Thirteen may be unlucky for some, but logic will tell you it's bound to be lucky for one of the dozen and one off-road racers competing in this year's Tasmanian Sand Enduro.
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Now in its 44th year, the two-day event sees drivers reaching speeds of up to 200km/h over five 100km legs at Peron Dunes in St Helens.
With little more than a week remaining until this year’s competition on November 5 and 6, Tasmanian Off Road Car Club committee member Chris Sheapherd said racers were busy making final checks and adjustments to their cars.
“It’s a pretty testing track - it’s not hard on the brain because it’s only 5km long circuit but it’s hard on the cars,” Sheapherd said.
“The thing with sand is the track changes every year so what it was last year is probably totally different to this year because obviously the wind blows the sand around and changes the dunes.
“It’s also good because it makes less impact on the sand dunes - you could go back in two days time and you wouldn't even know we’d been there because all the wheel tracks have blown over.”
Last year’s enduro saw six-time winner Scott Rockliff’s recent stranglehold on the title ended by Latrobe’s Michael Donohoe, who finished the event with a 17.5 second gap on Chris Boon.
Sheapherd said while competitors gave it their all during the race, the state’s off-road racing scene was first and foremost a social environment.
“There's three clubs in the state and we all work together to organise events together and keep everything running smoothly.
“There’s probably two or three main accommodation places around St Helens and they’re pretty well booked out with off-roaders, there's probably six or eight competitors all in the one space so it’s all pretty sociable.”
Vehicles competing in the event will be subject to a scrutineering session at St Helens Foreshore on the Friday before the race, allowing spectators to get a closer look at the cars taking part.
Entry to the Sand Enduro is free for spectators, with food and drink options on site.
For more information visit the TORCC website.