The second Kinleith Classic Vinduro south of Tokoroa was a great success, helped for the second year in succession by bright sunny weather. Once again accolades go to Sean and Adele Clarke and their team from Forest Trail Events who set out and ran another faultless event. The course was a little longer this year, up to 90 km for Gold riders and about as a demanding as most would want. Riders in the Silver Grade rode 65 kilometres and got some significant shortcuts, around some of the tougher hills, plus a 55 minute lunch break to gather their breath.
The course comprised two approx 30km loops, one of which was repeated for riders who elected to enter the tougher Gold Grade. The ride was made up of the usual Kinleith combination of natural single track, bulldozed two track and fast, but slippery forest roads. Rain over the previous week had made the trails slippery for the mark out team, but with a couple of dry days before the ride the famous Kinleith clay loam was in perfect condition, slippery enough on the clay sections to hold your attention, but with enough traction to make the hills passable for all.
Though this was a relatively challenging ride for vintage bikes, many over 40 years old ridden by many even more vintage riders (some over 70 yrs young) there were over 30 finishers from the 40 starters. Notable too were that some of the riders were in fact quite young, certainly far younger than their machines, for example Josaia Trostel rode a 1972 XL 250, the bike 27 years older than himself!
A last minute experimental 'Modern' class for bikes more than 20 years old attracted several entries including former NZ and USA Cross Country Champ Paul Whibley on a Yamaha WR500.
The course comprised two approx 30km loops, one of which was repeated for riders who elected to enter the tougher Gold Grade. The ride was made up of the usual Kinleith combination of natural single track, bulldozed two track and fast, but slippery forest roads. Rain over the previous week had made the trails slippery for the mark out team, but with a couple of dry days before the ride the famous Kinleith clay loam was in perfect condition, slippery enough on the clay sections to hold your attention, but with enough traction to make the hills passable for all.
Though this was a relatively challenging ride for vintage bikes, many over 40 years old ridden by many even more vintage riders (some over 70 yrs young) there were over 30 finishers from the 40 starters. Notable too were that some of the riders were in fact quite young, certainly far younger than their machines, for example Josaia Trostel rode a 1972 XL 250, the bike 27 years older than himself!
A last minute experimental 'Modern' class for bikes more than 20 years old attracted several entries including former NZ and USA Cross Country Champ Paul Whibley on a Yamaha WR500.
Event organised by
Results 2016 Kinleith Classic Vinduro
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Gold - Classic
1. Steve Groves, Honda XL350 2. Josaia Trostel, Honda XL250 3. Andrew Robertson, Honda XL175 4. Steven Cocker, Suzuki TF125 5. Barry Moody, Honda XL250 Gold - Evo 1 1. Craig Brown Yamaha IT175 2. Lee Forsyth Yamaha IT250 3. Mike Nicholson, Honda XR500 4. Peter Moyes Yamaha IT250 5. Brett Roberts Kawasaki KLX 250 Gold - Evo 2 1.Jon Refoy Honda, XR200 2. Thomas Cooper, Kawasaki KDX200 3. Bevan Holmes, Suzuki PE175 4. Neil Cooper, Kawasaki KDX200 5. Richard Van de Rvyt, Yamaha YZ250 Gold Evo 3 1. Glen Carlson Honda CR250 2. Jono Hooker, Yamaha IT175 3. Brendon Coad, Yamaha IT200 |
Gold - Modern (experimantal)
Paul Whibley Yamaha WR500 Shaun Prescott, Honda CR250 Luke Steadman Kawasaki KX125 Silver - Vintage No starters Silver – Classic 1. Russell Foley Auckland Honda XL250S Silver Evo 1 1. Shaun Bourke, Yamaha IT175 2. Don Pogson, Yamaha XT250 3. Hadynn Legros- Yamaha XT200 4. Greg Armstrong, Suzuki PE250 5. Neil Sircombe, Honda XR200 Silver Evo 2 1. Ian Smith, Yamaha DT175 2. John Metz, Honda XR200 3. Ross Drummond, Honda XL400 Silver Evo 3 1. Bruce Davidson, KTM GS250 |
Scoring by Silver Bullet
Video from around the course.....click pic to view.
