Honour for event’s pioneers

Friday night saw some of the events most loved and respected headline the class of ‘19.

Lenny Retallick, a three-time winner of the event in Suicide II and Suicide (later known as Cinders), received the biggest roar from the crowd as he was announced as a member of the hall.

Retallick — a veteran of 38 races — admitted the honour had floored him.

‘‘I was in tears when I found out that I was even nominated and I nearly broke down then again when they read my name out,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s really hit me and I’m rapt now. I’m a life member of Ski Racing Victoria and now I’m a Southern 80 Hall of Fame member. I’ve had a pretty good run in the sport.

And the love for not only Retallick — but for his beloved Cinders — means everything to him.

Friday night’s event was filled with ski racing fans wearing the famous Cinders merchandise.

‘‘I love that I still see people in this town in Cinders shirts,’’ Retallick said.

‘‘I made a massive batch of them many years back and flooded the market with them. I love that people still wear them and still have such fond memories of our team.

‘‘It is very special to me when people still tell stories about hearing Cinders coming around the river.’’

Roy Turner, who won two races behind Cinders and was later a member of the MWSC committee, was also inducted.

But for his own personal history, all he can think about is what Lenny — or the captain as Turner calls him — is what he thinks the race is about.

‘‘It’s all about the team for us, and for me Lenny is the team,’’ he said.

‘‘I started racing in 1972 and retired 30 years later and also held the 5-litre record for a long time, but I love being a part of that team. Skiing behind Lenny, you knew you were the team to beat. It’s probably my fondest memory of all my time racing.

‘‘It was an honour to be behind the captain. It’s all about him for me.’’

Eventually, Turner was willing to admit how much the race itself meant to him.

‘‘It means everything,’’ he said.

‘‘I wouldn’t have joined the committee for so long if I didn’t believe in what this race could do for our town. it’s such a special thing.’’

Three time champion Leo Welch was also inducted.

Welch won twice as an observer with Island Cooler, before piloting Mistress in 2016 to the overall win.

It’s this win that Welch rates highest.

‘‘It was very emotional to race after Jai’s accident,’’ he said, referring to his son’s fatal skiing accident in 2015.

‘‘Having Zac (Jai’s brother) behind us during the race, having a full family effort was very special. That one definitely stands out.’’

Winning the 80 in his own boat was a life-long goal for Welch, and it led him to the Hall of Fame.

‘‘I got my licence when I was 17 or 18, and I used to drive down to the bank and sit there and watch the 80 and just think how much I wanted to own my own boat and to win,’’ Welch said.

‘‘I’d already skied in it, but this was a goal of mine. To be inducted is just such an honour.’’

Jamie Oliver — a man who raced from pre-Tadpoles through to driving while his children ski — was rewarded for a lifetime in the 80.

‘‘It is a huge honour to be a part of this,’’ he said.

‘‘I didn’t think it would happen, but it did and that is very special to me.’’

The four time champion said being recognised from within the ski racing community is what was most special.

‘‘This year is my 37th Southern 80, and the committee around it is special. We all know each other, we all help each other out, that’s what our sport is all about.’’

With family now involved, the challenge of the event has completely changed.

‘‘I still love competing, but with my son skiing I have to start thinking about what is best for him and balancing our loves of the sport,’’ Oliver said.

‘‘But racing with him is very special to me.’’

Long time official Fran Hynes was rewarded for more than 25 years of service.

‘‘I’m overwhelmed,’’ she said.

‘‘I’m very humbled that this group of people wanted to give me this honour. I love the community of Echuca-Moama. Our sport loves this town, and being a part of an event in this community is so very special.’’

Rounding out the group was Campaspe Valley Motors.

Gary and Jeff Petrini, of Campaspe Valley Motors, have sponsored classes in the event since 1987 and were honoured for their continued support of the event.

‘‘You don’t expect something like this,’’ Gary said.

‘‘We love this event and we love that we can be a part of this event in some way. So to be up here in the Hall of Fame, it’s a strange feeling, but a very humbling one.’’

The Hall of Fame class of 2019 was incredibly well received, though one name is already on people’s lips for next year.

‘‘I can’t wait to have Mark Cranny in here as well,’’ Welch said.

‘‘Team Hell changed the game with the way they raced, they professionalised the sport, and I hope that Mark is in here soon.’’