The Hawkesbury ‘yumps’
The Hawkesbury article by Bill bought back some memories, like my first race in October 1975! Luckily they had farm gates open so one could use a paddock for run off. Good memories. I was boarding at school a year prior and had a school girl friend phone my housemaster ( pretending to be a parent) to have me out for the weekend. I hitch hiked to Hawkesbury – about 100km from Nelson – bought a 6 pack and got pissed watching the guys race over the “yumps”, joining in with all the bad boys yelling rubbish at the riders, including J Woodley who would later become a friend (with his Jarno Saarinen inspired bars). One year later as soon as I turned 18 I was there racing. There were many more street circuits as well; Dunedin, Porirua, Manukau, New Lyn, Napier, New Plymouth, Lyall Bay plus Wanganui and Gracefield of course. I can honestly say we never considered lamp posts or kerbs as a potential issue.
Richard Scoular Classic Bikes Direct 41A Jarrah Drive Braeside, Melbourne, VIC 3195