MOUNT Gambier and the Limestone Coast will be well represented in a major fundraiser for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, when the inaugural West Bound Wanderers Car Run heads off to Western Australia this weekend.
The run is designed to raise money for the RFDS, from sponsorship leading up to the event, plus money raised along the way.
The run will head off from the RFDS headquarters in Adelaide on Saturday morning and work its way west, stopping at various towns along the way.
Port Augusta will be the first stop, followed by Ceduna for a show ‘n’ shine, Eucla, Balladonia, Esperance then on into Collie where the serious side of the run takes place.
At the Collie Motorplex, cars from South Australia and those West Australians who joined the run at Esperance will put their cars through their paces with two days of circuit racing.
One vehicle of note from Mount Gambier will be a Mustang driven by Ray Scott and wife Jill.
But the Mustang is not just any “pony car”.
Initially built in the Ford factory in the USA, the Mustang was modified heavily, with little remaining from the original Ford design.
Now known as a Roush Mustang, much was changed, including the complete drive train, the suspension and the interior.
There is no shortage of horsepower under the bonnet, but Mr Scott said it was a very drivable vehicle and he was looking forward to putting it on the track at Collie.
“I will do a few laps around there,” he said.
“There’s not much point going that far and not doing it.”
The run itself is the brainchild of Colin Layzell, who said after five years raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation, he wanted something a bit different after his recent involvement with the Aussie Muscle Car Run.
“Some blokes came over from Western Australia last year – I won the highest money raiser for South Australia and they came second and third,” he said.
“We thought we could have a race meeting in Western Australia and put it together ourselves.
“We wanted a charity to look after that looks after us, so we chose the Royal Flying Doctor Service.”
Mr Layzell said the run raised money prior to heading off with sponsorship of each car, then added to the total along the way, “rattling tins” at the various towns they pass through.
“Once in Collie we have a big weekend of money raising,” he said.
“Everyone has to pay to go on the race track, to enter the show ‘n’ shine, plus gate entries.
“All the money goes to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.”
Mr Scott is just one of many enthusiasts involved in the run and said he was looking forward to the chance to get away with his wife for something a little bit different.
“It is an opportunity to go across and have a drive, just get away,” he said.
“You meet new people, have a bit of fun and it’s for a good cause.
“The main reason is to have some fun, but the by-product is we are going to raise some money for the Flying Doctors.
“All the money goes to the Flying Doctors – it doesn’t go to any collection agency.
“With what they do out of here – they support us all, so it is for a very good cause.”
One thing Mr Scott said was pleasing was the support he had received from the people of Mount Gambier, through sponsorship of the car and funds raised.
“It is nice to go away representing all these people from Mount Gambier,” he said.
“We are going to take a little bit of them with us.
“To have everybody to support you, look after you and be with you, I think it is pretty nice.
“It is proof that in Mount Gambier we can work together and do things for Mount Gambier.”
