Andy Jack gets some help to remove his PE175 from a bog at the inaugural Taupo Enduro. The advent of colour photography proves that things in the seventies were not so black and white. However these lads are till trying to wear out those leather pants, but novel new nylon seems to be making a showing in the jackets and here's a full face helmet no less!
1978 NZ ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIPS
1978 was again a year of growth for enduros and for the first time the series was split into recognised under and over 200cc championship classes. A massive 8 round NZ Series, with some fresh events was organised. The series comprised 6 rounds in the North Island and 2 in the South.
1978 was also a season where some of the established riders from earlier in the decade were now bowing out of competition, while Honda teamsters Alan West and then Blair Harrison headed off on their OEs.
Replacing them however were a host of exciting new riders some of whom would in time go on to dominate the next decade, including; Les O Brien, Terry Meeks, Paul Burgess, John Jamieson, Daryll August, Stuart Mead, Lester Yates, Barry Watkins, Shaun Stanbridge and Barry Reiher.
1978 was a long season with a mix of easy and tough rides, none were as tough though as the Hikutaia Enduro (click this link for more). The statistics from Hikuataia make interesting reading. Only 18 of the 70 odd starters made it to the finish. One rider was evacuated from the course by SAR with hypothermia and a second was hospitalised after finishing. The winner, 'Sideways' Sid Bailey was almost two hours late, riding the last trials bike to win an enduro for many decades! The last rider to finish did so in the dark, over 4 hours late! No riders completed the course within the hour customarily allowed today, though in the seventies the culture was different - riders would continue until directly told to stop by the sweep riders and some were even known to hide from the sweep in order to finish the course.
Hikautaia was not the only tough event in the season and fallout after the final round was immediate with letters to the NZ Motorcycle News and submissions to the NZACU. Though it was a beat-up in a teacup the NZACU reacted with express directives to Clubs and the Enduro fraternity and organisers that the culture of 'overly tough' events must change. With this sentiment came the notion that NZ's enduros based on the USA model should move towards the FIM ISDT model where an easy course where most riders stayed on time and motocross-style special tests would find the winners. In practise most events in 1978 were run to the FIM system special tests, but changing rules didn't change the people in the engine room and most organisers, though they complied to make courses easier, tended to retain tight times for some sections and ran special tests to sections of rough trail rather than taped over paddocks.
Rapid enduro bike evolution also continued in 1978. The second generation Suzuki PE and Yamaha IT enduro models based on their MX equivalents became even better. Rather than continue to develop the CR motocross based MR175 and 250 two strokes Honda decided to drop both the XL and the MR models. With no enduro bikes for the first half of 1978 the big H belatedly released a new four stroke design for later in 1978, the XL250S. This bike was in fact a trail bike shocker, with lack lustre engine, flimsy shocks, weak countershaft seal and a ridiculous 23 inch front wheel that gave truly weird handling and zero tyre choice.
TE WERA ENDURO - 89 finishers
Under 200cc
1. John Jamieson TY 175
2. Noel Bailey IT175
3. Phil Thompson TS185
Over 200cc
1. John Nicholson CR/MR 250
2. Dave Kemp PE250
3. Deve Beere TL250
Overall
1. J Nicholson
2. J Jamieson
3. D Kemp
4. N Bailey
5. D Beere
6. P Hodge
7. P Thompson
8. A Chant
9. M Charlton
10. D Irving
RAGLAN ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. John Osbourne Yamaha TY175
2. Noel Bailey Yamaha IT175
3. Greg Rook Yamaha IT175
4. = John Jamieson Yamaha TY175, Alan Turney, Honda XL196
6.= Raydon Smith Yamaha IT175, Gary Wendt, Yamaha IT 175
8.= Max Charlton Yamaha IT 175, Shaun Stanbridge, Honda TL145
9. Peter Riley, Yamaha, IT175
10. Peter Van Dingenen Yamaha IT 175
Over 200cc
1. Paul Burgess, Yamaha DT400
2. Alan Chant, Honda TL 250
3. Stuart Mead, Suzuki PE 250
4. Darryl August, Husky 250
5. John Nicholson Honda MR 250
6. H Miller Honda XL350
7. C Kerr, Suzuki TS250
8. Warwick Smith, Yamaha TT500
9. Trevor Hill Suzuki PE 250
10. Sam Carter Honda XL350
MARAMARUA ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. Bob Jackson XL/CR185
2. Barry Reiher, Yamaha 175
3. Kevin Kemp, Suzuki TS185
4. Noel Bailey, Yamaha IT 175
5. Max Charlton, Yamaha IT175
6. John Jamieson, Yamaha IT175
7. Raydon Smith Yamaha IT175
8. John Osbourne, Yamaha IT175
9. M Loveridge, Yamaha IT175
Over 200cc
1. Terry Meeks, Suzuki PE250
2. John Nicholson, Honda CR250
3. Sam Carter, Honda XL350
4. Blair Harrison, Honda XL250
5. Stuart Mead, Suzuki PE 250
6. Lester yates, Yamaha XT500
7. Simon Davison, Yamaha
8. Warwick Smith, Yamaha TT500
NELSON ENDURO
Anyone have the results for this event?
1. Brendan Keogh IT400
2. John Shand XL232
?????????
VIRGIN SWAMPS ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. John Jamieson TY175
2. Kevin Kemp TS185
3. Peter van Dingenen DT/YZ175
4. Max Charlton IT175
5. Barry Reiher Yamaha DT/YZ175
6. Noel bailey IT175
7. S Morgan IT175
8. Bob Jackson CR/TS185
9. Gary Wendt IT175
Over 200cc
1. Les O Brien IT400
2. Lester Yates XT500
3. Simon Davidson KT250
4. Perry Ostick IT400
5. Stuart Mead PE250
6. Sid Bailey TL250
7. Phill Mc Geown KL250
8. Roger Des Forges KT250
9. Des Ruddock DT400
10. Craig Kerr DR370
Teams Manawatu Orion (Yamaha)
IXION ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. Kevin Kemp, Suzuki TS185
2. Max Charlton, IT175
3. John Jamieson IT175
4. H Campbell, YZ175
5. Russell Mills IT175
6. Bob Jackson, CR/TS 185
7. Peter Riley IT175
8. B Ainsworth TS185
9. Bruce Vickers IT175
Over 200cc
1. John Nicholson XL250S
2. Chris Harris, TL250
3. Aland Chant, TL 250
4. W Young, IT400
5. Darryl August, Husky 250
6. Ron Rodgers, TT500
7. Rob Northey, TY250
8. Stuart Mead, PE250
9. Clive Fail, PE250
10. Dave Kemp, DR370
HIKUTAIA ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. Bob Jackson TS/CR 185
2. Raydon Smith Yamaha IT175
3. Phill Thompson, TS 185
4. Peter Riley IT175
5. Greg Rook, IT 175
6. Andy jack, PE175
7. Kevin Kemp, TS185
8. Brian Vickers, IT 175
9. Mike Wilkin, PE175
10. John Osbourne IT175
11. G Wilson PE 175
Over 200cc
1. Sid Bailey, Honda TL250
2. Stuart Mead PE250
3. John Nicholson XL250S
4. Jamie Stark PE250
5. Rob Northey TY 250
6. Tjebbe Bruin RM/XL250
7. Les O Brien IT400
DUNEDIN ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. M Gibbon/B Burgess 1=
3. Rex Affleck
4. C Davis
Over 200cc
1. John Nicholson
2. Lester Yates
3. Ray Affleck
4. Ian Murray
5. R Mackay
Teams, North Shore (Honda)
1978 FINAL SERIES POINTS
Under 200cc
1. John Jamieson TY175
2. Kevin Kemp, TS185
3. Max Charlton IT175
4. Peter van Dingenen TY175
5. Bob Jackson TS/CR185
6. Peter Riley IT175
7. Noel Bailey IT175
8. John Osbourne IT175
9. Rayden Smith IT175
10. Barry Reiher YZ/DT 175
Over 200cc
1. John Nicholson XL250S/CR 250
2. Staurt Mead PE250
3. Lester Yates XT 500
4. Phil Mc Geown KL250
5. Alan Chant, TL250
6. Simon Davidson KT250
7. Peter Hodge TT500
8. Sid Bailey TL250
9.= Les O Brien IT400, Darryl August Husky 250
Teams, Manawatu Orion (Yamaha)
1978 was also a season where some of the established riders from earlier in the decade were now bowing out of competition, while Honda teamsters Alan West and then Blair Harrison headed off on their OEs.
Replacing them however were a host of exciting new riders some of whom would in time go on to dominate the next decade, including; Les O Brien, Terry Meeks, Paul Burgess, John Jamieson, Daryll August, Stuart Mead, Lester Yates, Barry Watkins, Shaun Stanbridge and Barry Reiher.
1978 was a long season with a mix of easy and tough rides, none were as tough though as the Hikutaia Enduro (click this link for more). The statistics from Hikuataia make interesting reading. Only 18 of the 70 odd starters made it to the finish. One rider was evacuated from the course by SAR with hypothermia and a second was hospitalised after finishing. The winner, 'Sideways' Sid Bailey was almost two hours late, riding the last trials bike to win an enduro for many decades! The last rider to finish did so in the dark, over 4 hours late! No riders completed the course within the hour customarily allowed today, though in the seventies the culture was different - riders would continue until directly told to stop by the sweep riders and some were even known to hide from the sweep in order to finish the course.
Hikautaia was not the only tough event in the season and fallout after the final round was immediate with letters to the NZ Motorcycle News and submissions to the NZACU. Though it was a beat-up in a teacup the NZACU reacted with express directives to Clubs and the Enduro fraternity and organisers that the culture of 'overly tough' events must change. With this sentiment came the notion that NZ's enduros based on the USA model should move towards the FIM ISDT model where an easy course where most riders stayed on time and motocross-style special tests would find the winners. In practise most events in 1978 were run to the FIM system special tests, but changing rules didn't change the people in the engine room and most organisers, though they complied to make courses easier, tended to retain tight times for some sections and ran special tests to sections of rough trail rather than taped over paddocks.
Rapid enduro bike evolution also continued in 1978. The second generation Suzuki PE and Yamaha IT enduro models based on their MX equivalents became even better. Rather than continue to develop the CR motocross based MR175 and 250 two strokes Honda decided to drop both the XL and the MR models. With no enduro bikes for the first half of 1978 the big H belatedly released a new four stroke design for later in 1978, the XL250S. This bike was in fact a trail bike shocker, with lack lustre engine, flimsy shocks, weak countershaft seal and a ridiculous 23 inch front wheel that gave truly weird handling and zero tyre choice.
TE WERA ENDURO - 89 finishers
Under 200cc
1. John Jamieson TY 175
2. Noel Bailey IT175
3. Phil Thompson TS185
Over 200cc
1. John Nicholson CR/MR 250
2. Dave Kemp PE250
3. Deve Beere TL250
Overall
1. J Nicholson
2. J Jamieson
3. D Kemp
4. N Bailey
5. D Beere
6. P Hodge
7. P Thompson
8. A Chant
9. M Charlton
10. D Irving
RAGLAN ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. John Osbourne Yamaha TY175
2. Noel Bailey Yamaha IT175
3. Greg Rook Yamaha IT175
4. = John Jamieson Yamaha TY175, Alan Turney, Honda XL196
6.= Raydon Smith Yamaha IT175, Gary Wendt, Yamaha IT 175
8.= Max Charlton Yamaha IT 175, Shaun Stanbridge, Honda TL145
9. Peter Riley, Yamaha, IT175
10. Peter Van Dingenen Yamaha IT 175
Over 200cc
1. Paul Burgess, Yamaha DT400
2. Alan Chant, Honda TL 250
3. Stuart Mead, Suzuki PE 250
4. Darryl August, Husky 250
5. John Nicholson Honda MR 250
6. H Miller Honda XL350
7. C Kerr, Suzuki TS250
8. Warwick Smith, Yamaha TT500
9. Trevor Hill Suzuki PE 250
10. Sam Carter Honda XL350
MARAMARUA ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. Bob Jackson XL/CR185
2. Barry Reiher, Yamaha 175
3. Kevin Kemp, Suzuki TS185
4. Noel Bailey, Yamaha IT 175
5. Max Charlton, Yamaha IT175
6. John Jamieson, Yamaha IT175
7. Raydon Smith Yamaha IT175
8. John Osbourne, Yamaha IT175
9. M Loveridge, Yamaha IT175
Over 200cc
1. Terry Meeks, Suzuki PE250
2. John Nicholson, Honda CR250
3. Sam Carter, Honda XL350
4. Blair Harrison, Honda XL250
5. Stuart Mead, Suzuki PE 250
6. Lester yates, Yamaha XT500
7. Simon Davison, Yamaha
8. Warwick Smith, Yamaha TT500
NELSON ENDURO
Anyone have the results for this event?
1. Brendan Keogh IT400
2. John Shand XL232
?????????
VIRGIN SWAMPS ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. John Jamieson TY175
2. Kevin Kemp TS185
3. Peter van Dingenen DT/YZ175
4. Max Charlton IT175
5. Barry Reiher Yamaha DT/YZ175
6. Noel bailey IT175
7. S Morgan IT175
8. Bob Jackson CR/TS185
9. Gary Wendt IT175
Over 200cc
1. Les O Brien IT400
2. Lester Yates XT500
3. Simon Davidson KT250
4. Perry Ostick IT400
5. Stuart Mead PE250
6. Sid Bailey TL250
7. Phill Mc Geown KL250
8. Roger Des Forges KT250
9. Des Ruddock DT400
10. Craig Kerr DR370
Teams Manawatu Orion (Yamaha)
IXION ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. Kevin Kemp, Suzuki TS185
2. Max Charlton, IT175
3. John Jamieson IT175
4. H Campbell, YZ175
5. Russell Mills IT175
6. Bob Jackson, CR/TS 185
7. Peter Riley IT175
8. B Ainsworth TS185
9. Bruce Vickers IT175
Over 200cc
1. John Nicholson XL250S
2. Chris Harris, TL250
3. Aland Chant, TL 250
4. W Young, IT400
5. Darryl August, Husky 250
6. Ron Rodgers, TT500
7. Rob Northey, TY250
8. Stuart Mead, PE250
9. Clive Fail, PE250
10. Dave Kemp, DR370
HIKUTAIA ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. Bob Jackson TS/CR 185
2. Raydon Smith Yamaha IT175
3. Phill Thompson, TS 185
4. Peter Riley IT175
5. Greg Rook, IT 175
6. Andy jack, PE175
7. Kevin Kemp, TS185
8. Brian Vickers, IT 175
9. Mike Wilkin, PE175
10. John Osbourne IT175
11. G Wilson PE 175
Over 200cc
1. Sid Bailey, Honda TL250
2. Stuart Mead PE250
3. John Nicholson XL250S
4. Jamie Stark PE250
5. Rob Northey TY 250
6. Tjebbe Bruin RM/XL250
7. Les O Brien IT400
DUNEDIN ENDURO
Under 200cc
1. M Gibbon/B Burgess 1=
3. Rex Affleck
4. C Davis
Over 200cc
1. John Nicholson
2. Lester Yates
3. Ray Affleck
4. Ian Murray
5. R Mackay
Teams, North Shore (Honda)
1978 FINAL SERIES POINTS
Under 200cc
1. John Jamieson TY175
2. Kevin Kemp, TS185
3. Max Charlton IT175
4. Peter van Dingenen TY175
5. Bob Jackson TS/CR185
6. Peter Riley IT175
7. Noel Bailey IT175
8. John Osbourne IT175
9. Rayden Smith IT175
10. Barry Reiher YZ/DT 175
Over 200cc
1. John Nicholson XL250S/CR 250
2. Staurt Mead PE250
3. Lester Yates XT 500
4. Phil Mc Geown KL250
5. Alan Chant, TL250
6. Simon Davidson KT250
7. Peter Hodge TT500
8. Sid Bailey TL250
9.= Les O Brien IT400, Darryl August Husky 250
Teams, Manawatu Orion (Yamaha)
