MARIANNE Turner and Celeste Klein make their senior open debut when the pair, East Coast Australia's only all-female senior speedway sidecar riders, ride in tomorrow's Jim Turner Memorial Classic at Oakburn Park.
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While Marianne is a relative newcomer to the sport, she has been involved with her family for many years.
Her brother, Jim Bob Turner, is a noted speedway sidecar rider.
She and passenger Celeste Kline, who has ridden with Jim Bob in the past, have paired a couple of times over the past few months.
"We've been together the past three months for a grand total of about 17 minutes," Marianne Turner said yesterday.
Marianne has followed the career of her more famous brother for many years.
The all-girl sidecar team finished with a second at a recent club championship round and then finished third in a Tamworth Games race.
Tomorrow is their open senior debut and while excited, they are intent on having a good time.
They have shown they are competitive and are confident of more success tomorrow at a meeting named in memory of her late father.
The Jim Turner Memorial Classic began three years ago and is dedicated to the memory of an enthusiastic member of the club and keen follower of the sport.
His involvement in the sport began through the involvement of his son, Jim Bob.
This year's event has particular significance as both Jim Bob and Marianne ride in the same sidecar event for the first time.
Bike followers are familiar with Jim Bob Turner. He is the current NSW Longtrack Champion and winner two years running of the Jack Daniels Longtrack Grand Prix series. Jim Bob will have a new passenger tomorrow, Queenslander Darren Fleming.
The Jim Turner Memorial Classic will also be good practice for them before they head to the NSW Longtrack titles in October and then the Australian Longtrack Championships at Bathurst in November.
"Then we kick hard into the speedway season, preparing for Gosford and in Queensland," Jim Bob Turner said.
"We've also been invited to the Queensland State Titles in Ayr but that's 17 hours' driving past Brisbane."
Tomorrow is also Jim Bob's first event back on home soil after he broke a hip in the fourth round of the club championships back in May.
The event has attracted local riders and some interstate representatives to Tamworth all vying for the perpetual trophy and prize money.
Riders such as Anthony Perks, Lee Fernance, Clarissa and Sarah Jones, Mick and Luke Slade, Rick Radmore, Sharnell Sipple and Robert Dunn and Brett Carr will race. Senior sidecar riders also include Alfie Robinson, Gavin Edwards and Steve Jones.
The Jim Turner Memorial Classic has some spectacular racing scheduled from Junior Dirt-track, Solos, Sidecars and the Senior classes. Gates open at 7am, racing starts at 10am.