Australia’s newest drag strip will have its much-anticipated maiden run this weekend as Swan Hill Drag Racing Club hosts the Race for Pride.
The new strip is one of only four major quarter mile tracks in Australia, with the longest concrete racing surface in the country and the only one with an in-built cooling system.
It will be launched in an awesome fashion this weekend, with some of Australia’s fastest Supercharged Outlaws on track, plus the return of the Wild Bunch class.
Swan Hill Drag Racing Club President Gary Rovere said this weekend’s opening would be a celebration and chance to thank those who made the track possible.
“Our members have put in countless hours of volunteer work over more than six years to get to this point – lots of late nights, early mornings and weekends spent planning, advocating for funding and later fencing, mowing, painting. The list goes on,” he said.
“The Swan Hill community has done more than its fair share, donating in excess of $1 million worth of goods and services, the State Government and Council gave us the funding we needed, and the wider drag racing community has been so supportive.
“Now we want to encourage everyone to come along on 26 and 27 November to help make this first event a huge success.”
Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Les McPhee will officially open the track at 12pm on Saturday, 26 November.
“This track really cements our city’s place as Victoria’s motorsport mecca. It is an enormous feat for a rural city like Swan Hill, and testament to the persistence and hard work of the Swan Hill Drag Racing Club and the local community,” Cr McPhee said.
More than 110 entries have been received from across Australia for this weekend’s Race for Pride.
Gates open at 9am each day with racing from 10am until 5.30pm. Saturday will be qualifying rounds, while eliminations will be on Sunday.
Tickets are available at the gate – $25 adults, $15 children 12-15, children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult, $60 for family (2 adults and 2 children). Two-day passes are available.
This will be an alcohol free event, with strictly no BYO. Catering will be available on-site.
The drag strip is located at Chisholm Reserve Motorsport Complex, Sea Lake-Swan Hill Road, Swan Hill. For more information visit Swan Hill Dragway on Facebook.
Words: Swan Hill Rural City Council
