Understanding Australian Sprint Car Racing

[@mutantryeff]

I'm going to order a bunch of those shirts you are wearing

[@stratman21]

I just watched Rico Abreu win at the Motorplex on his first run at the track, no practice, been in Australia 2 days. Big crowd, unbelievable buzz around the whole venue. In two nights we get Brad Sweet, rumour says his brother in law may come with him. So we get Zearfoss, Eliason, Sweet, Abreu - Motorplex is doing it right for sure 👌 🏁

[@michaelsteele9782]

See the kid Manders came third and then jump into a speed cars and won the 20 lap race so proud of my nephew ❤his also won the title to

[@maryannsmith6927]

That was a fantastic explanation you did. I hope the USA crowds enjoy the video. Its easy for us to understand as we live and breath Sprintcar racing in Australia.

[@donstevenson2660]

Between covid, fires, and legal problems, it has been a rough time for sprints and drags lately. Hope it gets better soon, best wishes from the US.

[@frankisfunny2007]

Curfews in the US are usually continuously ran. Resulting only in a fine. I believe most track's ordinances have a clause. Which is, "if you start that race, you must finish that track. But don't race another race for the night. " At certain tracks here in (at least) Pennsylvania, tracks do have a curfew, and some tracks are trying to speed the shows up. I've been to some that didn't, and ended the night at 1:30am-2am. Like, the new promotoring team/producers at Selinsgrove Speedway (PA) have sped the show. It usually ended by 11pm for a 3-class night. To 10pm for a 3-class night. On average. They were good shows, too!

[@Db_SpaceFace]

This is the first season I haven't attended a sprint-car event in my 38 years of living. Losing my local track (Archerfield - I live and work 10 minutes away) combined with the current inflation mess has simply made it too difficult/expensive. I was hoping to get upto Toowoomba but simply don't have the money for a weekend away at the moment. Hopefully cash is better next season, I used to be at Archerfield for most events and miss the excitement of race night!

[@MSE_Spirit]

It’s the same for us over in Sydney, the new track is just a disgrace, the government shouldn’t be allowed to build things like this, even when the circuit was running they placed the pits on the wrong side so all the dirt gravel mud and clay and dust is all sent straight into everyone’s faces, back at valvoline the pits were at the east end and the stands were at the south which provided such little dust that you didn’t even had to wear glasses, I’ve been to the new one and I’m not going again, I’ve been going to valvoline since I was born, I’m only 14 but I had a connection to that track so loosing was detremental

[@DanielBrown-ff7fj]

Answered every question that I didn’t realize I had. Thanks for the video. Subscribed.

[@MartyMitchell74]

Great breakdown, Toby. Many thanks

[@dankdank9837]

Interesting stuff and a great simple explanation of it. From the highlights I've seen of racing down there, I had kind of assumed the scene was thriving.

[@dankdank9837]

We definitely have curfews here in California. At my local track being 10pm, the shows are usually scheduled with a few different classes and over by 930.

[@Db_SpaceFace]

From a competitors perspective, it's thriving. From a track & promoters perspective, it's circling the drain. It's a bizarre contradiction. The last half decade has seen entry numbers explode across categories. Archerfield was averaging 40+ sprint cars turning up week in & out when it shut down (but racing to 3/4th empty stands outside of big events). So the racing and competition is better then it has ever been, but spectator attendance is at the lowest it has ever been in history, most tracks are struggling to pay expenses and are basically circling the drain. It's truly bizarre.

[@thomaswarren13]

​@Db_SpaceFace if Archerfield was promoted like Eastern Creek wasn't, it's no surprise. Most of the time we had no idea EC was even running

[@treyfairbank5592]

Being from the USA and watching this video I found it very interesting. I like stuff we do and y’all don’t, but I like stuff yall do down under that we don’t do here, one of these days I make it down there and watch some races

[@michaelgleeson1198]

Great video Toby I'll be at Toowoomba for the Red Hot summer shoot out should be an absolute blast as it was last year. As for merch I think I have most of it but I may have to get a little kids size shirt for my grandson in Toowoomba.

[@waynecrumblin4764]

Good overview mate, cheers 🇦🇺

[@DillanBaldwin67B]

At Bloomington speedway in Indiana we have an 11:00 pm curfew

[@chaserchaserspeedracer]

I really like the number and what by givin that number everyone on that team earned. Without every team member in sequence there's no #1... pretty neat title to hold and represent for any series and deserves respect.

[@Db_SpaceFace]

At the Australian championship event you'll normally see a few number 1's as each state gives out the number 1 for winning a state title as well. They're just prefaced with the letter from their state. ie the Australian champion is A1, Queensland champion is Q1, New South Wales champion is N1 etc etc. It's a pretty cool number system. You instantly know who to look out for at any event.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

To bloody cold for a pool here in Adelaide. 15 deg C currently. Interesting I was subscribed and just had to do it again. Not a fan of Speedway Australia BUT most US tracks we see would not be allowed to run anything let alone Sprinters. They have higher standards, part of which is enforced by insurers. So yes our tracks are safer for both competitors and officials as well as spectators. Classic example young Carly holmes who rode a wheel and left the track,,,, that had no fence and then ended up in a creek 10 metres from the track edge. She was lucky,, only broke her back! Worse that track is still running like that.

[@scottnz411]

I think it comes down to laws in AU/NZ, we have much stronger duty of care on the promotors meaning you can't just sign a waiver of rights,

[@charliewhite3992]

Great job and Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

[@kodytunbridge6391]

It would be good if nz sprintcar drivers come over to australia to race

[@kodytunbridge6391]

Like they had the International sprint car series in nz but they do it in nz

[@DerekDoxtadorD27]

Or Canadian sprintcar drivers

[@SuperRoo_22]

Pickens does. But in a Speedcar with Graham Jones Racing based in Perth.

[@sprintcarfan87]

Thanks for the explanation. I've always observed that nearly all the tracks look narrow and flat compared with tracks here, at least on video.

[@Db_SpaceFace]

It's primarily because of the different beginnings of dirt racing in Australia and USA. In the states, until actual tracks were built, most races were run on half mile horse racing tracks or large fairgrounds. Because of this, the first purpose built tracks were built to similar specs and it evolved from there as new tracks were built. In Australia, our first tracks were the circular trotting courses which circled the fence at small town showgrounds (like where they'd hold things like rodeos, cricket/sports, community events etc). The first purpose built tracks where built replicating these and then it kept evolving from there. Its why half of our tracks are more circles rather than ovals, particularly in regional areas and most of our tracks are 1/3rd mile or shorter tight bullrings.

[@sprintcarfan87]

@@Db_SpaceFace Thank you for the explanation.

[@mattikelby5571]

The speedway is at North Lismore but it is in NSW

[@Woodsy3211]

I get that vic cars are V or VA. NSW cars are N or NS, so you can have a V25 and a VA25 both registered in Vic. What about the Aussie cars that have USA prefix. I know Rico is running his American car. But what about the others, Reutzel is running USA87 and was USA56 last year but it's Saller Motorsport car isn't it? Sorry if its a dumb question. Just a curious punter on the hill.

[@jacobdrewett4489]

Milduras track since its reworks would be the best speedway track especially for sprintcars bar almost none. Mega wide, banked and surface that doesn't smash tyres, 5 star catch fence and brand new lighting. Get amongst it peeps

[@Mr_jz_12]

2:19 ohhhhhhh i dunno about that. Im in vic........ currently have the heater on.... fuck its cold here :'(.... On a better note. My brother and his family goto warnambool ever year for the classic.

[@libertarianman69]

Why no high banks in Australia?

[@libertarianman69]

What tracks run late models?

[@shanedowie8993]

Good job 👍👍🏁🏁

[@TomBoi]

Is there any particular reason why AZ/NZ tracks are all mainly the same size as your typical bullring track in the USA? I've been to races of all sizes here, from Chili Bowl to Knoxville, and the racing is fantastic at all types of tracks. I just always found it interesting that big tracks don't really exist in the southern hemisphere.

[@scottnz411]

for NZ anyway, most tracks started life as Speedway bike tracks, which are 1/4 mile, and gradually added cars starting with midgets, nz used to have a 1/3 mile track just south of Auckland that is rumoured to be coming back,

[@TomBoi]

@@scottnz411 one of my brothers lives on the south island so I hope to maybe see a track down there when I visit!

[@scottnz411]

@@TomBoi for sprintcars, Ruapuna which is on the outskirts of Christchurch, and Cromwell which is not far from Queenstown are the 2 tracks in the South Island,

[@slidejobcentral]

Nice video. I will agree that it is a bit too regulated here though.

[@robertahrens9481]

At least the steering wheel is in the center!

[@kevinblakemore6445]

I think Rico Abreu is going to race there after Christmas

[@frenzalrhomb6919]

Where, exactly, is this place called "there" that you speak of? Oh well yes, of course!! You mean Narvik in Norway, didn't you? Yes, yes of course, my bad!!

[@Dogman36]

idk if this helps, but in america IndyCar is one word and Champ Car is two

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Aussie Speedway?? Very much in the doldrums. No track in Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane. Lost World series. A lot of country tracks closed or running very limited programs so the whole sport has contracted. Less spectators, less sponsors. And not just Sprintcars but all of the too many categories.

[@ANDREWF891]

Can Americans enter Australian sprintcar championship too? Or is it only for Australian's?

[@JustinMorrisV82]

So who is double dipping for licences. Must be scca licenced. Plus speedway Australia "licence/ insurance policy."

[@paulhall170]

ALL speedway titles should run over more than one race; the history of the sport is littered with far too many 'home-town' officials decisions and tracks prepared to suit local drivers and give them a better chance of winning. Sprintcar as one word gets my vote too, Toby, although I can remember back to Bill Warner and Dick Britton driving 'Super Modifieds'!! On car numbering, when I called the 1982 Australian Title at Tralee Speedway in Canberra, there was a total of 7 cars entered running #7; three fronted up for one of the heat races, a commentator's nightmare!!!

[@scottnz411]

do speedway Australia not supply officials for title?, Speedway NZ does, so its not local officials involved

[@paulhall170]

@@scottnz411 That's not the issue, there is a long history of track preparation and other tricks of the trade. Rather like when teams used to go to India to play cricket, remember?

[@dirtworxphotography245]

Races need to be completed with whatever amount of laps given. Unless of weather. And at race speed. Fans spend money to watch a full race. Same here in America when ppl spend even more money to watch a nascar race that last ten laps are yellow flag laps and then its green,white checkered. ALL LAPS AT RACE PACE. That is what a RACE is.

[@thomaswarren13]

In most motorsports around the world, there is provision for a race to be declared, and a full result declared after a certain percentage is run. In Formula 1 and IndyCar, I think it's 75%. It's the same for V8 Supercars and most road racing, including MotoGP. As a fan, I'm usually pretty sick of whatever class is running by the time the stewards declare it.

[@dirtworxphotography245]

So again, as a fan i pay to watch the full length of a race and at race speed not under caution. I mean if every racer is competing in same condition not sure why the stewards would be able to make the call anyway. Weather and checkered flag only thing that should conclude a race.

[@RichardKeller-zq4eo]

​@dirtworxphotography245 this entitled "customer is always right" stuff dosn't really exist outside America and Canada. They have a curfew, get over it snowflake

[@FNG_Jrad]

Every race car driver in Australia pays fees to a monopoly and wonder why it’s a dead sport 💀🤣

[@RichardKeller-zq4eo]

Alot of annoying comments holy crap.

[@Jus..having..a..say..13]

I smell bullshit.. for one sprintcars do not run diesel.. bullshit.. so disappointing.. this is a disgrace..

[@deanw9705]

The trucks that transport them from track to track generally do...

[@libertarianman69]

When Australians gave up their guns they gave up everything. Sad 😢

[@thomaswarren13]

Free tip: most of us never had guns before the change in laws anyway. And most Australians will tell you that you're talking nonsense.

[@glennmarshall2088]

You talk to much, all crap

[@glennmarshall2088]

You talk to much, we are not idiots, we are not 7 years old. You been going 20 mins. Talking a Rubbish. Give it a rest...