Supercross at Udawalawe on Nov. 19 & 20

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports corr

The wilds of Udawalawe will most probably have the first taste of Supercross when the inaugural “Walawe Supercross” organised by the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club in association with the Army Motor Sports Committee, Sri Lanka Electrical & Mechanical Engineers of Sri Lnaka Army for Motor Cars and Motor Cycles gets under way at the Uda Walawe Army Supercross track, Sevanagala, Udawalawe on November 19 and 20.

The Sri Lanka Motor Cycles (SLMCC) has a proud history in motor racing having conducted the Nuwara Eliya Road Races during the festivity season for nearly 60 years and in addition it has also conducted motor races at Katukurunda, Ratmalana, Mirigama, Kurunegala, Galle, Colombo and also in Kandy which was the first ever Night Street Racing in the streets of Kandy earlier this year.

This Night Street Racing was a roaring success with a large turn out of motor racing fans.

High standard

According to an official of the Sri Lnaka Motor Cycle Club, this new supercross track is of extremely high standard with emphasis being laid on providing entertainment for the spectators and at the same time paying due attention to the safety of the motor racing drivers and riders and the motor racing fans.

This track is located at the 17 kilometre post on the Udawalawe - Tanamalwila road and outside the Army Camp.

The track is about 1.5 kilometre in length and is in close proximity to the Uda Walawe National Park. The organisers have also made provision for the competitors to get acquainted with the conditions of the track and they could have practices before the races to test their machines without any restrictions for a nominal fee and with the permission of the organisers.

The Udawalawe National Park is a major eco-tourism village and one of the best parks to view wild elephants in their natural habitat and they are often seen in herds with their young ones.

In fact it is a major attraction for tourists and is an excellent holiday resort and with the inclusion of motor sports, it should be a crowd puller for this event.

Grand success

The spokesman added that the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club together with the Army Motor Sports Committee, the Sri Lanka Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Regiment of Sri Lanka Army are making every effort to make this event a grand success and give the spectators their money’s worth.

It will be not only the motor cars and motor cycles burning the tracks with the rear of their engines but also there will be a model Air Craft Display to thrills the crowds.

There will be also a live coverage of this event and prize money will be also thrown in as a good measure to encourage the competitors in addition to the usual trophies.

Entries will close on November 7th, 2011 with the Office of the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club at 92/8 Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, Colombo 10.

The following Group of events are lined up for this meet:

1. Group ‘J’ Junior (kids) Motorcross bikes.
2. Group ‘M’ Standard/Modified Motor Cycles - Motorcross.
3. Group ‘MX’ Racing Motor Cycles - Motorcross.
4. Group ‘SL’ Super Uptard.
5. Group SL-N Cars.
6. Group SL-A Cars.
7. Group SL-H Cars.
8. Group SL-S Cars.
9. Group SL-GT Cars
10. Group T & J - Trucks and Jeeps.

Some of the racing events which will receive top billing are the events for Racing motor cycles 125 cc and the Super cars event which will be upto 3500 cc but cars with 2000 cc engine capacity are ideally suited for these events where safety and control of the machines are concerned.