Thrills and spills abound as pedal prix returns to the Bend
Round four of the 2024 Australian HPV Super Series has brought thousands of riders and supporters to Tailem Bend.
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The Australian HPV Super Series has made a triumphant return to the Bend Motorsport Park for an intense eight-hour race event.
More than 164 vehicles took to the start line at the renowned motor racing venue on Saturday for round four of the series.
The circuit went green at 10am, with a chequered flag signalling the conclusion of racing at 4pm.
Murray Bridge High School student Makaylah Cooper, competing in car 119, said she and her teammates had had some close calls during their 20-minute stints in the car.
“We had one near miss, up on two wheels,” she said.
“There was dew on the track from (Friday) night, making it very slippery.
“We had a few people out sick, but I just love the number of friends I’ve made and the team spirit.”
Human-powered vehicle (HPV) racing is an exciting form of competition that uses vehicles powered solely by the rider – some of them reaching speeds of 70 kilometres per hour.
Alice Hillam, a junior primary and special options teacher at Murray Bridge North School, said the event had a big impact on participants.
“It’s a lot of fun for everyone, and the students get a strong feeling of belonging from the event,” she said.
“Some don’t fit the mould of other sports, but they love being involved in the HPV Super Series.
“There are the odd mishaps, but we train the drivers at school by safely strapping them into a car and manually flipping it, allowing the driver to understand what it feels like to be safely upside down.”
This round took place on a shortened layout, requiring riders to divert off the main straight and navigate a tight and technical section in the infield before merging back onto the original layout for the rest of the lap.
This change added variety to the season’s calendar and further tested each rider’s abilities.
The next event in the series will take place later this month in Busselton, Western Australia, followed by the grand final in Murray Bridge on the weekend of September 20-22.
The Australian HPV Super Series has a rich history, with its origins dating back to 1985.
The inaugural pedal prix was held in the car park of what was then the Underdale campus of the University of South Australia on Holbrooks Road.
Stories of the past add to the excitement and tradition of the series as it continues to grow and inspire new generations of riders.
At the pedal prix are Scarlet Thompson, getting strapped in; Unity College's Arnie Schultz and Renaye Bell; Alison Franke; North School's Avia Thiele and Benjamin Bradley; Harper and Indiana Harvey; and a rider enduring a mishap. Photos: Glenn Power.
Results
- S1 (junior school):
The Beast (Murray Bridge North School): 8th in category/148th overallTweety (Unity College): 20th/179th
Sun of the Beast (Murray Bridge North School): 27th/189th - S2 (middle school):
Aftershock (Murray Bridge HS): 22nd in category/122nd overall
Road Runner (Unity College): 32nd/136thYellow (Mannum CC): 49th/192nd - S3 (senior school):
Aftermath (Murray Bridge HS): 15th in category/63rd overall
Bunyip (Unity College): 28th/88th
Minnie Mouse (Unity College): 29th/92nd
Green (Mannum CC): 36th/106th
Everafter (Murray Bridge HS): 44th/140th
Sylvester (Unity College): 46th/151st
McGnificent (Coomandook AS): 52nd/184th - More results: ahpvss.com/event-results.
