Weekend of Speed drivers get approval to start their engines
Albany will host a Weekend of Speed, featuring the annual Wind Farm Hill Climb, after Motorsport Australia last week granted permission for the event to happen.
Believed to be one of the first motorsport events held in Australia since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Weekend of Speed will be run by the Great Southern Street Machines Association.
On Saturday competitors will line up in the Wind Farm Hill Climb and then drivers will face off in the Battle of Pendeen Sprint on Monday.
There will also be a virtual cars and coffee event held on Sunday.
The GSSMA received the final tick of approval from Motorsport Australia last Friday and the event will be run under strict COVID-19 requirements, including no crowds.
GSSMA treasurer and event secretary Christine Sargent said today was the final day for drivers to nominate for the two racing events.
“We are still getting nominations come through,” Ms Sargent said.
“The numbers are not as good as normal but that is understandable.
“We have about 15 entries for both and if we can get that up to 30 that would be really good.
“This year we can’t let people in if they come on the day and just want to race, it’s just different with all the COVID-19 protocols.”
The Albany Classic is normally held on this WA Day long weekend but was cancelled this year.
GSSMA president Keith Hornsey said with the Albany Classic cancelled, there was a big void for local speedsters.
Mr Hornsey and his son Adrian have been competing in the hill climb since 2010, the latter reaching speeds of 196km/h up the hill in his V8 Mazda last year.
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