Sport
21 July, 2025
Canefields to explode with thunder
MORE than 6000 speedway fans are expected to pack Walsh’s Auto Cairns Speedway this August for four massive nights of racing as ‘Thunder in the Canefields’ returns louder and faster than ever.
Held over August 1, 2, 8 and 9, the fifth annual Southside Mechanical and Spares Thunder in the Canefields will see some of the country’s top sprintcar drivers from Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Southeast Queensland take on Far North Queensland’s finest for a slice of the $26,500 prize pool and the coveted sugar cane cutting knife trophy.
“Cairns is a wonderful place to come. Drivers and fans come for a holiday and watch some great racing. We are known for the Great Barrier Reef, rainforest and many experiences that they can’t do while visiting other racetracks,” said Cairns Speedway Club president Rob Goodwin.
Mr Goodwin said the 360-LS sprintcar class had made the event more accessible to local drivers while still drawing elite competition from around the country.
“There’s going to be great racing over those four days,” he said.
“There’s $5000 to win each night for the sprintcars and there’re some big names coming to challenge our local drivers.”
Among the fastest-growing categories is the wingless sprintcar class, which will see local sponsor and driver Richie Robb competing alongside family members and drivers from across the country.
“We really like the wingless because they are affordable,” Mr Robb said.
“They’re a V6 Commodore engine. Everything on a wingless is a hand-me-down from a sprintcar, so it’s a very affordable class, and it’s a fun class, and we are looking for more drivers to take up the sport, which we can help with.”
Mr Robb said supporting Thunder in the Canefields as a major sponsor was his way of giving back to the racing community.
“After travelling and meeting drivers at racetracks all over Australia, this is my thank you to them, inviting them all back to my neighbourhood. They are competing on our track and it’s gonna be all on. Lots of fun. We can’t wait.”
The event will culminate with a grand finale of flames and fireworks on August 9. Racing starts at 6pm each night, with gates open from 3pm at Edmonton.
