Event organisers for this weekend’s second running of the Don River Dash, a AASA-sanctioned off-road event, are anticipating and even bigger and better spectacle than last year’s inaugural dash.
The Don River Dash is held just outside of Bowen, in North Queensland’s Whitsunday region. It is unique among off-road events on Australia’s east coast, with the course running through a dry river bed.
As part of the Queensland Off Road Championship, the 2020 Don River Dash has attracted a healthy field of 75 cars. Last year’s overall winner, Billy Geddes is returning to defend his crown while other notable entries include Brett Comiskey, who won the recent Goodiwindi 400, and Dakar Rally legend Toby Price.
The event format will see vehicles completing three loops of the 50km course each day. The competitors will leave the Bowen Showgrounds and race along a tarmac section before descending onto the dry creek bed, where they will be required to overcome serious obstacles such as large rocks, debris and deep sand.
At one part of the circuit, cars will even race underneath the Bruce Highway, a major thoroughfare servicing the region.
Michael Marson, a member of the event organising team for the Don River Dash, was pleased with the first event last year and said some improvements have been made for 2020.
“Last year’s Don River Dash was fantastic for our first time running the event, but we learned lessons and have implemented some changes for this year,” Marson said.
“One of the main things we’ve improved is the way we’re communicating information to spectators and fans.
“This year, we have a local FM radio station that is going to broadcast commentary of the race – people will be able to park their cars in a designated spectator area we’ve set up beside the course and tune their radios into the commentary to keep up to date with what’s happening on the track.
“We’ll also be running some live streaming via the Burdekin Offroaders Facebook page.”
The Don River Dash joins an increasing portfolio of off-road events sanctioned by the AASA.
“The AASA have been very helpful with assisting us with event regulations and other essential preparations for the event,” Marson said.
“We’re also very grateful to the Whitsunday Regional Council – they have been extremely supportive of the event.”
For more information on the Don River Dash, visit the event page on the Off Road Racing website here.
