Volunteers and staff put Capalaba back in race mode

By Pat McLeod

Capalaba club manager Erin Cameron has offered a massive and heart-felt ‘thank-you’ to the support team that have facilitated a return to trialling and racing at the popular straight track next week.

A victim of Cyclone Alfred flooding in early March, the boutique race precinct has since been the centre of a busy work program by staff and industry volunteers for a swift-as-possible return to racing.

“Yes, it has been frustrating, but just how much this track is treasured by the racing fraternity was certainly borne out again by the amount of help that we have received since the floods,” Cameron said.

“Our staff have been in here working hard as well as so many industry participants - owners and trainers.

“They have volunteered so much of their time to come and help out, getting rid of all the debris and doing all of the other work that has had to be done. They have been just fantastic.

“The flood levels this time were higher and although we were very lucky that the flood water was quite clean, but there was still a film of mud over everything.

“So, we have gone through the process of washing the whole place out with high pressure hoses. There has also been some fence repairs done and some walls and doors repaired.

“We had some rain again last week, which didn’t help and delayed things a few days.”

Cameron said trialling would be held on Monday, with racing to re-start on Easter Sunday, April 20.

“We had successful test trials today (Friday) and so we are all set for trialling Monday and a return to racing Easter Sunday,” she said.

“We have had so much feedback from trainers that they can't wait to get back and trial and race at Capalaba.

“There have been so many phone calls and just generally people reaching out to check to see how we are and to also see when trialling and racing is starting again.

“All the staff as well are so eager to get back on track and that delay for a few days with the recent rain was again so frustrating.”

Cameron said the track and facilities would be back to 100% when racing restarts.

“It has been a tough time, but everything will be back to normal when the lids fly, when we are back racing on Sunday week (April 20),” she said.

“It still amazes everybody how quickly the track comes back in such great order, and that of course is due to our fantastic track curator Trevor (McSherry).

“Trevor's track is looking beautiful again.”

Cameron said the focus would quickly return to top quality racing as soon as the all-clear is given.

“We have some very good features coming up such as our Young Guns, Grand Prix and QGOLD,” she said.

“We just can’t wait to be racing again.”