We are back, sb_250y had a weekend he prefer to forget. I finished but damn it was hard work.
I’ll load a few photos tonight
Thursday was spent driving the 1000km odd out to Mildura. We arrived after dark.
Friday not much happening until the evening when they close the main street off for scrutineering and a display of all the bikes live bands and just a real good atmosphere.
Saturday was an early start up at 530am, on the road for the hour drive out to the track, damn it was cold the ground was covered in frost and when the sun finally came up there was a heavy fog. We geared up for our sighting lap of the prologue track, 200+ bikes all doing there sighting lap in thick fog was an eye opener there were bikes running off everywhere, as the track was pretty slick in places and visibilty was zero.
The quick guys did there laps and damn they are fast have no idea how they do it in those conditions.
It was then my turn got a good start but second turn laid down for a rest got going again then crested a dune and laid down for another rest this time I was stuck under the bike and took some time to work myself out from underneath. By this time I had been caught by the guys behind me and I got roosted BAD…. My goggles were of no use anymore so they came off and I just finished my lap. We then went over to the race track and set our pit up for the next day, then off to the carwash the bikes were filthy and took some cleaning. My time was one of the slowest so I was starting the next day at the back of the pack.
Sunday
Once again up at 530am and do the one hour drive to the track. We unloaded and set up. Thats when I noticed no back brake on my bike the pedal just fell through its stroke…. strange it was working fine yesterday. Tried bleeding it made it a little better but still had an issue and I was now running out of time before starting, ended up leaving it and riding it the way it was.
I lined up in my row, the starts here are pretty cool, a buggy drives across in front of the line of riders and after it passes you you can start. I got a good start and was already passing people by the end of the start straight it was real high speed for the first couple of K’s then straight into deep thick wet sand. I caught sb_250y and thought yeah cool I’ll ride with him for a bit, I then had my first off got up got going again I was catching him again as I saw him as we came down a fence line. I then got caught and passed by the lead pony express riders who started behind me. I crested a dune to see two Yamahas cartwheeling down the other side one was sb_250y and he was now stuck under his bike. I stopped and lifted the bike off him asked if he was ok, the other rider was screeming in pain but marshalls were attending to him by this time (Heard later possible broken leg). I then got going and finished my first lap. I recorded my fastest lap on lap two which was a 42minute lap very slow compared to Toby Prices best 25minute lap time. I pitted after three laps took my helmet off washed my eyes out went to the toilet sat down and had a drink. Got going agian and was riding like a gumby the track had wooped out bad I lost track of how many times I fell down. Pitted again after the fourth lap just for a chat and a rest, got going and was struggling real bad the track was rutted and wooped real bad with soft deep sand my bike wouldn’t even pull top gear on the long straights stopped twice for a rest on the track. I was glad to see the the chequered flag.
I think there was around 205 starters and 157 finishers I finished at the back of the pack in 142nd position.
Another very hard race
but cool pics there Badbowie. Did you enjoy it or is it too much hard work?
