THE Teagle Excavations ARB Pines Enduro has arrived, set down from Friday through to Sunday at Millicent and through the Tantanoola pine forests.
In their bid for class and outright victories, teams will travel from across the country to contest the Pines Enduro 400, also in pursuit of the 2022 ARB Australian Off Road Racing Championship crowns.
This year marks the 43rd running of the event since its beginnings back in 1978.
The event comes after a huge achievement by the members of the Millicent Sand Buggy Club both present and past.
The Tantanoola forest and Teagle’s Quarry come alive with the sound of off-road racing engines on this one weekend of the year.
Each year the attraction to compete over 400km’s through the pine forests, high speed white metal council roads and the amphitheatre of Teagle’s Quarry, brings a strong field of entrants eager to test themselves and their machinery.
The entrant list has been steadily growing since opening and is shaping to be a fiercely competitive race throughout all classes.
Brent Martin (#120) has had a stellar season so far, taking outright victory at rounds one and three and placing third in round two.
He currently leads the championship standings and he will look to finish on a high in his Class 1 Jimco buggy.
Both Glenn Pike (#675) and John Smith (#445) sit second and third respectively heading in to the round and a strong result here could see either jump to the top of the standings should Martin encounter trouble.
Previous championship and event winners are returning to the South East to contest the 400km enduro.
Aaron Haby (#1) has been victorious in the pines previously and the outgoing championship winner will be one of the favourites.
Danny Brown (#42) and father Andy (#45) both have new buggies this year and will hope to bring home some silverware, but will have to overcome Martin Motorsports three cars.
As mentioned Brent Martin leads the team strongly and brother Dale (#5) has stepped up in an Unlimited buggy alongside father Craig (#25) who has been successful at Millicent before.
Every class is well represented and a host of local drivers will be in contention over the course of the weekend.
Andy Murdock (#66) and Dean Carter (#18) will both have tough assignments as they take on the weekend in the Unlimited class, both capable and competitive.
Kurt Stephan (#133) will look to gain some valuable experience as he tackles the gruelling event in Class 1.
Peter Tamblyn (#1042) is a seasoned campaigner hoping to use his experience in Class 10, along with Jake Douglass (#1041), who races his second event of the year in his newly-acquired Jimco buggy.
In their family built Murco buggy, Jake England (#223) will enter the event as a real chance in Class 2, while Greg Gartner (#410) will fly the flag for Penola.
Heath Weedon (#779) has shown great speed in Class 7, but has not had luck on his side so far and will hope Millicent can turn that around.
Connor Cooper (#729), a newcomer to the sport of off-road and taking on his first Pines Enduro, will look for a trouble free run.
Spectators are invited to Teagles Quarry in Millicent tomorrow ( Friday September 23) for the vehicle display and scrutiny of vehicles starting at 6pm.
Entry is free and catering is available.
It is a good chance to get up close to the off-road vehicles and talk to some of the drivers before the action begins on Saturday, with the prologue commencing at 10am.
At the conclusion of prologue, cars will be lined up for the short course racing around Teagles Quarry where all the racing can be viewed from the spectator area and on the big screen TV.
Sunday’s main race starts at 8.30am, as the competitors head into the pine forests for the first time of the weekend.
Gate prices are $15 for Saturday and $10 for Sunday, with under 15s free.
Tickets can be bought online at www.ticketebo.com.au/pines-enduro
