MUD RUN 2016
HOT ROD AND CUSTOM NUTS BOTH YOUNG AND OLD GET DOWN ’N’ DIRTY IN GRESFORD FOR THE 2016 MUD RUN
Getting down and dirty for Webby’s Mud Run at the Gresford Showground
Tto the Last year I rocked up IMES have changed. Ford Showground in my 1951 Mud Run at Gresford Western bad-arse hero from a shoebox; I felt like a a year I snuck in steering riding into town. This the two and I only made it past Toyota Corolla hybrid, the Dodgers Car Club on henchmen from the Death list. Otherwise on their ‘already paid’ front gate because I was chop would ’51 was currently mid-roof my protests that the have fallen on deaf ears. the Mud big change – even though And that was another and inviteonly, to keep their event free Run’s overlords had sworn to the world flung open the doors this year they had the world had entry. And it looked like and were charging for turned up, too. the bonfires hatchback as far from I parked my embarrassing and the Corolla wood always runs out, as possible – after all, the searching for for cold hot rodders could prove too tempting way I could get Besides, there was no other things to burn. unofficially and the Mud Run had any closer. It was Sunday now packed Thursday; the place was been underway since rod or custom each with its own hot with caravans and tents, snuggled up close. eight years ago, go back to a paddock The Mud Run’s origins (loosely based the Devils Hot Rod Club when four mates from a track and thought it’d be fun to make in the Newcastle area) within a couple became so popular that do skids in their rods. It to Gresford paddock and they moved of years it outgrew the what was really first felt way too big for Showground, which at some killer cars. just a family picnic with out each year invites were handed But word spread, more was weaving my Now, four years on, I and it grew and grew. Eve, just I was shopping on Christmas way through people like too small. Gresford had now become to get down to the track. the leash. The Mud Run was off I saw Tony the track, in the distance As I headed towards of the Mud Run. of the founding fathers ‘Webby’ Webster, one around with a In past years he hobbled Even he had changed. on a quad bike he was approaching me cane barking orders; now Robowebby. helmet – he looked like wearing a bright orange reply. and he gave me the usual I asked him the usual question “How it all going?” over his shoulder as he he barked “Ask me when it’s over,” rolled away. over the PA hear the commentary Down at the track I could has been so too. “That green Dodge system – that was new, it’s rolled!” fast all morning – oh no,
That wasn’t good – it was only 10am. I could just see the track by now, but there was no Dodge on its lid, just an EH ute very much the right way up and going hard around the muddy arena. “Okay, next up is Ella with her Formula 1.” Formula 1? What on earth was going on? I looked around to see if anybody else was as confused as me. Then I clocked it: a Hot Wheels track running down the hill – two lanes, 20 metres long, lined with kids clutching toy cars waiting to launch them, while Mark Hawkins, frontman for rockabilly band The Flattrakkers, called the mini-races over the mic. Mystery solved. On the other side of the showground was another bunch of cars – real ones, this time – waiting to launch. The rules are simple: seatbelts and a helmet, buy a licence and join the queue. But there were changes here, too. Not only had one line turned into three, snaking almost out of the showground, but the cars were different as well, with more having been purpose-built for the Mud Run and looking like a roll call for the next Mad Max movie. But there were still plenty of brave, top-calibre rods and customs ready to get dirty. A standout was first-timer Nev Hodgson’s 1939 swamp green Chev pick-up, chopped and channelled and sitting on its original chassis, with a six-speed manual and an LS3 topped with a Cadillac air filter. Then there was Andrew and Natalie Mcclelland’s 1928 Model A tourer with a ’39 Mercury engine and triple-carb manifold. Or Nathan Kramer’s 350 Chev-powered 1963 Studebaker Daytona. Nothing brings the most serious and least serious folks together quite like the bikes. Best race faces were worn by
would only run on his drill Mick Paice – his custom Triumph one – and Hillary battery and rejected the brand-spanking-new Rebel. Hoover campaigning her Honda Mud Run’s now-traditional But the highlight of the day was the a record-breaking seven grand finale jalopy race. This year and got muddy. four-bangers went out, went hard were handed out to weary As night fell, the day’s awards off and I went in search warriors, The Flattrakkers kicked two founding fathers, Joal of Webby and the event’s other What were their Butcher and Stewie ‘Soup’ Campbell. highlights this year? grinned. “And because “For me it was the jalopies,” Stewie we had so many it was hilarious.” Max Sharp on his trike “My highlight was seeing my grandson both four years old,” Webby racing Cooper Smith – they’re years old, been to four Mud chimed in. “It’s unbelievable – four Runs, and racing today.” the decision to charge for Webby went on to explain that costs of insurance and entry came down to the ever-increasing improves, but it costs you to running the event. “Each year it later we had to make a call. improve,” he said. “And sooner or $20; I see it as the punters By charging $20 we’re not making We had at least 1000 here paying for their own insurance. today – we’re at the limit.” it kept the event healthy Joal said that by opening up the doors coolest cars could join in. “I’d and ensured more of Australia’s and saw some amazing been to Chopped and other events for so long I wanted cars, and because we’ve been invite-only It’s so good to see how big to attract those other sorts of cars. it’s become.”