The UniSA Australian HPV Super Series returns to the picturesque Western Australian City of Busselton for Round 5 of the 2023 Series this Sunday, 20 August. The stunning coastal destination located 220km south of the state’s capital Perth will also double as the third and final round of the 2023 Epiroc WA Pedal Prix Series.

Following the event’s post COVID return last year, 2023 sees a 28% increase in entries to 37 with teams coming from Victoria, South Australia and WA.

“We love coming to Busselton. The location is ideal, there’s a great mix of teams, and the community is always supportive,” said Series CEO Marcus Lacey. “Coming back to Busselton is a real highlight of the calendar.”

“We are thrilled to be part of the Busselton event as it is the climax to our three round Series here in Western Australia,” added WA Chairperson Ben Clayton.

The competition is for both school and community teams, with a strong contingent of WA teams represented including Hale School, Wesley College, Armadale SHS and Duncraig to name a few. Reigning schools champion, Pembroke will make the trek from Adelaide.

In the community categories, teams from WA will battle representatives from SA and Victoria.

In 2023 the circuit will be extended to over a kilometre and will remain technically challenging, demanding and a lot of fun. The Geographe Bay foreshore is an ideal venue with teams able to operate from pit spaces within the facility.

Vehicle scrutineering will taker place on Saturday afternoon before race start on Sunday at 10:00am.

“The City of Busselton has been instrumental in making this event happen and we extend our gratitude and thanks for their support,” said Lacey.

Race Day Schedule – Sunday 20 August  

• 7.00am Venue open for team access
• 9.20am Teams to Grid
• 9.30am All Marshals in position
• 9.50am Clear the Grid
• 10.00am Race Start
• 4.00pm Race Finish
• 4.15pm Presentations

 

Amalfi Resort, one of Busselton’s best accomodation providers has joined with the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series to be an event sponsor of the 2023 Busselton 6 Hour.

The 4 star Resort, offering self-contained accommodation, is conveniently located in West Busselton just off the Bussell Highway in Earnshaw Road.

The resort is offering a 15% discount for all participants and families taking part in Round 5 of the Series, whcih also doubles as the 3rd and final round of the Epiroc WA Pedal Prix Series.

Amalfi Resort can be contacted on 1800 954 812 or email stay@amalfiresort.com.au

 

By Aiden Cale

Round 3 of the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series will host a Festival of Pedal Prix weekend at Adelaide’s Victoria Park this weekend, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 of June. Community teams will take to the track on the Saturday and schools on Sunday, both races taking place for 6 hours in duration.

The former three day event has returned back to a two day event format, with the longer 1.35km circuit at Victoria Park being reinstated as a result of the covid testing centre having been removed. The longer circuit variant at Victoria Park has not been a part of the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series calendar since 2019, meaning the circuit will be new to a great deal of riders competing.

The Saturday race will see title contenders Wattle Racing and Platt Racing duking it out once again for top honours on race day, with both teams currently tied on 299 points for the Australian Championship. Wattle Racing claimed the overall victory in Tailem Bend, coming out on top over Platt Racing by 2 laps. Trump Trikes Factory Racing will also be contenders for the victory after seeing return to form in Tailem Bend and managing to clinch the last position on the podium. Elliptical Racing are also off to a successful start to their 2023 campaign, as the team, comprised of riders with both youth and experience, claimed a shock result of 6th overall last time out in their customer run Trump Trikes. 

The Sunday race will be headlined by the fastest schools in the country, with Pembroke School being in and amongst the top community teams, claiming 5th overall, with a healthy margin of 5 laps to Norwood International High School at Tailem Bend after trike problems early on affected their race. Norwood’s all-female team have shown they mean business, as they continued on from their 2022 season success, with 14 laps being the difference to second placed Unity College in S3 Female. 

With 200+ trikes taking place over the two day event, the Victoria Park parklands will be thriving to the sound of human powered vehicles all weekend long on. Saturday’s racing commences at 9:30am, and Sunday’s start is scheduled for 10:00am. 

 

When Blackfriars Priory School introduced Pedal Prix as a sport in 2019, it was with one cycle and eight students.

Today, Pedal Prix is one of the fastest growing sports at the Prospect-based school, with three cycles, more than 20 students from Years 7-12, four staff members running the program and a small army of parent helpers.

And with that growth has come some serious success. The “Hound #1” team finished 3^rd overall in the 2022 Australian HPV Super Series in the S3 (Senior Secondary) category.

The school’s Hound #2 and Hound #3 squads will make their racing debuts during the 2023 season.

Blackfriars’ Director of Development, Patrick Kelly, who runs the Pedal Prix program with assistance from staff members Andrew Castiglio, George Elmassih and Beau Leonard, was thrilled with the growth of the sport.

“When I was recruited to come here, our then Deputy Principal, now our Principal, David Ruggiero, said we want you to start Pedal Prix,” said Mr Kelly, who had run Pedal Prix teams in two other schools before coming to Blackfriars, including winning the all-girls’ category with Loreto College at the 24-hour Murray Bridge race.

“We’ve been very well looked after since. It has grown from nothing to three team cycles in less than five years, and that’s even taking covid into account.”

Promisingly for the future of the sport at Blackfriars, almost 70% of the school’s current Year 5/6 students have expressed an interest in being part of the Pedal Prix once they hit Year 7. Mr Kelly said promoting the sport to the Primary School boys was important.

“I do want to make sure we attract some really good young talent going forward,” he said. “It’s all well and good to have these vehicles, but you need the engine to put in it.”

Emilia Pace, whose son, Thomas (Year 8), is part of Blackfriars’ Pedal Prix team, could not speak more highly of the sport.

“We stumbled upon Pedal Prix by accident,” Mrs Pace said. “Thomas had to pick a co-curricular activity going forward and he chose Pedal Prix. It was the best thing we ever did.”

Blackfriars recently hosted a competition for Year 5/6 students to come up with an eye-catching design for Hound #3. As part of the competition, the boys worked in groups to create the designs – also producing a video demonstrating the process – with eight shortlisted as finalists.

Those finalists then had to present their ideas to a panel of judges, including Australian International Pedal Prix Inc Chief Executive Officer Marcus Lacey and Jason Nottle, from Trump Trikes.

Also on the panel were Mrs Pace and her husband, Greg, graphic designers from WhoYou Creative, who will now work with the winning team to fine-tune their design before it is applied to Hound #3.

 

By Aiden Cale

The UniSA Australian HPV Super Series is returning to The Bend Motorsport Park for Round 2 of the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series. The 6 hour event will see 164 trikes take to the startline at the renowned motor racing venue. 

A shortened 2.8 kilometre layout will be debuted, with riders diverting off the main straight, cutting into the infield for a tight and technical section before merging back onto the original layout for the remainder of the lap. This change in layout adds more variation into the seasons calendar, further testing each rider’s abilities.

In C7 Open, Platt Racing and Wattle Racing proved in Mount Gambier that they are the teams to beat, separated by a mere 24 seconds, and finishing 8 laps ahead of series debutants, UniSA Pedal Prix Team. 

Platt Racing have also announced the entry of a second trike, which will add further depth to the competition for the podium positions at the top end of the field. 

Wattle Racing’s all-female team look to be a strong force in C7 Open Female once again, clinching an overall top 15 finish in Mount Gambier. They will be joined by Fast Cats Racing who will be making their season debut at the Bend. 

S3 Senior is shaping up to have a close battle for the top position this year, as long-time stalwarts of the sport, Pembroke School, won the category in Mount Gambier, with the additional result of 9th in the overall classifications. Their gap to Norwood International High School after the eight hour event was 3 laps, igniting a rivalry between the two schools that will be sure to resume in Tailem Bend.

The Bend will also see Norwood’s all-female team make its series debut. As reigning National Champions in S3 Senior Female, they look to be the heavy favourites, vying for a repeat of their 2022 success.

The stage is set for Round 2 of the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series, on Saturday, May 20. The racing will commence at 10am local time, with teams racing through the day with the leader taking the chequered flag at 4pm.