Premier Mike Rann to flag off 25th AIPP

The 25^th running of the Australian International Pedal Prix is set to burst into life at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge, from Saturday September 19 to Sunday September 20 – and South Australian Premier Mike Rann will wave the teams away when the race begins at midday tomorrow. 

And this year, we have live results online – the whole world can follow the race, minute by minute – but more of that later in the story.

Right now, we’re here at the track, watching everything come alive … houseboats, tents, pits, teams, bikes – it’s all taking shape. Local and interstate teams are flooding in, setting up camp, then walking the 2km track. Teams crowd around their vehicles, go through scrutineering, then they fit and check their transponders. Kids dressed in their Pedal Prix team colours, many of them with their names on their backs, are having the time of their lives. At this very moment, a Western Australian team is squealing with delight as they watch the Bunyip come to life. Flags blow in the breeze, Team Managers juggle schedules, the music plays on the PA. There’s a real sense of anticipation here, and it continues to grow. 

 

Murray Bridge, belted by rain earlier this week, is turning on its charm: we now sit under blue skies, with the forecast for sunny conditions, cold nights and a terrific conclusion to a dramatic season of racing.

The 2009 UniSA Australian HPV Super Series has been a memorable one. On the first day of registration (in February) – in fact, in the first four hours – we almost filled our quota, receiving 204 registration for the Australian International Pedal Prix. That number has now grown to 229 expected starters for the race – yet another world record.

 

Tomorrow marks the start of the final round of the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series. Each category is fascinating so far, with categories 2, 3 and 4 especially close. This weekend (as with all of the races in the Series), the team that completes the most laps will score maximum points (so, for example, if there are 229 starters, the winning team will score 229 points; second will score 228, third 227 and so on):

 

Keeping this in mind, check out the top ten placings in each category, prior to the start of the 2009 AIPP:

  

 1^st #15 Flying Hubcaps (Aberfoyle Hub School) 248 points

2^nd #59 Fire (Immanuel College) 223 points

3^rd #101 Highgate Hot Rod (Highgate Primary School) 217 points

4^th #104 Hahndorf Hornets Silver (St Michaels Lutheran Primary School) 212 points

5^th #116 Burning Hubcaps (Aberfoyle Hub School) 206 points

6^th #148 Westwind (Westbourne Park Primary School) 198 points

7^th #109 Crafers Comet (Crafers Primary School) 194 points

8^th #61 Cruising Hubcaps (Aberfoyle Hub School) 190 points

9^th Airbourne (Westbourne Park Primary School) 188 points

10^th #169 Blue Thunder (Naracoorte Primary School) 170 points

 1^st #127 Raging Senior Hubcaps (Aberfoyle Hub School) 283 points

2^nd #22 Ichiban (Mount Barker High School) 278 points

3^rd #93 Blur 3 (Loxton High School) 275 points

4^th #145 Ice (Immanuel College) 273 points

5^th #136 Scorpio (Gleeson College) 272 points

6^th #29 Blink (Blink Racing 252 points

6^th #129 Skirmisher (Heathfield High School) 252 points

8^th #91 HSV1 (Hamilton Secondary College) 242 points

9^th #130 Lightning Senior Hubcaps (Aberfoyle Hub School) 241 points

10^th #202 Whiplash (Brighton Secondary School) 237 points

  

 1^st #172 Blizzard (Immanuel College) 299 points

2^nd #112 Hyper (Gleeson College) 295 points

3^rd #230 Matrix (Concordia College) 292 points

4^th #125 Vortex (Heathfield High School) 290 points

5^th #99 Blur 2 (Loxton High School) 289 points

6^th #23 Black Swan Racing (Swan Reach Area School) 281 points

7^th #173 Stoked (Eudunda Area School) 269 points

8^th #135 Blur 1 (All Girls Team) (Loxton High School) 263 points

9^th #118 Senior Das (William Light R-12 School) 262 points

10^th #163 Focus (The Norwood Morialta High School) 260 points

 

 Category 4 (Open Entries) Top 10:

 1^st #32 Son of Tiger (Tri-Sled Fresh Racing) 317 points

2^nd #1 BlueShift (TafeSA) 314 points

3^rd #14 Delicious (Expats Racing – used to run as The Pinnacle) 312 points

4^th #12 Zero 3 (Ozone) (used to run as Barossa Gone Ballistic) 311 points

4^th #S-Chair (Deakin University Student Association – DUSA) 311 points

6^th #27 Team Ballistic (Ballistic) 307 points

7^th #200 Concordia College Old Collegians (Concordia College) 301 points

8^th #40 Back In Black (HUB RACING TEAM) 300 points

8^th #71 Team Bluebird 300 points

10^th #158 Back In Business (HUB RACING TEAM) 283 points

 

With so many variables over 24 hours of racing, nothing is set in stone; every category is literally up for grabs. Just one drop in overall position, one lengthy pit change, one flat tyre, one flying lap, one stroke of good luck – so many things can change the fortunes of a team.

 For the first time ever, the concept of minute-by-minute online results has been developed for the Australian International Pedal Prix. We’re going to see how this flies this weekend.

 

You can check out the link on the front page of our website, or you can try this address: www.hpvresults.com.au . This concept has been developed by Expats Racing and Pinnacle Trikes, and we hope it’s a winner!

 

All going well, the whole world can watch the race as it unfolds, minute-by-minute. Tell your family and online friends!

  

 This is new – it’s not a Top 12 Shootout any more. Tonight, Official Timed Practice starts at 5pm and runs for two hours. The fastest three teams from each category will be announced, PLUS the fastest All Female Team from Categories 1, 2 and 3 – these teams will battle tomorrow morning in the Top 15 Shootout for the front 15 positions on the grid.

 

214 teams won’t be in the frenzied Shootout tomorrow morning from 9:20am to 10am … but 15 teams will – who will they be?

 

 The Formula Tri-Sled championship also gets decided this weekend – we look forward to catching up with Ben and celebrating this terrific concept. See last week’s story for more details!

 For a full list, check the Official Rulebook! But here are some reminders:

 

 We’re looking forward to a crackerjack race – see you on the track!

 

And by the way, check out the Mallee Mad Dogs from Managatang P-12 College underneath the brand new UniSA Inflatable Arch !