Season kicks of at seaside

PICTURESQUE: The picturesque coastline of Port MacDonnell will be the venue for the South Eastern Automobile Club season opener this weekend. Pictures: TREVOR JACKSON

THE South Eastern Automobile Club competition season roars into life on February 11 and 12 with the running of the Twin Peaks Hill Climb at the picturesque Port MacDonnell coastal area, to the west of the light house.

With the capacity field of 70 competitors filling the entry list in less than a day from opening, it is a popular event for the club, proving to be a challenge to competitors to get it right and be fast.

There are two courses to be set up by director Paul Height, assisted by Curtis Boyd, Bradley Harry and Allison Height.

That will provide the challenge with a tight and twisty first test laid out in front of the lookout at the Bay, followed by a less complex and more open second track down to the Finger Point Rock car park.

Throw in some wind to shift the sand, constantly changing the grip level on the bitumen surface and each corner on each attempt can catch the driver off guard and see a bit of gardening or loss of control.

Each driver gets to do each end many times on each day, with the scoring for the winner calculated by adding the fastest time for each of the two courses Saturday, then doing the same for Sunday’s effort and adding both day’s totals for a combined total, with the outright award for overall quickest, then class winners decided.

Road closures will be in place from 7.30am Saturday until completion of the event on Sunday afternoon, to enable a safe environment for the competition to take place.

Spectators are welcome to walk in and see the action from the designated areas.

Catering for both days will be available at the lookout area.