August 2000 Volume 81 Number 8 "serving the protectors"
SA POLICE MOTORCYCLE CLUB
By Jim Andrew  President

Australian Motocross Titles

Club members travelled to Crystal Brook for the running of the Australian Motocross titles in late May after an invitation from Graham Eberhardt (Crystal Brook MCC).

The track is set in a natural amphitheatre and spectators can see virtually the whole track from any vantage point. All the big teams were there (Craig Dack Yamaha, Jeff Leisk KTM etc) and all three classes were racing - 125, 250, 500.

Most members not only helped the Crystal Brook club run the event throughout the day, but also managed to see some racing. Craig Anderson stood out as a gun rider, and many others put on a great show for the spectators. The titles should be held there again in 2001.

Australian Thumper Nationals

Some members attended the Australian Thumper National titles at Mannum in mid-June. These titles have only run for a few years and are for four-stroke motorcycles only. They have been very popular with spectators and riders alike. This popularity grows every year. The track was a brand new layout on the virgin soil of farming property near Mannum and had plenty of sections for top-end speed. Andy Haydon (local Gawler/KTM rider) again showed he can still ride with the best. The event has been secured for at least another three years.

Super-X Masters

The SuperX masters was run at the entertainment centre in late June. Several members attended and watched these absolutely crazy riders perform their stuff before a packed crowd. Those members saw many riders face-plant into the indoor dirt track as they attempted to negotiate this very demanding course. It had the usual burms/stutters and tabletops, including the “expression session” where the top riders do their tricks. Danny Ham was the clear winner of this event with his superman jump. It was well worth the expense to see Australia’s elite riders racing on such a great track in a confined area.

Buckingham Arms Dinner

Social secretary, Bernadette Reilly, organized a club dinner which was held at the Buckingham Arms in June. Twenty-five-odd members attended and enjoyed. Bernadette has planned other social events for the end of the year such as Go Kart racing, as well as the annual Troy Run/Christmas show.

Geranium Dirt Ride

Club members drove to the new Geranium property in early July. This was the first opportunity members had to explore this riding area, which is used mainly by four-wheel-drives.

The facilities were second to none: hot showers, toilets and shelter was all provided. The undercover shelter can accommodate at least 30 people. The tracks proved demanding and consisted solely of two-wheeled sand tracks that had previously been driven over by four-wheel-drives and covered both flat and hills areas.

The whole area covers about 1,500 hectares. After about two hours, riders became acquainted with the tracks and enjoyed the riding. The many hill climbs were testing and, while attempting to conquer these sections, some riders got to know the sand more than others. An MFS member riding an XR250 kissed terra firma and took a bit of bark off his leg.

Truscott Hi-Fi 24-Hour Trial

The annual 24-hour reliability trial was held around Kapunda in early July. Lyn Dunstone (Husky 410), Steve Taylor (XR600) and John Ryder (KTM250) entered the event under the club banner. The trial ran from 11am on a Saturday until 11am the next day.

In this event - the only one of its kind in the world - participants ride continuously for 24 hours. Riders do four six-hour laps which take in all types of terrain (mainly mud). Apparently, the first three laps were okay, but the heavens opened up for the entire last lap, which made tough going for the riders. Dunstone and Taylor finished the event, even with so many DNFs in the field. Ryder had a major come-off at the end of lap three and had to withdraw from the event.

CONTACTS

PRESIDENT	Jim Andrew (Adelaide Investigation Unit) Ph: 8207 5128, 0417 717 360.
V-PRESIDENT	Bud Abbott (Drug & Org Crime) Ph: 8207 5200, 0419 860 549.
COMSEC	Greg Trickett (Flinders St) 0413 561 444.
TREASURER	Dave Roy (South Coast Investigation Unit) Ph: 8207 3636, 0418 845 056.
SECRETARY	Mick Klose (Parks Patrols) Ph: 8207 6515, 0417 830 552.
SOCSEC	Bernadette Reilly (Parks Traffic) Ph: 8207 4241, 0418 804 552.

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