I collected Pat at 9:30, and we headed out to the Hume, where we met Mat at Wallan, and set our sights on Holbrook. We arrived around 3:30 and had a late lunch, before picking up some supplies and making our way to Cookardina for the event. Team Mat, Pat and Fat arrived around 4:30, where we were met by Team EBT, and welcomed to the camp. we got ourselves set up, and settled into a few fizzy, adult refreshments.
Rookie (as always) was looking rather intelligent!
I introduced Mat to Mark.
And we enjoyed the usual, pre-ride banter.
Rookie, Mark and Brodie had to go and rinse their nylons and wash their blouses, so they headed back to Holbrook, and their motel accommodation, while the rest of us men made ourselves comfortable, and dined on Pat’s marvellous paddock cooked pizzas. unfortunately, I had to bring my own anchovies!
Pat hard at work!
Mat relaxing.
Me relaxing!
After dinner, we sat around the fire and consumed some ales, but before too long, it was time to hit the sack in preparation of the day ahead.
Morning dawned on a bright and sunny day, and after brekky, we put our bikes into the Park Ferme, and gathered around for the pre-event briefing. That many old bikes in a confined area always looks good!
The PE was ready and rearing to go.
Mat was also champing at the bit.
Muzz had just completed a pre-ride, to make sure everything was ready.
It was then time for the cold start. The PE fired on second kick, while Mat’s IT200 got under way on the first. There was a mixed response from other bikes, with the worst being around 25 kicks! Anyway, we were off!
The course was grouse! The first lap was relatively slow, while everyone was getting used to the direction. The grassy sections were un-marked, and it took a couple of laps to define where we were meant to go. We were greeted with some long, fast up-hill and straight sections, some loamy winding sections through wooded areas, a few tighter, single track stints and some drops into an off-camber ‘ravine’. All in all, the course was around 11 K’s
The ‘Ravine’.
There weren’t too may obstacles on the course, but Muzz had set up a bank of car tyres that was about 4 deep by 3 wide. On the first lap, I log hopped over the barrier on one side of the tyres, but by the second lap, Muzz had arrived and was taking photos while people were riding over the tyres. I log hopped again, and he jumped up and started yelling at me. So I turned around and went over the tyres, realizing that they were easier to navigate than the logs!
It was hard work, but harder for some more-so!
After each lap, we marked our progress off on a leader board, and Mat and I were happy with our 8 laps each. The most for the day was (I think) 15 laps. The course was closed at around 2:30, and presentation was around 3:00. We packed up and were gone by around 3:30, for the long haul back to Melbourne.
It was a great event, and thanks go out to Murray, Jock and the Holbrook Motorcycle Club for their efforts.
