The
Great Cross-Cut Saw Race
The Great Saw
Race is capturing audiences Australia wide. It is a recreation
of an Australian rural "everyday part of life" scene.
The race is informative, education, historically significant,
competitive and very much a 'fun' thing.
It is designed to entertain
people of all ages and interests. There is something about it
that appeals to both the sports-minded and lounge lizard, mum
and dad and the kids.
The audience
watch as Stan sets up the logs with traditional and rare tools
and there is a feeling of anticipation as he prepares the scene.
The race is about to
begin and Stan asks for volunteers from the audience to act as
judges, timekeepers and competitors. This is done in a way that
only someone like Stan can do. He has a unique 'Aussie bushy'
style and the look to go with it.
Once all the
participants are in the arena the rules of the race are explained
- the timekeepers are positioned at each end with their stop-watches
and the judges, who have already been decked out in white coats,
also take up their positions. The rules of the race are explained
to the competitors, the coin is tossed, the winner chooses his
preferred saw and the losers choose which end of the log they
want
countdown
the race is on!
The race is
called, something in the tradition of a Melbourne Cup, and a
great time is had by all. The race itself consists of three heats
and a final based on "best times" and there are great
prizes to be won.

"THE GREAT
SAW RACE from the other side of the fence
" A report
by Stan Ceglinski...
You know the way I see
it the humble cross cut saw was one of the most important tools
ever - Imagine something as simple as no tea and bikky at smoko
- can't imagine it myself! Harvesting of timber for fencing,
home and shed construction, furniture, scrub clearing, heating,
cooking, washing, etc...the humble Crosscut saw be ot one man
or two man was and still is in parts of the world a most important
possession.
A well-sharpened
and set saw is a joy to use, and when performing properly, happily
sings away to the stroke of the sawyer.
July 19-21st
saw Sydney crowds enjoying and participating in "The Great
Saw Race" a feature of the Timber and Woodworking Show.
214 mums, dads, kids and friends teamed up and had a go using
our 100 year old 5' (1.5 m) crosscut saws in purely volunteered
friendly competition. Many more volunteered to be official judges
and timekeepers, whilst every race produced a crowd 5 deep beyond
the fence.
Over the weekend two
races stood out the most, the reaction of the crowd was definite
proof of this
in one race a father and son competed against
a couple of strong looking 25 year olds, the 25 year olds won
by 7/100ths of a second, an exceptionally close and exciting
race but what made the race so special was that in the father
and son team the father was about 35 and the son 10 years old.
The crowd were right behind these guys, yelling and cheering
Fair Dinkum - it was absolutely great, it was real heart warming
stuff!
In another
race a father and young daughter raced against a couple of "Big
People" and also had a very close finish - the crowd got
very involved, cheering, screaming, yelling - not your normal
quiet walk around the show to buy some tools stuff!
It was great
to see the involvement of these show visitors, both inside and
outside the fence! Sunday afternoon saw the Grand Finals for
the saw races - a Jack and Jill race was on first
a very
fast race by Vicky and Dave put a 30cm disc of Flooded Gum on
the ground in 1 min 20.89 secs giving Karen and Bill from Wollongong
the 2nd place.
The open section saw
a couple of young and keen lads from up north take out the race
in a respectable 56 secs with a father and son team Peter and
Cameron finishing close 2nd.
It makes me
extremely happy that Riddell's allow this crazy race to exist
- many people have made commends to me that The Great Saw Race
is a great part of the woodshow. Whilst a couple of people have
actually said "It's the best thing at the Wood show!"
(If Les Miller happens to read this I hope that he doesn't take
this last comment badly - I reckon his demonstrations are really
good, informative, and occasionally humorous!
All the best
and see you at the next woodshow
.
Stan [I've
got Shingles and Shakes] Ceglinski
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