Speed Week 2025

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35th Annual Speed Week

Lake Gairdner South Australia

Monday 3rd March to Saturday 8th March 2025

Presidents and Clerk of Course Report

Finally after years of 5 years of disruptions we got 6 days of racing! Not 6 complete days mind you, but most entrants got ample opportunity to achieve their very best. We also experienced the warmest temperatures for several years with maximums on the salt ranging from 32 to 38 degrees (much hotter off the salt, up to 44 degrees). This time it was the wind exceeding 15mph that was the culprit interupting racing on the Wednesday and Thursday and then finally causing the event to finish early on the Saturday.

This year proved once and for all that we have a good system in place. We managed to get an amazing amount of runs each day, even with the wind disruptions. The rescue teams, Peter and Belinda in timing, Rob and Janice in pre-stage and Harry on the start line 1, and our various cameo starters on track 2 and Shaine our Race Director, they were all just a well oiled machine! Monday afternoon they were calling for entrants at the start lines.

The high winds meant that at times lakesters, streamliners and full fairing motorcycles did not run at some stages.
Congratulations to all our new record holders and those that were qualified but never got to make a final run due to the wind.
There were plenty of big numbers this year, no more so than Eddie Zeller going out the back door with a 301mph, first time we have seen that sort of speed since 20 years ago when John Lynch set a A/BFL record of 301.729mph. Other noteable mentions go to Danny Plecas with a 292mph and Lionel West in Bronze Aussie with 291mph.
I must also make special mention of one of our junior entrants, Banjo McGrath who walked away from Speed Week with not just 1 record, but 3 records! A truly remarkable effort (I think his Dad may have had something to do with it too).

On behalf of the entrants and their teams, and all those peole who came out to watch a big thank you to our tireless volunteers, you did yourselves proud and as I have said many time before, we could not do it without you.
It's always hard to single out someone from the crowd, as all our people are just the best, but I feel the need to single out two who were exceptional this year.
A big thanks to Dion Higgins and his family/team for taking on the role of Lake Entry Manager and for going above and beyond and absolutely killing it.
Another huge thank you to Kim Krebs who could just sense where she was needed and miraciously just appeared all week long, amazing effort and truly appreciated by many.
To all our officials and volunteers, you may not have been there to hear it or see it, but you need to know of the countless people who have thanked us for putting on this event.

RECORDS

There was an amazing, best ever, 72 records set at Speed Week 2025 of these there was 53 Australian records broken (with 9 of those records being broken multiple times) and 19 new Australian records set.

200 MPH CLUB

We want to recognize all those that have reached a significant milestone in Land Speed Racing. To be eligible for the 200MPH club the competitor must have exceeded 200MPH whilst setting a new record for their class. Each new 200MPH club member receives a specially embroidered version of the "red hat" to signify their achievement. Welcome to your 200 MPH club!

(photos to follow)

200 MPH ACHIVERS

This is a list of the first time a driver or rider achieved of 200MPH or better at a DLRA event. 

In recognition of their achievement they receive a special DLRA "blue hat with red visor".
Congratulations to all these drivers and riders for achieving this unique and difficult milestone.

Note; there were many who did over 200mph, but are already in the 200mph club or are 200mph achievers.

(photos to follow)

Trophies

Land Speed Racing is an unusual sport, there is no prize money, or up until 2016, no trophies, the only reward for an entrant being a timing slip, hopefully with the right numbers on it. The DLRA now presents a number of trophies as a small memento to those lucky entrants in recognition of their efforts.
The Volunteer of the Year is a perpetual trophy honoring Greg Telford and all he did for the club. The recipient also receives a unique commemorative belt buckle.

(photos to follow)

 

In the Press

• Outback Salt lake flooded with speedsters seeking the perfect run - ABC News 16/03/2025
  • Speedsters flood salt surface of SA's Lake Gairdner with cars and bikes - ABC News 16/03/2025
  • Of tinkerers and dreamers: striving to be the fastest on the salt on Lake Gairdner - The Guardian 19/03/2025
• Racing Family set Land Speed Record
  (if you see any articles please email us at drylakesracersau@hotmail.com with the details)

 

RESULTS

Report  Results  Photos

Results of DLRA Speed Week, 3rd March - 8th March 2025 - Peter Hulbert, DLRA Chief Timer.

NOTE: Any application for amendments to these results must be made to record.certification@dlra.org.au

 

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