From the GPMRA.
GRAND PRIX MIDGETS TO HONOUR A CLUB LEGEND AT AVALON RACEWAY
This Saturday night Avalon Raceway is set to host the inaugural Wally Anskaitis Cup for the Victorian Grand Prix Midgets. GP Midget racing has a long history with Avalon Raceway where the club originated from in 1977. For the past 27 years the club has raced for the Jason Glynn Memorial each year at the designated Avalon round however a decision was made by the VGPMRA members this season to re-name the race after club legend and life member Wally Anskaitis, who sadly passed away in 2016.
Wally was the life and blood of the club throughout the 80’s and 90’s serving for many years on the club and technical committees. He alongside his good friend Noel Freeman also spent many hours at the track helping the Avalon Speedway Club and had a hand in building the concrete wall that still surrounds the track today. Wally’s talents were not only in the driver’s seat where he had a lot of success and was a regular podium finisher, but his talents in the design and engineering field is where his real legacy lies. Wally built and developed numerous cars throughout his time within the club and although most of his cars have now been outdated by modern engineering techniques, arguably one of his most successful cars which has won 3 Jason Glynn Memorials and the 2011 Australian Title is still racing to this day, now driven by Sean Denning.
Sean Denning as a sign of honour to the man known as Wal, will this weekend change the #52 on his car to the #56 that Wally made famous throughout the 80’s and 90’s. The Anskaitis family in the way of his two sons Jarrod and Tyson will be at the venue on Saturday night to watch all the action and present the inaugural Wally Anskaitis Cup to the winner.
The Wally Anskaitis Cup also doubles up as Round 5 of the Ballistic Performance Parts Masters Series on Saturday night with the attacking Chris Fowler and Jason Crawford looking like the race favourites along with Lisa Chalcraft, Shawn Ward and Travis Florrimell with other possible contenders such as Mark Blackeby and Troy Buis who could make a surprise victory.
The GP Midgets are part of an exciting night of racing at Avalon raceway with the rumbling V8’s of the Super Sedans bound to provide plenty of action and get the heart pumping and Junior Sedans are also on the program. The GP Midgets will be handing out posters for the kids and giveaways for Mum and Dad so make sure you get to Avalon Raceway this Saturday night for the inaugural Wally Anskaitis Cup, it’s sure to be a cracker.
Gates open at 4, pit walk 4-5, cars on track from 6.
Tickets $25 Adults, $20 Concession (Aged & Disability). 12-16 $10, kids under 12 are free.
