Wimmera Kart Racing Club
650 Henty Highway, Dooen
About Wimmera Kart Racing Club
Wimmera Kart Racing Club, originally known as the Horsham Go Kart Club, has a rich history dating back to the late 1960s. It began with a dirt track where members raced simple homemade karts powered by Victa motors. In 1981, the circuit saw its first major upgrade, transitioning to a limestone dirt track.
During its early years, the club thrived, with over 100 members and up to 60 racing competitively across the state. The club soon moved from dirt racing to a bitumen surface, laying the first bitumen track in December 1982. By the mid-1980s, the track was redesigned and resurfaced with a high-quality hot-mix bitumen.
Recognising the need for a stronger identity, the Executive Committee rebranded the club as Wimmera Kart Racing Club in the 1980s. By 1987, membership was approximately 50. The club’s first race meeting on the new bitumen track took place on Sunday, June 5, 1988, and the official track opening followed on November 20, 1988.
On December 16, 2021, Wimmera Kart Racing Club embarked on its most ambitious upgrade in over 40 years. This included a track extension and complete resurfacing, funded by a $153,706 grant from the Sport and Recreation Victoria Community Motorsports Program.
The upgrades increased the circuit’s grid capacity to 26 and introduced new challenges for karters. A total of 330 metres of new sub-base and track was added during the extension, bringing the overall length to 635 metres and making the venue eligible to hold State Championships.
The new circuit combines fast straights and stop-go corners with 180 degree bends, creating good braking duels. It is one of the highest speed circuits in the Victorian Country Series calendar and provides a fresh challenge with less fatigue for drivers.
Since the project’s completion in July 2022, the club has experienced steady growth in membership. The track is located at 650 Henty Highway, Dooen, Victoria, just 7 km from Horsham CBD and approximately 300 km northwest of Melbourne and 435 km from Adelaide.