What is Mudbash?
Mudbash is an annual motorsport event run by the Rover Scout section of Scouts Australia. Held at Mafeking Rover Park in Caveat on the King’s Birthday weekend in June, it is the largest Rover Scout event in Australia with over 1500 participants and visitors annually. Among the weekend’s activities are adventurous expeditions, competitive on-site activities, scouting camp craft, exciting nightlife entertainment, and of course motorsport!
Motorsport has been a part of Rovers for over 50 years with Mudbash celebrating its 50th event in 2022. Rover Scout Motorsport (RSM) oversees and manages the safe participation and running of Motorsports events in affiliation with Motorsport Australia requirements.
Vehicles competing in Mudbash are built, repaired, and raced by Rover Units across Australia. Vehicles range from modified sedans and hatchbacks to rear engine frame buggies. Every car is different, has its own name, number and some would say personality. Over 150 drivers enter each year to represent their Rover Unit and compete for the winning title. Mudbash is the final and biggest event of the rover motorsport season.
There is also a range of other onsite activities to entertain non-racers during the weekend. If Rovers are not spectating the racing or hanging with friends around a campfire, they can have a go at archery and axe throwing, play a round of mini golf or compete in the Rover X Games. At night, live music and DJs entertain the crowds and friends huddle around campfires to the crack of dawn.
The Mudbash Open Day remains an extremely prominent feature on the Victorian Scout Calendar. Activities and events improve every year, and the event as a whole is a valuable recruiting tool for the section.
The Interstate participant information pack can be found here!
History of Mudbash?
Mudbash first started in 1972 at Big River Campsite, Marysville, with 5 Rover crews and their $50 modified vehicles. To avoid the environmental impact that the buggies had on the state forest; Rover Scouts Victoria made the decision to look for land to continue to run Mudbash and future Scouting events. In 1992, a 130-hectare property was purchased in Caveat, about 30 minutes out of Yea which soon became Mafeking Rover Park.
To this day, the park is owned and operated by the Victorian Branch Rover Council alongside the Mafeking Park management group and hosts a range of camps and motorsport competitions year-round. The park offers a diverse landscape of open land, scrub and bush providing a variety of camping opportunities and areas to explore for all members of Scouting and the wider community. Over the years, Mudbash has changed and grown into the event we know today and has quickly become a staple event in the scouting calendar.
Currently, Mudbash is organised and managed by a committee of around 30 Rovers, elected into their position at the annual AGM. Any 18 – 25-year-old member of the Rover Section can be nominated for a position on the committee. Although there is a lot of work involved in getting an event like Mudbash up and running, it is one of the most rewarding experiences a Rovering career can offer.
When is Mudbash?
In 2023, the 51st Mudbash will be held from Friday the 9th of June to Monday 12th of June for Rovers.
On Sunday the 11th of June, we throw open the gates and welcome all sections of Scouting and the wider community to participate in our annual Open Day. This year’s Open Day will be held on Sunday the 11th of June from 10 am – 5 pm with a range of onsite activities for all. Click for more info about Open Day!
Where is Mudbash?
Mudbash is located at Mafeking Rover Park. For a Google Maps location for Mafeking Rover Park, please click here.
Mafeking is accessible via Yea, Seymour, and Euroa. The closest town is Caveat and the location of Mafeking is shown in older Melways on Map 609, R6 or in newer editions (2009 onwards) on Map 910, R6.
● The roads from all three towns are bitumen, however, care should be taken as some roads are prone to wear and tear resulting in loose material on the road.
● All routes have been marked with Mafeking Rover Park street signs at the relevant intersections.
● Care should be taken when driving on the surrounding roads as some are narrow and often have a large amount of local traffic.
● Night driving should also be cautious as there is a large amount of wildlife both in the surrounding area and on Mafeking itself.
From Yea
Yea is accessible via the Maroondah then Melba Highways from the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. From Yea turn onto the Goulburn Valley Highway which heads to Seymour. Approximately 3km from Yea the Ghin Ghin Road (Marked by a Mafeking sign) branches right and heads through Highlands and Caveat to Mafeking Rover Park.
From Seymour
Seymour is accessible via the Hume Highway from the western suburbs of Melbourne. From Seymour head towards Yea, under the Railway line and turn left onto Highlands Road (Marked by Mafeking Sign and sign marked “Highlands”) just before Mitre 10 and Seymour High School. Once on Highlands Road, you do not need to turn until you reach the T intersection at Highlands and turn left on the Ghin Ghin Road (which comes from Yea).
From Euroa
On the Hume Highway take the South Euroa exit and turn left onto the overpass. You will come to a T intersection from which you turn right onto Creightons Creek Road. Travel about 30km until you reach Terip Terip and turn right. Approximately 4kms later turn right onto Springs Road. Follow this road until you come to a T intersection and turn left onto Boundary Road. Follow this road for approximately 3km and Mafeking will be on your right.