Melanie Riley
THE Casterton Street Drags are set to kick off next week, in a competition bigger and better than ever.
In it’s thirtieth year, the race and burnout competition will be held at Sandford Flat in Casterton on November 18 from 9am.
Casterton Drags Club President Glenn Wright said the event has come a long way since the beginning.
“It was one car at a time down the road, and it was timed by a stop watch and a flag,” he said.
“Back then it would’ve been a little bit rough and ready.”
Mr Wright said that his involvement in the club and the event started many years ago as a spectator and before long, he was racing in the competition himself.
“I’ve always been involved with it just for the love of the sport,” he said.
The Casterton community and surrounds support this event, and Mr Wright said that the event continues to be positive for the community, bringing people from all over to the small rural town.
“It’s always been good for the town,” he said.
“It’s the only street meet where you get to close down a public road and put on a drag meet. That brings more and more attraction each year.
“There are still people that say that they’ve never been here and have never heard of it and they’ve started to turn up.”
Mr Wright said the event is worth a look for lovers of the sport whether it is drags, burnouts or both and encouraged those that have not experienced it before to head down to check it out.
Club member Pat Smith agreed that the community engagement for the event was quite significant.
“It’s good because the small community gets behind it and it brings such a different crowd to the town for the day,” he said.
Entries into the racing or burnout competitions are done on the day.
Gates open and scrutineering starts at 8am, time trials start at 9am and racing starts at 1pm.
The race is followed later by the burnout competition. Times may vary slightly depending on the events throughout the day.
The fee for racing only is $65, burnout only is $40 or both race and burnout costs $85.
Passengers for burnouts are $20, spectators are $20 and children under 14 are free of charge.
Participants in the burnout competition are required to have an Australian Auto-Sport Alliance (AASA) licence which must be purchased online prior to the event.
Those participating in racing are required to have an Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) day licence which can be purchased on the day for $15.
Participants for both competitions are required to have a current drivers licence.
After the competitions, there will be live music in the paddock from 7pm.
The event is fully catered so there is no BYO.
For any other information, check out the Casterton Street Drags on Facebook.
