It will be a busy weekend in the New South Wales town of Kempsey this weekend, with both the Motorsport Australia NSW Off Road and Hill Climb Championships holding rounds over Saturday and Sunday.
Boasting a huge field of 50 crews, the Motorsport Australia NSW Off Road Championship will be getting its first round underway, despite the Scott’s Hydraulic Kempsey 300 being round two on the calendar.
The season was originally meant to start In Nabiac earlier this year, but heavy rain caused it to be cancelled. There will be no such problems this weekend though as beautiful weather is forecast for the two days.
Held just outside Kempsey in the town of Whittitrin, the event will see crews complete 18 laps of 16.6-kilometre course following Prologue and a top 10 shootout.
Some of the notable names in the event include Polaris Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship podium-getter Michael Spokes and local star Justin Guy, while last year’s winner Matthew Huxley is also entered.
Huxley is also the President of the organising club, the Kempsey Macleay Off Road Club, and was thrilled to host a record-breaking weekend for the club
“To have 50 crews is an amazing feat and it’s actually a record for the specific event so we’re over the moon,” Huxley said.
“Having the first round of the championship cancelled was highly disappointing, but to see so many crews, including some really big names, come to Kempsey is just good for the town and the NSW Championship.
“It’s going to be a little dry and dusty so the conditions are really good. Throw in the good weather and I think it’s going to be a really good event.
“There are a lot of good names entered and anyone can win it. The club is in a good position at the moment and so is the championship as a whole, there are a lot of people following it so it’s very exciting.”
Not far down the road, the Kempsey Sporting Car Club will be hosting the fourth round of the Motorsport Australia NSW Hill Climb Championship with a number of stars expected to attend the two-day event.
Headlining the field is reigning NSW and Australian champion, Dean Tighe, who will be up against the likes of Dave Morrow in an event that is sure to go down to the wire.
With competitors getting free practice on Saturday and then six runs on the popular course on Sunday, Event Secretary Chris Seam was looking forward to the event.
“The club has cleaned the track and it’s looking very nice and set for the best hill climbers in the state,” Seam said.
“We have been running this event since 2008 and it’s a big deal to the club – it’s certainly one our biggest events for the year and we are always looking forward to it.
“We have done a lot of work, it will be a relaxing day and the weather will be beautiful.
“I think that Kempsey is certainly the place to be this weekend with plenty of motorsport events happening for fans of all types.”