Albany Hillclimb
5-6 November, 2016 – Albany, Western Australia
The 2016 Hill Climb Weekend was again a huge success even though the weather deteriorated on Sunday afternoon. It started early on Saturday morning, with the road closed to 4wheel traffic so club members could organise Stirling Terrace in the Albany CBD for bikes to be displayed. The weather was perfect, which brought out a large display of around 400 bikes of all shapes, sizes and ages with riders coming from all parts of WA. To add to the atmosphere music was provided by Dylans On The Terrace, and food and coffee was sold out on the pavement. The girls did a great job taking entries for the afternoon’s Poker Run as well as selling badges and informing visitors as to what was happening over the weekend. The Poker Run got underway at lunch time with nearly 190 riders taking part in a 109 or 175 kilometre run around the Albany countryside. The run finished at Albany Rifle Club rooms where afternoon tea was provided, again by Dylans, giving entrants a chance to socalise and compare poker hands. Next morning it was another early start for Club members and volunteers from the Albany Volunteer Fire and Rescue as they prepared for Sunday’s Hill Climb up Mt Clarence. With a full quota of 100 pre-1980 bikes and the weather looking OK it was going to be a great day. Three groups of riders have two practice runs up the hill to nominate a time, followed by three timed runs. Closest to the nominated time wins. There was plenty to keep the spectators interest with some spectacular starts off the line and immaculate bikes. By the lunch break riders had done their two practice rides, nominated a time and had completed the first of three timed runs up the hill. After lunch it was a different story as the rain started to settle in, and by the time the riders had completed the second of their timed runs it was decided that the bends at the top of the hill were becoming too slippery and dangerous to continue. Because of the wet conditions riders couldn’t achieve the times that they had nominated in the dry and it was easy for the officials to decide the winners. It was a great day and a huge thank you to everyone involved, the riders, sponsors, Club members, especially Garry Blake the co-ordinator, Bruce Burges who gets the riders up to the line, the timers (who were having a particularly wild time with the weather on top of the hill during the afternoon), recorders, commentator, marshals, there’s too many to mention everyone. Proceeds from the weekend are donated to the Albany Volunteer Fire and Rescue.