Need for speed reforms club

More than 10 years after Katanning speedway club closed, local enthusiasts have rekindled their need for speed and reformed a speedway club.

The new Katanning Speedway Club held its first general meeting this month, after the original club folded in 2001 when public liability insurance skyrocketed globally as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York.

Last year, more than 50 Katanning motorsport enthusiasts attended a Katanning Shire Council meeting to demonstrate there was enough support to get the sport back to town.

Currently, speedway drivers in Katanning must travel to Narrogin, Mt Barker or Albany to compete.

Travis Menghini is one of those behind the club’s revival and is optimistic about the future of speedway in Katanning, which he feels would be a good fit in the town’s SuperTown vision.

“Speedways are popular in country towns, ” he said. “We have the support of the Katanning Shire … now we need the support of the people of Katanning and surrounding districts to make this happen.”

Katanning Motorsport Complex president and WA Modified Sedan champion Kye Blight said reopening the speedway club could bring more people to Katanning.

“I think a speedway is important for a small town like Katanning, it would be good to have another sporting event, ” he said.

“If you got 1000 people to a show in Katanning that would be pretty decent for a winter event.

“The world series in Albany attracted around 15,000 people.”

The Shire of Katanning will assist the club with grant applications to secure funding to upgrade the dormant speedway facility.

Built in 1985 near Forrest Hill Golf Club, the speedway has not been used since the club folded. In February last year, a busy bee was held to clean up the track, and the new club plans to hold fundraising events to raise money to upgrade the canteen and bathroom facilities.

The upgrade of the speedway facility is expected to cost about $90,000.

A meeting will be held at the town hall next Wednesday, at 6pm, to call for volunteers to help with the project.