Premier Speedway welcomes new surface

It is all systems go at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway with its long awaited new track surface expected to be installed as early as next week.

The much-discussed dark, black clay that has been in use for the last three seasons and caused headaches from being too inconsistent, swinging from slick to abrasive, plus lacking visibility has now been removed.

Currently taking up the entire centre garage section of the Warrnambool paddock, is 3000 cubic metres of orange clay, which will be the new track surface.

In recent days the team at Sungold Stadium have been preparing the base material to ensure the new clay can be included next week in a process that has cost up to six-figures.

Premier Speedway General Manager Michael Parry confirmed the recent works and said the goal is to have the new racing surface in place by the end of next week.

Machines in action resurfacing the track at Premier Speedway.

“The weather has hampered the team’s efforts to get it finished but the current status is that all the black clay has now been removed and the base of the track is just about finished,” he told AUTO ACTION.

“The guys will use some GPS points and form the sub base to get all the angles and shape of the racing surface to a consistent point.

“We have the new racing surface in the pit area at the moment and as soon as the sub base is all shaped and packed in the clay will be installed with a consistent thickness of the new racing surface.

“Our plan is to have the track finished weather depending by the end of next week and have the new racing surface installed.

The track being prepared for the new surface.

“We would leave it over winter to settle in and as soon as the weather breaks we will look at having practice events prior to the first event on November 2nd.”

Reflecting on the much-maligned previous darker clay, Parry said after “numerous attempts” to make it work, change was the only option.

“The darker clay had been in the venue for three seasons,” he said. 

“The underlining challenge from when I joined is the way the surface changes so quickly.

“It goes from one of the scale being really moist and fast to then being a sealed off surface very dry and abrasive.

“There was some feedback of the darker coloured clay from drivers about the visibility saying if there was a rut they could not see it even to the point of knowing which line of the track became slick.

The new clay ready to be moved from the pits to the track.

“From a safety perspective it was hard to identify debris.

“We have tried numerous attempts to make it more workable and implemented formal testing but have not been able to address it.

“We lost some and are losing faith from a lot of our competitors and patrons, so the club came to a point where we needed to make change and didn’t have another year to keep trying things.

“Our focus moving forward was to get a lighter coloured clay and we were fortunate to find some just 8km from the track.”

After “accelerating our search” in the last six months, Premier Speedway was “fortunate” to find some two weeks before its Easter deadline.

This ensured the team could use the critical post Easter window to get the new track surface ready prior to winter.

Whilst its early days, Parry said the new clay is a “step in the right direction.”

“There are a few theories what makes the best racing surface and this ticks some of those boxes,” he said.

“Such as being located above Limestone, it does come from a similar area to some previous clay.

“We have done formal testing of it to ensure it is not outside the window we are looking for.

“We have a vision of the type of racing we want to see and that is multi lane with a surface that goes towards a slicker surface as the night goes on but retains a bottom and top groove without burning tyres.

Sprintcars at Premier Speedway this summer.

It is now about adjusting our processes and methods to achieving the vision.

“It is a step in the right direction.”

However, Parry knows there is still lots of work to do to make sure Premier Speedway can put on a show in 2024/25.

“We have listened to feedback and made the decision prior to Christmas to go public with our challenges and that was to say to all our competitors and patrons that we are not turning a blind eye to the issue and are committed to putting on better racing,” he said.

“We have to earn our stripes again but are confident we can do that and put on some good racing in 2024/25.”

With the new track surface on its way, the new 2024/25 Premier Speedway calendar will be released soon.

Don’t forget the latest issue of the free digital version of Auto Action is out now!

Or subscribe to the print edition here or at selected outlets. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.

Podcast: Stunning Taupo Shines Through the Gloom | Supercars back in New Zealand

We’re back from our weekend in Taupo (Tow Paw), and what an unbelievable first weekend for that venue. It was, we felt, the start of this season, too, despite it being the third round. Andrew and Bruce were there, and PG was on the couch.

Brodie Kostecki was back for Erebus, Andre Heimgartner won for Brad Jones Racing, and Will Brown battled his teammate Broc Feeney for the other win. Anton De Pasquale also won the Jason Richards Trophy for the best performer over the two races – is Dick Johnson Racing back?