Well I’ve just looked at the website www.bigrivernationals.com and found there are only 22 weeks 4 days ?hrs ?mins ?secs till the Big River Nationals gets underway. That sounds scary but the organising committee have it under control. We’re really pleased to advise in addition to Shannons we have two more Platinum sponsors, Win Television and Select Events for Innovative Hire Solutions. Our current Gold sponsors are Magic 93.1 FM, Berri Barmera Council, and Classic Hits 801 5RM while the Silver sponsors are Australian Street Rodding Magazine, Tri State Graphics and Cruzin Magazine and a number of Bronze and Iron sponsors. We appreciate the support from these sponsors and trust all out there will support them.

Preparations and planning for the Riverland Exhibition Centre are well underway with many traders, variety stalls and food and drink vendors sites already allocated, so if anyone out there wishes to “Share the success” I suggest they contact us urgently. There is ample room at this facility so many are taking the opportunity of onsite camping, which as in 2006 will be fenced and secure from the daily activities. This time we have Club or State tents available and these will be located in a position where the cruise track and show’n shine will be fully visible.

Three major additions to the program for 2012 are the inclusion of the first ever Australian Willys Nationals to be hosted by the Willys Downunder Club, the Saturday night entertainment in the pavilion by the Adelaide Rock’n Roll Club presenting “Jim Hermal & the Hot Chicks” (a door charge applies) and a Super Swap Meet to be part of the Big River Nationals program but organised by the Riverland Motorsport Club. On the Saturday night there will also be a Rock’n Roll/Rockabilly dinner/dance with a live band at the Barmera Hotel for those looking to get down and boogie. At this stage our draft program is as follows

Thursday 12^th

Early Registration/On site camping available

Friday 13^th

Registration/Early Arrivals Lunch Cruise/Bench session & sausage sizzle

Saturday 14^th

Pancake Breakfast/Late Registration/Scenic Bus Tours

Show’n Shine open to public/Pin striper on site for custom striping during

Nationals/Trade Stands, Variety Stalls, Amusements, Kids Corner, Food & Drink/Saturday night entertainment by Adelaide Rock’n Roll Club presenting “Jim Hermal & the Hot Chicks”

Sunday 15^th

Super Swap Meet by Riverland Motorsport Club/Show’n Shine open to public/Pin striper on site for custom striping during Nationals/Trade Stands, Variety Stalls, Amusements, Kids Corner, Food & Drink/Hot Rod Olympics/Dinner Dance with “Silverados”/Trophy presentations

Monday 24^th

Breakfast/Farewells/Depart for home

It’s understood there are convoy cruises coming from Melbourne and Sydney during the week before (we’re trying to organise these from the other major origins also), so keep an eye on our website for this information and a major overhaul in the near future, also the magazines for updates.

Should you have any queries regarding entries, on site camping, club tents or trade stands please call Dave Wehrman on 08 8289 1128 or for all other information call Graham Matthews on 08 8588 7169.

2012  BIG RIVER NATIONALS “MEDIA RELEASE” – Oct 2010

For further information contact:   
Graham Matthews      Phone: 08 8588 7169
Email: bimbimbi@hotkey.net.au

It was refreshing to at last hear some positive news for the Riverland last week with the announcement that the development application to build a motorsport and driver training facility has been approved by the Riverland regional development assessment panel.

Although the construction, building and eventual use of this facility may be some 12 months away I can now reveal further good news for the region with the recent approval of the Australian Street Rod Federation to hold another Big River Regional Street Rod Nationals in 2012. The inaugural Big River Nationals was held in April 2006, hosted by the locally based Riverside Rodders Club and organized and promoted by an enthusiastic committee of South Australian Hot Rodders. The event was an outstanding success returning a huge positive financial return to the Riverland economy and saw it nominated for a Riverland and two South Australian Tourism Awards as well as an SA Great Award.

A comprehensive marketing and advertising campaign through the major enthusiast magazines and local media prior to the Big River Nationals in 2006 contributed to the success. Over 400 entries came from all states of Australia, 31 trade and sponsors stands and 14 variety stalls participated, 15 catering vendors provided food and drink and over 6,000 spectators attended. A number of local sporting groups, schools and charitable organizations also benefitted financially through their involvement with catering.

The organising committee began the planning process for the 2012 event some months ago and has just completed negotiations with the Field Days committee regarding the use of the Riverland Exhibition Centre as it was in 2006. Our experience from the previous event exposed a couple of issues to be addressed before the next and the Berri Barmera Council has been very cooperative during discussions to solve these. It’s expected that all three local Riverland councils will contribute equally toward the promotion and funding of the 2012 event to “Share the success” with the whole region.

Whilst the new facility is not crucial to a successful Big River Nationals as shown in 2006, we also know that entries were down by approximately a third that year simply because the drag strip didn’t happen. We are therefore planning positively (that the drag strip will be up and running) and see no reason why the number of entries shouldn’t double to 800 plus. These of course will not include those who attend specifically for a drag meeting, the end result being our region may be left a little short for available accommodation.

Again the types of vehicles eligible for entry will be  Australian Street Rod Federation class vehicles (Hot Rods, Customs and Classics), as well as Australian and American Classic and Performance cars and Street Machines up to 1972 and Special Interest vehicles at the discretion of the committee. This was a very successful formula in 2006 and considering the regional aspect of the event it was recommended we maintain the same mix of vehicles.

The majority of the initial committee is back on board and looking forward to working with the Riverland Motorsport Club and the people of the Riverland during the planning process. Most of the program will be as in 2006, however improvements at the venue over the past few years and those planned between now and 2012 will enhance many aspects of our event. These will make it even bigger and more successful.