The motorplex is to be called The Wheatbelt Motorplex and will be constructed at Amery Acres, state government land, 5kms east of Dowerin, on the Wyalkatchem Road. The land is operated under control of the Dowerin Shire. We will endeavour to make the motorplex carbon neutral, with the aim of having the main circuit in use by late February 2009.
The Wheatbelt Motorplex will have the following primary uses:
- Driver and Rider Road Safety Training
- Motorcycle motorsport
- Club motorsport (cars, motorbikes and go karts)
- Private hire for both individuals and corporations
It’s felt that the track design will also prove ideal for the increasingly popular sport of Drifting, not to mention that there couldn’t be a better home for Ute racing that the Wheatbelt Motorplex! With the acquisition of further adjacent land, it will be possible to build a substantial drag strip, however at this stage, that remains a possible second stage future project.
It’s important to state at the outset, that we are not chasing the V8 Supercars, it’s not our market. Our market is driver training and safety and club motorsport for motorcycles and cars. However we will definitely be pursuing second and third level competitions etc. Motorcycle sport (and training), will be an integral part of the motorplex operations, to the point where the initial track design has been established by Wil Croft, who races motorbikes. Safe conditions for motorcycle sport are a priority. We have posted pictures of the design and photos of the basic track layout (the Shire cut a rough grade for demonstration purposes last week).
The track will be constructed to CAMS requirements and specifications, with the aim of it being a CAMS Accredited track, to ensure proper insurance and facilities. Obviously there will be changes to the design as we progress, however at this stage, the main circuit will be somewhere between 2.5 and 3.0kms long and 11 – 12 metres wide. There will also be two smaller circuits within the main circuit, plus a dedicated go kart track and also a gravel road circuit, for driver training – so many accidents occur on gravel roads. As can be seen from the photographs (in our Photographs section), the land is gently undulating, forming a natural amphitheatre – similar in some ways to the soon to be re-opened Lakeside in Queensland. We would also like to acknowledge the support and advice freely given by Bill Campbell at Morgan Park and the Warwick Shire, as well as the CEO and staff at Pine Creek Shire (Lakeside).
We are very pleased to announce today, that we have entered into a mutually beneficial sponsorship arrangement with the well respected accountants, JGC, who will be actively involved with both our business plan and the establishment of the motorplex. The Coppin family have long established motor sport credentials; indeed Ken is the immediate past president of the WA Sporting Car Club and is WA’s senior CAMS race driving instructor. He and his wife Robina are regular competing drivers at circuits around Australia. Indeed Ken will be racing Robina’s HQ at Bathurst in February and the car is now proudly displaying The Wheatbelt Motorplex logo. The Motorplex car will also be on display during the February Bathurst weekend and Greg Ross will be very willing to answer any questions, in between carrying out his duties as the lowest member of the pit crew – on the broom!
We are particularly proud of the Wheatbelt Motorplex logo, as it was designed by a bunch of school kids in the wheatbelt. Countryman newspaper ran a competition open to all wheatbelt schools, to design a logo and Watheroo School eventually won both the competition and $1,500.00! their design, which we then gave to Peter Woods at T2 Events and Advertising, for a final tweak. Averil from T2 also designed the car layout
Ladies and gentlemen, Start Your Engines!