Gunnedah to stage Full Throttle Fest

Gunnedah Motoring Enthusiasts (GME) will host a motorsport action event named ‘Full Throttle Fest’ at the Gunnedah Aerodrome tarmac on the weekend of July 26 and 27.

GME arranged this event after the Weeks of Speed tarmac sprint race in March was cancelled due to inclement weather, with GME event secretary Geoff Hood saying there had been requests from those who entered the initial March event.

Hood said travellers as well as Sydney Motorsport Groups had said they would like to come to Gunnedah for a weekend of motorsport fun and to see what the rural town had to offer.

Club members researched options, travelled to Sydney and Ipswich to observe and engage in new motorsport that has never been outside of the major venues.

To encourage local destination tourism and variety for the Full Throttle Fest, Mr Hood said GME has worked with licencing and officiating entities to bring a rolling start at 40kmh and two vehicles side by side over 250 metres.

The second day will feature an event of 804 metres.

Mr Hood said GME holds the only Motorsport Australia Venue and Track licence (Gunnedah Aerodrome) for Single Vehicle Standing Start Sprints in Australia.

“Now having Cohen’s Bridge over the Namoi River open again will help with competitors and spectators for extra activity,” he said.

Mr Hood said initial enquiry was building, hopefully to cover the substantial operating costs of such a fledgling event.

“Similar motorsport events in capital cities are huge,” he said.

“This event should grow.

“For entrants, those that have road registered daily drives, performance vehicle variants, a restored vehicle or an old Holden or Ford V8 ute in the shed, you can enter both Saturday and Sunday events to have a blast in a controlled and safe environment, amongst friends.”