Well what a disaster.
It pissed down all Saturday and as far as Dazz and I were concerned it was a short day. We went to Kapunda and met up with a few amtra people to see off Chris Welly.
We then followed John P out to the AMTRA control to find that we had to turn onto a track that had a boggy when wet sign. There were a couple of others from another club there who had attempted to go on this track and had chickened out saying it was impassable which it certainly looked like.
John was able to get in with his four wheel drive and offered to tow my caravan in but I admit I woosed out as it was fair pissing down and not wanting to risk my car I decided to go home basically. Sorry guys but at the time it looked impossible.
Below is a message given to Welly but alas to no avail.
It turns out that only 14 solos out of 100 finished the event as it was just a quagmire in the competitives and on the transports, especially competitive number 1.
Chris pulled out in the second lap as it was just impassable on some tracks and from what I saw of the weather and of the condition of the roads I don’t blame him at all. I reckon they are legends just for giving it a go.
So not a good weekend all up. The one thing we can’t control is the weather. If it was dry I am sure it would have been a good one.
By Ian Stone
More on the 24 Hour
I beleive that the report on the 24 Hour Road trial was fairly brief and left out some vital info.
There were other AMTRA members competing this year number 1 John Harmon / Wayne Wilson riding a CR500 Sidecar ,John Harmon a previous winner of this event returned to competition this year and finished 3rd in this his 21st 24 Hour Trial.
Wayne Wilson his Passenger has only started passengering this season together they rode 3 Road trials ,Gawler which they finished .Robertstown 2 Day which they WON and this 24 which was one of the toughest I can remember. Only 6 chairs finished out of 35 that started and only 16 solos finished out of 80 starters. Bit of a superhuman effort for 2 mid 50 year old geriatrics Also couple this with a first Lap crash through a fence and down a 3 metre drop off which bent the front forks ripped off the right hand footpeg and severed the rear brake line yet still they finished 3rd we think.
The other entrant was number 8 John's son Danny riding a TT600 sidecar with Ken Harris Passenger Danny relinquished his bike to another Rider at last minute due to Soccer Commitments.And Ken a multiple 24 Hour Winner was not allowed to continue by St Johns after being knocked unconsious in a crash with a tree putting them out of the 24 for this year.
I would like to also personally thank the one AMTRA member who stayed with us to man the control on the last Lap with number 97 some 70 mins late for a well deserved Finishers Medal.
Congrats also to Chris Wellington you may not have finished but you were out there trying whilst we sat round the campfire drinking embalming fluid (for medicinal purposes only of course ) and telling tales of our legendry past (the older I get the faster I was......)
Dave Morgan (Visitor )
Wayne Wilson also had a crook
Wayne Wilson also had a crook shoulder that year. He had a bursa and a sper ih his left shoulder, and had a steroid injection to do the trial, and had surgery two months after the trial and I think it was more than a superhuman affort but then I am bious I am his wife Heather