Entries up at billy cart race

Billy carts raced, spectators cheered and memories were made at the annual Springfield Community Billy Cart Race on Father’s Day (Sunday 4 September 2011).

An initiative of USQ Springfield and Ipswich City Council, the event attracted 58 competitors this year, up from 38 entries in 2010.

Events and Student Experience Coordinator at USQ Springfield, Dr Megan Axelsen, said the highlight of the day was watching the police car billy cart come down the hill.

'It was fantastic. They had the lights flashing and sirens blaring and it looked great.' said Megan.

'The cart was actually built in collaboration with the Springfield Central High School, so the police funded the car and the students built it and also raced it on the day.'

Megan said people from all ages competed in three categories.

'We have the Senior Flash Harry's Sinnathamby Race for carts that are more technically constructed, as well as the Junior Flash Harry's Sinnathamby Race and the Dare Devils, which are rough around the edges and have no breaks.

'This year we had 42 heats, so each person got to run three times and then the top eight form each race category competed in the semi-finals. The finals included the first and second place-getters from the semis.'

Families came from as far and wide as Esk and Manly to compete in the event, but entrants were mainly local.

'It’s a Father’s Day event, so generally speaking the teams were father and son or father and daughter teams. This year we had a father with two girls so he had built them a cart each which was nice,' said Megan.

'We also had a family who had an average cart last year, so started building their cart for this year the week after last year’s race.'

Megan said their hard work paid off, with Tri Nguyen picking up first place in the Senior Flash Harry’s and his son, Daniel, crossing over the line in third place in the junior event.

The Springfield Police Station recorded the following speeds on the day:

- Highest Speed of the day – 38 km/hr
- Highest speed in the finals – 37 km/hr
- Slowest speed at the finish – 4 km/hr

Megan said it was also a wonderful day on and off the track.

'We had beautiful weather and lots of parents, grandparents and members of the community watching.

'Hymba Yumba, the local Indigenous School, also cooked a BBQ breakfast and lunch as a fundraiser, so people were well catered for.'

Results

Senior Flash Harry’s Sinnathamby Race (13+ years)
1st Tri Nguyen (Collingwood Park)
2nd Mitch Garaty (Brookwater)
3rd Ross Boag (Springfield)

Junior Flash Harry’s Sinnathamby Race (5-12 years)
1st Wallace Family (Ruby 10 years & Flynn 8 years) (Augustine Heights)
2nd Moses Clarke (South Maclean)
3rd Daniel Nguyen (Collingwood Park)

Dare Devil’s Race (5-17 years)
1st - Alec Johnston (Manly West) -10 years
2nd - Liam McLean (Holland Park) – 6 years
3rd - Bailey Swan (8 years) /Aiden McKendrick (5 years) (Heathwood)