"VAN" (Sports Desk - 10.09.2026) :: Spectators heading through the gates at Davison Ford Sunset Strip will soon be greeted by a very different walk to the fence, with the Sunraysia Drag Racing Association (SDRA) installing a brand-new concrete access way from the front ticket booth through to the spectator area.
The project was made possible by a Recreation Assistance Grant from Mildura Rural City Council, secured by SDRA earlier this year with the specific aim of improving accessibility for spectators at the venue. It replaces the well-worn carpet path that had served as the main entry route for years – a surface long overdue for retirement.
SDRA President David Thornton said the new access way was one of the most visible improvements the club has delivered in recent years.
"If you've come through that entrance before, you'll know exactly what we're talking about – the old carpet path wasn't what you'd call up to scratch," Thornton said.
"This is about making the Davison Ford Sunset Strip a better place for everyone who walks through the gate.
“Whether you're pushing a pram, using a walking frame, or just carrying your gear in, you shouldn't have to think twice about getting from the ticket booth to your spot at the fence.
"We're really grateful to Mildura Rural City Council for backing us through the Recreation Assistance Grant.
“To have that support, and then to have local businesses come in and do the job properly, is what makes projects like this happen in a regional community.
"The team at B&S Earthworks have done an exceptional quality job and the finished product looks fantastic, and thanks to FWG Concrete for supplying the concrete and helping get it over the line.
“It is pretty darn good when local organisations and businesses can all come together like this.
"It is one more improvement ticked off the list, and the timing couldn't be better with the Mildura City Council Sunset Nationals just around the corner. Our fans will get to enjoy it from the moment they arrive."
ANDRA CEO Tim McAvaney said the investment reflected the standard regional venues are setting across the championship.
"What SDRA has done here is exactly the kind of work that lifts the sport," McAvaney said.
"Facility upgrades like this one aren't always the flashy part of drag racing, but they make a genuine difference to the experience for families and fans, and accessibility should never be an afterthought at a race meeting.
"Credit to David and the SDRA team, to Mildura Rural City Council and to the local businesses who got behind it. Regional clubs achieve a lot with the resources they have, and the Sunset Strip continues to show what's possible.
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