By Ian Williams
The power of gravity will be on show in Port Augusta later this month as a range of weird and wonderful machines compete in the city’s billy cart derby.
Free-wheeling racers from around South Australia will be jostling for supremacy in a series of races for the young and old.
The July 31 event is the second biennial derby organised by the Northern Drag and Motorsport Association (NDMA) as part of a long-term plan to raise funds for a motor racing venue in Port Augusta.
“Last time we had more than 60 entries and we’re expecting at least that many again this year,” says NDMA president, Vic Brereton.
“It’s an event where we can get the whole family involved,” he adds.
The Port Augusta Billy Cart Derby is part of a long-term plan to raise funds for a motor racing venue in the town
There are five categories for different styles of billy carts and gravity bikes for ages from eight years up.
“This year we’re staging it in Donaldson Terrace because it’s a bit steeper and we’ve added a chicane for a bit of fun,” says Vic.
“They’ll be racing two at a time and will be starting on an electronically activated ramp to get them going.”
The billy carts are expected to race up to 40 kilometres per hour along the 150 metre track – speeds that will be confirmed by a decommissioned police speed camera.
“People can enter one cart with two drivers and we also have four extra carts that can be used by sponsors and other people who want to have a try but don’t have their own,” he says.
The NDMA was established nine years ago by a group of motorsport enthusiasts who have been staging a series of different events as part of their fundraising campaign.
Some of the funds raised from the derby will go to the Leukaemia Foundation
Some of the funds are also donated to charity and this year the club has nominated the Leukaemia Foundation.
A motor show is held every other year and in 2015 attracted more than 4,000 visitors and over 100 entries.
Vic says the NDMA wants to generate enough income to show they are serious about the motorsport venue and attract additional funding from the government and local council.
“Recently we were in touch with a landowner who is willing to lease us 150 acres for the complex, so things are progressing… at the end of the day, it’s all for Port Augusta.”
The proposed site will be used for a variety of motor sports, including go-karting, burnout competitions, drifting and possibly motorbike racing. Other options include driver training and vehicle testing.
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