Speedway action returns to Narrabri for first racenight of the season

Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri hosted its first racenight of the 2025/26 season at the local Newtown Park track on Saturday, which was given a huge tick of approval by Narrabri Shire’s mayor Darrell Tiemens.

Cr Tiemens thought he was going along to go around the track for a few laps, but he ended up being in the passenger seat in Simon Hood’s car for all three fast fours heats and the feature.

The mayor told The Courier that he enjoyed the racing, both in the car as a passenger and also at the side of the track as a spectator, and was full of praise for the club’s committee.

“Saturday night was just so much fun,” Cr Tiemens said.

“I was really, really impressed with the way the whole evening was organised. It was meticulous organisation from the volunteers and the club’s committee.

“Everything just seemed to run like clockwork. It was military precision at that track.

“That’s just classic Narrabri. The way volunteers just get in and get things done.

“I was also really impressed with the amount of families there. There were lots of grandparents there to watch their grandkids race, and there were people there from everywhere, not just from Narrabri, but also all across the shire and across the wider region. I was even chatting to people from Queensland.

“It was a thrilling night. The roar of the crowd and the fun and the adrenaline were amazing.

“I really enjoyed being in the car. When Shooey (club president Michael Shoobert) said to me that they would put me in a car, I thought I’d just be in there for a couple of laps around the track.

“I didn’t realise I was going in as a passenger in actual races, but next thing I knew, it wasn’t just practice, I was in a race.

“It was full on, and Simon Hood, who was my driver, was exceptional. Not once did I ever feel nervous. I was always very comfortable.”

“It was a thrilling ride.”

Shoobert said the club was excited to have had the mayor come and experience the action first hand, and he labelled the night as a success.

“It was a really good night and the racing was really good,” Shoobert said.

“There were a couple of accidents, but nothing major. Everyone was safe.

“We had a good turnout of spectators. It was a really good crowd up there. It was a pretty good atmosphere.

“All the volunteers did a great job too.”

There were plenty of Narrabri residents and Narrabri club drivers in action during the night, which gave the crowd even more to cheer about.

One of those drivers was 11-year-old Eleanor Shoobert, who made her RSA New Stars debut.

Podium finishers in each division are as follows:

Fender benders: First – Braydon Holland.
RSA All Stars: First – Levi Payne, second – Benji Gordon, third – Hunter Smith.
RSA New Stars: First – Charlie Phillips, second – Eleanor Shoobert.
RSA Fast Fours: First – John Spicer, second – Stephen Keeler, third – John Swadling.
RSA Street Stockers: First – Trent Keeler, second – Wyatt Lawler, third – Todd Keeler.

Next up for Northwest Speedway Club Narrabri is a racenight on Saturday, December 6, during which the Newtown Park track will host the RSA Junior Sedans National Title.