BUSINESS booms in Mildura’s City Heart as the annual influx of tourists and power sports enthusiasts fills the streets.
Not even religious teachings about the consumption of meat on Good Friday appeared to slow down the roaring trade.
It was only 11.30am this morning when kebab shop attendant Nur Tutus said about 30 kebabs had already been dished out to hungry customers.
“More than that,” piped up the manager behind her, busy putting together a snack pack; “at least 40”, he said.
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Out on the street, among boat, bike and car owners and the thousands merely admiring the gleaming machines, were Claudia Tatchell, 18, and her brother Rylie, 15, gearing up for today’s drag racing with more than a hint of excitement.
“It’s probably one of my favourite meetings of them all,” Claudia said, beside her team’s 1975 LH Torana.
Preparation consumed most of the pair’s time in recent days but they didn’t mind, having looked forward to Easter all year.
“We spaced it out over the week but if you put it all together, it’s probably a day and a half,” Claudia said.
Melbourne drag racer Tim Stewart is one of the hot tips to take out today’s Supercharged Shoot Out and he was just as much a favourite at today’s Show and Shine. By mid-morning he had already helped about 30 children take a seat in the prized Mustang with which he took out the Supercharged title last Easter.
Later today, he’ll be hoping to drive to glory again.
“It’s a bit of a happy place for us, Mildura,” Mr Stewart said.
“We’ve won three or four meetings here.
“We won Easter with the dragster and last year we won with the ‘stang.”
The reigning champ said word of mouth about the event was growing in Melbourne, with a strong field of 22 expected to compete in the Shoot Out today.
While chilly weather never kept the masses away from the Show and Shines of Easters past, Sunraysia Drag Racing Association president Kingsley Kuchel said a larger crowd than usual was enjoying today’s balmy start.
It was 20C by 11am, the moment the drag cars’ engines simultaneously fired up – warm enough for an Adelaide Crows supporter to make his way through Langtree Mall proudly wearing his team’s sleeveless guernsey, followed not too far behind by a brave youngster in a Richmond jumper, undeterred by his side’s loss the night before.
“Weather 100 per cent helps get people here; we’ve been really lucky with the weather this year for Easter,” Mr Kuchel said.
For more coverage of Mildura’s events-packed Easter long weekend, pick up your copy of Saturday’s Sunraysia Daily, 31/3/2018. To subscribe to our Digital Edition, click here.
