Willowbank Raceway has regretfully announced that the Santo’s Super Thunder Championship Drag Racing event scheduled for Good Friday, April 10 has been cancelled due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 virus, but they are set to continue with a limited number of other events.
Willowbank Raceway president Tony Wedlock said while the venue hated to cancel the event, the health and safety of Willowbank’s patrons, competitors and volunteer officials was paramount.
The track then released the following statement about their schedule:
As Australians, we are now in unchartered territory with the declared Pandemic, due to the global outbreak of COVID-19, and Government regulations around public mass gatherings and social distancing. Willowbank Raceway, like all other sporting and entertainment venues, will be severely impacted financially during this period. It has already seen the postponement of the CMC Rocks music festival, scheduled for this weekend, and the cancellation of the Santos Super Thunder event, scheduled for Good Friday, both of which were vital sources of revenue for the venue.
Willowbank Raceway now finds itself in a unique position in its 35 year history as we balance the health and safety of our patrons, volunteers and staff while working to keep a level of racing activity happening while also staying financially viable during this uncertain period. In response to this, the venue has implemented a carefully selected calendar of events to be offered across the March and April 2020 period before hopefully resuming our normal schedule. The short term limited program will include events like QDRC, Street Series, Diesel Assault and Racer Test Days.
In order to meet current public health policy, these events will be only available via advanced online pre-entry for competitors and associated family/crew only with no public spectator ticketing or on day entries available. All events will be conducted within the government regulated 500 maximum people and will be held on a first come first in basis.
This has to be done to ensure we meet the regulations, to make these events financially viable, as well as to monitor and control the number of persons in the venue for each event.
This period will also see reduced staffing levels at the venue and as such we ask that everyone please be patient and respectful in dealing with our office during this period. At no time will competitor safety levels be comprised during this period as a result of this measure.
Please visit our website for details of our short term special calendar. Details of how to enter, and entry cut off periods, and terms and conditions can all be found at these sites. Also regularly check in to our Facebook page for updates. The Willowbank Raceway family has a proud history of pulling together during difficult periods to protect the future of this fiercely independent venue, and we ask that our very loyal competitor and fan base stays safe and continues supporting the venue.
Now is the time for us to come together as drag racers and we urge you all to support our venue and sport during this extremely difficult time.
