Organisers kickstart 2011 dash

The Gascoyne Offroad Racing Club has confirmed the dates for the 2011 Kickstarters Gascoyne Dash will be 28–30 October.

07 September 2011

The 2011 event planning has not been without dramas; large sections of the day one course were washed away with the recent flood and most of the Gascoyne River is inaccessible due to riverflow.The latter situation has sparked a major rethinking of the 2011 event with organisers deciding on running both days around Bidgemia Station and removing the Sunday run down the Gascoyne River.

The event format for 2011 is:

• Thursday registration at Carnarvon Civic Centre and display.
• Friday prologue at Carnarvon Race Club.
• Saturday Day One racing at Bidgemia Station.
• Day One includes a new 50km section and a race distance of 240km.
• Sunday Day Two a race distance of 190km.
• Presentations and party at Coonatha Race Complex Bidgemia Station on the Sunday evening.

The club has a mountain of work ahead to get the track ready. The work includes running a loader around the Bidgemia track.

Event Director Paul Kelly said, "There are at least 100 hours of loader work at a cost of several tens of thousands dollars. If someone has a good 950 size loader available and would like to provide some part of cost as sponsorship to contact me".

The club is seeking volunteer help with sign marking and track marking. Enquiries through the volunteer registration form on the event website: www.gasdash.com.

Aside from the track damage the event does not have access to the facilities at the Junction Hotel, which was sadly destroyed by the floods. The organisers will be working closely with the Junction Shire around fuel service for visitors. Accommodation for officials and support is also problematic.

Mr Kelly is confident about the 2011 event's success. "Our Dash team has proven time and again there are up for a challenge," he said. "It is disappointing to change the Day Two run into Carnarvon and we hope the community and businesses understand the genuine and unavoidable reasons for the change. We are hoping the whole community will visit the Junction this year and show their support for the Junction and the event. Roads won't be an excuse in 2011 as the road is sealed all the way to the Junction and entry is free".

Sponsorship is a big part of the event says Mr Kelly. "Eventscorp is again a major sponsor in 2011 and Skippers Aviation is on board as a sponsor. We thank all our sponsors and in particular Gascoyne Development Commission and Department of Sport and Recreation for funding toward track repairs and damaged assets," he said.

For more details visit www.gasdash.com.