With cars howling into hairpin turns as the back end slides out on the rough track, it is easy to see why the racing sport draws a crowd.

Speaking of crowds, speedway in Tasmania has steadily attracted a larger and larger crowd in the past decade it is now known across Australia as the gold standard for the sport.

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"In the last decade there's been 100 per cent growth across the state ... it's the best in the country," Speedway Australia general manager Tim Savell said.

"We use Tasmania as a model. We say to other parts of the country, 'look at what's happening down there and learn from what they've done'."

Mr Savell oversees speedway across the country and said Tasmania led the way for the sport. He said, on a per capita basis, Tasmania "blows everyone else in the country away". "There's over 300 competitors in Tassie, and South Australia has a smaller number of competitors," he said.

"Street stocks [one class of speedway car], there are up to 100 or even over 100 registered in Tasmania and they've been having about 40 odd at every race meeting."

Even the name of the sport - "speedway" - may be foreign to some, it is one of the most enthusiastic in Tasmania.

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For those that do not know, the sport entails different classes of cars types racing around an oval dirt track at breakneck speeds.

The cars vary from "street stocks" not dissimilar to any daily car, to sprint cars that resemble a go-kart on steroids.

Across Tasmania there are three tacks, at Carrick, Latrobe and in Hobart, and Latrobe was recently announced as the best track in Australia.

Mr Savell said, regardless of the track, the sport is "firing on all cylinders".

For anyone involved in speedway in Tasmania, it is no surprise.

While Mr Savill pointed to an unusual ambulance law in the state meaning all events need to be run on the same day, current street stock state champion Nathan Russell said the atmosphere and environment at speedway were unbeatable.

"It's one of those things that every weekend it brings us all together. It's a good atmosphere for family and friends and it's enjoyable to have a bit of fun at the same time," he said. Though "fun" is subjective the registration numbers are not.

Now 24, Russell has raced in some format of speedway since he was 11 and he said the increase in the number of cars hitting the track at each meet was impressive.

"It's a massive car count which makes everything so much more competitive and harder to be at the front," he said.

"It's why speedway in Tassie has taken off."

Russel said that when he started the car numbers were "nothing like they are now".

"Everything is getting bigger and everything is growing," he said.

Fostering a family environment is something Russell said drew him to the sport, and by chance drew him to his partner Mel Collins.

The pair met at speedway and their relationship blossomed over time. Now, they live together, work together and race together.

Collins said the pair hit it off bonding over racing and hanging around each other at race meetings.

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"Me and Nathan were always the last ones there," she said.

Collins can attest to the atmosphere, but also the significance of speedway.

Having had a keen interest in the sport for years, she has watched over events around the country and said they just do not stack up to what happens in Tasmania.

"The car numbers are just crazy here," she said.

Aside from raw numbers, intangibles like vibe and atmosphere transcend from person-to-person involved in speedway in Tasmania.

For Russell and Collins, the sport has fostered their relationship, but for many involved speedway has bridge divides and offered chances for friendships.

Collins said if anyone ever needs assistance, it will not be too long before someone volunteers their help.

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"Everyone is like a big family. Everyone is willing to help everyone and it's great. Whether someone needs a hand getting a car to the track, or needs parts, everyone just helps," she said.

Russell and Collins are a big part of that family and even lent a car to a speedway friend recently who was in need.

That friend was Brad Farrell. Aged 41 now, Farrell has competed for the past 11 years after time as an observer and years of playing football.

He said the camaraderie, like lending someone a car, was the great strength of speedway.

"We're friends outside of speedway now and we're all close," he said.

"If someone gets damage to their car everybody chips in and gives them a hand and things like that. Everybody speaks to everybody and everybody gets along with everybody."

For many speedway might seem like a weekend hobby, but due to its popularity sponsors are jumping on board and race purses are climbing towards $10,000.

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A Hobart meeting last weekend attracted a record number of competitors and spectators, and the state government is taking notice.

While pushes continue for state based AFL and A-League teams, speedway leads the way.

Events minister Sarah Courtney said, "speedway events are an important contributor to Tasmania's visitor economy with the four events attracting over 600 interstate participants, crew, officials and media to Tasmania and over 3,000 bed nights".

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