The eighth annual Don River Dash delivered another action packed weekend of off road racing in Bowen, with competitors facing a dramatically different track following heavy rainfall and flooding earlier in 2026. Large quantities of sand and vegetation had been washed from the Don River, while residual water remained in sections of the river, creating significant challenges for the event team during track preparation. Hundreds of hours of work went into preparing the 300 kilometre course, which includes two 25 kilometre race tracks running upstream and downstream, as well as a central exclusion zone for safety and recovery vehicles.

In the car field, Brett Comiskey and navigator Corey Cooper produced a remarkable victory, taking the chequered flag and the 2026 Auto King of the River title in a brand new Class 8 Mason all wheel drive truck. The pair completed the 300 kilometre course in an impressive two hours and 38 minutes, despite Comiskey having virtually no seat time in the new machine before the weekend – his only previous drive had been to unload it from the trailer. Comiskey said the event had everything: “traffic, dust and water – everything we love in off road racing.” After four previous DNFs at the Don and just one podium, the victory was a particularly satisfying one. “It’s been a hard road to the top step and I’m glad to have finally achieved it,” he said.

Brad Belcher and navigator Russell Newman finished second outright and claimed the Ultimate class victory, while Seeton Battle and navigator Nathan Cade rounded out the outright podium in third. The Auto top ten was completed by Lochlan Waters and Kevin Waters, Jan Kraaij, Daniel Avenell and Wiremu Hinga, Steven Von Pein and Ashley Carvolth, Shaun Dagan and Jack Rosevear, Leigh Piggott and Daniel Piggott, and Rob Knight and Matthew Leonard. For Comiskey and Cooper, however, it was a standout result: a first Auto King of the River victory at the Don, achieved in a brand new truck on a track that was unlike any they had raced before.

And what is next for the Comiskey Mining Services Team? After recently competing at Millicent and Dam Busters, the team will head to Kalgoorlie at the end of October for the final race of the year. “We’re looking forward to consolidating a solid row of first in classes, and then a break before we start on our 2027 campaign,” Brett said.