Hattah Desert Race 2012

Bluetonguejak · Jul 5, 2012

michael1968 said: ↑

Unfortunately I'm out, my cousin was killed in a car accident, his funeral is on Friday. He was a bit of a legend in our family.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...er-daniel-batman/story-e6frg7mf-1226409856351

Have a good race guys and stay safe.
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My condolences Michael.

Cheers Jak

Bluetonguejak · Jul 5, 2012

ROKIT_71 said: ↑

Not good news mate.

I will post a ride report next week on the thrills and spills.

Cheers Ben.

P.S. I'm on bike 671 for anybody watching the race. Feel free to yell abuse as I come past............
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Best of luck Ben.
Should be there, but i was scheduled to be interstate this weekend and are away next weekend.

If you get to Golden beach, i'll make sure the KooWee boys look after you. The track is a ball-tearer!

Cheers Jak

UncleGra · Jul 5, 2012

searchin oz said: ↑

Not bad Unc, thanks for asking!!

You heading over for a look at Hattah?
I'm still in the same house if you're ever heading past and wanna drop in for a coffee or something stronger.

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Click to expand...

Thanks mate...No wont be there but its on the "To do list ".....going to the 24 HR at Kapunda instead .

unc

TPER Chief · Jul 5, 2012

Just wondering if anyone is riding to hattah this weekend for a look from melb, maybe a long way around along the murry or some decent backroads as hwys can be boring.

cheers,

searchin oz · Jul 6, 2012

The main street's full of bikes, scruitineering is well under way!

I might have to find a pizza bar and grab a bite, a JD and settle in for a bit!

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Gadget678 · Jul 6, 2012

I've got a booth booked at the Hogs Breath Cafe for tea 1930hrs (7.30pm) Saturday- feel free to join us.... The table's booked under my name, as well as my user name.

searchin oz · Jul 6, 2012

For those that dont know, Hoggy's is on the main street (Deakin Ave) between 10th and 11th streets.

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ROKIT_71 · Jul 10, 2012

Ride Report from Hattah 2012.

We left Melbourne on Thursday Arvo and stayed in Horsham in Thursday night. Friday morning we left early to do some riding in Little Desert for the day. Found the riding there ok but the tracks were really confusing and many crossed each other without warning so when we noticed fresh 4 wheel drive tracks, thought it may be time to get to Mildura. It was after lunch anyway and still had a fair drive. We had scrutineering in the main street that night which was packed full of bikes and happy faces.

Saturday needed to be at riders briefing by 9am so the morning was fairly rushed as we were staying in Mildura. Straight after briefing was a sighting lap of the prologue course which was around 5km in length. Then it was line up and be sent out in 10 second intervals for the prologue. Thankfully the course was quite loamy and muddy so no real dust to deal with. I took it easy on prologue and came in 310 out of 322. My riding partner went for it and came in 209. Most of the riders seem to be charging like a bull at a gate for prologue. :eek1

Sunday was a 9:30 start with all bikes to be lined up by 9:15 on the line. There were 4 rows of bikes. For the actual start there is an ATV which passes your front wheel and once they are out of your way it's time to put the hammer down. Each lap is around 38km's. Winner has to do 8 laps to finish the race.

Lap 1 went ok. It's very hectic as everyone scrambles to pass each other. The track is quite good though. Whoops are nice and the sand not to deep. Dust was really bad though. Some sections you just look for the rider in fronts helmet to see were you have to go and hope for the best. I managed to pass a heap of people through the whoops but felt a bit gumby in the tight stuff. Got passed by Toby before finishing my first lap. He is an incredible to watch.

Lap 2. Settled into a good rhythm as the field spreads out and not so much jostling for position. Dust is not as bad as I tried not to follow anybody to close. The Little whoops are starting to become bigger. Sand is becoming deeper. 2 laps down and I'm feeling f#cked. Start thinking how many laps I will do? Speaking to others before race they say between 4 to 6.

Lap 3. I'm starting to think holly fuck why am I doing this. The course is getting so chopped up with 300 odd bikes over it. I have had a couple of OFFS but no crashes yet. My back is killing me from fatigue already.

Lap 4. I start to find a good rhythm and actually start to really enjoy it. Its a real mental battle to keep focused as pain all over sets in. The course is like a bombsite. whoops have become sand dunes and holes have become craters. There are a couple of big dunes to get up and the sand is just so deep on them. The worst of them has no run up so there is no momentum to get you up there. It's just full throttle in 3rd and hang on. It's fun when you get to the top. Nearly took out some spectators as I bike passed me on I was knocked of line on the big dune.

Lap 5. I'm really hoping this is the last lap. I'm just praying Toby comes past. He's been past twice already. At about the 35 km point he comes past. I calculate that this has to be my last lap. You could park a 4wd in the bottom between the whoops and ride over the top without jumping as they are so deep now. I cannot hop them anymore. It's see saw time through them. There is heaps of bulldust. I came across 3 big crashes on this lap. Fatigue seems to be catching up with riders. I come into the pit chute and there is the chequered flag. Phew. If I had to do another it would have been ugly.

I started this racing caper Easter 2011 at the Condo 750 which I completed. I have completed Yilgarn 2011, crashed into the native fauna at safari 2011 which ended my race prematurely and then completed Condo 2012. This race has been the hardest yet in terms of terrain and physical effort.

I completed the race on a Berg 570. If I was to do it again I think a smaller machine would be much easier to manage as there is lots of tight stuff that is through deep sand.

As for results I came in at 168. Im happy with that considering were I prologued. My riding buddy came in at 164. He was run over on the first lap and then had a crash so he was much worse for wear at the end of the race. He had a nice big tyre mark up the back of his shirt as a souvenir.

I have pulled up ok so Im off to do the Honda 6hr at Golden Beach this weekend. Jak that would be great if you could get your pals at Koo Wee Rup to keep an eye out for me.

Hopefully next year see some of you there for the race?

Gadget678 · Jul 10, 2012

From a spectators perspective; the track looked hard & I was glad I wasn't riding. In previous years the big sand hill was relatively flat on top, so the riders could launch off the approach and land wherever they wanted. This year the riders were confronted by a series of worsening whoops as soon as they landed, then into the sharp soft, deep right hander that dropped back off the dune. The body language of the riders said it all.

Toby Price is a freak. He had about a 1.5 minute lead at the end of the first lap. Close to 6 minutes lead by the end of the race. I heard that he was clocked at 190kph along the fence section. Warren Smart (I think came 4th) was clocked at 183 -ish. I saw a rider stop just prior to the finish line... to wait for Toby to pass so that he didn't have to go around the 38km again.

It definately looked like a tough event. Well done to those who finished.

Aaron, thanks for the hospitality.

jungle face · Jul 11, 2012

I was there as a spectator and I wished I was 20 years younger & 20 kms faster. Top report and a BIG effort from you ROKIT & the rest of the guys that had a go.
On the other side of the fence, the souvlaki & coffee were worth the wait.

michael1968 · Jul 11, 2012

Nice work Ben!

Bluetonguejak · Jul 11, 2012

Thanks or RR Ben. Well done, great effort.

I always found i was a lot faster on my 300 on the whooped-out sand than on the 570. The lighter bike is much more forgiving and doesn't fatigue the old body as much.

You'll love the Golden beach sand whoops - a walk in the park after Hattah!

The KWRMC lads are worded-up.

BOL

GazzaFish · Jul 11, 2012

I was there spectating and it was sensational. Exceptionally well organised, Great to watch, Great hospitality and MY GOD, I calculated that even the slowest riders there wold have whipped my butt.

My favourite? - The guy riding the OLD YZ250(?) with the old triangle mono shock rear end!!!! Legend!!!!!! He wasn;t fast, his bike blew heaps of smoke but i bet he had a grin from ear to ear!!!!

I will definitely be there next year. Had an absolute ball!!!!!!

Gadget678 · Jul 11, 2012

GazzaFish said: ↑

I was there spectating and it was sensational. Exceptionally well organised, Great to watch, Great hospitality and MY GOD, I calculated that even the slowest riders there wold have whipped my butt.

My favourite? - The guy riding the OLD YZ250(?) with the old triangle mono shock rear end!!!! Legend!!!!!! He wasn;t fast, his bike blew heaps of smoke but i bet he had a grin from ear to ear!!!!

I will definitely be there next year. Had an absolute ball!!!!!!
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That was number 616 (veterans class- over 45yo). It was a YZ400. I saw him come back to the pits on a trailer after the first lap, but was back out on the track shortly after.

I loved seeing the 80's YZ circulating as well (? about 1986, white bike with red trim)

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