2026 Tour of the 1983 George Derrick Memorial Trial (POSTPONED)

POSTPONED

From the organisers:

Given the fuel crisis, we have become increasingly uneasy regarding conducting the Tour of the 1983 Derrick. We cannot be certain, that we could guarantee fuel supply to the entrants and organising team. 
 
Further, there is the moral matter of 20 cars each taking 1,000 kms of fuel, out of rural communities, for our own amusement.
 
Whilst government believes that Australia will have supply throughout April, a potential reduction in supply leading right up to our date doesn't bear thinking about. 
 
Therefore we have taken the decision to postpone the event. A new date, either later in 2026 or next year will be sort.

Watch this space for further announcements.

Geoff and Tom

_._,_._,_

This is a social tour of most of the route of the '83 Derrick. The route will closely follow the 1983 original course as follows:

Friday 1 May – 411km
Following the 8:30 am Beaufort start it’s a run through plantations and hardwood forests through the Mt Cole area to Elmhurst. Then follows some interesting goldfields roads and hard-packed sand tracks along the eastern side of the Grampians. Lunch will be at the very well stocked Bakery on the Western Hwy in Stawell before continuing around the top of the Grampians into Laharum then down the magnificent roads through the Black Range and besides Rocklands Reservoir. Overnighting, dinner and socialising will be in Hamilton at the Botanical Hotel (with a number of other accommodation options close by).

Saturday 2 May – 322km
The 1983 Div 2, following a brief kip at the Hamilton Showgrounds, was an afternoon blast on hardwood bush blocks, pine plantations and farm roads. Sadly, the emergence of bluegum plantations over the past 30 years have made a number of the 1983 roads inaccessible. Our 2026 route west takes us along enjoyable bush, pine plantation and shire roads to the border. In order to achieve a better balance between days 2 and 3 we have added two Div 3 “competitive sections” to day 2. So after a brief visit to Penola, we continue northward with a run on the Border Track and then back into Victoria before overnighting in Naracoorte with HQ and dinner at the Bushmans Arms Hotel (with a number of other accommodation options close by).

Sunday 3 May – 263km
A slightly shorter day that starts with a drive north on the sandy Mt Moffat track parallel to the border before striking east along the equally sandy East-West Track in the Little Desert. Another sandy bush block follows. The first two sections of day 3 will involve a 2WD bypass. A series of challenging shire roads (not quite as challenging as were experienced on the survey it must be said) follow. Further bushland and a run beside the Mackenzie River will be much appreciated. The event finish is back at Mt Zero by early afternoon. Then it is a short drive to the Western Hwy with the choice of either the 3 hour drive back to Melbourne or a 30 minute drive to Stawell, for more reliving of past glories over drinks and a meal.

As with the now well-established model, the emphasis is about taking our time to enjoy the places we have previously rushed past at night, with a strong emphasis on social interaction.