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By Adam Brooks

To quote lyrics from the 1970’s group Super Tramp’s song ‘Goodbye Stranger’ – >em>”Like a king without a castle, Like a queen without a throne, Like a ship without an anchor, Like a slave without a chain”. The NSW vinduro scene has been reminiscent of this of late with riders only having 1 event (Rockley Vinduro) on the calendar…

So enter the inaugural Cookardinia Vinduro to make it 2! The first Cookardinia Vinduro was held on a beautifully sunny Sunday on the 18th of September 2011, the Holbrook MC played host club to the event – which they did a bloody good job of! The location was on a property named situated some twenty odd kilometres from submarine city, Holbrook is a friendly little town that is home to some beautiful countryside and one of the best pie shops our great sunburnt land has to offer.

The Saturday night was spent around the camp fire set up in Murray’s home made containment box, made out of some disgarded Armco railing, probably found on the side of the Hume Hwy after some poor soul swerved to miss one of the many fury creatures or should we say ‘road kill’ seen along the way.

It was great to meet many like minded and guys and girls that were there to support this event and motorcycling in general. The mosquitoes had a field day with some fresh bait, not to mention the unlimited amount of eight legged friends dropping from the skies…..they were everywhere.

Fast forward to Sunday after a restless night on the back seat of the Falcon and many pits stops to stretch the legs and water the plants Jock and I were up at sparrows fart to get registrations in order. It was judgement day, fingers were crossed hoping that all would run smoothly… and it did. Thanks to VINDURO FORUM member Adam Nightingale who managed to put down the bottle of Meguiar’s polish and lend an extra set of hands to process the entries.

A quick briefing was held to cover the formalities of the loop before riders and machines were lined up for a pre ride photo session. Apart from being a great chance for avid photographers to snap away it was a good time check out some other bikes lined up alongside each other and say “hey nice Honda man” or “hey brother your kick start lever looks like it’s about to fall off” and yes it did. If anyone has seen Les Dew’s Husky kick start lever can you please return it to him.

The 9.5km loop was laid out by the Holbrook MC president Murray Jones who kindly offered up the property for the event. It was evident that it had been some years since a knobby tyre had touched the ground and it was bestowed upon some 34 entrants to take duty and carve it up ‘vinduro style’.

The track was strategically set in a way to keep the motorcycle folk happy, with a large expanse of open plains to really wind out those big bores and a good mix of wooded section that is generally used in the special test sections of enduro’s. It was evident that some riders like Grahame Hunter aboard his beautifully presented KDX 250 revelled in the tight stuff and ate it up like candy. He was a testament to a well soughted bike and fitness, which I’m glad to say “I lacked”. Check out this video to see Grahame ripping it up the hill:

The laps began with a sighting lap to familiarise people with the track. Riders were kept at bay behind Murray’s TT250 with many chomping at the bit to get past him. The sight of riders returning through the start/finish gate keenfully maned by Mrs Poppy with clip board and check list in hand signaled the beginning of the event with riders quickly setting off on their laps. The required amount of laps for entrants to complete to go into the draw for prizes was 5 with most riders averaging around the eight or nine mark. Some entrant though like Ryan Dew proved to be men of steel… chalking up a massive 15 laps aboard his WR 430 Husky. A highly comendable effort.

The track itself was quite free flowing and really came into it’s own after a few laps. I found that towards the end of the day my fitness was coming back and I was able to put together some back to back laps. The off-camber corners and double backs through the wooded sections were great. There were a few fallen logs to cross and a set of truck tyres to clear. Many opted to take the easy route and go around, “chickens” while others came to grief with the many trees and tight corners.

A few close moments were thrown in also, Peter Andrijwesky, don’t ask me to pronounce that, showed us how close an XL motorsport can come to trees. After just missing the first tree, recovering then clipping the next with his shoulder only, to then nearly lose it completely and finish with a mono, it’s was a very funny thing to see – thank you Peter for putting on such a fine show! Check out the video to see Peter in action:

Out the back of the property it was like a scene from “High Plains Drifter” the misty heat haze on the horizon and a dust trail ahead. Some long stretches between the rolling hills let the big bores really open up their lungs and scream. Throw in a few divets and mud crossings and you soon realize the value of checking your handle bar bolts. Doing a lap with the bars on the tank, ‘chopper style’ apart from looking awesome was very unco!

Across the top of the hill was like a mine field, speckled with quartz and granite rock poking through the surface. Although not visually challenging it did however catch a few out including yours truly with the back end stepping out on regular occasions.

As the day wore on it was getting harder and harder to wind up the event. Riders just wouldn’t stop! A few even pleaded “please sir can I have more” they loved it. The words f@#ken awesome and a big thumbs up were kindly received from many riders. But like all good things the event did have to end, many had traveled from afar so onto the presentation we headed.

Prizes were handed out for best presented bikes with the main honour going to Tim Kontis and his beautifully prepared 1982 XR 500. Tim received a new pair of goggles and some other goodies kindly donated by Whitehorse Motorcycles of Albury.

We then proceeded to hand out prize packs for entrants that completed 5 or more laps, names were pulled out of an ice cream container and lots of entrants took something home. A generous amount of prize packs were kindly donated by KC tools – a big thanks to Mick AKA ‘Bullet’, Meguiar’s and Liqui-Moly – a big thanks to Jock AKA ‘Pedro’ for organising these.

With the winding up of proceedings it was time to hit the road. It had really turned out to be a great weekend. The weather gods had been on our side and there were no hiccups. Driving home I turned to my co-pilot Jock and said “man that was a great event, we actually made it happen”.

At the end of the day we do this all for fun and it was great to see that everybody involved had such a good time. Next year we are hoping for an even bigger event with some added sections to extend the loop. For all those who missed the event, what can I say but don’t miss the next one and to all those that attended, a very big thank you. Once again a big thanks to the Holbrook MC, and everyone involved.

Cheers Brooksie.

Story and pics by Wade Evans – Evo

Harrow is a small farming settlement in the far western Victoria 4 1/2 hours drive time from Melbourne, it sits on the banks of the Glenelg river which winds its way south through beautiful rolling pasture and bushland. A perfect setting for the start of Victoria’s biggest vinduro hosted by the Classic Scramble Club of Victoria.

With most entrants arriving on Saturday there was the opportunity to have rip around CSC’s natural terrain motorcross track on Lachy Turners (pictured with the 2 ladies)property just outside of town. I took my Bultaco out there for a play and I was surprised to see how many soft patches their were from recent rains. When I say soft I mean nearly over the handle bars soft when you hit them. Deciding not to test my luck any further I rode back to the car park where Gunnie and Drakie were giving the Puch and SWM you can see in the pics a work out. Saturday evening was relatively quite with some people spending time at the pub but most enjoying a peaceful drink by the camp fire.

Its a cold and foggy Sunday morning at 7am I’m having a cuppa and brecky watching people rushing about getting ready and hauling fuel drums around while more riders are just arriving and unloading their bikes.

8.30 the sun is out and fog lifting the riders briefing is on the 95 entrants are welcomed and everyone is excited and anxious to to get going.

9.00 the first riders are off in groups of 3 per minute, the first section was the ride out of town along the river towards the bridge. The river itself was running higher than usual so the coarse took us through some local peoples back yards to get around the high water! Reaching the bridge we had to push our bikes across (no road rego) and ride resumed along the opposite side of the river and through more private properties to the first check point.

From here on in it get serious with something for everybody on the coarse water with bog holes, sand with bog holes, swamp with bog holes, single track with bog holes, bogs holes with bog holes, open paddocks with bog holes and case smashing rocks with bog holes and swamps with bog holes, are you getting the picture. The guy with the newly restored H7 Monty I’m sure was crying in his helmet after riding through this muck.

I had the pleasure of extracting Laurie Alderton’s Maico from a bottomless bog for him. The biggest problem being the suction of mud and once it got over the rim through your spokes your going nowhere. My approach the swap sections on lap one was cautious at first which didn’t work. By lap 3 after 90 odd riders had passed through this section it was a flat out kamikaze attack with little thought of what stump or log might lie hidden in the muddy soup.

At the end of the day presentions were made, Nathans Penrite oils team No.2 taking the honor for most laps completed. Prizes were given out from generous sponsors Ballards and Discount motorcycle wreckers. Enduro legends Laurie Alderton and Chris Cater gave their view of the ride and congratulated Peter Drakeford his team and the people of Harrow on great event.

THE LOCATION
The NSW Cookardinia Vinduro will be held in conjunction with the Holbrook MCC on the 18th September 2011 on a property close to the small township of Cookardinia, NSW. Cookardinia is situated 27kms from Holbrook and 57kms from Wagga Wagga. Entry to the property is at the end of Jerraluen Road which runs off Bahrs Road, which runs off the Wagga Wagga/Holbrook Road.

CLICK HERE for the Google Maps link.

THE LOOP
The total length of the loop is approx 7 kms. There is an existing 3km special test loop winding through a woods section that will be combined with some open sections to really open up those big bores. NOTE: There will be casual riding on the Saturday for those who wish to help mark out the track. Once the track has been marked it will be shut until Sunday’s event. Keep in mind at all times that there is no racing, this is a non competitive event.

ENTRY COSTS & INFO.
PRE-ENTRY is essential, all participants must be 18 years of age or over.

Entry costs are as follows:
Entry Fee: $60.00 includes rec licence (non MA licence holders)
Entry Fee: $40.00 (current MA licence holders)

* All entries can be sent to Adam Brooks at: wbrooks7@telstra.com

BIKES – ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
* All bikes manufactured up to and including 1984 are eligible.
* If your bike was manufactured after 1984 and you believe that it is eligible please
contact the event organisers:

Adam Brooks: wbrooks7@telstra.com
Jock Davidson: info@vinduro.com.au

NOTE: Remember bikes must have a headlight fitted (they don’t necessarily have to work but they must be fitted) MX bikes with a headlight fitted are very welcome.

CAMPING & AMMENITIES
Camping is available on site from Saturday for those who wish to arrive early. Portable toilets will be provided by the Holbrook MCC. All participants will need to bring sufficient requirements for shelter, food, fuel and fresh water for drinking.

PRIZES
Prizes will be given out at the end of the Sunday at 3.30pm. Participants that complete 5 or more laps will go into the draw to win prizes. Bike numbers will be put into a barrel and drawn at random.

SUNDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER 2011
08.00 – Sign In/Entry
08.30 – Bike Check
09.00 – Riders Briefing/Number Allocation
09.30 – Course Open/First Rider Away
15.00 – Course Closed
15.30 – Rider Presentation

MAKE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD AND READ BOTH THE FLYER AND THE ENTRY FORM:

Click here to download the Event Flyer

Click here to download the Entry Form

Any questions please contact Adam Brooks or Jock Davidson via the VINDURO FORUM