
Age: 16
Division: Junior Sedans
Will, driver of a Daihatsu Charade, is part of a family with an impressive history at the speedway, with many family members racing for years. His father, Glenn, is a speedway driver of 40 years and still racing.
The top corner of the Mothar Mountain Speedway has been labelled “Pagel’s Corner” for all of their Pagel supporters.
After already attending two Queensland titles, Will is aiming for a feature race and Queensland title, having competed since he was 12 years old against 40 other drivers aged up to 17.
“I love racing cause of the adrenaline and the feeling of driving the car so fast with the tyres screeching and engine revving,” Will said.
Jackson Kunny
Age: 14
Division: Junior Sedan New Stars
Jackson, cousin of Josh and Aidan, started his racing career in March 2022 and has achieved multiple podium finishes since. He has won two feature races in the new season with his Mitsubishi Mirage.
Jackson dreams to race in the Junior Top Stars next season and then eventually move into Modified Sedans.
“I think I am a good driver because I have been trying to be as smooth a driver as possible and not overdrive the car,” Jackson said.
“I love the competitiveness of racing against the other junior drivers and the new friends I have made. It is also great because my cousins race and we get to hang out on the weekends at speedway.”
Khan Thoroughgood
Age: 15
Division: SSA Junior sedans
Khan drives a 1982 Datsun Sunny and dreams to drive sprintcars one day and move on to the senior classes.
Being one of the only rear-wheel drivers left in his class, Khan’s main achievement has been cranking up his competitiveness against front-wheel drive cars.
“He is enjoying learning driving skills and car control, being rear wheel drive he has to balance the steering and throttle to let the car slide and drift a bit,” his father Gavin Thoroughgood said.
“He gets a kick out of the speed on the track and especially the mateships he‘s built with the other drivers.”
Mason Phillips
Age: 14
Specialty: Off-road racing
Mason competed in the Australian Off-road Championship this year and finished in second place after the final round in Tasmania.
He also came first overall in the Queensland Off-Road Championship.
Mason has been competing for the past two years, this being the first year he has raced at national level with many local businesses supporting him.
“I ride simply for the love of it,” Mason said.
“I would love to go to America one day to compete in the Grand National Cross Country racing series or to Europe to compete in the World Enduro Championship.”
Tyler Webber
Age: 15
Specialty: Motocross
Tyler came third in the Coolum Club Championship motocross and 10th overall in SEQ Series, after riding for only 18 months.
His dream is race internationally at a high-level competition.
“I love racing because of the thrill and challenge that comes with the sport,” he said.
Chris Butler
Age: 33
Divisions: Motocross MX1
Chris went home as champion of the MX1 Clubman Queensland Titles and Gladstone Veterans Club Championship and has claimed many more podium titles in 2022.
Chris has been racing for about 12 years and loves to spend time with his family and teammates.
“I’m competitive and always wanting to improve and get faster. My goals for next year is improve my result from this year and continue to grow the race team I have helped developed,” Chris said.
Zander Kruik
Age: 11
Specialty: Motocross
Zander is the current club champion for Coolum and Hervey Bay and placed ninth in the Australasian Motocross Titles in Rockhampton.
He has been riding since he was four years old and wants to be one of the best motocross riders in the world.
“I love the sport for the competition and the thrill of passing people to get a win,” he said.
Lincoln Webber
Age: 14
Specialty: Motocross
Lincoln came eighth overall in the SEQ Series and has earned his spot on multiple club podiums.
He has been on the track for 18 months and aims to race internationally.
“I love racing because of the adrenaline when flying around the track,” he said.
Noah Ferguson
Age: 19
Specialty: Motocross
Noah has been riding motorbikes since he was four years old and began his professional career at 16.
After several podium finishes this year, he is currently sitting in fourth place in a supercross championship and is looking forward to the next rounds.
His dream is to race overseas and earn a living out of the sport he loves.
“I race dirt bikes for the enjoyment, fun and love I have for the sport. I love hanging out with mates and having fun,” he said.
Christopher Mills
Age: 36
Specialty: Motocross
Christopher achieved fourth place overall in the Central Queensland Series in 2021 and landed several podiums this year.
He has been riding in the bush with his mates since 2008 and began racing competitively in 2014.
Christopher aims to contend championships in veterans class and branch out into the Queensland Enduro Series in 2023.
“[I love] the friendships I have made through racing, the community of locals that all travel and pit together and support each other even on days when not racing,” he said.
Benjamin Korn
Age: 23
Specialty: Pro enduro
Ben started his first year in the pro class, having raced at the Queensland Off-Road Championship and some of the Australian Off-Road Championship.
He was only four years old when he began riding around a paddock, and started racing at 10 years old.
Ben wants to amp up his competitive spirit at the Australian Off-Road Championship and eventually compete in the Australian Four Day Enduro.
Josh Coyne
Age: 36
Specialty: Speedway solo
Josh has competed in multiple state and national titles all over Australia and has raced all over the world. He also worked as a mechanic for Australian teams over the years.
He has “been a rider all his life” but began competing in speedway only about nine years ago.
Josh wants to be the best he can be and help others in the racing industry.
“I love racing because it’s such an adventure, it’s constantly challenging. The camaraderie, the people and the memories are my favourite part of racing,” he said.
Sam Larsen
Age: 20
Specialty: Motocross
Sam works as a local coach and racer in Gympie and has taken out championships in many competitions, including the SEQ Series, Airoh MX Series and Queensland Motocross Championship.
From the age of four, he began riding in many events and started racing at the age of 12.
Sam loves putting in the hard work to improve and has a strict daily workout routine.
“This sport has taught me so many valuable life lessons and has moulded me into the person I am today,” he said
“Next year, I want to be contending for top 10s in the Australian MX National.
“I know I have the speed and the ability to do it, and if I can put it all together mentally, I believe I will be inside that top 10.”
FJ Rosa
Age: 9
Specialty: MX
FJ has landed on the podium several times and raced at Coffs Harbour Stadium this year.
From four years old, he has put determination and hard work into the sport.
“I love racing for the competition and mateship,” he said.
Jonathan Lane
Age: 35
Specialty: Motocross and enduro
Since starting racing two years ago, Jonathan Lanr has won the SEQ Vets Clubman Championship and Hervey Bay MX1 clubman Championship.
He’s been at home on a dirt bike from the age of five.
Jonathan wants to eventually get bumped up to a B-grade rider through MQ.
“I just love riding dirt bikes and meeting great people along the way,” Jonathan said.
William Lane
Age: 7
Specialty: Motocross
William started racing competitively the moment he turned seven.
He completed the rest of the Hervey Bay MX rounds and placed fifth in the 50cc Auto Championship (in November 2022).
William has been racing since he was three years old and wants to turn pro, he said.
“I love riding dirt bikes,”
James Chaille
Age: 14
Specialty: Enduro
James came second overall in the Queensland Off-Road Championships in 2020 and 2021 and fifth in 2022.
After racing for 10 years, he now wants to win the Queensland Off-Road Series and make it professionally.
“I love the adrenaline that I get from racing and love riding in general,” James said.
Jake Chaille
Age: 17
Specialty: Enduro
Jake, having started racing 14 years ago, has competed in seniors and produced some amazing results.
He wants to keep up the competitive spirit and win races in 2023 for the rush of riding.
Jake and James are grateful to their coaches and businesses that support them on their racing journey.
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