By Trevor Jackson
IT is that time of year when the meandering roads at the Valley Lakes precinct come to life in a roar of engines and screech of tyres for the annual Trident Tyre Centre Legend of the Lakes hill climb.
The 16th running of the event takes place next weekend, October 29-30-31.
It has become a must-do for many Australian hill climb drivers and some fast times have been set up the hill.
Currently Dan Day holds the record with a scintillating 49.89-seconds run in 2018.
Day will return for another stint at the hill and the chance to pass Peter Gazzard’s record of five wins in a row, which Day equaled last year.
Changes to last year’s event will again be in place, with the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions still affecting sporting events around the country and the state.
The knock-on effects see many Victorian drivers already withdrawing their entries, which could see around 15 drivers not compete.
However, the fields are still brimming for all three days, with Friday boasting more than 70 entries for the Historic and special interest vehicles, while Saturday and Sunday will see 135-plus cars chase that perfect run for outright honours.
The event is run by the South Eastern Automobile Club, with vice-president Kevin Raedel keen to see the weekend go ahead without too many restrictions.
Unfortunately crowds will be limited, but an improved live-stream will be in place to ensure the general public can get their fix of the unique event.
Day’s Subaru will be tough to beat, providing he can again string some solid runs together, while the usual array of GT Falcons, Holden Commodores and almost every other brand imaginable will be on display in anger.
From Porsches to Lancias, to Elfins and Nissans, all will provide entertainment value.
With limited spectating available at the top of the course and a small chance of people heading to the bottom, Raedel said the club was concentrating on ensuring everything goes to plan, with no special entertainment organised.
“This year we are trying to focus on the event itself,” he said.
“With the limit of numbers due to Covid it makes any special attractions hard to do, so we are concentrating on the live stream system.
“It is looking really good, we have new cameras and while we only have a portion of the track live streamed, it will be good footage and good quality.”
Raedel said last year’s live stream was well received by the public, with limited access also in place in 2020.
“Looking at the details after last year we had a lot of views and a lot of comments on the live feed,” he said.
“It is good for everyone in Mount Gambier to see the event and the sponsors to be seen.”
Despite the limitations Raedel said the organising committee had spent countless hours over the past 12 months to ensure it all goes ahead.
He said the real work starts in earnest next weekend, as many kilometres of cabling goes in place for the timing, along with more than two kilometres of barriers.
No changes have been made to the racing surface, which remains as just another public road, until next Friday.
From there access is closed to the general public and the racing begins in earnest.
While it is hard to see the race record tumbling this year, there will certainly be no shortage of entertainment.
“I think we are at our peak,” Raedel said of Day’s record time.
“It is not a race surface, it is a road for the general public.
“You have to really get your run together to get a good time.”
Having been involved with the event for many years and enjoying his own runs up the iconic piece of tarmac, Raedel said he relishes the challenge, with the top of the course his personal favourite.
“You need good weather, conditions to come together and a fair bit of luck involved to nail a good time,” he said.
“I haven’t nailed a run … I’m usually too busy clowning around.
“It is fun going through the chicane and up the top of the course with the crowd in place.
“It is a buzz when you get up there quick.
“I have been up there in the low 60-seconds in a rear-wheel-drive big car.
“Some of these guys do it in 49 seconds in a four-wheel-drive which is a hoot.
“For a standing-start 1.4km course, it is huge.”
Running through the layout, Raedel said to launch off the line was one of the most important parts.
Get that right and it sets you up for a good time, providing you nail the esses down the bottom.
They include a blind crest, blind corners and ever-closing armco barriers.
The car then needs to be set up on the right racing line to ensure the fastest possible time up the hill, before braking late into the chicane which tests the driver’s nerves, all to the cheers of spectators, especially if it is done wrong or with a bit extra flair.
“Heading up the hill flat out, you have to get your braking marker right for the chicane,” Raedel said.
“Every car has different speed, different horsepower, weight and size, so everyone has different braking markers.
“Then you come out of the chicane off-camber to the T-junction and if you are half a tyre wide, you lose time.”
At the pointy end of the field it all happens in under a minute, with no room for error.
But for many competitors there is more to the event than just a fast time.
Covid restrictions last year saw many new competitors, which has also been the case this year.
Raedel said the feedback from those new drivers was always similar.
“People are still blown away by the event, the technicality of the course an the atmosphere,” he said.
“The backdrop for the event, you couldn’t find better anywhere in the world.
“Plus the event always runs smooth, which is a credit to the group of workers who put it all together.”
While a new course record is doubtful, Raedel said you can never say never.
Gazzard and Kevin Mackrell had a stranglehold on the event until Day surfaced.
He has certainly written his name into the record books and looks set to remain there into the future.
“Dan Day has taken control of it and will go for six in a row this year, which will be hard to beat in the future,” Raedel said.
“He has a fast car but he still has to do it, you still have to have that run go right and your car to be reliable.
“It takes a lot to get a decent time.
“The amount of horsepower the cars produce, it is not hard to break a drive shaft or something else.”
In the end it comes down to an entertaining weekend of motorsport at one of the best locations available.
“We were awarded the 2019 event of the year for South Australia,” Raedel said.
“A couple of officials have had awards the last couple of years so we are all pretty keen to make it happen again.
“We are planning to get some spectators in there of some description but can’t promise them too much obviously.
“But I think if Covid stays away we will put on another good show.”
