With state-of-the-art speedway, drag racing and burnout facilities, premium spectator accommodations, and professionally serviced pit areas, the Perth Motorplex is one of the best motorsport precincts in Australia. This year, the venue celebrates its 25th birthday and Motor Trader travelled to WA to attend Motorvation 39 – one of the biggest events held at the Motorplex – to learn more about the world-class facility and meet the team behind the scenes.
With almost 20,000 spectators and close to 600 entrants taking part over the three days of the event, Motorvation is the largest horsepower party on the West Coast.
Hosted by the Perth Motorplex in association with SummerNats, Motorvation brings passionate car enthusiasts together from all levels of the automotive industry, with spectators and entrants travelling from across the country to enjoy competitions in the Elite Hall, the Drag Racing, the Pro Burnout Series, and driving events such as the Go to Whoa and Slalom events. If not competing, entrants can push their cars to the limit just for fun on Skid Row, the Smooth Cruise, the Super Cruise, and Roll Racing.
“Events like Motorvation are integral to the automotive aftermarket and performance workshop industries. Car shows give people a reason to build, invest, compete, show their cars, and show off what they can do.
“At some point, everyone who modifies their car wants a reason to do that work. Show like Summernats, Motorvation, Motorex, Rockynats, the National Drag Racing Championship, the Pro Burnout Series, or any of the other hundreds of different car events around Australia, are the reason people do it.
“Events are where the modified car community come to play and showcase innovation and individual excellence. Events are the backbone of Australia’s multi-billion-dollar aftermarket and performance industry. Simple as that.” Andy Lopez, Director of Summernats.
SummerNats official and Head Judge in the Motorvation Elite Hall, Rachel Durbidge, is very proud of the event and of the abilities and expertise upon which Motorvation and other SummerNats events are able to put a spotlight.
“Every year, the Elite Hall show pavilion has everything from owner-builds created in a home garage to complete professional shop builds,” said Rachel.
“The innovative skills throughout Western Australia have always been impressive. The automotive industry here and across Australia is strong and we look forward to showcasing some of the West’s best at MotorEx in Melbourne in May.”
Along with featuring extraordinary cars, Motorvation also shines a light on industry more generally with areas such as Trader Alley packed with industry stalls promoting careers and training and business opportunities in the automotive sector. The Motor Traders Association of Western Australia (MTAWA) had a large display here, with plenty of options on offer for those interested in automotive.
“We want to engage with our community of car people,” said Brad Gamel, Lead Auto Electrical Trainer and Assessor. “We are happy to talk about training, apprenticeships, career paths, or our more fun things like our MTA-sponsored V8 Drive Day car. Regardless of if they are just starting out in the industry, looking to upskill, have a young person they want to support, or just want to have some fun in a car, MTA WA Training can help them.”
The MTAWA stand was very hands-on and interactive. A Ford Barra engine and transmission were front and centre and it proved to be a major talking point for many who visited the stand as the Barra is a popular swap in the car community. Part of the display included a Hyundai i20 that had been cut in half so that all of the internals were on show for visitors to poke and prod, and there were also plenty of components available – such as turbos, rotors, and superchargers – to allow MTAWA staff to demonstrate their expertise.
One of the smiling faces at the MTAWA stand was Trainer and Assessor Bridget Bell. A trade-qualified light vehicle automotive and mobile plant mechanic, Bridget is no stranger to the Perth Motorplex, providing communications and marketing support to drag racing teams and official televised commentary on race day. As a part of the Perth Motorplex commentary team, Bridget knows almost every stakeholder at the track and understands the importance of the facility to the broader automotive industry.
“Access to motorsport in Perth allows those of us with a trade in the automotive industry to push the boundaries, taking these machines to their limits,” she said.
“Lessons learned on the track can be taken back to the workshops to improve the overall skill in industry, especially with regards to working safely under pressure, performance, and handling characteristics of the vehicles.
“A facility such as the Perth Motorplex allows our risk-takers and those experimenting with the limits of performance to test their theories in a safe and controlled environment. You can’t put a price on the value of this facility to our industry.” Many can’t, but Perth Motorplex General Manager Gavin Migro can. 25 years ago, that price was $22million of taxpayer funding.
“Back then we had a speedway track in Claremont at the Showgrounds and a drag racing strip out at Ravenswood,” said Gavin. “Our Premier at the time was Richard Court. He was a fan of speedway and my dad, Con, would send him complimentary season tickets every year. Whenever he could, Richard would join us trackside.
“When the showgrounds evicted the speedway club, we reached out to Richard and the drag racers and came up with a plan for a new venue that would provide state-of-the-art facilities for multiple motorsports.”
25 years later and the Perth Motorplex grows stronger every year. With a dozen full-time staff and hundreds of volunteers and event-specific rostered staff, the team is happy and smiling every time you see them. The pride that Gavin has in the facility and his team is undeniable.
“We want people to have a great time at our facility,” he said. “From the person who greets you at the gate to the official on the start line through to the staffer selling you a refreshing beverage, everyone is having a great time and making sure our spectators and entrants do too.”
That great time is showing up in the bank account. Local industry sponsors the track to the tune of almost $1million; more than 250,000 spectators get their backside trackside each season; an average of 150 entrants every week make the journey from up to 500km away; the books turnover $10million each year; and there has recently been an election promise to upgrade the track with another $11 million.
Those numbers are inspiration to many other venues in Australia and they want to know how Gavin is doing it.
“We don’t just talk the talk; we walk the walk,” he said. “We are all racers, and we all work in the automotive industry as trade-qualified professionals or business people. By listening to our community and serving their needs we are winning on a world-class stage.”
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (February 2025)
18 March 2025