For the first time in a decade, Sprintcars, the pinnacle class of Australian speedway, are set to return to Alice Springs’ Arunga Park Speedway in April for the 2017 Easter Sprintcar Dance in the Desert event.
The home of Sprintcar icon and recently crowned World Series Sprintcar Champion and Grand Annual Classic winner James McFadden and Ultimate Sprintcar Championship regular Danny Reidy, Arunga Park Speedway was a regular stop on the Sprintcar trail throughout the 1980s and 90s, after its official opening in 1973, with the track having been a common stomping ground for McFadden, who contested one of his first race meetings there at the age of 16.
In an effort to re-establish the class and off the back of cancelling the second half of their 2015-16 season for fence repairs, the 402-metre dirt and decomposed granite track has since undergone an extensive rebuild and is in prime condition to host the historic event come April.
“There’s still a great Sprintcar following in the Alice Springs area and the Dance in the Desert event is just the first step in getting the class to make regular appearances at Arunga Park throughout the season,” commented Arunga Park Speedway President Garth Thompson.
Photo: Tony Loxley
“From a local point of view, we’re hopeful that this event will go a long way towards getting our local Sprintcar contingent back up and running at the track, therefore drawing in the crowds.”
Along with Darwin and the host town of Alice Springs, organisers are hoping that the beauty of the Red Centre will attract some nominations from throughout South Australia. With the track located 1,500 kilometres from Adelaide, there are countless experiences and activities available to teams wishing to turn their racing trip into a mini-holiday and experience a true taste of the outback, such as Australia’s iconic landmark Uluru.
With around 16 cars expected, the event, which will be held over two nights of racing following a static display on Friday afternoon, will see practice and four rounds of 10-lap heat races contested on the Saturday night of April 15, concluding with three rounds of heat races and the $2,000 to win 20-lap feature race the following day. Prize money will be awarded to fifth place.
Arunga Park Speedway would like to thank the following supported of the 2017 Easter Sprintcar Dance in the Desert event: Sprint Mufflers, Daves Used Cars and A-One Mechanics.
To find out more about Arunga Park Speedway, visit their website at www.arungapark.com or join them on Facebook by searching Arunga Park Speedway – Past and Present.
