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Australian Solo Speedway Championships

World First By Australian Speedway Promoters
In a first for world speedway, three Australian Speedway promoters are providing a fully paid sea container to Australian riders wishing to compete down under this summer.
Gillman Speedway’s David Parker, said; "With all of the leading Australian riders competing in Europe during the Australian off season it is becoming more difficult for Australian promoters to plan meetings, not knowing who will make the effort to compete each summer.
“With that in mind, the promoters of Newcastle and Mildura have joined us in introducing this latest initiative.
“We hope this new scheme will help riders save money and have good equipment on both sides of the world.”
Dick Barrie, of Air Sea Scotland Limited in the UK, has organised the construction of purpose built crates, which can carry two dismantled bikes and some gear, plus a container which can hold up to 24 of the crates.
The container will leave the UK no later than October 15 and leave Australia for the return trip to the UK around February 15.
This will allow the riders to compete in Australia for the greater part of the domestic season — which means not just the Australian Championship rounds but the State Championships, Australian Under 21 Championship, Track Championships and other high profile meetings like the Jack Young Cup and the Golden Helmet meetings.
All contactable Australian riders currently in the UK have been advised of this and many have already committed to using the container and riding in Australia this season. Should there be any free space in the container the promoters would gladly hand it over to any foreign riders wanting to compete in Australia.
One of the first riders to take up the offer was four-time South Australian Champion Rory Schlein, who has committed to a number of big events down under this summer.
Schlein said; "It is fantastic that the clubs have arranged this. It is very expensive to get our gear out to Australia and race every season. I have already contacted Dick Barrie and put my name on a crate. This will encourage everyone to compete in Australia. It's also good that the container could be used for foreign riders if there is room, I don't know of any country that does anything like this".
Ivan Golding, Chairman of the Motorcycling Australia Speedway Commission added; "The decision by the promoters to supply a container free of charge to the riders is a huge step forward for speedway in Australia and I thank them. We are also indebted to Dick Barrie and Shane Parker for their efforts in getting things underway in the UK.”

Freighting of Bikes to Australia and return
The co-promoters of the three tracks staging this year’s Australian Solo championship meetings — Newcastle, Mildura and Gillman — are providing a sea container, and paying the ocean freight costs, for competing riders.
The container will leave the UK no later than the 15th of October to be in Australia for the greater part of the domestic season.
Because of the recent date change of the Australian Under 21 Championship meeting to January 31 the container will depart Australia again on or about February 15.
At this stage this return date is still flexible and we will try to accommodate as many riders as possible but we realise no matter how we organise the container we will not find dates to suit everyone.
There are two ways to bring this equipment into Australia. It can be a Carnet arrangement, which allows duty-free entry — but this means you have to return it to the UK in the return container. Alternatively you can pay the duty and then do what you like with it once in Australia (ie – sell it).
This year the container will happen no matter what.
We are committed and crates that can carry two dismantled bikes and some gear are already being constructed ready for purchase. All the crates are the same size and will be manufactured from certified materials to speed up customs and quarantine clearance.
It is necessary that every rider uses these crates, although it is possible to share space within your box with each other.
At this stage the container is available to all Australian riders wishing to bring equipment home to compete in the domestic season, whether or not they are selected to ride in the Australian Title meetings.
If space still remains, the container can be used – again without cost, other than purchase of a crate – by foreign riders who want to ride in Australia.

Shane Parker and Dick Barrie have been a great help with arranging the container, commissioning crates and working out the freight arrangements. Riders who wish to use this free service must contact Dick Barrie via phone or email Mobile: 07887-660203 Email: dick@airseascotland.co.uk

Contact now to reserve space — even if you are not yet selected for the Australian Title series.

We need to know who is going to use the service and crates have to be distributed or collected as soon as possible.
Time is beginning to run out very quickly.
To ship out on October 15 it is reasonable to presume riders will need to have everything packed and delivered by October 13, just four weeks away!
By reserving space you will have to purchase a crate at about $300 – but this crate can then be used for at least the next three years, during which we intend to continue to offer use of our containers. This means just $100 per return trip, less if the venture continues, and the crates last, longer than three years.

Dick will forward the necessary documentation, information and advice regarding Carnet versus Duty Goods. You should complete the documentation and forward it along with all your contact details, including email addresses, to Dick.

The container at this stage will be arranged to carry 24 crates and the first 24 booked will get the space. Depending on who wants to use this service, there is likely to be two collection-points for loaded crates – one north, one south.

In Australia the container will be unloaded at Newcastle, NSW and the internal crates forwarded to the riders' nominated collection points. We hope that internal freight within Australia will be at a very cheap rate.

If you book space and then sell or leave your gear in Australia it is still advisable to send back the empty crate for future use or resale.