Over the October long weekend the tiny town of Boomi (population 207) will boom in size as the Australian Mud Trials Championships are hosted at the local showgrounds.
Located an hour north of Moree, the Mud Trials offer something a little different, a little… dirtier than your usual fare.
With four categories and a prize purse of over $4,000 spread across the two-day event, which also doubles as the Australian Title Championships, excitement and dirty clothes are guaranteed.
The Standard Category allows – as the name would suggest – standard, unmodified cars such as sedans and station wagons to compete. The Modified Category includes petrol driven engines of any size sans turbo or supercharger and typically built atop a truck or homemade chassis.
The Buggy Category is for smaller and lower-to-the-ground vehicles and is considered the sprint class with four heats of 20 minutes apiece, whereas the modifieds are an endurance race with two heats of 45 minutes.
The Junior Category sees racers from 10 up to 16 years in age competing in Standard Vehicles.
For the uninitiated, a mud trial is a race where vehicles (known as “mudbombers”) zoom around a track for points. This may sound like a regular and completely normal race, except for the enormous and deeply muddy bogs dotted throughout the track designed to slow down or completely prevent drivers from finishing.
Finishing the lap without being bogged gets you 10 points. Getting bogged or losing control in the mud loses you 4 points. The driver with the most points wins – simple.
The Boomi Mud Trials are a mainstay of the local culture and have been running since the 1960’s, with organiser Peter Vuckovich saying “The Boomi Mud Trials started in ‘78, and the town literally triples in size over the weekend. It’s a massive tradition the locals love getting behind.”
The hotly-anticipated Legends Race is also featuring this year: “We’re bringing back the legendary cars and drivers that haven’t raced in twenty years or more.”
Among those Legends returning to the mud are Spitfire, “A multiple-Australian Champion and the car to beat in the late 70s to mid 80s,“ says Vuckovich.
Competition is set to be fierce, with Mighty Boss, The Wanderers and the Flying Nun – all multiple title holders – also competing for muddy glory.
Gates open each day at 7am with races kicking off from 10am.
Camping is available on site during the Trials, and at the Boomi Caravan Park. Entry to the Trials is $10 per adult and a gold coin for children.
A canteen operating on site will offer classic BBQ fare, with a coffee van available too.
Competitor entries are open until 1 October and can be found via the Boomi Mud Trials Facebook page.
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