Motorsport Media Australia

It's Race Day! We're headed up to Pithara Speedway Club Inc for Round 1 of the West Coast Stabilisers Sprintcar Series - SAWA. And the season starts off with the big one - the J&S Drilling Bonza Bradford Memorial.

It’s Race Day! Round 1 of the 2024/25 WEST COAST Stabilisers SAWA Sprintcar Series is set to get under way this afternoon at Pithara Speedway Club Inc with the annual Bonza Bradford Memorial - proudly sponsored by J&S Drilling.

The Bonza Bradford Memorial is not just any race - it's a tribute to the late Ian ‘Bonza’ Bradford, a true icon in the world of sprintcar racing. Come and se the 360-LS Sprintcar drivers on track battling it out for the right to have their name etched on the prestigious memorial trophy.

In addition to the 360-LS Sprintcars, the event will also feature the Formula 500's WA Inc and Junior Formula 500's WA (West Coast Series) in addition to Junior Sedans. Racing is set to get under way at 6pm – so be sure to get in early to grab a great spot to enjoy the racing.

A small sample of some of the shots taken during the recent Westernapolis Round of the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series at the Perth Motorplex.

It's almost time for the Bonza Bradford Memorial! Get the family up to Pithara Speedway Club Inc on Saturday for another great event. And if your not familiar with the history, have a read of the post below.

Get ready for an action-packed evening as the WEST COAST Stabilisers SAWA Sprintcars Series kick off the 2024/25 season with the annual Bonza Bradford Memorial - proudly sponsored by J&S Drilling. Be there as the 360-LS Sprintcars push off and fire up their engines to hit the track in anger for the first time at Pithara Speedway Club Inc on Saturday 2nd November 2024.

The list of nominated drivers for the Round 1 event will see a mix of youth and experience do battle at the Dalwallinu track and promises to deliver a night of heart-pounding action that you won't want to miss!

The Bonza Bradford Memorial is not just any race; it's a tribute to the late Ian ‘Bonza’ Bradford, a true icon in the world of sprintcar racing who sadly lost his hard-fought battle against cancer on November 7, 1992. He was just 33 years of age.

The close-knit Bradford farming family have always loved their speedway racing. Ian’s father Noel, affectionately known as ‘The Big Chap’, was the 1975-76 Australian Sprintcar Champion while brothers Kevin and Barry also enjoyed shifting the dirt.

Ian’s career began when he won the 1982-83 W.A. Division 2 title driving his Dad’s car. He made an impressive Claremont debut - winning three of his first four feature starts.

Driving for several different owners, Ian quickly developed a reputation as a hard-charging and skilled ‘dirt-track chauffeur’. He collected two State crowns and was named the ‘Sprintcar Driver of the Year’ on three separate occasions.

‘Bonza’, the young farmer from Ballidu put up a great battle against cancer, and it was this fighting spirit that he displayed whilst facing up to the ultimate challenge that won him a lot of fans. He dedicated a lot of time counselling others who were battling cancer – in particular young children – and this provided an enormous amount of moral support to those that needed it the most, from someone who understood and could relate.

Throughout it all, Ian maintained his enthusiasm for speedway competition - and for life. His positive attitude and his passion for sprintcar racing helped prolong his time with us.

A notable inclusion in the list of nominated drivers set to take part is Shaun Bradford, the son of 'Bonza' Bradford. Shaun will be among the large field of competitors racing to honour his father's memory. This emotional tribute promises to be a highlight of the evening, as the racing community comes together to remember a legend and celebrate the spirit of motorsport.

In addition to the 360-LS Sprintcars, the event will also feature the Formula 500s and Junior Formula 500s, making it a complete speedway extravaganza.

Be sure to make the trip to Pithara Speedway to experience the Bonza Bradford Memorial – an event not to be missed. Spectator gates open at 2pm with racing from 6pm.

Media Release: Motorsport Media Australia

Incorporates content from an article written by Ken Brown.

Here are the J&S Racing photos from the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series Westernapolis at the Perth Motorplex

We’re back on tour with J&S Racing for a hectic summer season of speedway!

Brooke Newson Racing 410 sprint car debut at Perth Motorplex in the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series.

We wish Kaiden Manders all the best as he gets set to start the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series at the Perth Motorplex this afternoon in the J&S Racing W60.

Kaiden Manders sat down with Jarrad Nightingale from Motorsport Media Australia whilst in Darwin to reflect on the past season and preview the upcoming the summer of racing.

Q: You finished on a high last season, winning the final race and taking out the Triple Crown Series and finishing 5th overall in the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series. It looked like the team had been steadily building up to that all season long. Is that how it felt within the team? Could you feel the momentum building?

A: Yes absolutely, the whole team had been working really hard all season to find a balance in the car that suited me. It was great to reward them at the end with a win.

Q: You appear to have a good mix of experience and youth within the J&S Racing team, with a number of new members coming on board at the start of last season. How has the team developed and what is the general feeling within the team?

A: Yes, for sure. We have James who joined the team last season and is learning more every time we go to the track and is doing a great job. There is a real positivity within the team, and we are working together to try and accomplish our goals.

Q: You have started the summer season a couple of months early this year, kicking off in Darwin for three weekends. Have you had to adjust your preparation at all given the earlier start?

A: No for me preparation was normal, I train throughout the season anyway so no real changes there.

Q: It looked like you adjusted to the Northline Speedway track conditions rather well. How different is the Darwin track compared to the Perth Motorplex?

A: It’s obviously a lot smaller, however I think the slick conditions make some of the racing similar to the Motorplex. It helps to have a great crew around me to give me feedback on what I’m doing right and wrong.

Q: You also head off to Queensland for a few shows followed by a stopover in South Australia before things get under way in Perth at the Motorplex – it sounds like you will well and truly be up to speed before the MTSS kicks off. Obviously, the plan is to hit the ground running in Perth – what is your target this season?

A: Yeah that’s the plan. Our main goal this season is to tackle the MTSS head on and really give ourselves the best chance at taking out the series.

Q: You are an exceptional talent in a speedcar as well, often jumping between the two on race night. What is the plan with regards to the speedcar this season – will you run a full WA program in that class as well?

A: I am still confirming what shows ill be running in a speedcar this season, I will not be doing a full program however I'm hopeful to be doing a handful of races still.

Q: Early in the off-season you headed off to the USA to run a number of shows in a speedcar. How different was it to drive on the USA tracks?

A: It was very different and a big learning curve, however I really enjoyed the racing over there and can’t wait to get back there one day.

Q: There has been a lot of excitement around the High Limit Series coming to Perth for 3x nights at the end of December. You must be looking forward to measuring your skills against Kyle Larson who is considered a once in a generation talent behind the wheel. How do you mentally prepare to go head-to-head with the best in the world?

A: Yes for sure. Its always a privilege to race against drivers of that calibre. For me though ill just approach it like he's just a number or any other car on the track, and go out there and do my best.

Thanks for your time Kaiden, we wish you all the best for the season ahead.

The West Coast Stabilisers Sprintcar Series - SAWA kicks off on Saturday 2nd November 2024 at Pithara Speedway with the J&S Drilling Bonza Bradford Memorial.

The West Coast Stabilisers SAWA Sprintcar Series for 2024/25 gets under way with Round 1 of the 360-LS Sprintcars at Pithara Speedway on Saturday 2nd November 2024 for the J&S Drilling Bonza Bradford Memorial.

Be there as the 360-LS Sprintcars battle it out for the first points of the season, but more importantly, look to add their name to the prestigious Bonza Bradford Memorial trophy – as this is the event that honours the memory of Ian ‘Bonza’ Bradford, a WA Sprintcar Champion that was taken far too soon.

Gates open at 2pm with racing from 6pm.

Original ‘Bonza’ Photo: Tony Loxley

West Coast Outlaw Karts will get their 2024/25 Season under way on Saturday 12th October at Pinjar Park Speedway.

Be sure to head on up and check out the next generation of speedway drivers in action!

Bogdanich Farms presents Round 1 of the 2024/25 West Coast Outlaw Karts Series on Saturday 12th October at Pinjar Park Speedway. There is bound to be plenty of action on track after the winter break, with everyone looking to make a good start to the season. We also have some new drivers that have joined the club, and a few drivers that have moved up a division.

Racing from 4:30pm with Spectator Gates open from 3:30pm – so come early, get a great spot on the hill and enjoy a wander around the pit area – they are open to the public, so come in and say hello to the drivers and their hard-working crew.

$10 entry for adults, kids under 16 are free!

Night 2 photos with J&S Racing at Northline Speedway for Chariots of Thunder. We will head to the track shortly to do it all again for Night 3.

A couple of general shots from Night 1 of Chariots of Thunder at Northline Speedway.

We had a great first night at Northline Speedway for Chariots of Thunder with J&S Racing.

It’s hot up here in Darwin at Northline Speedway for Chariots of Thunder with J&S Racing! Lucky we have Victory Fuel here to keep us hydrated.

It will be a big season for J&S Racing - and we will following along with them.

We are currently in Darwin with the W60 team to cover their tilt at Chariots of Thunder being held at Northline Speedway.

The action kicks off tomorrow night - you can catch the Thursday night event on Clay-Per-View for free.

J&S Racing are set for a massive 42 nights of racing across WA, NT, QLD, SA and Victoria with Kaiden Manders in the W60.

The 24/25 season has already commenced for the team, with the W60 currently in Darwin having completed a couple of initial shake down events in addition to the Defend The Top End and NT Sprintcar Title, all of which were in preparation for the big one – Chariots of Thunder at Northline Speedway which will be run this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The team will then pop over to Queensland for 4x nights of racing, visiting both McCosker Gladstone Speedway and Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway. On the way back, the team will make one final stop in at Murray Bridge Speedway in South Australia for 2x shows to get a feel for the track in preparation for the Australian Title which will be held there later in the season.

Once back in WA it will be time to begin the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series which will be contested across the Perth Motorplex, Bunbury Speedway and Ellenbrook Speedway. The WA season is jam packed with big events and includes the High Limit Racing International race which will run over three nights.

The team will also once again make the trip east in January to contest the King’s Challenge at Borderline Speedway, the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at Premier Speedway, Warrnambool and the Australian Sprintcar Title at Murray Bridge Speedway.

Bring on the 2024/25 Season!

A solid effort from Kaiden Manders in the J&S Racing W60 at Northline Speedway on the weekend, gaining valuable track experience ahead of the Chariots of Thunder event this coming weekend.

We will be in Darwin to cover all of the action.

Weekend Results for Kaiden Manders in the J&S W60 from Northline Speedway.

Plenty of positives to take from the weekend. We started from pole on Friday night but had a tyre go down. Managed to change it under an open red and fight our way through from the back, gaining valuable experience in traffic at this track.

Next up - Chariots of Thunder this coming Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We look forward to seeing you trackside.

This new class will be a great option for drivers to get into the sport on a limited budget. And once they get the experience they can step up into the winged karts.

A great initiative from West Coast Outlaw Karts.

The upcoming 24/25 WCOK Series will see the introduction of the Non-Wing class. Also known as ‘caged clones’ in the USA, they represent exceptional value for money for the competitors, and provide thrilling entertainment for the spectators.

The karts run a box stock motor (200cc pull-start) in a standard outlaw kart chassis – they simply have the top wing removed. Expect to see plenty of position swapping on track!

The non-winged karts also have the exact same running gear and chassis as the winged karts, and therefore provide an excellent stepping stone into the winged divisions. Once a driver is feeling comfortable racing on track they can simply fix a wing on top and bolt in the required motor.

WCOK will have two divisions: Junior (12 – 16 years of age) and Senior (16+) – with both divisions running the exact same specifications, thereby allowing the same kart to be shared between a child and an adult during the same race event.

There are quite a few karts being built right now for this division, and we are expecting a number of additional karts to come on stream during the season.

Congratulations Trevor and Alicia - inaugural life member inductees for the West Coast Outlaw Karts

The WCOK Annual Awards Presentation was held on Saturday 15th June 2024, with the club inducting their first ever Life Members – Trevor and Alicia Reynolds – who together were the driving force behind the inception of the West Coast Outlaw Karts.

With Alicia unable to attend due to work commitments, it fell to Trevor to walk on stage and collect both awards. Trevor was clearly emotional in receiving the award which recognizes the many years of hard work and sacrifice which both he and Alicia endured to bring outlaw kart racing to Australia and develop it into the important speedway racing category that it is today.

Trevor recalled travelling through the USA and marvelling at how great the young drivers were behind the wheel of sprintcars. He asked around in an effort to uncover the secret to their early success, and the response was always the same – they had all honed their craft in outlaw kart racing. Trevor knew immediately that he needed to bring this form of speedway racing to Australia to ensure we have a steady pipeline of drivers ready to progress through to senior open wheel racing categories such as speedcars and sprintcars. And thus, West Coast Outlaw Karts was born.

Trevor has of course done much more than just start a club with Alicia – he set about building the karts himself to ensure that the sport would be accessible to many, not just a select few. Through their Fourseven Outlaw Karts business, Trevor and Alicia have enabled speedway glory to be within reach of not just Western Australia, but across the whole of Australia.

Congratulations to Trevor and Alicia Reynolds – inaugural Life Member inductees of the West Coast Outlaw Karts.

A shot from earlier in the season of Kaiden Manders at Bunbury Speedway with J&S Racing

Round 2 of the Natrad Four Crown Series is set for Saturday 13th July at Pithara Speedway.

Gates open at 9am with racing from 1pm.

The West Coast Outlaw Karts Grand Final Night has been cancelled due to the weather.

GRAND FINAL NIGHT EVENT CANCELLED

Unfortunately, the only winner this weekend is the weather. WCOK have made the difficult decision to cancel the final event of the 23/24 Season as the recent rains have had a detrimental impact on the track.

Congratulations to all of the drivers and their families that have participated this season. To all the spectators that have come along to an event during the season, we hope you enjoyed a great night of racing from the next generation of speedway stars. And finally, a big Thank You to all of the volunteers that have given up their time throughout the season to assist in running the club and the events.

We look forward to an even bigger and better 24/25 Season.

The next generation of speedway stars!

It's the Penultimate Round of the West Coast Outlaw Karts 2023/24 Season. Be sure to make your way to Pinjar Park Speedway this Saturday.

West Coast Outlaw Karts proudly presents Round 14 of the 2023/24 Season. This is the penultimate event of the season, so all of the driver's are chasing every last point in the Championship.

Spectator gates open at 3:30pm, with racing from 4:30pm.

There will of course be a food truck on site - so dinner is sorted.

We look forward to seeing you there.

It's Race Day at Pinjar Park Speedway in Neerabup.

Gates open at 3:30pm with racing from 4:30pm.

T D Modular Granny Flats proudly presents the inaugural ‘Reynolds Challenge’ this afternoon - Saturday 11th May 2024 at Pinjar Park Speedway.

This a new unique format event which honours the Reynolds Family who were instrumental in establishing Outlaw Karts in Western Australia. The event is set to become a must-see on the annual WCOK Calendar – so be sure to get along to witness the very first running of this exciting format.

Spectator Gates open at 3:30pm, with Racing from 4:30pm. And there will of course be a food truck on site – so dinner is sorted!

This will fast become one of the most anticipated events on the West Coast Outlaw Karts Calendar. Head over to the WCOK FB page for further details of how the 'Challenge' works - potentially some big money for anyone that takes on the challenge and is successful!

T D Modular Granny Flats proudly presents the inaugural ‘Reynolds Challenge’ on Saturday 11th May 2024 at Pinjar Park Speedway.

This a new unique format event which honours the Reynolds Family who were instrumental in establishing Outlaw Karts in Western Australia. The event is set to become a must-see on the annual WCOK Calendar – so be sure to get along to witness the very first running of this exciting format.

Spectator Gates open at 3:30pm, with Racing from 4:30pm. And there will of course be a food truck on site – so dinner is sorted!

Stay tuned - details of the ‘Challenge’ component will be released in the lead up to the event. We hope to see you at the track on Saturday night to see if anyone is willing to accept the 'Challenge'.