Fan Ray Meek has been heading to Premier Speedway for the South West Conveyancing Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic consecutively for the past 33 years.
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For the 76-year-old who camps at Allansford, there’s no other place he would rather be.
The Skipton resident caught a few hours sleep after the first night of racing at Avalon and was one of the first speedway fanatic to set up camp on Thursday morning ready for this weekend’s action.
He is one of the regulars who line the fence at the vacant block on the western side of the speedway, which is transformed from a cow paddock to camping and parking for enthusiasts. “All along this fence is regulars,” he said. “Later on today there will be a couple of big motor homes and they’re fair dinkum motor homes, big 40 or 44 foot motor homes. I know most of them.”
He enjoys meeting up with the same people year after year where they assume their regular positions both camping and trackside. “We sit right up underneath the lap timing board. Most of us have got our spots where we go to. I’m ready for a good weekend. Once I get this awning up I think it’s time to crack one. Crack a coldie and then go down to the supermarket and get a bit of tucker.”
He was waiting for his mates to arrive before heading to Mount Gambier for Thursday night’s racing. “We usually go over with about three of us in the car. It’s a toss of the coin to decide who’s driving back. It’s pretty easy to get talked into having a beer or two when you get over there.”
Mr Meek got into the sport through mates about 65 years ago. “I started going to the speedway at the old Tracey’s Speedway at Maribyrnong and that’s back in the ‘50s. It closed in about ‘64 I think.
“I follow most of the sprintcars. I usually do Warrnambool, Avalon, Simpson and Mount Gambier and occasionally up to the Murray, Echuca and Swan Hill, it depends what’s on.
“I’ve always been right into it. I did a bit of driving myself years ago. It’s just the guys you meet, you have a few beers and talk a load of bullshit,” he laughed. “That’s what usually happens.”
He thinks young American Gio Scelzi could win this year’s title and also follows local drivers James McFadden, Jamie Veal and Tim Rankin.
Gates open Friday at 2pm with racing from 5pm.
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