The peaceful South Australian rural city of Murray Bridge is set to be awoken when more than 15,000 people descend on the riverside town for the world’s largest Human Powered Vehicle race on the weekend of September 23 – 24.
The 2017 race will be the 32nd running of the Australian International Pedal Prix, an event which continues to grow and has impacted the lives of an estimated 100,000 South Australians since its inception in 1986.
Constituting the 5th and final round of the UniSA Australian Human Powered Vehicle Super Series, it will be the 21st running of the event in Murray Bridge.
South Australia is the epicentre of Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) racing in Australia. The Murray Bridge event is considered the premier HPV endurance race in Australia, and arguably the world. Competitors will take to the track for a grueling 24 hours commencing at noon Saturday September 23 through to the chequered flag at noon on Sunday September 24.
Practice and Qualifying from 4.30pm Friday evening, incorporating night racing, allows entrants circuit familiarisation time and the opportunity to fine tune their vehicles. Grid position will be determined by the best lap time a team can achieve in this session. Saturday morning will see the exciting and extraordinary atmosphere of the Top 14 Shoot Out from 9.00am.
The race is conducted on a 1.7 km tarmac circuit around Sturt Reserve situated on the banks of the Murray River. 210 teams, 3,200 competitors and thousands of spectators make the riverside parkland home for the three days.
Teams have to be fully self-contained for the duration of their stay, setting up everything required for racing including pits, workshop facilities and rider preparation areas.
Then there’s sleeping quarters and catering needs including refrigeration, cooking, and eating areas for dozens of personnel per team.
Forty houseboat moorings immediately adjacent the track will provide additional living quarters for the extended weekend.
Teams will begin arriving in Murray Bridge from Thursday September 21.
