Future of the Colac 6-day race

Colac Race Public Meeting

There is a public meeting on Monday 27th November 7.30 pm at the Colac Visitor’s Centre. This is to discuss the future of the race and hopefully get some new Committee Members to step up to the plate. I encourage all Victorians Ultra runners and supporters to attend the meeting.

Thanks

Phil

Feedback from the Webmaster of the Colac Otway web. Please go to the link and leave your thoughts:

Hi Phil
Thankyou for forwarding your letter to the local paper. I have included it along with some supportive comments on this page, http://www.colacotwayweb.com.au/local/rss/. This is an RSS feed so it is distributed to several websites and news services so it may help get your message accross. Like you I think the race needs reviving but it needs new blood with to few doing to much for to long.

I apologise for the time taken to respond to your email but time has been limited lately and at this stage the website is a 1 man voluntary effort and I am currently working hard to get funds to promote the site.

Thanks for contacting me John Powlton - Colac Otway Web

My Personal comment and thoughts

 

One of the things that drew me to six day races in particular was the stories about historic six day races and even the Rochelle 6 day race in the 70’s and 80’s. The Rochelle race in France I believe was in an indoor venue and was sharing with a carnival. Colac doesn’t have the best of tracks and it can be dammed hot, but it is still one of the best venues (Memorial Square) in Australia. Moving it to an athletic track with a manufactured surface won’t necessarily make it a better six day race. To me that would be bad. (cant think of a better word to describe).

Colac also has the history which has to be preserved and used in any sport.If I was given full control of the Colac and a good budget this is what I would do:

1. Get the local retailers to have an open air market on on the first day and last day of the race. and late night shopping every night of the race.
2. Have a cycling criterium going around the outside of the Square during one day
3. Have a Fun Run starting and finishing from the Square one evening.
4. Extend and build the mini carnival that is held every evening
5. Add a 48hr and Relay race to the 6 day. Start the 48hr race so that it finishes at the same time as the 6 day
6. Cash prizes for the most laps run every six hours during the race
7. Getting a TV reality show started. 12 non athletes selected a year prior, shows them training up gradually, eliminated gradually. 3 run in the race and the winner out of them gets a special cash prize.
8. Increased modern IT at the track that will give a proper broadcast of the race on the web with multi web cams.
9. Prizemoney and motivation on a yearly basis to get the good runners at the event every year.

10. Get tattersals and the TAB involved in the race. I think betting could become very big for it!

Implement some of these things year by year and people will be flocking to view the race in person or on line.

I believe that Colac has much potential to offer as a major sporting event for the Colac/Victorian people and it can develop to be a “pot of gold” for ultramarathoners across the world. The Colac community though needs to hear from people outside of their township that they still want the race to continue and to develop. If the Colac community hears that I’m sure that more people will stick up their hands to help at the race.

If the race does fold, it will be a damm shame that the furthest track race in Australia is a 48hr race and a lot of ultra history and tradition in our sport will be lost forever.

If anyone does want to write a letter to the Colac media, please let me know and I will send you the email address.