The 2026 Suzuki Run fundraiser has once again raised some serious cash with organiser Graeme ‘Barto’ Barton reporting this year’s event raised over $50,000.
The 7th Suzuki Run to Tilpa is done and dusted (except this year’s event wasn’t so dusty after recent rain) and thanks to the efforts of 60 participants and the generosity of numerous Cobar businesses and businesses further afield, another $50,000 has been donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Tilpa community.
The group of 30 cars, all Suzukis (the oldest of which was a 1974 model), left Cobar on Friday morning.
Barto said the Suzuki was chosen as their vehicle of choice as “they can go anywhere” and most of them returned to Cobar on Sunday afternoon apart from five vehicles that had breakdowns, and later had to be trailered home.
Jarrad Ebsworth earned the award for the ‘Silliest Breakdown’ after his roof-rack fell off, unbeknown to Jarrad and his passenger, and they lost their swags and eskies.
Ben Broughton collected the award for the ‘Stupidest Bog’ after he chose to drive through a water crossing in 2WD when his vehicle actually had a 4WD option!
A team from Orange lucked out to win the ‘Most Gates’ prize with all of the award winners collecting Shell fuel vouchers.
Graeme said this year’s run to Tilpa was another great event which also included a “huge night” at the Tilpa Hotel on Saturday where a big crowd turned out to bid on 40 items at the charity auction.
A Suzuki flag, valued at $40 that was signed by all of the participants on this year’s run, fetched the highest price at the auction, with Chris Deighton eventually winning the NSW versus Victoria bidding war to pay $5,000 for the flag.
He also paid $3,000 for the sticker rights for next year’s event with the 2027 run to feature his ‘Pink Barbie’ Suzuki.
Tilpa Community Committee Inc (TCCI) president Ben Bennett said the Suzuki Run is the most anticipated event in Tilpa each year.
“Barto and the team are a group that bring a fantastic atmosphere and a massive amount of generosity, we are very lucky and grateful that they choose to come to Tilpa,” Ben said.
“Having now donated a huge amount of money to the community we have the opportunity to and are working towards some major upgrades to the community’s facilities.”
In honour of Barto and his crew’s fundraising efforts, the community has mounted a Suzuki (an actual car) on a pole in the village.
