The 2006 KTM Sunny Corner Rally

The 2006 Sunny Corner Rally has become a cornerstone event on the East Coast Ride Calendar. Sponsored by KTM it has never failed to provide riders with a great night of entertainment and an even better weekend of riding in what can only be described as one of the ""must do" events on the Aussie Enduro Calendar. Join Shane Corney and his crew of intrepid Dirt Bike adventurers in this years Sunny Corner Carnage.....It's one day after the 20th KTM Sunny Corner Rally, and I'm already trying to organise the day off work for next year. What an excellent day out.

For those who have never attended an organised rally, you are missing one of life’s enjoyable experiences. Sunny Corner Rally is one of those events that offer a unique experience each and every year.

Right now, I'm attempting to type without moving anything other than my fingertips. Moving anything else seems to involve pain, but no regrets.

If there is one terrain type not covered in this rally, will someone please let me know. One minute you are blinded by blankets of dust, the next I'm two feet deep in water in a road cross under culvert. You have to love dirt bikes.

"Team EMD" for this year, courtesy of Mr. EMD Phelpsy, was Sam Miller WR250F, Garry Dukes Husaberg FE550, Rob Mendham and myself on KTM300's.

The team indicates the appeal of Sunny Corner. From Dukesy who is an Veteran Expert Class (2nd in this years Yamaha Off Road Series), Sam and Rob, high level Clubman riders, to myself your average Joe.

To ride with these guys is a privilege, and to ride with the other 701 2006 KTM Sunny Corner Rally entrants is awesome.

The day started out with a simple plan, "Meet at dukesy's at quarter to seven" was all it involved. A quick 20 minute drive from Lithgow, and we'd be ready to go.

Had my hand on the door, and the phone rang. Rob's Mrs, to say he'd left his rego papers behind and could I pick them up. No worries, that covered, get to the meeting place with Sam waiting but no Garry or Rob.

The story follows later that they thought we had already gone. Believable, for blokes that sing nursery rhymes and slap themselves around the head to maintain concentration in the Two Day enduro. The wheels on the bus do indeed go round and round Rob!

Driving past the Kirconnel Prison there was a haze of blue smoke over the tree tops. Initially, I thought it was fog, but as I got closer realised it was all those 4 bangers starting up. The stomach started to tighten, wondering whether I should have ridden at least once in the previous two months to prepare. Who needs fitness when you have adrenalin!

Bike unloaded, gear on, hooked up with the "lost boys", and scrutineering over. Word of warning. Portable toilets after the Saturday night entertainment are not a good place to go. "Pygs Of Men" was only the band name fella's, I nearly heaved my guts after a quick pit stop. Simpler instructions for the foot flush mechanism may be required. "Push to Flush" just seems way too technical for some.

First loop was awesome. Some good open fire trail to warm up on was just the treat. Sam was kind enough to let me take the lead, so I felt responsible to lift the pace. My first and only fall of the day came in slow motion. You know the ones, back starts to drift but feels quite comfortable, then slowly the realization that if the rear comes any more forward a reverse gear may be required. Unfortunately with a bank about two feet beside me, powering out was not an option - Time to ditch. I managed to keep the clutch pulled in so didn't even need to kick the old girl over again, hows that for finesse. Sam's version of events really doesn't hold water.

There was one spot, where a hard and easy section rejoined, that nearly took the wind from my sails. A descent winding through trees on a pretty steep slope ended with a near vertical drop to the fire trail. Too steep an approach to hit the power and jump, or in my case drop, to the road, so I just closed my eyes a braced for the hit. With about forty onlookers close by there was no way I was showing how close to winded I was. Nice easy fire trail followed to catch my breath.

I did bypass one hard section. It was quite a short climb, but heaps of rocks (read boulders), very few unrutted lines, and so many derailed bikes that the signposted bypass route was too promising to pass up. To those that are still there, good luck boys.

One of the things that I most admire, are the girls that get out to the rally and have a go. My wife and I did the rally together in '98. Remember the year, two 70km loops and bucket loads of rain meant a foot or two of mud pretty much the entire course. Sure the KTM girls are good to look at, but the girl riders are the real deal. I was following one on a CRF250, and she was pulling some fine lines. Thumbs down to the goose who rode between us when I was trying to slip quietly past. Good on you, c'mon boys encourage them women along. It's heaps easier to get some riding time if they can come too.

Back to 2006, the finish of the first loop was well timed to tuck into the fine food prepared by the folk from the Wallerawang School P&C. This year’s starting area was like dirt bike expo. Most of the major sponsors had their wares on display, and it provided a good opportunity for buying spare parts, or for viewing the latest steering damper from Roc Stompa.

A well earned rest and I was ready to take on loop two. And then I noticed my front tire. A quick read of the pressure gauge and it didn’t even make 8 pound. With my pump where you really need it, in the Ute, Todd from Torque Motorcycles Lithgow was kind enough to fix me up on the spot. Much appreciated mate, although I was kind of hoping the tire was terminal, and he was going to offer me the TM 450 on display. Oh well, who want a four stroke anyway, there for farmers with lambs wool hand warmers aren’t they?

The variety of bikes on display and also participating in the rally is indicative of the supreme state of the dirt biking world at present. The ever-present sea of orange and blue was there, but so too were the TM, Sherco, Aprilla and VOR. Husabergs and Huskies are becoming very popular, and their increase in numbers this year was noticeable. With fuel injection on the rise, it looks like carbies will soon be a thing of the past.

Loop two was dusty, dusty, dusty. At one point I was riding and the road completely disappeared. I was weaving all over the track like an old lady that had lost her glasses. Sam rode past and managed to find the track, so I followed his rear guard, and hoped for the best. The dust started to clear, and Dukesy overtook me like I was standing still. I still think his throttle was just stuck.

A nice section of tight weaving in the pines provided some welcome dust relief. There is nothing like single track in pine needles. I love it. Half way through, Rob was standing with the video, so I stopped to gasbag. We were having a good old yak when we heard the familiar sound of branches breaking. Looking up, and old mate was heading down the track with him and his bike at about 45 degrees from each other, and looking pretty messy. Following the spectacular collision with the tree, all caught on camera, we ran to see all was ok. Australians are very ordinary with sympathy. Poor bloke is lying on the track and all he’s getting are smart comments from his mates and onlookers. “What happened mate”, and “didn’t you see that tree” aren’t helpful, but hey, they add some serious entertainment value.

Just before the last serious climb of the second loop was Mount Impossible. I’m not sue if this is the infamous “Ski Run” but Mt. Impossible is an appropriate name anyway. We had a quick discussion, and nominated Sam as the test dummy, so away he went. The fact that this was signposted as “Extreme. For Expert riders only”, did not seem to enter the equation. Entry was via a creek, meaning no momentum, then one of the steepest climbs you have seen. If it was paved with concrete it would be difficult, but the washaways, rocks, and foot high ledges, meant any attempt was admirable. Sam ditched his bike in the creek the first two attempts, and then made a very credible climb to about half way. A bloke on a Gas Gas got a bit further up, but the rock ledges stopped any further progression.

A nice easy ten minute return back finished up the second loop all too soon, except for one section where there was an erosion hump on the track with a KTM 300 beside it. Whoops that was Rob, sorry mate. On your feet boy.

Another twenty km’s or so would have been nice for the second loop, or publicising the shortness so a second shot was possible, but we had plenty of time to relive the exciting bits, so that was cool.

The presentation started with the draw for the KTM 450 EXC and Adventurer 50. Both kindly donated by KTM Australia. The lucky winners were Michael Berkery from Turramurra (KTM450EXC), Sean O’Sullivan (KTM50 – Careflight raffle). I’m sure they were both stoked.