The Diesel, Dirt & Turf Expo is returning to the Penrith Panthers Club from Friday April 21st to Sunday April 23rd and so is the Operators’ Challenge, where the best machinery operators compete for cash prizes, trophies and bragging rights.
This year’s Operators’ Challenge is sponsored by machinery heavyweights Takeuchi and Terex and there’s $16,000 in prize money up for grabs.
Two different machinery challenges will be held on the Friday and Saturday of the expo, with daily winners taking home $1000 and qualifying for Sunday’s finals. The winner on Sunday takes home $5000 and the 2017 Operators’ Challenge trophy.
Last year’s contestants competed in a skid-steer levelling event and an excavator manoeuvrability challenge.
Spectators can check out competitors’ progress on a scoreboard in the arena, while operators have in-cabin microphones so they can let everyone know how they are going, or describe what they are doing.
Any competent machinery operator may enter as long as they are over 18 years of age and complies with the Challenge terms and conditions.
For more information, check out the Diesel, Dirt & Turf event listing.