A massive weekend of racing entertainment in Broken Hill will culminate with the conduct of the annual, Magic Motorcycles – Sidecar Spectacular, to be held at the Broken Hill Speedway this Saturday night.

A star studded field has been engaged to contest the event, which includes the Adelaide based, 2009 Australian Sidecar Champions, Mark Mitchell and Tom Golding, who are keen to contest the Spectacular against Broken Hill’s home riders, Rick Howse and Adam Commons, who currently hold the “Aussie” Number three ranking, which followed their World Champions, Runners up trophy of 2008.

The contest between two of Australia’s top Sidecar teams will be worth travelling a long way to watch, especially with Howse and Commons having a home ground advantage over the Aussie Number Ones. Both teams will not give any concessions to the other and neither will mind swapping a little paint during the course of the action. Baring any mechanical failure it is expected that these two teams should be the major combatants in the night’s final.

Howse and Commons head up a good local line up, with Howse’s two other brothers, Darren and Steven, taking on their more travelled sibling. Family rivalry is likely to be intense so be ready to watch the dirt fly.

Veteran Rob Kemp can’t keep out of the action and will use all the guile and experience that more than thirty years of racing, many times at the top level in Australia, have taught him over his long and distinguished career.

Added to the mix is the laconic but quick, Ricky “Bartman” Stephens, with passenger Dean Hobbs, who have been riding around the country this season preparing themselves to take a big crack at the 2010 Australian Sidecar Championship at Newcastle over the coming Easter weekend. The Stephens / Hobbs combination has been the speedway success story of the year in Australian Sidecar circles, as they have become a fast and reliable team, travelling widely to gather the racing experience which is required to do well. Their efforts at one of the traditional homes of speedway, Mildura’s Olympic Park, has been exemplary this year and they are now a force to be reckoned with at any venue.

The local contingent is strong with Kel O’Neill and Peter Harvy, who also double as the track builders, being joined by another Stephens brother in Daniel “Mud” Stephens, who carries “Bam” Martin in the chair and Joe Doherty, who continues to improve. The O’Neill / Harvy team is well travelled and are regulars at Mildura, often putting pressure on strong teams from, other venues.

Added to the Australian Champions, Mark Mitchell and Tom Golding, are fellow SA team, of Shane Evans / Graham Williams and well as one of the major improvers at Mildura this year, in Chris Holmes and Neale Hancock.

While racing under the “Dads Army” banner, given their seniority in the sport and like Rob Kemp, the Holmes / Hancock team has just continued to improve, especially now with some new and more powerful machinery under them. They were heard to comment at Mildura recently that “older folk are not meant to have this much fun while racing’, which is a lovely way to appreciate your sport.

Western Australian traveler, David McDonald, with Shane van Ginnekin on along side, will be keen to impress at Broken Hill for the first time.

The consistent Mildura team of Dale Milner and Nick O’Brien will again be in action, so don’t be surprised to see them as finalists for the Magic Motorcycles trophy, as they have put together a very good year of racing. Milner’s brother, Jason, with Blain Tucker, will be keen to “put away the bogey” from his last visit to Broken Hill, when had a massive crash while travelling down the back straight of the excellent Broken Hill venue. Jason had the expense and indignity of having his “Kevlar” race suit cut from him after his crash, but thankfully it has been repaired and he will be back in action, hoping to keep all wheels on the track for this prestigious meeting.

A strong line up of Classic Sidecars will be in action with local “aces” Wayne “Sticks” Stephens and regular passenger, Dick Tracy against Adelaide’s Graham Rowley and Terry Hutchinson and two combinations from Mildura in Dale Milner / Nick O’Brien, who will have a regular “double up” situation for them and the young husband and wife combination of Ash and Kat Needham, who have been enjoying their family outings together.

Solo action, which has been missing from Broken Hill for many seasons, will see Adelaide’s Ben Turner, Adam Briggs, Damon Whelan and Ben Hatcliffe racing against Ben Lenon and Jason Clarke, who are all the way down from Arunga Park Speedway in Alice Springs. Both Lenon and Clarke should be riders to watch as the Territory has a dearth of hidden talent out in the bush. Turner should be the pick of the solo bunch, but local patrons should enjoy seeing the two wheelers in action once again.

The Motorcross Mayhem riders will excite and entertain the patrons, with their daring efforts to control these machines in the circular way of going, as they complete the huge program of “bike” events. As usual, the entry list will be large, with the last Broken Hill meeting requiring two heats to accommodate the numbers.

Local “Street Stocks” cars will round out an action packed program of over forty events, which will commence at 7:00pm sharp.

Visitors to Broken Hill for a big racing weekend will be able to just “finish off” nicely with a visit to the Magic Motorcycles – Sidecar Spectacular, for 2010 – just out of town on the Adelaide Highway. Broken Hill Speedway offers a full catering service.

Download the press release: 2010 Magic Motorcycles – Sidecar Spectacular, 200310