It’s been almost three months since Victoria went into its second lockdown, but the long wait for motorsport’s return is finally over with two regional events taking place in Victoria this weekend.

 

In the west, the Ballarat Light Car Club will be hosting just their second event in 2020 with an autocross, while across in the east, the Maffra and District Car Club will be holding their fifth hill climb for the year.

 

It’s been a difficult period for Victorian clubs, but with the state's COVID-19 numbers decreasing and the restrictions easing in regional Victoria, these two events symbolise potential light at the end of the tunnel.

 

The Maffra and District Car Club’s hill climb is the first of the two to take place with around 80 members entered into the club-only event at the Boisdale hill climb, which will run as a twilight event. 

 

It’s been a pretty interrupted year for the club, who usually have eight multi-club hill climb rounds in their season with around 100 entries, but have since reduced their goal to six rounds.

 

“We are really excited to be back this weekend. It’s been a long time coming and everyone from the club is  eager to get out again,” Event Secretary Keegan Keegan Wain said.

 

“I think the most exciting thing is that everyone has had a tough year and this weekend will be good to lift the spirits of our members, get them back out there running again and get our juniors out of the house.

 

“It's a bit different as opposed to our COVID events earlier in the year, but this time we've had a great response from our members, who are doing their bit to try and get the event off the ground.

 

“Like everyone, we were navigating our way through what we can and can’t do at the event, but it's been a bit easier this time because Motorsport Australia has been tremendous in helping this get off the ground, so a big thanks for their assistance.

 

“I just hope everyone has a good day and I feel it's going to relieve a lot of stress on our members, who I am sure are itching to have some fun again.”

Photo: Boisdale Hillclimb (Maffra and District Car Club)

This year has been a different story for the Ballarat Light Car Club, with the club having only run one other event this year - a motorkhana at the start of the year.

 

However with this weekend marking the first event in a long time, the club is excited to announce it will be using its long 1.4km gravel course at the BLCC Ballarat Motorsport Zone Airport with competitors to get five runs throughout the day.

 

With their last autocross almost a year ago and the entry list capped at 40 people, it came as no surprise to Clerk of Course Ian Brain that there was a lot of excitement in the air about the return of motorsport and the entries filled up quickly.

 

“The event is looking really good. We put in an enormous amount of work to get it together and the support we have received is just remarkable,” Brain said.  

 

“We filled up pretty quickly as we had to limit our numbers but we’re really happy to get a full field. We even closed entries early because we need enough time to put everything together. For us, it seems people are just hanging out for it.

 

"There has been a lot of paperwork we had to address but it was really good to have the support from Motorsport Australia to put it all in place and make us feel comfortable.

 

"I regard Autocrosses as one of the best motorsport events you can enjoy. It’s really good to be on a gravel track and put yourself and your vehicle to the test, so this weekend will be great.

 

“It’s been a really long time coming. The track hopefully will be right.  We’re really hanging out for this weekend.”

 

The Maffra and District Car Club’s Autocross takes place in Boisdale from 1pm on 10 October, while Ballarat will host their first autocross for 2020 at the Ballarat Motorsport Zone Airport on 11 October.

Events around Australia this weekend