2004 - AIPP Wrap | 2004 Construction Article

Bendigo Youth Racing overcame a myriad of problems to win the Australian International Pedal Prix on the weekend for the second year in a row, defeating the Melbourne-based commercially manufactured Trisled team by six laps.

From the flag , Weeroona College Bendigo's pedal and electric motored 'eMax' shot away to an early lead, with BYR in hot pursuit.

As Weeroona began to conserve their batteries and BYR pitted, DAS Racing from William Light R-12 took over the lead. DAS's smooth cornering and silent vehicle looked very reliable as they set some slick lap times. The lead changed regularly between DAS Racing, BYR and Trisled through the early stages of the race.

Then - within half an hour - the three leaders broke kingpins:
Bendigo Bank BYR - Trisled - Trend Ice Team Ballistic

Trend Ice were the Category 4 AIPP Super Series leaders - and the team who finished 2nd to BYR in 2003 - lost over 20 minutes and never recovered, eventually losing over 30 laps to BYR. The closely fought dual of the year earlier took a new form, with Ballistic's rough riding becoming the focus rather than overall placings.

BYR rider, Josh Olver, collided with a dual seater which was exiting their pits along the back straight, destroying the right kingpin and right steering handle.

As the temperature dropped overnight, vision and lap times followed. Racing at full noise is challenging enough without baing able to see the track or other vehicles. Trisled maintained good speed by replacing their windscreen with a cloth covering, DAS changing their canopy from enclosed to 'head-out' and BYR cut a 'Ned Kelly' slot in the front screen.

Throughout the race, BYR managed to break 3 different horn set-ups as the vibrations of the course destroyed the wiring.

But as the sun rose, BYR led Trisled by just 3 laps, a lead that see-sawed throughout the morning.

Dean Cowling of BYR put in an exception hour of sub 3 minute laps and Brad McPhail raced nose to tail with Trisled at 3 minute pace as the battle heated up.

If fact, the race was set to go right down to the wire until 11 o'clock, when Trisled suffered mechanical problems and lost 15 minutes. With Josh Hopwood putting down a strong 40 minutes until 11:40; the result was out of doubt as Nigel Preston saddled up to enjoy a far less stressful final stint than 2003.

Bendigo Youth Racing completed 427 Laps (882 kms)
Best Design and Construction;
Best Presented Team & Vehicle
and now holds the fastest lap record for the new 2.066km track at Stuart Reserve in Murray Bridge, South Australia.