The green light is flashing; the barrier gates open, the record crowd roars. It’s not the first Tuesday in November, it’s the first Saturday of September and this race day has an 8500% impact on the town’s population, who knows on its economy; this is Birdsville. After being there for the races I feel instead of shaking off the dust it needs to be bottled. How a town of 100 residents can host an event that attracted approximately 8500 people is mind boggling. Then you learn the Saturday before Betoota with a population of zero hosted the first leg of the 3 leg Simpson Desert Carnival. What can we learn from this can do spirit? Is it in the dust that never settles, a supposed negative which is used to help market the Birdsville Races? Despite the dust many ladies did flaunt fascinators, a few men wore suits, some wore garbage bags though, Elvis appeared on both days, along with two Supergirl’s, about ten Santa’s and one well for most of Saturday wore just his hat, sunnies, shoes, socks and jocks. Birdsville Race virgins may justify their attendance as a bucket list goal. For many others it is a social event to catch up with friends and for some it’s a party they look forward to each year. Whatever makes not just the Birdsville 2 day race meet, but the Simpson Desert Carnival, a success needs to be bottled. When you consider the remote location, the impact of drought, limited infrastructure, the lack of group 1 horses, jockeys or trainers, the flies and the dust; the Simpson Desert Carnival is proof that negatives can be marketed as positives. It’s been authentic to oneself, viewing supposed negatives as positives, that is part of the success formula. Persistence, planning and preparation are also key ingredients. The local baker starts in March building up his stock, the caravan park operator paints rocks white to indicate where you must park, port-a- loo’s are dispatched far and wide, tent towns pop up overnight, national brand food vendors appear and the pub keeps pouring. Collaboration is essential; the success of an event is often judged by crowd size, but how many return is a truer indicator. Well done Birdsville.