September 7, 2021
The Kingaroy Junior Motorcycle Speedway Club finished the 2021 season with a special double-header day at their Kingaroy track on Saturday.
The combined Club Day 5 and Club Day 6 – held together due to earlier pandemic disruptions to the planned annual schedule – featured a great day of 125cc racing without any major incidents.
Club secretary Tracey Tunstall said there were a few riders missing due to border closures, injury and other commitments but that that did not dampen enthusiasm.
Three 500cc riders also put on an entertaining display of demonstration laps in between rounds.
“Aaron Jackson, Cordell Rogerson and Tate Zischke showed just what can be done on a 500cc bike,” Tracey said.
“Riding on the smaller track certainly hones their skills and puts on a great spectacle.”
The Day 5 racing featured the annual Golden Steel Shoe Challenge.
There were six rounds of heats, a B final and A final which featured some top racing from the 125ccs.
Gold Coast rider Jordy Loftus – who earlier this year won the Barry Stead Memorial shield – took the top trophy ahead of Jetzen Lyons, Jai Bainbridge and Anika Loftus.
The Day 6 racing started after the lunch break and consisted of six rounds, two semi-finals and major final.
Jordy Loftus finished on top again, with Jetzen Lyons in second, followed by Anika Loftus and Jai Bainbridge.
A “Buzz The Clock” competition finished the day’s racing.
Riders competed in a one-lap dash against the clock.
“Some very quick times were recorded,” Tracey said.
“Jordy Loftus took the trophy and $50 prize money, kindly donated by photographer Colin Stratford, in a time of 11.52 seconds.”
Points accumulated on Saturday were added to the previous four rounds of competition to determine the 2021 Kingaroy McDonalds Club Championships.
This resulted in another win for Jordy Loftus, ahead of Jetzen Lyons, Jai Bainbridge and Corey Van Elswyk.
“It was special to see Corey take out fourth place in the championships as he has not been able to ride the last two rounds due to a broken collar bone and arm from a riding accident at North Brisbane a few weeks ago,” Tracey said.
“Corey came for the day and was so supportive of all the riders.”
The 2021 Club Encouragement Award was awarded to Troy Jackson.
“Troy is a young fellow who rides at every meeting and never gives up,” Tracey said.
“He has such a great attitude towards riding, shows great sportsmanship and does what he can to improve his riding skills.”
All riders were presented with their end-of-season plaques which lists all the meetings from the 2021 season that they participated in.
The club also presented all of the parents of the riders with a Bees keyring to thank them for supporting their children and the club.
The Bees also had a minute’s silence in remembrance of long-time club supporter Wayne Powell.
“Wayne was always at the club until he became ill, making the trip from Brisbane with mate Ivor Harm,” Tracey said.
“Sadly Wayne passed away the other week and our thoughts are with the Powell family.”
The presentations finished off a little differently this year with the club shouting all of the riders entry and ride coupons for the mini-Ekka fair that was happening elsewhere in the showgrounds.
“The riders loved being able to have some fun together and wind down moving from the slider bikes to the dodgem cars,” Tracey said.
“The club sincerely thanks all of the riders and their support crews for travelling from far and wide to compete at the club days.
“The club is also indebted to our small band of volunteers who give so freely of their time to ensure that the kids have a great track to ride and quality meetings to attend.
“Kingaroy Bees are also very grateful to our sponsors for the support they give our club – major sponsor Kingaroy McDonald’s together with Mitre 10, JS Signs, L & J Industries, Conpak, Kingaroy Trophies and Engraving and Colin Stratford Photography.”
[All photos courtesy Kingaroy Junior Bees]
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