Vintage Enduro
23-26 May, 2019 – Blackwood, Vic.
The Vintage Enduro Riders Inc (VERi) have been running noncompetitive pre-1988 Vintage Enduros for years, including the hugely popular Harrow Vinduro; and yet some members were advocating for a serious Vinduro. The club was aware of the arduous A4DE in 2018 that decimated the field and the feeling was that we needed a ‘standalone’ event sympathetic to old bikes and riders. The wheels were set in motion and Blackwood was chosen as VERi had run events there previously and the terrain was varied. Thereafter, all the bureaucratic hurdles were jumped and then the fun part – the course layout – was started. Once DELWP (Vic Forestry) had OK’d the course and inspected it, the event was all go. 68 riders entered the Comp classes (V1 pre 1976, V2 pre 1980, V3 pre 1984, V4 pre 1988) and 30 the NonComp Rally class. The VERi ethos is mainly non-comp so we catered for those who just wanted a day or two following the trails. Thursday was brilliant sunshine for sign in and scrutineering but then the heavens opened at the Day 1 riders briefing and made for ‘interesting’ riding. Riders quickly worked out the different friction coefficients between white, yellow and red clay. The rocky trails were almost a welcome sight, and the depth of the puddles often churned out by 4WDs a challenge. Riders did 4 sections totaling 134km and all said the mix of challenging and more open trails was spot on. The grass/bush special tests (at Burgin’s and Mullane’s farms) were as good as any Euro tests, reported riders who had ridden overseas. Day 2 was into the northern loamy but slippery trails out to Mere farm. With the torrential rain overnight the section times were increased but all riders came in well before their due time. Some said that was the best riding they had ever done and raved about Geoff Wilson’s Mere Farm’s almost golf course-like grass track Special Test. Again, 4 sections totaling 124km. On Day 3, riders repeated both Day 1 course (some in reverse) and the Special Tests and luckily the Werribee riverbanks held up to the extra traffic. Occasional drizzle dampened things a bit and riders were happy to see the Final Moto Special Test at Mere Farm. Again, 4 long sections for 141km tested the riders’ resolve and dropped off most of the Rally riders. The savage sleeting wind cut through all layers of clothing and if not for the hot action around the paddock most spectators would have been in their cars sheltering.
Overall, Geoff Ballard’s time lost dumping it at Burgin’s in Special Test 1 on Day 1 allowed youngster Scott Noble to gain an edge he didn’t relinquish. While Geoff won the Final Moto he couldn’t gap Scott the 17 seconds lost. Both Maico pilots raved over the course with Geoff even stating the event was harder than he’d expected, and it was one of the best enduros he’d ever ridden!
Despite the biting weather (it snowed the next day while all were packing up), riders were universal in their praise of the event and the efficient and cooperative club officials. VERi really stepped up and all the volunteers did an amazing job. Roll on May 22-24 2020.