New Rainbow event
The southern Mallee town of Rainbow will build on a burgeoning reputation as an off-road racing centre when it presents a Rainbow Rises 240 event on March 10.
The event will be similar to Rainbow Desert Enduro, which has put the town on the international sporting map, but unlike the enduro will be limited to one day of action.
Rainbow Rises 240 will double as the opening round of a CAMS Victorian Off Road Championship and round one of Victorian Off Road Club Shield racing.
The short-course event will involve drivers travelling 240 kilometres around an 8.7-kilometre prologue track as part of the state off-road championship.
Drivers will take part in three heats of nine laps for this competition, completing 27 laps of the track in total.
In the Victorian shield competition, drivers will complete a total of 18 laps of the course, covering 156 kilometres.
Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor and prominent Rainbow advocate Ron Ismay said the event was an exciting addition to the region’s events calendar.
“We expect between 20 and 30 competitors including some of the big guns that were at our national event last August, which is extremely exciting,” he said.
“We’re inviting people to come along and check out the new event, with a spectator hill tipped to provide highlights to all throughout the day.” Scrutineering will be at the track from 7am, with the race scheduled to start at 10.30am. Entry into the event is free.
Mr Ismay said work at the site had been well underway in preparation for the Rainbow Rises 240 to help provide the spectators with the best view possible of the race.
He said all jumps had been adjusted after the Rainbow Desert Enduro, including the introduction of a new lower jump beside the huge spectacular jump at the finish line to accommodate smaller suspension vehicles. Spectator viewing for the Rainbow Rises 240 will be at the Graincorp Bow Hill site, one kilometre west of Rainbow on the Rainbow Rises Road.
Catering will be available at the track, with bacon and egg sandwiches from 6.30am to 9.30am and a continuous barbecue from 10am. Donuts, icy poles and ice creams, soft drinks, water, tea and coffee will also be available.
The third Rainbow Desert Enduro will be from August 9 to 11.