Weeks of Speed to return for more action

The 2024 Whitehaven Weeks of Speed Festival in Gunnedah is set to be bigger and better than ever.

Run over five consecutive weekends, the month-long program includes something for everyone.

The action starts on Saturday morning (March 2) with the traditional festival parade on Conadilly Street. This free event will feature cars, tractors and engines of every variety.

The parade will be followed by the festival’s official opening by the Hon John Anderson AC and popular hot rod at Wolseley Park and show ‘n’ shine static vehicle displays.

Last year’s Weeks of Speed festival gallery

It will also include a four-plane fly-over by Gunnedah Aero Club at 11am on Saturday. The aircraft will fly at 1000 feet above the township to delight audiences young and old.

Speedway cars take to the track later on Saturday evening with five race divisions vying for top honours. Action starts 5pm at Gunnedah Speedway on Bluevale Road.

Spectators are treated to the sight of finely-tuned engines roaring to life as drivers push their vehicles to the limit in pursuit of victory on the 1/8 mile drag strip at the Gunnedah Airport.

For those with a passion for two-wheeled thrills, Gunnedah Motorbike Club 100 Anniversary Race offers heart-stopping action as riders of all ages lean into corners and rocket down the straights in a breath-taking display of skill and bravery. The roar of engines and the flash of colour as riders jostle for position creates an atmosphere of intense excitement that keeps spectators on the edge of their seats.

On Sunday, the Weeks of Speed Clash of the Sirens competition will be held at Woolshed Reserve, near Cohens Bridge in Gunnedah.

This annual activity features emergency service personnel from across town who compete in a series of events – from fire hose speed rolling to rescue scenarios.

Rural Fire Service volunteer Ian Guest said the day was all in the name of fun and camaraderie among local emergency services.

For this year’s Clash of the Sirens, teams will feature a mix of personnel from different emergency services.

Mr Guest said practice will start about 11am before competition at 2pm. Afterwards, the services provide demonstrations of new gear such as the flood rescue equipment and invite children and the community to get involved.

The following weekend (March 9-10) will see the two-day, fishing and clay target shooting competitions (Sinker to Shotgun) held at Lake Keepit and Gunnedah Sporting Clays.

Competitors from across the region will be combine their skills on the rod and reel on Saturday with scores from Sunday’s target shoot, to determine the winners.

On Saturday, March 16, six events will be held including market stalls, the NSW whipcracking and billy boiling titles, thoroughbred racing at Gunnedah’s Riverside Racecourse and drag car racing at Gunnedah Airport.

The Gunnedah Country Music Muster will be held over four days from Wednesday, March 20, before a demonstration by Gunnedah Aero Club (March 23), Gunnedah Motorcycle Club’s 100 year Anniversary Race (March 23), Rural Museum Open Day (March 24) as well as Motorkhana and Half Mile Sprint (March 31).

Whitehaven Weeks of Speed offers something for every speed enthusiast, making it a must-see event for thrill-seekers and adrenalin junkies alike.

Gunnedah shire mayor Jamie Chaffey said the festival is a great opportunity to showcase the region to a wide audience.

“Every year, the heartbeat of Gunnedah shire picks up the pace for the Weeks of Speed,” Cr Chaffey said.

“This action-packed program combines an impressive line-up of events … this is truly a month with something for everyone.

“We welcome the people who will attend this year’s Gunnedah Weeks of Speed and the competitors. And we encourage our local community to take a look at just how much the Weeks of Speed have to offer.

“We live in a beautiful place and we are more than happy to show it off to all our visitors.

“I congratulate the committee on their work in bringing the program to life. Without the committee and the many, many volunteers of the organisations involved, this program of events would not happen.”