Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Clayton Chapman King of the river cars 2025. Photo credit: Tony Hodskiss
The usually dry Don River is about to roar back to life, as hundreds of dirt bikes, buggies and trophy trucks prepare to tear through its riverbed for one of Bowen’s biggest weekends of the year.
Returning from 4th–6th September, the Don River Dash will bring thousands of competitors and spectators to Bowen for its eighth year, with 300 kilometres of high-speed off-road racing set to take over the river.
‘There's nothing else like ripping wide open through a dry riverbed with the crowd just metres away,’ said Burdekin Offroaders Inc. President Michael Marson.
‘Every year we see the standard of competition get higher, from local legends to national champions, and the support from the Bowen community is incredible. It's that combination of world-class racing and genuine country hospitality that keeps people coming back year after year.’
Motor vehicles of all kinds will come in droves, from dirt bikes and buggies to off-road trucks, as competitors take on a course known for being challenging without becoming intimidating, while the Don River Dash’s country hospitality keeps racers and their families coming back year after year.
“As it is held after our traditional grey nomad season and before the September school holidays, it attracts visitors during what was previously a much quieter period for local tourism operators,” said Bowen Tourism and Business Manager Leanne Abernethy.
“Many competitors also bring their families, turning the event into a holiday.
“They take the opportunity to discover Bowen and the greater Whitsunday region, with many extending their stay for several days after the racing has finished.”
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