COROWA SHIRE BRINGS MOTOR SPORTS TO THE MURRAY REGION
Corowa Shire today announced it has secured a major new automotive event to be held annually during the last weekend in February, kicking off for the first time in 2009.
The organisers of the highly successful Shepparton Springnats Autofest and the Murray Bridge Autofest events will establish the new Corowa Autofest event which will attract estimated crowds of between 15,000 V 20,000 spectators.
Corowas Bangerang Park and the Corowa Airport were chosen by organisers as the most suitable venues after consideration of sites across southern NSW and Victoria.
The alcohol free Springnats Autofest has been running in Shepparton for 16 years, while the Murray Bridge Autofest is in its third successful year. The Corowa event will add an exciting new element to the series of events, which will include Drag Racing, and is sure to bring enthusiasts from across the country.
The event was secured after extensive joint efforts by the MurrayNow economic development program and Corowa Shire Council. MurrayNow, a program of the Murray Regional Development Board, led the charge to secure the event for the region before handing over to Corowa Shire to really sell the Shire as an ideal location.
Events NSW have announced a three year commitment to the event after making a rigorous assessment of the economic, marketing and community benefits that the event will deliver. This support will assist Corowa Shire Council to deliver on its commitments to the organisers.
Corowa Shire Mayor Cr. Gary Poidevin is excited at the prospects of Autofest and believes it will become the biggest event on the Shires already action packed Calendar.
We are grateful for the support of Events NSW which has made it possible, they really made us analyse every aspect of the event and applied very strict criteria.
The Corowa RSL, Corowa Chamber of Commerce and Corowa Golf Club helped us to secure the grant funding by also making financial contributions, said Councillor Poidevin.
Corowa has the ability to stage large-scale events and we expect to build a long lasting relationship with the organisers.
This is great news for businesses in the region and we really want to see the community support and maximise the benefits of the event, he said.
Studies have established that both Murray Bridge and Sheppartons events provide a multi million dollar economic injection into the community and a conservative estimate of the of the Corowa Autofest is in excess of $3 million.
The Springnats and Autofest events are all about admiring the best cars in the country with family and friends in an alcohol free environment. Spectators to the event will witness some of the most powerful cars compete side by side in events such as:
X Go-To-Whoa V fast paced action where timed vehicles compete over 140 metres and must stop on a designated point;
X Motokana V fast paced obstacle course action, set against the clock;
X Show N Shine V competitors show their restoration expertise and the beauty of their cars;
X Dyno Challenge V see cars go through their gears in a stationary position on the dyno machine; and
X Cruise Track V open for competitors to cruise slowly around the site to show off their vehicles.
Organiser Les Adams said that he is pleased with what the Corowa location has to offer and that the Council had been great to work with.
We hope our relationship with Corowa Shire Council and Events NSW will be a long-term partnership, he said.
We have a long successful history with our event in other locations and the fact that there is strictly no alcohol is a major factor in that. Everywhere there is an Autofest they are happy to have us and were very pleased to be coming to Corowa.
Autofest is a car festival especially for modified cars, but restored and original cars are also welcome and catered for.
Mr Adams said a highlight of the event would be the fiercely competitive Burnout Title.
We usually get anywhere between 50 to 100 entrants for that event alone, he said.
The Corowa Autofest will be promoted nationwide in Australasian car magazines, as well as extensive television and radio campaigns.
End.
For assistance with further information, please contact:
X Mr Les Adams V Autofest Promotions Manager
P (03) 5823 5801 M 0417 511 577 E
[email protected] www.springcarnationals.com
X Mr Paul da Silva V Business Development Manager, Murray Now
P (02) 6021 1072 M 0407 282 339 E
[email protected] www.murraynow.com.au
X Ms Kate Pembroke - Head of Corporate Affairs, Events NSW
M 0408486404 E
[email protected] X Ms Kristy Kay V Economic Development Manager, Corowa Shire Council
P (02) 6033 8954 M 0429 338 954 E
[email protected] www.corowa.nsw.gov.au
X A selection of images and footage is available from
www.springcarnationals.com 
