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The Prez presents his report on the 2008 Nats...
2008 TOTAL EVENTS TASMANIA
AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS
6TH, 7TH & 8TH JUNE 2008
HELD AT QUERCUS RURAL YOUTH PARK, CARRICK, TASMANIA
This years VMX Nationals was held at the very picturesque town of Carrick, about 25-30km west of down town Launceston.
Months of preparation by Nick Maxfield ensured that 18 riders and their 23 bikes arrived safely by sea container to a large shed 300m from the track. The sea container arrived later than anticipated on the Thursday 5th, so it was a relieved group of riders that unloaded their neatly stacked bike containers! We quickly set about re-assembling our ‘loved ones’.
Friday morning, riders arrived at about 8am to the shed and pushed their bikes and belongings to the track. Quick shades were erected and VMXWA flag was hoisted with a salute from all. I’ve always wondered how cold it gets in Tassie in winter and if you didn’t know already, it gets bloody freezing and Friday morning welcomed us with a ‘pea soup’ fog, which didn’t lift until 12.30pm, and a light dusting of frost!!!
Sign on and bike examinations were over by 11am and riders meet over by 1.30pm, which gave us plenty of time to inspect the track and admire the machinery in the pits. The track was certainly positioned in beautiful surroundings. Lush green grass and soft loam were to prove perfect riding conditions. The track had that Wandering-esque feel to it but lacked our long wide corners, instead, incorporating lots of short tight turns. Organisers of the event ran all the different classes on the same track which initially raised a few eyebrows. In actual fact, it worked out quite well as the moderns actually churned up the track and certainly made it more interesting. So we had some quite interesting combinations of races pre 85 solo 263cc and over, followed by pre 68 Allpowers. Sounds tragic on paper but it actually worked. Practise was underway by 2pm and competition started to leave as the sun set at 4.45pm. The day went like clock work, machine examination was hassle-less, sign on well organized. The coffee van served good hot coffee and the catering was 1st class. You could even get a Cascade Draught from the well positioned marque / beer tent!
The race gods were kind to Carrick on Saturday morning, and they lifted the fog to give us a cool, crisp but clear day. Race 1 pre 75 solo 250cc was underway by 9am and the Tassie Scramble Club managed to pump out 42 races (2 rounds) by dusk. Quite an achievement I must admit, no one even stopped for lunch (MA officials included).
A fairly healthy crowd spectated all day but promises of a bigger crowd for Sunday were guaranteed. And how they were right, for the place was heething with folk Sunday morning.
One round (21 races) was scheduled for Sunday, kickoff was about 10am, with lunch around 1pm. Lunchtime saw a swag of pre 68 do a demonstration run for the crowd and Nick ‘Wheelie’ Maxfield pleased the crowd with a few wheelies in front of the beer tent. Racing concluded by 2pm, then a demonstration by the over 70 year olds had the crowd on the edge of their seats – and didn’t the WA boys show ‘em how it was done – they certainly put the rest of Australia to shame!!
The All-in proceded or as the Tassies call it – King of the Paddock’ – with an unusual theme to it. 8 laps long but after each lap up to the 5th lap, the last three riders are black flagged, so it was on for young and old!
By 4pm, the quick shades were packed up, bikes washed courtesy of a large tanker and high pressure cleaner supplied by their club, and pushed back up the hill to be once again, dismantled, crated and ready for pick up Monday morning. Which gave us just enough time to shower, change, and catch the courtesy bus which took us to the stately home, Clarendon House, in the village of Nile. Here, a large marque had been erected for about 300-350 guests for the awards presentation dinner and dance. A terrific night where our club presented the Tassie Scramble Club with a swag of our t-shirts, and also our flag to hang on their club room walls. WA did well collecting numerous awards, which were as follows:-
* Super Seniors (ie. over 70) award went to Bill Watson, Graham Taylor and Ron Tyres.
* Pre 78 263cc & over winner went to Kris Lingren
* Pre 75 60 years winner went to Graham Taylor
* Pre 78 250cc 2nd place went to Kris Lingren
* Pre 75 250cc & over 3rd place went to Brian Watson
* Pre 75 under 30 years winner went to Kris Lingren
* Pre 68 Unit Construction winner went to Peter Barker
* Iron Man Super Seniors 4th place went to Ron Tyres, 3rd place went to Bill Watson, Graham Taylor got 2nd and Oldest Rider also went to Bill Watson.
In a blink of an eye it was all over and we were back in Perth. It certainly was a brilliant Nationals. Very professional, well organized, good track, great food, no accidents (well, just minor ones). Tassie Scramble Club has certainly raised the bar and this nationals will be very hard to beat. It was an enjoyable experience to be part of. Roll on VMX Nationals 2009 in Queensland. Let WA show the rest of the country how to support an event. We certainly put the other states to shame.
Before I close, there are a couple of people I would like to thank for their help and without their support this event would not have been so successful. With any event our club organizes, everybody plays an important part. Thanks goes to everybody who attended from WA and also their partners and families as they contributed to the success. A special thanks goes to Costa for making bike crates, Paul and Bill for helping unload and then re-load the sea container on Monday morning when most of us were on a plane. Bill for keeping an eye on the young'uns and not letting them get too cocky!! Frank and Steve who didn’t ride but gave morale support and free beer!!! (Very important that one)! The Bunbury Quartet for loading and unloading. Last but not least, the ever hard working, and bashful Nick Maxfield, who had a ball over the weekend and is now the talk of the town. He is now already featured on the OZVMX Forum. Go have a look at his style!!! Go Nick!!!
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