"The Flinders Classiv V' 2012

[masterbrewer]

It grows bigger & bigger each year, the "Flinders Classic" that is and near on 100 participants (including some partners) raised approx $2000 for The Childhood Cancer Assoc, with the help of Dave and Caroline Scicluna(Angorichina Village managers), DR/AussieTrev, Kipo, The Doc & Dave (Sol) & others. Well done guys

After missing "Flinders Classic IV" through family illness, I was super keen to get back to the shrine where the mighty TDM assisted a roo depart this earth in 2010 & pay hommage or just plain piss on it's grave bastard !

One thing after another looked like derailing my plans & after a last minuite back injury I decided to take the easy way





Being a day earlier than usual, gave me & "Classic" virgin KymW, a chance to hit the PAR before it was carved up by fire breathing, rock throwing, snarlin' smaller bikes.











Back to camp and after a refresher or two a few adventurous "Nuccal heads" headed out to inspect "The Mine"













Acting like kids in a lolly shop we went exploring









But it wasn't long before age reared its lack of sustained energy levels & we took the macho (easy walk along the river bed) track back to the bikes



That night the traditional bumby, rattlin', slidin' "party bus" ride to the pizza cookin' Blinman Hotel did not dissapoint

Past years has seen many attempts to eat their pizza politically correct, from

............. "butter wouldn't melt in their mouths"



to ................. "Ahh! it's Saturday night, I feel like a pizza, let's see, it's only a 490km / 6 hour ride"



to ....................... " the pendulum attempt at getting it into the mouth"



and finally this year ................... well! ................ I'm just plain speechless with this attempt

........................... captions anyone



... to be continued

[Aussie Trev]

How can you post this on ADV rider and your first photo is of two ADV bikes on a trailer?????

Setting yourself up here MB.

[masterbrewer]

Originally Posted by DRTrev

How can you post this on ADV rider and your first photo is of two ADV bikes on a trailer????? Setting yourself up here MB.

Well ! .....................it was a new adventure for me, being on a trailer.

[Aussie Trev]

Originally Posted by masterbrewer

Well ! .....................it was a new adventure for me, being on a trailer.

That's not entirely true! I can recall two ocasions when the mighty TDM has had assisted passage back to the big smoke from a 'Classic'....

[fethers]

Nice introduction post MB, looks like Kipo might be about to add more topping to that pizza!

[masterbrewer]

Originally Posted by DRTrev

That's not entirely true! I can recall two ocasions when the mighty TDM has had assisted passage back to the big smoke from a 'Classic'....

This was early days

[kipo]

At least I didn't have cheese hanging out of my gob

[bikerbilly]

Originally Posted by masterbrewer

captions anyone



... to be continued

he might look like a rough nut but he's got class...notice the little pinky?

[Sol Erzenberg]

Once again this years Classic was fantastic, big thanks to Trev, The Doc, Kipo, Subby, Kev & anyone else Ive missed out on..

Fiona had a top weekend, it was her 1st ever time in The Flinders & she does a good job of hanging on the back of the 690, I really enjoyed our 2-up day rides but also enjoyed the fast paced blast solo around Mt. Samuel..

The weather couldnt have been kinder to us & I'm sure everyone had a great time with both the trail riding & also the night time festivities..

A great bunch of people & a fantastic location, I cant wait for next year !

Cheers, Sol..

[Aussie Trev]

Originally Posted by Sol Erzenberg

Fiona had a top weekend, it was her 1st ever time in The Flinders & she does a good job of hanging on the back of the 690, I really enjoyed our 2-up day rides but also enjoyed the fast paced blast solo around Mt. Samuel..

Do a lap of the PAR with Fiona on the back next year Sol, and we'll see what we can do about an award for her.

[Sol Erzenberg]

Originally Posted by DRTrev

Do a lap of the PAR with Fiona on the back next year Sol, and we'll see what we can do about an award for her.

No problems..

[Sol Erzenberg]

Just to let you all know, profit from the sale of the Stubby Holders this year was $260 & I have today donated that to the Childhood Cancer Association S.A.

I advised them that it would be good if the funds can be directed to Bradleys Place.

My employer has a Matching Gifts Program & there is a fair chance that they will match the donation I have made as well..

Well done to everyone who bought a stubby holder from me at the event..

Cheers, Sol..

[LC4nicator]

We took the two young lads Todd & Nick under our wing and had them tag along.
Firstly, the PAR, where young Nick learned how to fix a puncture and roll start the bike in 2nd.
Then it was on to Mt. Samuel where they learned how to ride jutting slate & boulders in river beds
& finally the big test of no holds barred 20 odd kms of rocky river bed the following day.
Talk about throwing 'em in the deep end...the lads came up fine.

[Aussie Trev]

Hey Con,

Mate the two young lads were very appreciative of Adrian's, Stu's and your assistance to them for the entire weekend. Young Nick had only a few hours on dirt bikes under his belt before arriving at the Classic and you've got him doing Mr Samuel - just goes to demonstrate the quality of the instructors!!

Oh, and they liked Wayne's beer too.

Well done.

[masterbrewer]

Next morning, Trev's supposedly not feeling well (the reason to be revealed later ) & delegates me as ride leader to Arkaroola, although some expected 50+ riders had already broken in smaller groups ahead of us.









Pushing for time we didn't stay long at the Ark, keen to get to the Copley Bakery & their famous pasties

After Kipo's recommendation & having travelled this track some 6 years ago on a not well set up TDM and an inexperienced rider, we headed north towards the Umberatana Track & past the Wheele Turner Mine thinking nothing of it.

However within metres I couldn't recognise the track it just got rougher & rougher .............. long, loose rocky creek beds, deep ruts, steep climbs, steep descents & big boulders made for a very warming experience.

Now I can believe ............................"trauma does erase the memory"

I couldn't take pictures of the rough bits coz I was hangin' on for dear life for fear of















After struggling to survive for some 12kms we catch up to the group in front for a chat



Only we couldn't believe our eyes WTF



Apparantly Michelle had been hanging on tight to Kym's belt, but he hadn't told her he had unfastened the buckle some ways back when he got hot

How the hell had they ridden that track, respect ... respect

Kym & Michelle casually mount the Vstrom & leisurely ride off.



Followed closely by their personal cameraman Claude on his Tenere



Wasn't long before the track opened up into the countryside I recall ........................ let the fun begin







Loving these tracks & being the gentleman I am I was pushing the TDM out front to get far enough ahead to keep my dust to a minimum for the guys behind









After the first few caught up there was a lengthy wait & we heard from passing riders that Stooy on his Motard had, after amazingly surviving the steep rocky bits, come to grief on a fast smooth section.

Luckily no damage to bike or rider.

Typical amazing Flinders Ranges scenery .................................................. .... behind us, you fool












Boredum was setting in as we waited ................................ so play time began







DakarDan was the first to make his splash



followed by Stooy



and Kizz



Despite the difficulty riding in the fine dust of a 4x4 on the fast smooth Arkaroola to Copley Rd, excitement was building to sample the fabulous Copley Bakery menu





WTF???





I now know why Trev didn't come

to be continued