Dixon will be participating in the Finke Desert Race from Friday, June 6 to Monday, June 9 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
The race is a 460km off-road, multi-terrain two-day race through desert country from Alice Springs to the small Aputula community for cars, bikes, quads and buggies.
The race crosses the Finke River, often cited to be the oldest river in the world, and is one of the biggest annual sporting events in the Northern Territory.
It is recognised as the richest off-road race in Australia, with the added reputation of being one of the most difficult courses in one of the most remote places in the world.
Dixon will be driving his trusty Prolite Jimco buggy with the racing number 153, which was built by him and a friend in 2014.
He has been off-road racing since 1994 when he and his brother got into buggies before taking more than a decade off from the sport, before returning in 2005.
Dixon then raced for the better part of a decade before building his current buggy and has been consistently participating in the Australian off-road circuit since under the banner of Money Box Racing.
“It is a great vehicle and has a good success rate of finishing, it probably hasn’t finished about half-a-dozen races out of the 50 it’s started,” Dixon said.
“Ever since I built it, it has gone on to win a couple of Victorian titles and a Prolite Series Championship.
“I didn’t do it last year because I had open-heart surgery, but I leased my car out for the 2024 event, and it finished in the top 10.”
Dixon reflected on his experience with the race in past years and expressed his excitement about the upcoming event.
“I raced in 2023 and have raced it probably four or five times all up, and I love participating in it, it’s a great event,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a challenging race; because it’s just point to point, but the terrain is not easy.
“You essentially just point and steer, if you’ve got more speed and more balls you’ll win.
“I always enjoy heading out to Alice Springs, it’s a great environment and a good event that’s really well-organised.
“It’s definitely something I really love and it’s not super relaxing, but it’s the way I let loose, it’s a great adrenaline rush.”
While numbers have dipped for the race this year with 115 cars and 350 bikes set to participate, 2026 will mark the 50th anniversary of the event, which is expected to be a sell-out.
