by Dean Thompson
Nyora Raceway pulled off one of the biggest speedway shows in years last weekend, attracting regulars and newcomers alike with a wide range of entertainment.
With speedway events, monster trucks, rollover cars and a demolition derby, there was plenty to see.
Fans were wowed by the stunt show performed by Australian monster truck driver Clive Featherby and his team and the night was topped off with a fantastic fireworks display.
The racing portion of the event saw a number of highlights.
Nyora's number one dirt modified driver Daryl Hickson continued his winning streak, taking out his class.
Victorian standard saloon champion Rhys Lansdown won his feature event.
Three times state champion driver Warrick Taylor took out the feature for the unlimited sedans class.
Nyora and hot rod legend Lloyd Hobson was back behind the wheel of the family dirt modified vehicle normally driven by his son Todd.
Hobson took out an early lead in heat one of the dirt modified event before being overtaken, ultimately finishing fourth.
Hickson took over Hobson's lead, going on to win the heat ahead of Michael Ardley and Bendigo racer Paul Tindal.
Matt Reddecliffe picked up a win in the second and third heat ahead of visiting racer Kevin Greene and Hickson.
Results for heat four saw Hickson also double up with heat wins, locking in victory ahead of Tindal and Shane Ardley.
In the dirt modified final, Reddecliffe set the fastest lap, however Hickson finished around eighty metres ahead of him at the chequered flag.
Michael Ardley came in third, followed by Greene in fourth and Hobson in fifth spot.
There were plenty of local racers involved in the standard saloon action with Bunyip driver Mitch Blencowe winning heat one of the night.
Coming back after a crash damaged the front end of his car, Mornington Peninsula based racer Ash Dean started with a win in his first heat race in front of Mark Miles and Jeff Blencowe.
Poowong's Owen Cecil won heat three of the night in front of Andrew Miles and Brodie Robertson.
Victorian champion Rhys Lansdown claimed victory ahead of Matt Leek and Mitch Blencowe in the fourth heat race.
Owen Cecil's younger brother Harry won the fifth heat race in front of Mark Miles and Mitch Blencowe.
Wrapping up all the qualifying results, Chris Miles claimed a win in the sixth heat race ahead of Gus Argoon and Owen Cecil.
Standard saloon feature action began with Catani's Mark Miles leading early from Owen Cecil and Lansdown, who passed Cecil on lap seven into second place.
A move on Miles didn't come until lap thirteen of fifteen. Lansdown created a small gap between himself and Miles to win with Cecil coming in third.
Chris Miles took out fourth and Harry Cecil in fifth.
With a Victorian title coming up at Nyora Raceway, the unlimited sedans took the chance to get some laps in on the racetrack, coming close to beating the track record on some laps.
Driving for his friend Peter Farley, Nyora member Warrick Taylor claimed the first win of the night in his heat against Darren Forrest and Victorian champion Peter Cox.
Travis Ramsdale won the second heat race by almost half a lap ahead of Cox and Taylor.
Showing that he is ready to defend his championship, Cox won the third and final qualifier in front of Travis Ramsdale and Daryl Nicolson from Drouin.
A fifteen-lap final finished the night of for the unlimited sedans.
Cox led the early laps with Travis Ramsdale in second before Taylor came through to the front.
Forrest and Travis Ramsdale exchanged spots as Cox dropped out of the race, Forrest finding himself in second before Travis Ramsdale snatched the spot back.
The race finished with Taylor wheeling the big late model chassis car around consistently under sixteen seconds, finishing two seconds ahead of Travis Ramsdale, Forrest, Cory Ramsdale and Gavin Ough.
The night concluded with a demolition derby. The crowd cheered on a number of local heroes participating in the event, including Batman in the Bat Mobile and the Stig. Regualr on the demolition derby circuit Jackson Basten took out the competition, claiming his win in front of thousands of fans.