LOXTON’s pedal prix competition is set to have its stakes raised after the council approved a track extension along Bookpurnong Terrace.
The intersection median kerb currently only allows for 120 pedal cars on the course at any one time, leaving less competitors on the field and the pit crew area near capacity.
A possible extension, whereby the course would shift from Rudolph Street to opposite the football oval entrance, was proposed at last month’s Loxton Waikerie council meeting as a way to bring more tourism and money to the town.
“If we want to go beyond 120 (teams), we have to do one of two things,” said Andrew McLachlan, Australian International Pedal Prix’s Chairperson.
“Either find a way to extend the circuit onto Kokoda Terrace or some other area around the roundabout, or an alternative, we need to improve the crossover at the bottom of the track.
“We don’t have to expand, but we do like to see growth, and we want to be able to try and meet the demand if we can.”
The motion was officially approved at Friday’s council meeting, but its development date is yet unknown.
Council will reallocate $13,000 from the 2019-20 Pedal Prix community events operating budget to remove the large Eucalyptus tree on the north eastern side and two eastern side concrete media protuberances.
In addition, the concrete median strip ends will need to be concreted and left vacant in order to excavate, fill and compact the road base before its spray sealed, and appropriate line marking will need to be taken to keep normal vehicle movement alignment.
District Council of Loxton Waikerie CEO David Beaton said the Pedal Prix tournament was a “great family event”, and he hoped development on it would begin this financial year.
“It brings people into the region from the Adelaide metropolitan area, and other regions as well,” he said.
“By extending the length of the course, we can make it available to more teams.
“It’s grown really well over the last few years – we’ve got over 100 (participants) – so if we can make it attractive to more teams, that would be great.”
Mr McLachlan said the track’s redevelopment has been welcomed, particularly given the 2020 Australian International Pedal Prix community event in Loxton had been unfortunately cancelled due to the coronavirus.
“It means we can expand the event potentially, which is what we’ve been trying to do ever since it was started,” he said.
“Every year we’ve tried to grow it and if we can have a potential increase (in teams) that would be terrific.
“It also potentially makes the track safer, so that’s even better.”
Mr McLachlan said he hoped to make next year’s event bigger and better.
“Hopefully, we have a competition next year first up, but on the assumption that we do, as far as Loxton is concerned, we want to make it the biggest event ever,” he said.
“We are very keen on the series continuing in 2021, and we look forward to the resumption of normal activities.”