what started as promising to be a bit hetic , with 19 riders starting,( toooo many ) turned out to be a war of attrition with only 9 riders finishing the day in one piece.
Old Bulls included myself, the dude, murf the surf
the rest were a collection of work mates and `I gotta a mate`
also son of morgo and son of murf the surf came along to show everyone up
bikes were usual bag of oranges, yammis, 2 DRZ`s, XR600, husky,NICE new burg with new engine and what/who ended up with man of match was morto on a old CR500
things started fine , cornerman system being followed, but being out in front going hard ( for me anyway) and having a CR500 dinging away behind me. I gotta tell you, I`d put him on corners, hed stop as he should , but 3-4 mins that CR`s on my tail again, the story from the pack told of some skill and speed to pass everyone(noone wanted to be behind the brick chucker either).This happened all day long. Good on ya morto!
At the first stop point, 20mins into ride, to let everyone catch up a bit ,it was obvious that we had 2 novices ( remember ,Igotta mate)
anyway I took one and bypassed the next section of tight single trail, son of morgo lead the way
after this section I had 2 under my wing and I was missing out on some sweet trail.
At this piont osn of morgo got his first flat of the day (rear)- some everyone got a rest except me the tyre changer!
got to hill above awaba MX track and we lost first 2 – worn out already and going home !!
2 novices took tar to THE GAP petrol station to meet us for lunch.
next section of singles saw one more drop out after smashing rear brake caliper off , hit rock. he limped bike home.
with group more evenly skilled things were moving along, trails were good, but more dusty than pre-ride week before.
Son of morgo cops another flat- rear again and limps along fire trail to THE GAP. The horde rode on.
With the CR still dinging away at my tail, we make it to THE GAP without any further breakdowns and only some minor get-offs.
running repairs,fuel and works burgers were happening. Oh, and me fixing another flat.
At this point we lost 3 more- the novices and one other who was exhausted( arm pump, cramps)took the tar home
THe leaner and meaner horde then rolled out to attack the wattagans – Murf the Surf leading as he had a new single trail to show off- didnt disapoint- tight and steep, some get offs were the result.
out to the bangalow palms area-more single then slowly wind out our way home. Being at the tail allowed some views of the now legendary Morto on his CR, did not disappoint. Man, that thing is stepping out, its sideways, but its on the gas and throwing boulders.- AWESOME
somewhere along here The Dude has brake problems -front brake keeps locking up- he limps home
back towards Awaba now , and after a heavy hit off a drainage hump, son of morgo get ANOTHER flat ,front, pinch flat at a guess- he limps home via the tar
Nearly home, bit more single trail , and our glorious leader, Murf the Surf cops a flat,front, after heavy contact with a rock. I take over lead again and he limps it home.Rest of ride goes without incident.
Beer time.
The remaining, wash down the dust, pack up and head home for tea.
THis is the first tome I`ve organised that many bikes and its too many on this sort of ride.Although once the 2 novices chose to take the tar, the pace and timing was about right for this loop. back home only 1 hr later than planned and this included tyre changing, but we did drop off one section of track to save time.
everyone enjoyed themselves and no-one got any more than cuts,bruises and general soreness, Good.
Photos to come when I catch up with murf and pick out some good ones.
Morgo
the starting grid
cowboy style
the dude
mike pike in action
up it murf
rest stop
happy faces,shiney heads
flat number 1
cowboy again
murf
morgo leads the way
ken doing it
ride that brake
the dude walks it
flat number 2
time to learn , son
