There will be no motocross action at the 2024 Millicent Show next month as the track no longer meets mandated safety standards.
The event featuring two-wheelers was last staged in 2021 and the past two cancellations related to insurance concerns.
Racing will not be possible on November 8 and 9 because the track needs to be widened and fences shifted.
The Mount Gambier Junior Motorcycle Club has collaborated with the Millicent Show Society for the past 30 years to bring the motocross action to Millicent.
As well as up to 140 competitors at each event, the races bring support crews, regular and even celebrity spectators.
Around 20 years ago, now Adelaide Crows skipper Jordan Dawson would come from his Robe home each year to view the action in the company of his elder brother Jaryd and their father Tony.
The club is faced with a prohibitive bill of at least $50,000 to ensure the Millicent track meets the obligatory standards set by Motorcycling Australia.
MGJMC race director Jody Bigham said the upgrade costs would run into tens of thousands of dollars.
“Our club is now affiliated with Motorcycling Australia and we are obliged to meet their standards,” Ms Bigham said.
“It will not be a cheap exercise and the sum of $50,000 is just touching the edge.
“The lighting also needs to be upgraded.
“We have had racing during the daylight hours for the past three years.
“We have kept the Millicent Show Society fully informed of the situation.
“We just need to find that big tub of money that can be used to the improve the track at Milicent.
“There are 120-140 competitors from as far away as Portland and Warrnambool who come to Millicent.
“I have been the race secretary for the past 14 years and 140 is the highest number that we have had.”
Millicent Show Society secretary Sue Vanderheul said the motocross track requirements were a matter for the MGJMC.
“We are open to having them back,” Ms Vanderheul said.
“We have arranged for ride-on lawnmower exhibition races to be staged on Friday night in the area which has been housing the motocross.
“The lawnmower races will then be held on the following day.
“The South Australian Lawnmower Racing Association has indicated as many as 70 competitors will be racing at Millicent.”
Other ways to bolster Friday night attendances at the Millicent Show has been to stage the Speed Shear in the shearing pavilion followed by a D.J.
Ms Vanderheul said such Millicent Show favourites as fireworks, sideshow alley and Vera’s Kitchen would return in 2024 along with the 25th running of the Demo Derby, entertainer Professor Wallace and his puppets and a vintage hay baler.
