This weekend the Trident Tyre Centre Legends of the Lakes Hill Climb returns to Mount Gambier’s Valley Lakes for yet another big year of racing.
In its 19th consecutive year, the event is once again a huge hit with all 150 entries selling out in a whopping seven and a half minutes, with around 35 of those drivers being local.
It is expected around 3000 people will be in attendance for the three day event, including drivers, crew and spectators.
The event which brings in a large attraction runs this Friday, November 8 to Sunday, November 10.
Event director Kevin Raedel believes it is a ‘pretty good’ achievement having the event run for so many years.
“It’s the 19th consecutive year – which is a pretty cool thing. You know during Covid we went through all that, so 19 straight years is pretty awesome, I think,” Raedel said.
Raedel is excited about the upcoming event with how much he and the many other volunteers do to help set it up.
“We’re all excited. It’s a stupidly big job to set it up and run the event and the club does a huge amount of work, as well as all the volunteers. There would have to be around 3000 helping throughout the event,” he said.
“But the reward for it is really good and the excitement that comes with it is mostly from the success of the event being so popular.”
Drivers will race on a tight and windy 1.4km long track that spans through the Valley Lakes.
A combination of sharp turns and steep sections as they push themselves to the limit to get the fastest time possible.
The event is full of all types of different racing classes including two and four as well as different engine sizes too.
Eight time champion Dan Day will return to the hill in 2024.
Coming from Adelaide and racing in his Subaru Impreza STi, Day made history last year after taking the record for most wins, once shared with Mount Gambier’s Peter Gazzard on seven victories.
Another Adelaide racer returning is Douglas Johnson who placed second in last year’s climb while Coonawarra local Damien Brand will be another driver returning to the hill.
Other returning locals are Dylan Readel and Charlie Evans who are both coming off solid performances last year.
Evans finished second in the junior competition and Readel just behind in third.
Friday will be a smaller day with the two big race days being Saturday and Sunday ramping up the action.
As well as the hill climb racing action there is also a lot more to offer fans of all ages such as a car show and a display of some of Australia’s best hill climbing machines.
Food trucks, merchandise stores will also be on offer as well as shuttle buses taking fans to and from the pits to see all the action.
Disabled parking and spectating areas will also be available.
Raedel said fans can expect some cool cars as well as a great atmosphere for the whole family.
“We have got some cool cars and some decent caterers for the weekend, pretty good venue being great for the atmosphere, classic car display on the Sunday with a huge variety of race cars right from mini Subaru’s to VT Commodore.”
