The Hunter Rivmasta Warialda 200 has been a fixture of the NSW State Championship since the early 1990’s and this weekends race see’s the event celebrate it’s 25th Anniversary. Long time event supporters, Bob & Jeanette Mowbray from Hunter Rivmasta have been on board as the naming right sponsors since 2008 and to help celebrate the occasion have put up $6000 prize money for outright and class honours.
Held just 5 minutes from the town centre at Brian Basham’s “Monomeeth” and spilling into the O’Rourke and MacQueen families properties, the racing takes place on a track forged by offroad racing legend, Doug McMillans bulldozer. “It’s a real offroad track that you’ll know you have raced by the time you cross the finish line.” said long time club member, David Hartwig. The natural amphitheatre that sits in front of the main spectator area and pits provides some of the best offroad viewing in Australia, especially as drivers test their nerve dropping down “heartstart”.
Scrutineering in town on Friday night kicks the event off, before the racing launches on Saturday with a prologue and some wheel to wheel action in the short course component. Another set of short course heats gets the heart pumping on Sunday morning before the offroaders stretch their legs in the 2 long course sections of the event, which sees a slightly longer loop for 2015. With the main event done and dusted the event concludes with a “Dash for Cash”. The top ten are unleashed on the Warialda short course on a handicapped start, making for a congested last lap as each of the top ten dash for the finish line.
In the Warialda 200’s twenty four year history, there have been 10 different winners to date. Terry Rose and Bruce Chapman leads the pack with 6 titles, while he also combined with son Bryce to take wins in 2012 & 2013. Doug McMillan locked away 3 titles with Laurie Svenson and Bill Buchanan on 2. Adam Barnacoat, Dave Mendham, Buddy Crowe (2011) and Michael Napier (2014) sit on a single victory each.With an all star line up of almost 70 teams for 2015 the race will be on for line honours… We can’t wait!
The entry list & live results can be found here thanks to Offroadracing.com.au
Follow the Warialda Motorsport Club here & Keep tuned to the Dirtcomp website, Facebook and Instagram pages for updates over the weekend!
Don’t forget to check our massive photo gallery for all the action from previous years