SA Women in Motorcycling
SA JUNIOR SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP ON THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT SIDEWINDERS SPEEDWAY
FINAL ROUND OF THE 2021 SA ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND AT THE BEND – ON THE EAST CIRCUIT!
East Circuit… turn right before the carports upon entering The Bends main entrance and follow the signs
Saturday; Qualifying 10am till 12:45 pm. Racing starts 1 till 4pm
Sunday; Racing starts at 10am till 4 pm
State Championship, Cafnix Round 2 and Cafnix series presentations will be held in the welcome centre of the main building to The Bend from 5:30pm onwards Sunday – all welcome!
Free sausage sizzle after Saturday’s racing BYO drinks – so come and meet the riders after the action ends!
Sadly, no canteens or catering, but there is an OTR is 4 min away by car
There is a viewing platform on the east circuit control tower for spectators NO SPECTATING ON PIT WALL THOUGH!
Other viewing areas around the track are accessible by car
Pit areas are free and accessible for spectators, but closed shoes must be worn
Alessandro hugs are also free but highly addictive beware!
THE LAST OF THE ORIGINALS – JOHN SONGAILO TO SIGN OFF AS RELIABILITY TRIAL SPORTS MANAGER!
THE LAST OF THE ORIGINALS – JOHN SONGAILO TO SIGN OFF AS RELIABILITY TRIAL SPORTS MANAGER
After about 13 years in the position, John Songailo has made the decision to step down as the Reliability Trials Sports Manager, a year earlier then expected, as his current term only expires at the end of 2022.
As such, Motorcycling SA has immediately opened nominations for the position, with the nominations to remain open until 5.00pm, Friday January 21st 2022.
After speaking to John, even though he has enjoyed his time in the position and did give the position some serious thought about whether or not to carry on, he felt that the time was right to step down, and also that it was the time for some new blood to come in with new ideas and take the discipline to the next level.
Motorcycling SA would like to express its thanks to John for holding the position for so many years, and he definitely leaves the discipline in a strong position, with 7 great events making for a season long SA Championship, that certainly caters for all riders and machines, and by its very nature, is also our most unique discipline, which of course, features SA’s famous 24 Hour Trial each July.
With John’s current committee set-up, he is happy to stay on until the committee’s Annual General Meeting that will be held in February, but as per the Sports Manager’s guidelines, it will be up to the new Sports Manager as to how he/she will run the discipline, whilst under the guidelines as set down by Motorcycling SA.
In the short term, this will be a one (1) year appointment, in that the successful nominee will complete the current two (2) year term (2021/22) that John was in the middle of, and after that they will be able to re-nominate if they wish for a full two (2) term of 2023/24.
OTHER SPORTS MANAGER NOMINATIONS STILL OPEN – UNTIL DECEMBER 3RD
Motorcycling SA still have open for nominations, the following Sports Managers positions;
Each appointment is for a two (2) year term – 2022/23, with all Sports Managers getting together for a meeting quarterly, and the MSA Sports Managers Guidelines are also available on request.
- Dirt Track
- Enduro
- Motocross
They will join the returning Sports Managers who’s current term is 2021/22;
- Road Race – Kym Bolto
- Speedway – Adam Possingham
Nominations for these 3 positions will close on Friday, December 3rd at 5.00pm, with appointments to be decided on, and made official by the MSA Board at the December Sports Managers meeting.
An application form needs to be completed and returned to Motorcycling SA for a person to be considered for the position, and can be found here;
EMMA HAYLOCK & SARAH RAYSON, REPRESENTING MSA AT THE 2021 SPORT SA AWARDS
Hugest of congratulations to Emma Haylock, inaugural winner of the Ruby Warner Spirit of Sports Award! An outstanding achievement for Emma, and congratulations as well to Sarah Rayson from the Keith & District MCC, a finalist for Volunteer of the Year, but not getting the gong – this time!
Emma Haylock, an amazing young woman and sporting Champion, and a fantastic role model for young girls looking to enter motorcycle (or any) sport, as she is a great example of what hard work, sportsmanship and fair play can achieve, while not forgetting that future generations need to be encouraged and nurtured, which she is more than willing to do!
To Emma, motorcycle sport is her world, in her words, “I just want to ride fast and safe – and send it!” (hit big jumps), and at present she competes or practices most weekends, and across 3 disciplines of the sport, Motocross, Enduro and Trial, and she is always professional in her presentation and is a great role model for the sport, and is forever encouraging more girls 3 (specifically) to get involved, whether that be on the podium at events with a microphone in hand, or representing herself at promotional events, where she is more than willing to attend on behalf of Motorcycling SA and talk to people she doesn’t know about her sport. At present she is also featured on Motorcycling SA’s SA Women in Motorcycling poster for the discipline of motocross.
Sarah Rayson, Sarah’s daily motivation and support in very challenging times again illustrated rare qualities and Sarah’s passion for this sport which has made her a role model for all volunteers – as this year she has been, an official in many roles, event organiser for multiple clubs, a canteen organiser, plus a mum too 2 kids, one with major medical issues!
Sarah’s dedication and drive in 2021 has surpassed the efforts of many other volunteers in motorcycle sport, where she is heavily involved in the Keith & Districts MCC, where her Husband Tim is also the President. Sarah’s passion for motorsport runs deep into her heritage with the late, great Andy Caldecott a close uncle to Sarah and the legacy this family continues to leave on the sport is into its 3rd generation in the southeast.
OTHER NOMINEES
All up, Motorcycling SA put in 7 nominations across the various awards, with only Emma & Sarah being selected as a finalist, with the other nominees being;
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR; MARK PLAISTED
EVENT OF THE YEAR; THE SELLICKS BEACH HISTORIC RACES
EMERGING ATHLETE OF THE YEAR; ALISHA HARRY
COACH OF THE YEAR; DAVID ‘DAVO’ JOHNSON
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR; IAN HAYLOCK
Whilst they may not have been successful, they were all very worthy nominees – also, in relation to Sellicks, Mark & Alisha, it is a bit tough when you are up against Olympic qualifying events and/or athletes!
NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS – THE FULL HOUSE SIGN IS UP!
The Frank Franklin Trophy is South Australian motorcycle sports most prestigious individual award for ‘off bike’ involvement in our sport, and since its inception has been won by some of SA’s hardest working and most unassuming motorcycle identities – and from all disciplines of motorcycle sport as well!
Sadly COVID-19 has really played havoc with many, if not quite all Australian Championship series and events over the past 2 years, with Motorcycling Australia left with little choice but to postpone and then cancel the events. However, there was at least one weekend of events that managed to take place in amongst lockdowns, travel bans and every other crazy thing that has been happening over the past 2 years, and there were a couple of riders that got to achieve International success, and on the night they will be highlighted!
2021 MSA HALL OF FAME – MR GAVIN PORTEOUS
The main event of the evening, to induct our next member into Motorcycling SA’s most exclusive club, the Hall of Fame, and again in 2021 the MSA Board have had to make a very easy decision, as the 2021 inductee is truly one of our greatest ever Champions in a career that spanned a total almost 30 years. Road Race sidecar ace, Gavin Porteous, or ‘Big Gav’ to many is the 9th inductee into our very exclusive Hall of Fame!
2021 sees Motorcycling SA recognise 15 Regional Volunteers, encompassing officials, coaches, and club stalwarts, those who have many years’ experience, to those who are relatively new, and those who put more hours in to the sport than is sometime humanly possible – and ask for nothing in return – and they also come from all walks of life and all parts of South Australia!
The final award for the night, is the coveted MSA Club of the Year Award, and again, the hard working office staff have had a lot of difficulty this year in picking the finalists and a winner, so what they have done is picked a shortlist of 4 worthy and great clubs.