Off and racing Buller Billycart Bash a success

MT BULLER'S inaugural Billycart Bash had the mountain buzzing this weekend as spectators lined the Avenue to watch a thrilling display of billycart racing and good old-fashioned fun. The new event on the Mt Buller autumn calendar drew racers from across the state with some families travelling to the resort to compete from as far afield as Castlemaine. “I’m so thrilled with how this has gone,” explained Neil Geddes, the brains behind the billycart idea. “To see families turning out, kids getting to ride billycarts and the amount of fun everyone here is having – it’s definitely a ‘thing’ and is only going to get better next year!” Neil Geddes proposed the idea to Mt Buller after competing in some billycart events with his daughters. “We went to the tip and found parts and built our billycart which was a big part of the fun of it,” he said. “Then to get together and race with other families and kids – is just the best.” Trophies for the winning drivers had a unique style – made of gleaming chrome hubcaps – and were proudly received by the racers who took out prizes for best overall, most outstanding family, novelty carts and more. Busfleet founder Neil confirmed they had 12 billy carts for the bash, with feedback overwhelmingly positive from both competitors and spectators alike. Sponsor Busfleet designed and built four standard-model billycarts for public use on the day, allowing those who didn't have the necessary vehicle the opportunity to compete. "This was a great success and we will plan to invite local schools to develop and race these from next season," he said. Mt Buller set a thrilling course along the Avenue with billycarts reaching speeds of up to 50kph in some sections. Racing was not without incident with a couple of a couple of spin-outs and crashes but no billycart drivers were injured in the lively morning of racing. "I checked with first aid after the event and they said they only had to deal with a bee sting on the day," Neil said. Ned Lock from Castlemaine was the overall winner taking out the Open, with local nine-year-old Griff Scott Barber taking out the junior title in the bash. The Mansfield Primary School grade four student said the event was the best day ever. "We got most of the parts dumpster diving and dad and I spent fun days in the shed designing and building the billy cart," Griff said. Dad Tim's background is in vintage car restoration and re-builds which came in handy when constructing the race-winning model. Making it up as the pair went along, the billy cart took about four days to construct, with Griff testing it out a fair bit in chassis form. Once complete, there were numerous test runs down their Barwite driveway, with Griff perfecting the art of the handbrake turn. "I have mastered the Tokyo Drift," Griff said of his race prowess. Tim commended organisers on an incredible race and a stand-out event, confirming they will be back in 2026 to contest the title with eyes on the Open. In fact the overwhelming response from the crowd and the drivers was that everyone will be back next year and Mt Buller’s Billycart Bash is going to be a popular fixture on the calendar for many years to come.

Off and racing Buller Billycart Bash a success

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