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Byron Shire
June 25, 2026

Fastest billycart clocked at over 40km/h at Bangalow Billycart Derby

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Fred won his under-12 division at Sunday’s hugely successful Bangalow Billycart Derby. Photo Jeff Dawson

Sunday saw around 5,000 people head to Bangalow to enjoy the Bangalow Billycart Derby with Greg Nash, Bangalow Lions Club President, telling The Echo that it was a ‘glorious autumn day and after all the rain we’ve had we were very grateful to the weather Gods – it made the day’.

The Billycart Derby ran in conjunction with the Bangalow Primary School Pitstop Carnival which was also a roaring success. 

Bangalow Billy Cart Derby 2024. Photo Chen Cahlon

There were plenty of races and lots of fun to be had with Bangalow Public School winning the Schools challenge of traditional billycarts, ‘like the one grandparents would have made’ said Greg. Coorabell Public School won the homegrown category, that’s a bit more zooped up and faster.,’ said Greg. Both schools received $500 for winning each category.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Kehoe from Byron Bay Police won the celebrity race on the Bangalow Cricket Club’s billycart. 

‘It looked like a Formula 1 vehicle,’ said Greg. 

‘Matt was a red hot favourite – possibly due to his training in chasing crooks!’

Koala carters at the Bangalow Billy Cart Derby 2024. Photo Jeff Dawson

‘We had a great day and we would like to thank all the sponsors, Summerland Bank who was our principle sponsor and especially all our volunteers who helped out on the day and made it possible. 

Highway patrol not only managed the traffic in and out of the town they had a speed camera at the bottom of the hill to check the billycarts speeds as they came across the finish line. 

‘One billycart racer came in clocking 42km/h,’ said Greg.



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