Narrogin 28 October 2012

A word, or two, from our new El Presidente Gary…
We had 30 riders turn up for the last ride of the year to a shortened track to help with watering, which worked out well.  Once again big thanks to Frank Barron and Steve Melvin for spending quite a lot of time driving our water trucks on Saturday and Sunday trying to get some water on to the track so to keep the dust down.
The event was well run with Duncan Rae, Lew [ the enforcer ] White and the Brady -Dillon bunch with two grades, sidecars and a Pony Express to finish the day off.
A-B combined had Steve Melvin, Mike Lawrie, Gary Johnson, Ian Brown tussling for lead all day with fast close racing.

C grade had Warren Paterson, Brad Green, putting in some quick laps at the pointy end with the handy caper taking notice.
Sidecars saw Cliff Cook- Neal Fletcher team put on a show of fast smooth riding and filling in the team of Gary Johnson- Brad Green every time they managed to get close to them.
The final event for the day was a pony express with teams of two riding one bike alternately over four laps.  There should be more of this because it was fun to see the smiles on everybody’s faces after the race, and was a great way to finish the day.

And from our Melvin mobile reporter…
Beautiful warm Saturday evening on the veranda of the club rooms at Dandaloo Park, Narrogin.
First time ever without the bomb fire roaring I’d say.  All manner of conversation from bearings, cracked Stormer Cases and leaving it together for weld repair, Britza’s CZ collectors piece to the Classic Nationals next year.
Sunday 6am and the water truck is under way to beat the sun.
Two groups lead out for practise.  With the same for race rounds.

A grade is off first with hb, Trumpy Cheney and a Suzuki up front.  Fast and furious.  One would think it was the first event of the year, not the last.  Team Husky setting pace in mid pack.
The two signed on outfits of a Yamaha/Wasp and hbh (homebuilthonda).  Wasp outfit leading, with hb right up his clacker for three hot laps.

CCM lead race two, only to be heard across the ridge backfiring badly in third lap, didn’t re-appear for fourth lap.
Race three saw a junior (17) Honda xl rider looking back to confirm how much of a lead he had [not much] with a nice white tanked Yamaha right at his back wheel.  Both leading a pack of thirteen.

Racing stopped at 11.15 for a break also time to water the track.  Two more races and the track’s dryer than January.

Riders are still keen with a big class in A/B grade and the CCM back in action.  Pony Express with one bike, two riders doing four laps up next.  After this sidecar moto – wish they would join us at the Nationals, these guys are flying.
1st Gary J and Junior(xl350/440), 2nd Steven and Luke (tm250), 3rd Lawson Lads (ccm) for the winning places of the Pony Express.

Finished for the year at midday, too warm (34).
Not bad for a live mobile phone report :0)
Special thanks to all who held out this year.  Looking forward to more LIVE ACTION again in 2013.C
Cheers A

Wandering 2012 goes off with a bang…

There was a large group of members that turned up early on Saturday morning to lay claim to their preferred camp site and assist with the final track preparation. Most were looking forward to the night ahead with celebrations sure to be worthy of the 10th Mill Farm Scramble. Butts of beef doing a few laps of the spit, large bon fire and of course the fireworks. Five full minutes of color and noise to woohoo the crowd.

A few passiona’s to be had, stories and the warmth of the fire to keep the cool off our backs.

Sunday morning started early with the smell of bacon and eggs wafting though the camp and pit area, while most machines were examined Saturday which only left a few plus rider sign on. The 105 entries and some 150 bikes saw the riders meeting start 20 minutes late something that was well picked up throughout the day with the efficient start line crew.  The track was in perfect shape for practice and racing got under way with steward Neville and Clerk Darral Holman keeping out a close eye.

C grade racing where the pace was fast, Wandering never fails to bring out a little more power or some found speed that has been kept under wraps. Allan Jones with new carb fitted to his CZ slowly moved up through the field which he would have gone home with a huge smile. Ron Chandler was also putting in some hot laps after drinking green tea at the fire the night before. MMMMM green tea Ha?. The quickest mover from C in only his second ride with the club was Peter Creech on the X Tony Smallridge Maico. Peter quickly was noticed and put up to B were he promptly put Jim Lawson, Warrick Brand and Mick, the pensioners friend, under pressure. Warren Brand, Chad Ferguson’s nephew, announced his engagement but that did not distract him from keeping the bully cranking.

Preunit numbers were low, though still put on some close racing. Mike Lawrie had his alcoholic Triumph singing and appeared to be playing fill in the rest with mud. Maca rode the Niaychi Ariel from one side of the track to the other to keep out of Mike’s roost. For your information NIAYCHI was a term used many years ago by a valued West Australian motorcyclist, Peter Groucott he built a bike from many different machines and called it a NIAYCHI which stood for. Name It And You Can Have It. Peter was a well known Harley club member that used to hand paint the racing numbers on every bike at the start of the early scramble events, like the Harley scramble at Mosman Park.

The Legends had massive field though Geoff Davison showed them he can still ride the CCM brute when he needs too. However Graham Currie kept him honest sneaking up while Geoff lost a bit of concentration. Peter Berryman on the x Frank Barron CZ made his comeback with camera mounted on his helmet so that he can study the race lines he should have been on.

A grade is where the real pace and action was to been seen.  Greg Speak getting the hole shot in the first event to be quickly rounded up by younger brother Russell and younger brother Rick keeping them both on their toes. However Paul Copley made a late charge to round them up.

Side cars also had their battles with a stand out performance from Maca and Dave on his second ride for the year and Sarah and Robert that came through the field to make them look like they had bike trouble. I have to say Don’t ever let Rob ride Sarah as I am sure that you will be slower. Great ride Sarah.  The Dan Ferguson handicap were there was some 50 odd starters Hannah and Trevor the Sweep lead the field away with Rick ,Brian and Adam Fanderlinden off the back row. The event was taken out by Paul Blum who made his way to the west from Sydney each time he rides and just loves it. Congratulations Paul for winning the 10thAnnual Mill farm, Dan Ferguson Scramble.

Of course there is a lot of work that goes into these events so without sponsors like Coates, Jimal Bolts Steve’s motorcycles, John Titman racing and a sponsor that has supported this event the entire 10 years John from estuary motorcycles. A huge thanks for making this event what we see today, fantastic

Some members that put in more than any are of course Frank Barron where would we be without Frank he made several trips towing food vans getting flat tyres taking out trees on the way. Luckily no damage to Franks new ute. Dave Christie for doing much the same with toilets tracks and gen set.

Not that I wish to miss anyone but the others would be Nick, Gary and for saving me, Dave Lawson and my wife Sue, that without their combined efforts this event would not have been so grand.

Thanks to our officials Neville, Darrel and Collette. All our flaggies that did a splendid job, Warren, Pete and Hayes on the start line. Brady Dillon’s in the canteen. All the workers that helped lay out and pack up the track at the end of the event and lastly with which this event would not exist The Fergusons. Terrill, Chad and Julie. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Dyjak Ridge Bonanza August 2012

I don’t like writing race reports because I’m not too good, but then I think ahh what the heck it was “A Cracker”..Literally.

We filled the water truck tank up twice on Saturday, even with a slow leak from a rusty underbelly. The track only needed four loads the second being on dark. Thankfully the good old farm dam was full. The track was looking pretty smick for Sunday, with the last tank full applied on lunch break.

A nice steak burger, some lemonade by the fire with plenty of bench racing and a few fireworks, topped the day of nicely till 10.30pm swag time.

The day dawned with a slight breeze and the bacon and eggs cooked up well. Thank you Gary.

More trailers/utes and riders arrived for the day with large practice of groups doing a sight lap and two more. “PRACTICE” yer right.

Very impressed with the amount of sidecars out for the day, 9 in all. With about 10 over 55’s in the solo class.

The first race of the day went to the 125 class, with a little CR125m Honda going for broke up against a nice lemony tanked Husqvarna ridden by Watto. These pointy end riders were ringing the necks of the turkeys. Later on the Honda retired before too much extra gear damage could be done. Wise

Nine sidecars up next they were all out for blood. Not much room up in the tree ridge to pass, but plenty of the flowing corners. Well one outfit thought there was, with his third wheel which disagreed by going the opposite way into last year’s crop. Top racing, and again fantastic to see them out and at it again on Dyjack Ridge. One of the two best tracks in WA for sidecars.

250cc and over had a nice party of 20 odd riders on the elastic start with some nice British bikes (love the thumpers). Most of these also ran in the Unlimited Class.

Squeezed four rounds in for the day and an all~in, too top it off. Excellent day for CCM’s, Metisse’s and all else pre75 !!