VINTAGE NORTH 2015
Fine early summer weather and drying conditions made for a great opening round of the 2015/2016 Vinduro NZ Series. The event was staged at The Farm, a trail riding and motocross complex on the Whangaruru Harbour in Northland. The ride attracting over forty entries from as far afield as Hawkes Bay, including several riders who took the option to trail ride the course without being scored.
Significant amounts of rain in the days preceding the ride meant that organiser Mike Bennett had to cut out some of his favourite sections, though the bright sunshine on the day soon had things drying out and riders enjoying near-perfect riding conditions.
With the entire course running over a single farm, three laps were required for a total 76 km distance. There was however a wide variety of terrain, several stream crossings, clay farm roads, big grassy hills and roller-coaster bush tracks. As with the two previous Vinduros run by Vinduro NZ half the field had not ridden an event of this type previously.
The course was divided into six sections with two loops, named Coastal and Bush. The Coastal loop was mostly fast and grassy rolling hills and if you cared to look up there were stunning views over the Whangaruru Harbour. The Bush loop was as the name suggests a more slippery affair climbing into the ranges with some inspiring terrain and tighter clay tracks.
Due to the rain prior to the event more challenging Gold Class additional loops were put on hold and all the riders were sent out on the easier Silver course. However as the day warmed and the ground dried some of choicer Gold tracks were re-instated by the afternoon, the best being The Bush Highway, a glorious twisty bulldozed track through native bush with countless elevation changes.
The special test was run over a flowing grass track course right in front of the start area with plenty of off-cambers to test the rider's ability to get the power on the ground. The first lap was not timed to allow riders to get a feel of the special test, but the subsequent two laps were timed to the second.
Contrary to last season Honda machines were most numerous, represented by single shock XRs, two rapid twin shock XR500s and several twin shock XLs, plus a rare two stroke MR175. Almost absent this time were Suzuki PE models with only a lone PE175 and TS250 twin shock present for the yellow team. For Yamaha there were the popular IT175s and IT200s, IT250s and an XT250, while Kawasaki were represented by several of the popular KDX200s. Once again there was only a single entry in the 4 speed Vintage class, a BSA B50. Largest class represented on the day was the air cooled Evo 2s, followed closely by Classic short-travel twin shockers.
Especially satisfying were the many youngsters, including a posse of local teenagers who tore up the course on Ag bikes. More numberous too were canny folk who have picked up that low tech air-cooled modern trail bikes like the CRF Hondas and Yamaha TTR230 qualify for NZ Vinduros, making for a fun and inexpensive way to participate.
Almost all the riders completed the entire course, the only two retirements being due to mechanical faliures and the overwhelming sentiment was that Vintage North had been an outstanding event, both in terms of the riding and the hospitality shown by Mike and Ellen Bennett and their whanau at The Farm. Roll on 2016!
Significant amounts of rain in the days preceding the ride meant that organiser Mike Bennett had to cut out some of his favourite sections, though the bright sunshine on the day soon had things drying out and riders enjoying near-perfect riding conditions.
With the entire course running over a single farm, three laps were required for a total 76 km distance. There was however a wide variety of terrain, several stream crossings, clay farm roads, big grassy hills and roller-coaster bush tracks. As with the two previous Vinduros run by Vinduro NZ half the field had not ridden an event of this type previously.
The course was divided into six sections with two loops, named Coastal and Bush. The Coastal loop was mostly fast and grassy rolling hills and if you cared to look up there were stunning views over the Whangaruru Harbour. The Bush loop was as the name suggests a more slippery affair climbing into the ranges with some inspiring terrain and tighter clay tracks.
Due to the rain prior to the event more challenging Gold Class additional loops were put on hold and all the riders were sent out on the easier Silver course. However as the day warmed and the ground dried some of choicer Gold tracks were re-instated by the afternoon, the best being The Bush Highway, a glorious twisty bulldozed track through native bush with countless elevation changes.
The special test was run over a flowing grass track course right in front of the start area with plenty of off-cambers to test the rider's ability to get the power on the ground. The first lap was not timed to allow riders to get a feel of the special test, but the subsequent two laps were timed to the second.
Contrary to last season Honda machines were most numerous, represented by single shock XRs, two rapid twin shock XR500s and several twin shock XLs, plus a rare two stroke MR175. Almost absent this time were Suzuki PE models with only a lone PE175 and TS250 twin shock present for the yellow team. For Yamaha there were the popular IT175s and IT200s, IT250s and an XT250, while Kawasaki were represented by several of the popular KDX200s. Once again there was only a single entry in the 4 speed Vintage class, a BSA B50. Largest class represented on the day was the air cooled Evo 2s, followed closely by Classic short-travel twin shockers.
Especially satisfying were the many youngsters, including a posse of local teenagers who tore up the course on Ag bikes. More numberous too were canny folk who have picked up that low tech air-cooled modern trail bikes like the CRF Hondas and Yamaha TTR230 qualify for NZ Vinduros, making for a fun and inexpensive way to participate.
Almost all the riders completed the entire course, the only two retirements being due to mechanical faliures and the overwhelming sentiment was that Vintage North had been an outstanding event, both in terms of the riding and the hospitality shown by Mike and Ellen Bennett and their whanau at The Farm. Roll on 2016!
RESULTS
GOLD OVERALL (allows for age of bike and rider)
1. Craig Bown, Yamaha IT 175
2. Cody Davy, Honda XR 500
3. Steve Groves, Honda XL350
4. Brenton May, Honda MR175
5. Mitchell Neild, Yamaha XT250
6. Lee Forsyth, Honda XR500
7. Thomas Cooper, Kawasaki KDX 200
8. Dan Hosznyak, Yamaha IT250
9. Claymore Stringer, Suzuki TS185
10. Graeme Nelson
11. Barry Moody
12. Darryl Jeffs
13. Daniel Garton
14. Geordie Murman
15. Neil Cooper
16. Harrison Jeffs
17. Adam Pogson
18. Kaleb Hee
19. Kurtis Denniny
20. Cris Mc Coll
21. Alaistair Mc Coll
22. Ian Jowsey
23. Campbell Hicks
24. Seam Miller
25 Ihaka Peihopa
26 Peter Moyes
SILVER OVERALL (allows for age of bike and rider)
1. Russell Foley Honda XL250
2. Greg Armstrong, Suzuki TS185
3. Peter Groves, Fantic trials
4. Bruce Davison
5. Ross Drummond
1. Craig Bown, Yamaha IT 175
2. Cody Davy, Honda XR 500
3. Steve Groves, Honda XL350
4. Brenton May, Honda MR175
5. Mitchell Neild, Yamaha XT250
6. Lee Forsyth, Honda XR500
7. Thomas Cooper, Kawasaki KDX 200
8. Dan Hosznyak, Yamaha IT250
9. Claymore Stringer, Suzuki TS185
10. Graeme Nelson
11. Barry Moody
12. Darryl Jeffs
13. Daniel Garton
14. Geordie Murman
15. Neil Cooper
16. Harrison Jeffs
17. Adam Pogson
18. Kaleb Hee
19. Kurtis Denniny
20. Cris Mc Coll
21. Alaistair Mc Coll
22. Ian Jowsey
23. Campbell Hicks
24. Seam Miller
25 Ihaka Peihopa
26 Peter Moyes
SILVER OVERALL (allows for age of bike and rider)
1. Russell Foley Honda XL250
2. Greg Armstrong, Suzuki TS185
3. Peter Groves, Fantic trials
4. Bruce Davison
5. Ross Drummond
CLASS RESULTS (no handicap) VINTAGE No finishers. CLASSIC 1. Steve Groves Honda XL350, 504 2. Russell Foley Honda XL250, 528 3. Brenton May Honda MR175, 532 4. Claymore Stringer Suzuki TS185, 533 5. Daniel Garton Honda Yamaha DT175, 560 EVO 1 1. Craig Brown Yamaha IT175, 440 2. Cody Davey Honda XR500, 447 3. Mitchell Neild Yamaha XT250, 493 4. Lee Forsyth Honda XR 500, 501 5. Peter Moyes Yamaha IT250, 511 |
EVO 2 1. Thomas Cooper Kawasaki KDX200, 481 2. Daryll Jeffs Honda XR200, 518 3. Harrison Jeffs Honda XR200, 519 5. Geordie Murman Honda XR200, 537 4. Neil Cooper Kawasaki KDX 200, 538 5= Kaleb Hee, Richard Schuler, 562 EVO 3 1. Dan Hosznyak Yamaha IT250, 458 2. Adam Pogson Yamaha YZ125, 496 3. Chris Mc Coll Honda CRF, 578 4. Andrew Mc Coll Yamaha TTR230, 593 5. Bruce Davidson KTM GS 250, 600 |
For those who missed them Special Test times from this even will be posted at the next round, the VSE on December 5th.