A six round official NZACU (MNZ) Championships was run in 1977 with two rounds in the South and four in the North Island. The scoring system and rules that had been somewhat arbitrary were standardised to the USA New England Enduro rules. The series was backed by significant sponsorship from Union Travel who also put up a first prize of a trip to compete in Australia for the overall winner. As with the 1975 season there were no official capacity championships, only the overall placings were recognised.
Allan West was the big improver for the season. The change from an XL 199 to the 350 suiting his strong frame and the USA scoring suited his systematic approach to riding and preparation. Enduro was by now also attracting the attention of significant motocross riders, including Terry Meeks and Les O'Brien. One of the top riders from the 74-76 period, Joe Van Lier retired after suffering broken leg.
By now the impact of specialist enduro machinery was being felt and though the heavy XL Hondas were still sublime hillclimbers they were by now too slow overall, it was to be their last season in the limelight.
New on the scene that year were the Yamaha IT 175 and Suzuki PE250 enduro bikes. Both machines were a blend of current motocross chassis with engines modified for enduro riding. Faster, better handling and lighter, these bikes represented what Kiwi riders had been trying to achieve with their homebuilt specials. There were also grumbles emerging about the severity of some events and calls to make enduros easier for entry level riders purchasing the new specialist enduro machinery.
1977 CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Golden Downs (Nelson)
1. John Nicholson, Yamaha DT250
2. B Harrison, Honda XL250
3. Peter Hodge, Yamaha TT500
4. John Jamieson, Yamaha TY175 (1st -200cc)
5. Craig Collings, Suzuki PE250
6. Tjebbe Bruin, Husky 400
7. Brendan Keogh, Yamaha TT500
8. Phill Thompson, Suzuki TS185
9. G Combes
10. L Knowles
Teams, Manawatu Orion
Maramarua Two Day Enduro
1. Alan West, Honda XL350
2. Dave Vinsen, Suzuki PE 250
3. Stuart Kay, Honda TL 250
4. Peter Riley, Honda XL 175
5. Dave Judson, Honda 125
6. Regis Southeron, Honda XL250
7. Sam Carter, Honda XL 250
8. Blair Harrison, Honda XL350
9. John Jamieson, Yamaha TY175
10. Peter Van Dingenen, Yamaha TY175
Waerenga Enduro (Hamilton)
1. Blair Harrison, Honda XL250
2. Alan West, Honda XL350
3. John Nicholson, Yamaha DT 250
4. Terry Meeks, Suzuki TS250B
5. Phil Thompson, Suzuki TS185
6. John Osbourne, Yamaha TY 175
7. Peter Van Dingenen, Yamaha TY 175
8. Ray Brown, Suzuki PE250
9. Sam Carter, Honda XL350
10. Stuart Kay, Honda TL250
Teams, North Shore
Virgin Swamps 2 day (Riverhead Forest)
1. Alan West, Honda XL350
2.Terry Meeks, Suzuki TS250B
3. Blair Harrison, Honda XL 250
4. Phill Thompson, Suzuki TS 185
5. Stuart Kay, Honda TL 250
6. John Jamieson, Yamaha TY 175
7. Sid Bailey, Honda TL125
8. Dave Vinsen, Suzuki PE 250
9. Dave Judson, Yamaha 175
10. David Kemp, Suzuki TS250
Ixion Enduro - Akatarawa Ranges (Wellington)
1. Alan West, Honda XL350
2. Brendan Keogh, Yamaha TT500
3. John Jamieson, Yamaha TY 175
4. Neil Forbes, Honda XL250
5. Terry Meeks, Suzuki TS250B
6. Blair Harrison, Honda XL250
7. Rob Northey, Yamaha TY175
8. Stuart mead, Suzuki PE250
9. Murray Donald, Honda TL250
10. Alan Chant, Honda TL250
Teams, North Shore
Dunedin Enduro Berwick Forest Mosgeil
1. Alan West, Honda XL350
2. Phil Thompson, Suzuki TS185
3. John Nicholson, Honda XL175
4. Kevin Kemp, Suzuki TS185
5. Peter Van Dingenen, Yamaha 175
6. Alaistair Meikle, Yamaha 175
7. Alan Oliver Honda XL/CR 350
8. W. Pettigrew, CZ
9. N forbes Honda XL350
Teams, North Shore
1977 SERIES RESULTS (OVERALL)
1. Allan West (HondaXL350)
2. Blair Harrison (HondaXL250)
3. John Nicholson (HondaXL175)
4. Phil Thompson (HondaXL185)
5. John Jamieson (Yamaha TY175)
(does anyone have full 77 results?)
Allan West was the big improver for the season. The change from an XL 199 to the 350 suiting his strong frame and the USA scoring suited his systematic approach to riding and preparation. Enduro was by now also attracting the attention of significant motocross riders, including Terry Meeks and Les O'Brien. One of the top riders from the 74-76 period, Joe Van Lier retired after suffering broken leg.
By now the impact of specialist enduro machinery was being felt and though the heavy XL Hondas were still sublime hillclimbers they were by now too slow overall, it was to be their last season in the limelight.
New on the scene that year were the Yamaha IT 175 and Suzuki PE250 enduro bikes. Both machines were a blend of current motocross chassis with engines modified for enduro riding. Faster, better handling and lighter, these bikes represented what Kiwi riders had been trying to achieve with their homebuilt specials. There were also grumbles emerging about the severity of some events and calls to make enduros easier for entry level riders purchasing the new specialist enduro machinery.
1977 CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Golden Downs (Nelson)
1. John Nicholson, Yamaha DT250
2. B Harrison, Honda XL250
3. Peter Hodge, Yamaha TT500
4. John Jamieson, Yamaha TY175 (1st -200cc)
5. Craig Collings, Suzuki PE250
6. Tjebbe Bruin, Husky 400
7. Brendan Keogh, Yamaha TT500
8. Phill Thompson, Suzuki TS185
9. G Combes
10. L Knowles
Teams, Manawatu Orion
Maramarua Two Day Enduro
1. Alan West, Honda XL350
2. Dave Vinsen, Suzuki PE 250
3. Stuart Kay, Honda TL 250
4. Peter Riley, Honda XL 175
5. Dave Judson, Honda 125
6. Regis Southeron, Honda XL250
7. Sam Carter, Honda XL 250
8. Blair Harrison, Honda XL350
9. John Jamieson, Yamaha TY175
10. Peter Van Dingenen, Yamaha TY175
Waerenga Enduro (Hamilton)
1. Blair Harrison, Honda XL250
2. Alan West, Honda XL350
3. John Nicholson, Yamaha DT 250
4. Terry Meeks, Suzuki TS250B
5. Phil Thompson, Suzuki TS185
6. John Osbourne, Yamaha TY 175
7. Peter Van Dingenen, Yamaha TY 175
8. Ray Brown, Suzuki PE250
9. Sam Carter, Honda XL350
10. Stuart Kay, Honda TL250
Teams, North Shore
Virgin Swamps 2 day (Riverhead Forest)
1. Alan West, Honda XL350
2.Terry Meeks, Suzuki TS250B
3. Blair Harrison, Honda XL 250
4. Phill Thompson, Suzuki TS 185
5. Stuart Kay, Honda TL 250
6. John Jamieson, Yamaha TY 175
7. Sid Bailey, Honda TL125
8. Dave Vinsen, Suzuki PE 250
9. Dave Judson, Yamaha 175
10. David Kemp, Suzuki TS250
Ixion Enduro - Akatarawa Ranges (Wellington)
1. Alan West, Honda XL350
2. Brendan Keogh, Yamaha TT500
3. John Jamieson, Yamaha TY 175
4. Neil Forbes, Honda XL250
5. Terry Meeks, Suzuki TS250B
6. Blair Harrison, Honda XL250
7. Rob Northey, Yamaha TY175
8. Stuart mead, Suzuki PE250
9. Murray Donald, Honda TL250
10. Alan Chant, Honda TL250
Teams, North Shore
Dunedin Enduro Berwick Forest Mosgeil
1. Alan West, Honda XL350
2. Phil Thompson, Suzuki TS185
3. John Nicholson, Honda XL175
4. Kevin Kemp, Suzuki TS185
5. Peter Van Dingenen, Yamaha 175
6. Alaistair Meikle, Yamaha 175
7. Alan Oliver Honda XL/CR 350
8. W. Pettigrew, CZ
9. N forbes Honda XL350
Teams, North Shore
1977 SERIES RESULTS (OVERALL)
1. Allan West (HondaXL350)
2. Blair Harrison (HondaXL250)
3. John Nicholson (HondaXL175)
4. Phil Thompson (HondaXL185)
5. John Jamieson (Yamaha TY175)
(does anyone have full 77 results?)