THE late night tinkering in the back shed is coming to an end.
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The wide eyed, white knuckled ride down Pappinbarra Mountain is upon us.
The Beechwood Billycart Classic will be run for the 35th year this Sunday 16 November.
What started as a trip down the river on tractor inner tubes in 1980 has become a hard fought speed challenge for locals and aspiring out-of-towners alike.
The Beechwood Grounds Trust, which manages the local cricket and football ground, relies on the event to raise funds for maintenance and improvements at the sporting oval. With the support of Wauchope Apex and local businesses, such as the major sponsor Beechwood Hotel, the event is a highlight of the regions spring calendar.
'The Derby' as it is known to locals, has always had its novelty element - some carts have been manufactured from bathtubs and old farm gates, while others have been honed from plywood, fibreglass and aluminium with hundreds, even thousands of dollars invested in these 2-person missiles. Some complete the 5km track in less than 6 minutes, which is fast given that much of the course requires pushing up hill and down dale between the winding hillside track and high speed descents - up to 100kph.
The event is very much family focused. The kids race starts at 11am and this year there will be a Motorised Esky race for a bit of a laugh - some pretty big names will be on board these cool machines. Who you ask? Well you will have to come along and see.
With market stalls, live music, plenty of food and a cool drink from the Beechwood Hotel, The 35th Annual Beechwood Billycart Classic is a great family day - the village of Beechwood welcomes everyone to come and enjoy the race!