Fox Hill Super Cross 2009 promises good motor racing

Richard Dwight

The Calm serenity of the hills and valleys of Diyatalawa, will come alive as it awakes to the reviving of racing cars and motorcycles, when the country’s prestigious motor racing event conducted by the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (Slardar) gets under-way on April 17 and 18 at the impressive SLMA race track in Diyatalawa.

The uniqueness of Fox Hill Super Cross and the best track in question, is that it affords a panoramic view - so that spectators from any particular point are able to be involved, witnessing the entire race with its sudden ups and precipitous downs, the zigzaggy track with elbow bends, lapping up the excitement and thrills, as man and machines display their competitive skills on the track.

These observations was gathered at a media conference held yesterday at the Hotel Samudra. This 17th annual Fox Hill Super Cross has Hutchinson Telecommunications Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., as its principal sponsor, the CEO of Hutch, Archie Man, was there to handover the sponsorship, whilst sponsorship cheques were also presented by representatives of Bank of Ceylon, Browns, Cargills, Hemas, Mobil and Singer.

The commandant of the SLMA and the chairman of the organising committee, Brigadier Kumudu Perera, said that through the exercise of holding the Fox Hill Super Cross for the past 16 years, they have been able to generate the kind of funds that are necessary to improve the infrastructure, renovate and refurbish the Military Academy so as to provide better facilities to the cadets to equip themselves with technical skills and pursue academic studies and if need be obtain a degree as well.

Perera also made the comment that the Army is very much in the news and the trainees and cadets from this academy could give junior leadership to the warfront. According to the Chairman SLADAR, Nalin D. Perera there will be 13 motor car events and 17 motorcycle events. The championship events will be,

Motorcycles - Group MX racing Motorcross, Bikes upto 125 CC 2 stroke and upto 250 CC 4 stroke.

Group MX Racing Motocross Bikes upto 85 CC (under 16 years).

Motor Cars Group SL-GT cars upto 3500 CC, Groups SL-GT Cars upto 1600 CC, Entries were opened from March 16 and will close on April 3.

The CEO of Hutch, Archie Man and Chairman Army Motor Sports Board Col. D.R. Mayadunne also addressed the media.