Racers tame Dalyston mud
Home straight: Joe Dickerson of Romsey was determined to finish the race after turning over.
- Race done: Wes Weir of Wonthaggi took time out from operating Ezyas Car Wash in Wonthaggi to race.
MUD cooled the summer heat at the Dalyston Four-Wheel-Drive Mud Drags on Sunday.
More than 2000 filled the Dalyston Recreation Reserve, the biggest crowd ever seen at the event, lured by idyllic weather, mud and machines that could have come straight off a Mad Max film set.
Modified and road registered vehicles raced around the tight circuit, negotiating pools of water and becoming air-borne in the dash to be the first to the finish line.
The event was the local round of the 2011-12 Modified 4WD Mud Racing Australian Championships, and doubled as a handy fundraiser for the Dalyston recreation reserve and football club committees.
Club committee member Frank Angarane was overwhelmed by the response.
“We had quite a lot of holiday-makers but from what I can gather, a few people came down specifically for it,” he said.
“It’s pretty spectacular and the mud is an attraction. You see the kids want to get into it. It’s noisy, it’s spectacular and it’s dirty. After the event, people were just jumping in the mud.”
The 30 competitors travelled from as far as western Victoria to compete, racing in vehicles from 50 to 500 horsepower, and spectators travelled from as far as Melbourne. The nearest other mud racing event to Dalyston is at Romsey.
“There were more road registered vehicles there too and they handled the conditions pretty well,” Mr Angarane said, adding the deepest hole on the circuit was about 60cm.
Wonthaggi businesses that entered vehicles were Bass Coast Diesel, Donmix and Ezyas Car Wash.
About 40 volunteers helped make the day a success
A highlight was the human mud race during the lunch break. The senior male event was won by Tanner Kram of Wattle Bank and the junior race by Shaun Grieve of Wonthaggi. Pip Andrews-Worthy of Dalyston won the female event.
Mr Angarane doubled as Bass Coast Shire Council’s events co-ordinator and said council had contributed substantial in-kind and financial support.
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