Sunraysia Safari 2026: Less than 4 months to go!
FROM THE EVENT DIRECTOR
Hi Everyone,
It sounds like it's still a long way away, but September 9 will be here before we know it!
The 2026 Sunraysia Safari is shaping up very nicely; recent rains in the region have caused some delays in accessing properties to set the competitive stages, but we are well on track to have the course set and approved by the end of June as scheduled. Once again we've put together some all new stages which will offer a variety of terrain and navigational challenges, and test the skills and concentration of our competitors!
We're at the stage now where we're needing to finalise all of the details; our Merchandise range for this year will be available shortly, and if all goes to plan we'll be offering that through our new website for the first time. We'll be putting out a call shortly for extra officials to fill the remaining roles we require, and from our side of things, everything is running to plan!
What we don't have at this point though is enough competitors to make the event viable! There are lots who have nominated but not gone onto to enter yet, and there's even more competitors from previous years that we haven't heard from at all! I know times are a bit tight for many of us at the moment; we're certainly not immune from the high fuel prices (each day out surveying the course costs over $250 in diesel alone!) and cost of living pressures. But if we don't grit our teeth and push through the current challenges then we will likely lose the Sunraysia Safari forever.
We work exceptionally hard, and spend a huge amount of money, to deliver this event for you every year. We believe in it, and we hope that one day the hard work will pay dividends, with a healthy sport, and a positive bank balance! At this stage we don't have enough competitors committed to make the event viable, and while there is still a couple of months to resolve that, we need you to act now. Get your entries in, and show us you support the event, and want it to continue.
Ultimately, we will go where the market wants us to be, which may mean we may have to look at altering the concept of the Sunraysia Safari, if we can't get enough Moto and Auto competitors to make it viable in the current format. We love the sport and believe in its potential in Australia completely, but we can't go broke in the process! We're also looking at other ways to get new competitors in through smaller training events, but again there needs to be a viable market for that to happen.
So it's up to all of you as to which direction we go. Put simply: support the Sunraysia Safari by getting your entries in, and we continue to grow and develop the events as originally planned. If you don't support the event, we'll have to do something else! I know it's simply not possible for some of you to enter this year, but spread the word to your friends, and get them on board to enter the event. Another way to support the event is by becoming a sponsor. In every year of the Sunraysia Safari, sponsors have offset the cost of every single entry fee by over $1000. That allows us to keep the cost to you as low as possible, but still be able to pay the bills! If you'd like to receive the benefits of becoming a sponsor and help support the event, please get in touch ASAP. As I mentioned, we're in the process of confirming the merchandise range, so we need to get your logos into the designs immediately.
We've created the Moto Two-Up (where two riders share the one Bike) and Rally Regularity (which allows road cars and 4x4s, and older rally cars that aren't fully compliant these days) to make it as cheap and hassle-free as possible to get involved. We've had good interest for the Rally Regularity, but very little for the Moto Two-Up. If you've got a bike, grab a mate and enter! Those who say "next year" may be very disappointed if there is no next year because of a lack of interest this year! And if we lose the Safari, there will also be a lot of you with expensive toys in the shed that have no events to compete in, and a small resale value as a result; something to ponder.....
In the meantime, we'll keep plugging away on getting the course locked in, and the rest of the event ready to go. I hope to see you all here in Wentworth in September; don't let me down!
Regards,
TB
