IMPORTANT HELLFIRE CUP & TASMANIAN BUSHFIRE NOTICE

Tasmanian Bushfire Emergency Info

As you probably already know southeast Tasmania has been affected by a catastrophic fire event. The area has been declared a Disaster Zone. Many people including our friends and families have lost their homes, livelihoods and businesses. There are still people unaccounted for.

We have have been speaking extensively with community members, emergency services and have been out on site on Monday to inspect the trails. Areas of Kellevie where the race is situated is currently still on fire, and the conditions over the next few days may be likely to worsen. We have been absolutely overwhelmed with offers of support locally, interstate and from our international competitors. We are very grateful and thankful for your offers of support.

On a personal note …

We feel very lucky to be safe and sound still have a home to go. We thank the emergency services for this. We have also been touched by the kindness of others from all over the world, from people who have lost their business yet still have been trying to find ways to support us and our endeavours to bring people to the awesome riding in Tasmania. There was people whose homes were under threat who were making sure we were fed when we were evacuated, right through to the support offered by other event coordinators Ben Maynard and Ben Mather. We have also seen great community spirit and bravery here that has left a lasting impact on us.

We have seen a community that supports our events, and us as people, badly affected by this natural disaster and it brings us deep sadness. Our event company will be involved in fundraising and support. This will help us deal with the sadness we feel for what has happened here.

We acknowledge that the decisions we make have a significant impact on those who have made plans to travel, committed funds and booked leave, and it is with great difficulty we have made them as we were looking forward to many new MTB faces coming to Tasmania. This process has been very hard for us and if the community was not so traumatised, the fire risk gone, and the emergency services available, we would be welcoming you through the gate in 3 week’s time.

Mountain biking will be a part of our communities’ recovery and we look forward to seeing those who can change their plans and understand that there will be people who can’t. Our community is full of awesome people who have supported our 6 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours and Club events at Kellevie. And they look forward to mountain bikers coming here as part of a broader mountain biking program that will contribute to the area’s future.

Our area will recover and the (named, quite unfortunately at this time) Hellfire Cup is still in business. As will be the local towns and their services for tourists. There were many businesses lost but many remain and will need our patronage when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

The race is named after the magnificent Hellfire Bluff at North Marion. We are keeping the name because just like our community Hellfire Bluff will always be here.

One last thing in the madness that occurred on Friday – we emptied the car to put fire pumps and personal belongings in it, I put a jumping castle somewhere that was meant for the kid’s village for the event. So if you find a jumping castle somewhere between Hobart, Primrose Sands, Lauderdale, Kellevie or Sorell you’re welcome to use it if you’re under 8 (and don’t wear heels).

With Gratitude,

Duncan & the Hellfire Cup team.

The Hellfire Cup – moved to Late November 2013

We are very sad to say that it is necessary for us to move the date of the Hellfire Cup. We are looking at moving the Hellfire Cup to November this year. We understand that many participants have made travel plans and we’ll discuss options for you below.

Our primary reasons for postponing the Hellfire Cup are:

Emergency services that would normally be used in supporting traffic management and ensuring participant safety for the event will be involved in disaster relief at Dunalley, Connolly’s Marsh, Primrose Sands, Forcett, Copping, Taranna, Eaglehawk Neck.

The Scale of the devastation in the local community means that people involved in the event as volunteers and supporters are now focusing on their lost homes and businesses. South East Tasmania is experiencing a catastrophic fire event which is not over. (There are many other places in Tasmania that are unaffected so if you were planning to do the event as part of a trip to Tasmania, we’re only to happy to help you find trails to ride).
The course itself is currently unaffected, however, the current fire situation is that there are multiple fires in the area with predictions for fires to enter the Wielangta and Kellevie areas under current conditions. (Update – At the time of writing, there is currently an Watch and Act Bushfire Alert for Inala road which is next to Kellevie road).

Each of the surrounding towns have been affected by the fires and in many areas, the scale of the damage is unimaginable.

Options for Competitors.

We’ve weighed up our options heavily and looked for the best way we can do the right thing by our competitors and the local community we live and ride in. With that in mind …

The MTBA terms and conditions acknowledged by entrants at entry states:

9. – My registration is not transferrable to other people. If I am unable to compete, or if the event is cancelled by way of circumstances beyond the control of the event directors my registration fee is not refundable.

However, we have always endeavoured to provide refunds where possible and practicable, although we are legally not obligated to do so. In this instance we also will provide a partial refund for those unable to attend due to postponement .

What we can offer existing entrants is the following:

1. Entry in the race later this year.

Your entry will transfer automatically should you choose race in the postponed Avanti Plus Hellfire Cup to be run in late November 2013.

2. For Interstate or International Competitors.

If you are able to extend your stay in Tasmania or move it to include the weekend of the 9 & 10th of February we have free entry in the Blue Dragon MTB race in place of your Hellfire Cup Entry.

The Blue Dragon MTB team have very generously offered to help by offering free entry in Blue Dragon (Worth $200 per head) to competitors who cannot compete in the Hellfire Cup when it runs in late November 2013. This offer is only available to those who have booked travel to Tasmania specifically for the Hellfire Cup and have also fully paid for their entry in the Hellfire Cup.

ALTERNATIVELY:

3. We can offer a partial refund.

We have already expended a large component of the entry fees on event costs and course development. Partial refunds will be available to those who can’t compete on the new date in November 2013. The partial refund will be the remainder of the competitor fees after our costs already expended.

To get the ball rolling on a refund, just shoot us an email.

Would you like to support the local community?

International & Interstate Visitors:

If you’d like to help, please consider donating to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

Locals:

If you’d like to help, please consider donating to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

Please return to the South East Coast of Tasmania in the upcoming months – we need your visits more than ever.

Donate suitable kid’s books to the Fuller’s Dunalley School Appeal

Keep an eye on the central info hub on the Tassie Fires We Can Help – Facebook Group.

MTB Community:

Come along to the Hellfire’s Out fundraiser 6 hour Sunday April 14th. Keep an eye on our website for more details.

The event in November will be everything that the original event was planned to be and we are dedicated to supporting the local community through mountain biking events. Come and race with us in November, spend a bit of time seeing South East Tasmania and this will help the local community recover at a time when it is appropriate for everybody. Bring more friends in November and your money will end up in the communities recovering from the fires.

We would also like to thank the MTB community for their messages and offers of support and help. It’s been a wild ride so far, and we’re grateful and very lucky to have your support. Thankyou.

The Hellfire’s Out Fundraiser – Sunday 14th April

When the dust (and ash) has had time to settle, we’re hosting a fundraiser 6 hour at Kellevie on Sunday the 14th of April. This will be a fun, family friendly event in the spirit of the Hellfire Cup. Storm Bay Promotions will be donating 100% of your entry fee and any donations raised will go straight into the local community. We’ll announce more details on that closer to the time.

Red the full announcement, with full links, here
Duncan Giblin & the Hellfire Cup team