Having missed the first Watagans Trail Bike Bash last year due to a clash with the Blue Light Ride and hearing all the glowing reports there was no way we were going to let over a 1000k's stand between us and a great ride.
Set for the second weekend in April EMD Web dude JD and I saddled up the mighty HSV-XUV with a trailer and camping gear along with the trusty 05-525KTM. An easy cruise up the Hume to Sydney and then onto the Pacific Highway to Cooranbong just before Newcastle saw us at the foot of the beautiful Watagans Mountains.
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During the trip up Friday Night we got a call from Paul from Helcam Australia saying it was raining cats and dogs and the area had received a pounding on the the previous Tuesday. I was thinking lucky I changed the tyres I had on at the Nolan last weekend as the dry and dusty conditions had it so rounded off they looked like racing slicks. Not only that but I was going to give the new Dunlop 952's a test and the wetter the better.
Having arrived in the wee hours of Saturday morning we opted to stay the night in Minmi just up the road from where the bash was being held and arrive Saturday morning to setup camp and get a loop or two in before dinner.
The place was in full swing when we got there with Trade Alley going great guns as riders and spectator alike talked to the owners and manufacturers of some of Australias leading dirt bike products. There were over twenty stalls on display with many of the motorcycling industries leading names attended such as Whipps Alloy Products, Michelin Tyres, ADB Magazine, Barret Mufflers, Motorex Oils, Recross Remoulds, Unifilter, Helcam Australia and many more!
Of course Eatmydirt was there with our range of casual wear on sale and great prices on our AXO gear and other shop specials. Pride of Place was Paul Feeney's rig with the Husky's onboard and it looked a million dollars. Of course the pit girls were a hit with Motul and Husky having a pair each (pardon the pun) and as is customary for pit chicks you need to have your photo taken with an EMD hat in front of the HSV XUV Avalanche.
Having arrived we hooked up with a few Familiar faces and found Captain Wigan the worst for wear as he and the Husaberg decided to part ways on the trail. Miles Davis from Cycle Torque is never one to miss out on a good ride and the WTBB is certainly no exception. We also ran into Brendan Bell from MX-TV and the boys from Dirt Action, Shannon and Popgun rocked in the next day for a quick loop in front of my Helcam.
Miles (it was this big) Wigan with a bung knee and Arm and the boys made light of Andy's Carnage
Despite the recent rains there were only a few sloppy sections but enough for me to tell you that I was superbly impressed with the new 952 Dunlops, (see a write up on EMD soon). The riders were all assigned a number and that was checked as you left through the Red Bull arch. Down a soft damp road into the first section of whooped single track, the track then opened up and onto some skinnier stuff up and over the mountains as we headed out deep into the basin.
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| Check your number on the way out |
Head down the road |
Onto some pristine single track whoops |
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| More open track |
More single trail into the ranges |
There was the occasional bog hole |
I must admit being from the Hunter and moving to Melbourne the riding conditions in the Watagan Mountains are as close to perfect as you can get. A nice mix of loamy trails, rocky hills and fast sections as the scenery goes from bush to sub tropical and then nice open trail. It makes for a good ride to say the least
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| There were a few tight spots |
Shannon and Popgun wait their turn |
Bit of an off near the end |
We cut the ADB Loop on Saturday that saw a knarley rocky uphill that caused a lot of grief for riders and then a steep rocky downhill. The next day the rocky downhill was excluded from the ADB loop which was about 36k's if you took the short way. The Husky loop was about 90k's and most riders opted to at least one of each on the Sunday.
Saturday night saw a charity Auction along with a band and some big screen entertainment to amuse the crowd on the Undecided Pantech (thanks to Tony for Providing a great stage and backdrop for proceedings), there was wood provided and small fires were being set up to keep everyone warm. The music etc went off at 11:30 to let everyone sleep despite the EMD crew keeping the fire warm till 4:00am (more like 5am says JD!) but a few eagre punters managed to outlast us.
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| And the band played on |
The EMD Crew Phelpsy x 2 and JD |
The boys settled in well |
The next day saw us manning the stand and moving though a couple of hundred EMD Hats T's Jeans and Shorts if you missed out we have a new range going into Ed Harry Menswear for winter - for details click here. Breaky was put on as part of your entry as well as your last nights dinner and lunch. We had a Helcam on display which attracted a lot of interest as well.
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| That'll be 550 bacon and egg rolls |
Paul mans the Helcam |
The Helcam |
Back for a bite to eat and the track was closed for Presentation time as a few lucky punters got prizes from the sponsors and one very luck punter managed to walk away with a brand new Husky TE450 thanks to the Paul Feeney Group.
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| The long line for lunch |
Rod ready for the presentation
the Pit chicks in front |
Giveaway as this lucky guy
gets a new set of rubber |
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Winner of the Fancy Dress with
his WR450 Steed |
Crash test dummies |
and chicken man |
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| More booty |
The winner Jared Lloyd from Lane Cove
... I'd like to Thank
Husky, WTTB, Mum, Dad etc |
The winner of a brand new
Husky TE450 with Paul Feeney
from Paul Feeney Group |
After all that most guys headed out for another loop as the condition were perfect. Shannon, Popgun and myself got in the short loop whist JD and Paul packed up the gear (sorry guys but someones gotta do it). Then a quick overnighter at Minmi and back into the hsv for the long haul home. I must admit the drive is much less of an effort when you can do it in a HSV XUV Avalanche.
The images you see of the ride are captured from my Helcam as the CF card in my digital camera suffered a heart attack. I suppose after years of being kicked around trails all over Australia it's just had enough. JD is working on putting some streaming footage from the Helcam on the site soon so stay tuned.
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Tireless Volunteers from the
Morriset Lions Club |
The wives of the Trail users group
devote their time as well |
The key to you food and good health
Entrants wore them at all timesand they
denoted any medical conditions you may have |
Lastly a big thanks to the organisers. The format works really well. Roughly 550 happy punters filled up their bench racing arsenal over the weekend and left full of smiles. When you can go out on the loops when you want and do them as many times as you are capable there are plently of opportunities for Enduro Legends to be made.
The Water proof rider ID cards were a great idea and the catering / band were included in your entry fee. Proceeds from the ride benefit the Watagan Trail User Group, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Morisset Lions Club, Quality of Life Cancer Group, Cooranbong SES and Rural Fire Service.
There were several photographers on the track as you went around Mark (Max) Sullivan was there and will have images on his site shortly check it out at www.motorcycleconsulting.com.au.
So a hearty slap on the back for Chris Flaherty and Rod Cartwright from R & C Promotions and Southlakes Motorcycles the lions club for the food and the many helpers on the trail for assisting many of the riders who struggled through some of the tougher bits.
On a personal note thanks to JD and Paul from Helcam for their assistance we look forward to seeing you all at the next one.
Phelpsy.