Redline is back racing after months on the sidelines due to weather

Ballarat’s only speedway track is returning from a long lay-off and will pay respect to a driver who has raced a Redline before. Here’s what you can expect and who to look out for.

The Redline Speedway will pay tribute to Stephen Douglas as the raceway prepares to finally starts its season after months of waiting.

On Saturday night, engines will roar in Ballarat for the first time this season.

The season was meant to start in November but consistent rain cancelled the Speedway’s first four meets.

Two weeks ago, the speedway was meant to host an event before heavy rain ended those chances.

Redline Speedway president Mick Purdie said it would be a relief for the racing to return.

“We can’t wait to get a meeting under our belt,” he said.

“The rain has certainly killed every track in the state.

“With all this unfortunate weather, every time we would try to start, it would rain on us and rain on our parade.

“We couldn’t get anywhere near the track for three months after all the rain we had in December.”

Purdie said the track has been fine to race on for a few weeks but the issue has been the surrounding areas of the track, located near Buninyong.

The spectator area and the pits have had standing water for long periods of time, which has been unable to be cleared.

With the area prone to bogging, organisers had no other option but to sit and wait.

Purdie said the cost has been significant for the club but at no time was it panic stations for the future of their speedway.

“We’ve been pretty close to folding before but we’ve never folded, so we won’t let that happen to us,” he said.

“Someone will always chip in and help us out somewhere so we can continue.

“But every dollar we make we pour into the track. We always buy local.

“So it’s not just us who miss out but people in Buninyong and Ballarat miss out.”

Stephen Douglas, 48, died when his car crashed while he was racing at Daylesford Speedway off Basin Rd about 7.30pm on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

The Redline Speedway will start its first meet by paying tribute to Stephen Douglas who died last weekend at Daylesford Speedway during a race.

Douglas, from Gippsland, raced at Redline.

Purdie said the community will pay their respects with a chaplain to say a few words.

“We’ve got a chaplain that comes to every meeting, so I say he will say something before the meeting about him,” Purdie said.

“He normally goes up and has a speech before the event.”

Four classes will run on the day with Sprintcars, Juniors, AMCA sedans and Regular Stock Streets.

Racing starts at 4pm with tickets $30 for adults $30, $25 for pensioners while children between the ages of six and 16 get in for $7.

A family ticket is $65.

Here are some of the drivers to look out for at the meet.

Sam Wren in his sprintcar at a previous meet in Ballarat. Picture: Dean Miller Photography.

Sam Wren, Sprintcars

A local from Delacombe who is part of Wren Diesel with his father in Ballarat. Can steer and is expected to be one of the favourites for the sprintcars.

Steven Horton, Sprintcars

A club member at Redline who is a former Sprintcars state title winner. Expected to be up the front for most of the weekend.

Scott Purdie is a driver to look out for this weekend. Picture: Dean Miller Photography.

Scott Purdie, Jason Degoldi, Aaron White, Dean Jenkins, Stock Streets

These four drivers always put on a “bloody good show” according to Redline Speedway president Mick Purdie. With the first night of racing and all drivers will be looking to impress, it could be another cracking battle between these four drivers.

Jason Degoldi in action at Ballarat. Picture: Dean Miller Photography.

Dean Heseltine, AMCA

A very talented driver who is one of the favourites to take out the AMCA class. He will be very hard to beat according to Redline Speedway president Mick Purdie.

Nathan Miles, Junior Sedans

A talented young junior who will be one of the drivers to beat in the junior sedans class. Miles won at Drouin Raceway last month beating Harry Cecil who is also racing on the night. Expect both to provide a cracking battle for the win.