Walawe Supercross Nov. 19 and 20 at Army track, Sevanagala

by S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy Sports Corr.

SUPERCROSS: 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 Lanka Army for Motor Cars and Motor Cycles gets under way at the Udawalawe Army Supercross track, Sevanagala, Udawalawe on November 19 and 20.

The Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club (SLMCC), has a proud history in motor racing having conducted the Nuwara Eliya Road races during the festive 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 rearing success with a large turn out of motor racing fans.

According to an official of the Sri Lanka 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 Udawalawe National Park. The organisers have also made provision for the competitors to get acquainted with the conditions of the track and competitors 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 parts 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 attention for tourists and is an excellent holiday resort and with the inclusion of motor sports, it should be a crowd puller for this event.

The spokesperson added that the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club together with the Army Motor Sports Committee, the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Regiment of Sri Lanka Army are making every effort to make this event a grand one and give the spectators their money's worth. It will be not only the motor cars and motor cycles 'turning' the tracks with the rear of their engines but also there will be a model Air Craft Display to thrills the events.

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 at 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 'SN' Super Island, 5. Group SL - M 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 Tracks 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.