Monds Straight

The Gippsland Go Kart Club has officially acknowledged the huge contribution of Life Members Graeme and Jeanette Monds by renaming the main start-finish straight in their honour.

A ceremony was held during Sunday’s race meeting to formally name the “Monds Straight”.

The occasion also saw Graeme re-united with his old kart. The machine, hand-built in Numurkah by late friend Graham Powles, has been meticulously restored to its former glory by club member Ryan Aitken.

The kart was presented in the livery it ran at one of the final Bairnsdale Street Grands Prix in the 1990s.

Morwell-based Monds was one of the top speedway drivers of the era before switching over to karts in 1987 when the kart track opened on Tramway Road. The husband-and-wife team has been involved ever since.

Monds started in the 100cc Clubman Yamaha classes before progressing to the Twin Clubman machines which he raced locally and interstate.

The duo has been heavily involved in the running and development of the club and its facilities. Graeme inspired the club as President for 15 terms and Jeanette is still active to this day, officiating on the weekend’s club day as Scales Marshal.

When Graeme’s driving career came to a close, he ramped up race administration duties to become one of the highest ranked and most respected race officials in the country. He was the regular Clerk of Course at the Gippsland club’s race days, plus other events around Victoria and interstate, including the heyday years of the Rotax Pro Tour.

Graeme was given Life Membership to the Victorian Karting Association in 2015.

Personally, it was an honour to MC this ceremony. The Mondses have done so much for the sport, the Gippsland Go Kart Club and individuals along the way. A huuge Thank You to you both.
– Mark Wicks

• more photos on the Gippsland club’s Facebook HERE