Snowbound: All roads lead to Mt.Buller in 2006

From the Valley to the Mt.Buller Alpine Village in under nine minutes!

It’s an impossible dream each year for the thousands of holiday makers who visit the popular Victorian winter playground, but it’s the aim of every competitor in the Porsche Mt. Buller Sprint over the Australia Day long weekend.

However beating Jim Richards and Barry Oliver’s record time of 8min 45.50sec for the demanding 16km long dash up the Mt. Buller Tourist road to the Alpine Resort is a prospect open only to a handful of high altitude racers with the right equipment to challenge his 500HP Porsche 911 GT2.

People like Tasmania’s John and Justin White in their newly acquired ex-factory four-wheel drive, V10 engined Lamborghini Gallardo and 2005 Australian Rally Championship runners-up, Dean Herridge and Bill Hayes from Western Australia in a factory-backed Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

The sister event to America’s famous Pike’s Peak hillclimb has attracted a record entry of 140 performance cars and 60 Touring cars for the 2006 event ranging from a flock of more than 40 Porsches to potent Monaros, Mitsubishi Evos, classic Mustangs, racing Utes and just about everything in between.

Before they scale the Mountain eight times from January 27-29, they’ll all compete in a spectacular time trial over the magic ‘Mansfield Mile’, through the main streets of Mansfield on Australia Day, January 26.

The Mansfield Mile will be the highlight of the day, which includes an Australia Day breakfast and awards ceremony, classic car events, slot car racing and other special interest displays in the Mountain Cattlemen’s capital.

Six fabulous racing Porsches sent specially from the factory’s museum in Germany will become a moving motor show both on the Mansfield Mile and the Mt Buller Sprint course.

All 200 participating Sprint and Touring cars will be on display throughout the four-day event.

Visitors will be able to get a close look at the vehicles and crews, while in both Mansfield and on Mt Buller, they can test their skill on slot car tracks, experience a race simulator, enjoy great food and wine and experience the racing action up close.

On Mt Buller, the more adventurous can also try extreme sports like downhill mountain biking, rock-climbing and abseiling, and take in the Friday night concert featuring Bobby Valentine and the Providers.

The action in Mansfield is free with access to the mountain just $15 per head for the weekend (children under 12 admitted free).

There is plenty of accommodation in both Mansfield and on Mt Buller.

The Mansfield Mile Programme for January 26 is as follows: -

1.30pm Classic Cars (Group N & S Series vehicles will run through the course and will go on display afterwards

4.00pm Mansfield Mountain Cyclists Sprint

4.30pm Porsche Mt. Buller Sprint time trials

7.00pm Conclusion of time trials

7.30pm Chequered Flag Function and Trophy Presentation


Road closure times for the Mt.Buller Sprint course are: -

DATE CLOSURE TIMES
Fri 27 Jan 11:00am - 5:00pm
Sat 28 Jan 8:00am - 1.30pm 2:30pm - 8:00pm
Sun 29 Jan 7:00am - 1:00pm

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