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Speedway racing making a return to Palmyra, near Mackay

Racing is coming back to Palmyra in 2023. Owner Jenny Hawkings is looking for help as plans for the speedway cars to return continue to make headway.

Modified sedan drivers Kent Menzies (Mackay) and Hayden Stephensen (Townsville) at the last speedway event held at Macs on November 3, 2018. Picture: David Lovi Photography.
Modified sedan drivers Kent Menzies (Mackay) and Hayden Stephensen (Townsville) at the last speedway event held at Macs on November 3, 2018. Picture: David Lovi Photography.

Racing will return to the Macs Speedway at Palmyra next year and may even include remote control scale-model cars.

New venue owner Jenny Hawkings said she had been in contact with Mackay Regional Council and was present at its last meeting for the year on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.

“For over 30 years Macs Speedway brought the excitement of oval, dirt track racing to Mackay,” she said.

“Interest in (the) speedway’s return locally is extremely high despite the venue not operating in recent years.”

Macs Speedway has not held regular racing for some years now.

Leigh Williams competing in the Super Sedans at Macs Speedway. Picture: Tony Martin/Daily Mercury
Leigh Williams competing in the Super Sedans at Macs Speedway. Picture: Tony Martin/Daily Mercury

Interest has come from other sporting bodies including solo motorbikes and sidecars (which prefer a different track surface to clay and currently race at places like Pioneer Park, in Brandon near Ayr), all-terrain vehicles vehicles and motocross bikes and even remote control car owners to race.

Renewed maintenance of the facilities at Macs Speedway is under way and Ms Hawkings has received offers of help from tradespersons and volunteers.

She said a committee was being established to raise awareness and chase funding, such as government grants, and that support was sought from individuals and businesses.

Ms Hawkings has overseen the clearing of areas for national providers to restart defensive driving and four wheel drive training programs.

“Prospects may be expanded to include youth driver training at the site,” Ms Hawkings said.

She pointed out that local drivers were having to travel away to compete.

“Speedway Australia ... recently re-affiliated with Motorsport Aust; this brings strength to their representation of over 80 tracks operators and 12,000 licence holders,” Ms Hawkings said.

“Speedway Australia’s standards in safety require registered vehicles and tracks to be fully inspected on an annual basis.”

Ms Hawkings can be contacted via the Macs Speedway Facebook page or email her at hawkings.trust@gmail.com

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/speedway-racing-making-a-return-to-palmyra-near-mackay/news-story/6173ac581f1dfb0411f8f6811f337ba6