Round 3 run and won

 

Well, what a blast. The 2008 Season is over, and it went out with a bang – many are calling it the best ever. The 2008 Australian International Pedal Prix in the Rural City of Murray Bridge had all the ingredients of a great race: record numbers from across Australia, excellent racing conditions, last minute dramas, countless stories of camaraderie - and national honours on the line.

The pace was set early, with an unfathomable run from Tru Blu, a Category 4 entry from Mt Martha (Victoria) that scorched the Top 12 Shootout with a record lap time in the 2:16’s – this lap, with an average speed of just over 55kmh, has never been seen in the history of the AIPP. Needless to say it scored them pole position for the big race.

 

Of course, the Australian International Pedal Prix is not only a 24 hour race in itself - it also is the final of three rounds in the Australian HPV Super Series. So, with an endurance race and a whole series on the line, with all the ingredients set to boil, there was great anticipation in every category.

 

On race day, the vehicles set to go, Australian musical icon Diane Dixon stood on the grid and sang to the huge crowd, while students from St Michael’s Lutheran Primary School waved fifty Aussie flags with great enthusiasm.

 

Then, after the rolling lap, on the stroke of midday, Australia’s world-famous flag-waver Glen Dix began the race in his own trademark style: flamboyant, unique and full of joy.

 

The racing was clean, fast, exciting and relentless. Every category provided tussles and lead changes, bringing both the 24 hour race and the 2008 Series Championship right down to the final gasp. But, even away from the placings, more than 220 teams had the times of their lives, challenging themselves beyond their limits.

 

In all, all teams together pedaled over 60,000 laps, or more than 130,000km, which is more than three times the distance around the equator – and all without a drop of fuel! – good news in today’s world!

 

The 2008 Australian International Pedal Prix will be remembered as a weekend of intense pride by everyone who participated. One student when interviewed said it was “a life-changing experience.” He said that he would never forget the roar of the crowd as he rode the final few laps. He said he would always remember and treasure the friendships he made as he and his team planned and trained throughout the year. He said that the whole series had been great for his confidence, and that he had learned that he could do much more than he first thought he was ever capable of achieving.

 

Another student, exhausted, lost his chain on the final lap. Who will ever forget the sight of him staggering and running, pushing his machine those last three hundred metres, the crowd cheering him home? As our announcer ran alongside him, the youngster, breathless, said how incredible it was, to have everyone on his side and helping him to the line – the crowd sounded like a mob from the Grand Final!

 

Without doubt, it was a terrific event – some say the best ever – would you agree? Certainly, every team conducted themselves in the true spirit of friendship, cooperation and competition. The Board of Australian International Pedal Prix proudly thanks everyone who raced, helped and supported. The sacrifices and the challenges you continually faced (and overcame!) are really what drives the event and the Series, and for that we genuinely thank you all. Well done. We hope you had as much fun at the Pedal Prix and in Season 2008 as we had in bringing it to you.

 

Before we look at the results, we would like to make special mention of our sponsors, who help us make the event possible. Thank you, as always, to The Rural City of Murray Bridge, with whom we now enjoy a ten year agreement. The Rural City of Murray Bridge is, as they say, “The Bridge to Opportunity,” and we look forward to being back alongside the Bunyip in 2009.

 

Also, for their continued support for the Australian International Pedal Prix and the earlier rounds of the Australian Human Powered Super Series, our thanks go to Be Active, tafeSA, SA Great, BSS Light Audio Visual, National Hire, Webcraft, Battery World Mt Barker and Murray Mitsubishi. And for their continued support of Rounds 1 and 2 at Victoria Park, many thanks as always to Adelaide City Council.

 

Also, we’d like to thank Channels 7 and 10, The Advertiser and The Murray Valley Standard for their coverage of the AIPP. Thanks also go to Adelaide’s 5AA, who gave the AIPP terrific exposure with host Sean Perry.

 

 

It’s impossible to tell all of the stories of the 2008 Australian International Pedal Prix here on the website. Our 2008 photographs will do some of the talking, as will the results. But most of the stories will be the ones you take home with you, brilliant memories you’ll remember for a lifetime.

 

Again, thank you for being part of the 2008 Pedal Prix season. We look forward to seeing you again in 2009. We’ll keep things fresh on the website, so make sure to keep an eye on it.

 

Here are the results:

 

 

 

 

Fire (Immanuel College, SA) 3:11.5

 

 

Cruising Hubcaps (Aberfoyle Hub School, SA) 272 laps (477.3km) (18^th overall in AIPP Category 1)

 

 

1^st        Flying Hubcaps (Aberfoyle Hub School, SA) 339 laps (728.85km)

2^nd       Fire (Immanuel College, SA) 333 laps (715.95km)

3^rd        Hahndorf Hornets Red (St Michael’s Lutheran School, SA) 324 laps (696.6km)

 

 

 

1^st        Flying Hubcaps (Aberfoyle Hub School, SA) 438 points – an amazing 24^th overall, including all teams from every category!

2^nd       Fire (Immanuel College, SA) 415 points – 32^nd overall

3^rd        Hahndorf Hornets Red (St Michael’s Lutheran School, SA) 386 points – 39^th overall

 

 

 

 

Helterskelter (Woodleigh School, Vic) 2:57.5

 

 

WR1 (Walford Anglican School for Girls, SA) 320 laps (688km) (15^th overall in AIPP Category 2)

 

 

 

 

1^st        Brum (Flora Hill Secondary College, Vic) 397 laps (853.55km)

2^nd       Helterskelter (Woodleigh School, Vic) 378 laps (812.7km)

3^rd        Ice (Immanuel College, SA) 367 laps (789.05km)

 

 

 

1^st        Ice (Immanuel College, SA) 484 points – 13^th overall

2^nd       Granite Growler (Wudinna Area School, SA) 461 points – 18^th overall

3^rd        Raging Hubcaps (Aberfoyle Hub Primary School, SA) 460 points – 19^th overall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Bearded Mate (Flora Hill Secondary College, Vic) 2:46.9

 

 

 

Pink Panther (Modbury High School, SA) 314 laps (675.1km) (23^rd overall in AIPP Category 3)

 

 

 

 

1^st        Old Bearded Mate (Flora Hill Secondary College, Vic) 427 laps (918.05km)

2^nd       Hyper (Gleeson College, SA) 422 laps (907.3km)

3^rd        The Calais (Westminster School, SA) 418 laps (898.7km)

 

 

 

1^st        The Calais (Westminster School, SA) 511 points – 7^th overall

2^nd       Hyper (Gleeson College, SA) 509 points – 8^th overall

3^rd        Back in Business (Hub Racing Team, SA) 485 points – 12^th overall

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY-08 (Bendigo Youth Racing, Vic) 2:29.2

 

 

 

 

1^st        Tru Blu (Tru Blu Racing, Vic) 475 laps (1,021.25km)

2^nd       Blueshift (tafeSA, SA) 474 laps (1,019.1km)

3^rd        BY-08 (Bendigo Youth Racing, Vic) 460 laps (989km)

 

 

 

1^st        Blueshift (tafeSA, SA) 533 points (1^st in category and overall)

2^nd       Ballistic (Cycling SA, SA) 527 points (2^nd in category and overall)

3^rd        GT-6 (Deakin University Student Association, Vic) 523 points (3^rd in category and overall)

 

 

 

Won by: Living Waters Lutheran College. 

 

The logistics of this team are enormous. Travelling from Perth, across the Nullarbor, with more than sixty people and all their gear in tow, Living Waters has made the pilgrimage for nine years. 

 

This year, when the shell of one of their bikes melted in the heat of the Nullarbor, they became the subject of one of the greatest Pedal Prix rescue missions of all time. Embracing what the event is all about, other teams volunteered and helped rebuild the Living Waters machine, working deep into the night. Living Waters was truly moved by the generosity they encountered. But it was no surprise to anyone else - Living Waters is one of the friendliest (and, OK, also one of the most excited and happiest) groups of Pedal Prix people you could ever hope to meet. Andrew McLachlan, AIPP Inc Chairman, said: “Living Waters is a very deserving recipient of this award. They embody the community spirit and the joy of the event, and we are proud to have such a committed team of people who really believe in the Pedal Prix and all it stands for. On behalf of everyone involved, I’d like to congratulate Living Waters, and hope that they are part of the Pedal Prix landscape for many years to come.”