By BRAD PERRY
REIGNING Riverland Dinghy Derby champion Linton Price will be the race favourite this Sunday as he seeks his fourth title.
However, a rise in competitors for the popular event, beginning on Friday with the Dash for Cash, means that the race for this year’s title will be hotly contested.
Event organiser Jason Gordon said the recent Dinghy Derby 30th year reunion ignited sparks of interest among some of the derby’s past legends.
“A lot of the veterans are thinking about having a dab on the weekend,” he said.
“They saw a lot of the old footage and have thought about dusting off the boat.”
With more than 65 boats, including 15 competitors from Western Australia, and several from Adelaide, Victoria and New South Wales, Gordon said spectators are guaranteed fast paced action.
“The action will be thick and fast through the front of the grid,” he said.
Gordon said Price’s fourth title in the top 30HP class will be threatened by locals Matt Thur and Ben Millar and Western Australian Jay Branson.
“He (Branson) is always a contender,” he said.
Racing is a dangerous sport and with major crashes during the recent Berri Speedboat Spectacular, Gordon said every time you race, there is a risk.
“I think as a competitor, you have got to be on your game and a crash could cost you the event,” he said.
With three second place finishes and one win from four Dinghy Derby attempts, Gordon himself will push the barriers of speed in a bid to win the event.
“We have been sitting in second spot for quite a few years (but this year) we are looking to win it,” he said.
“The crowd will be entertained, there is a lot of competition and I think anyone could win it.”
The racing begins at 6.30pm on Friday night at the Renmark riverfront with the Dash for Cash and the main race starts and finishes at the Renmark Aquatic ski site at 10am on Sunday.
Competitors can race in 10HP standard, 15HP standard, 25HP standard, 10HP standard, 300cc modified, 30HP standard, sport class and special family class.
Also on Saturday night, all dinghies are invited to the Renmark Club between 5.30 and 6pm to take part in breaking the world record achieved last year of lining 205 boats up in
a row.
