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Picture: Start of the terrain test - a rock wall followed by a log...
A4DE – In Ozzie with the New Zealand Team!
Meeting at Auckland International Airport is actually near the middle of the journey. Before we get that far there are a million and one things to do to prepare for an assault on the Australian 4 Day Enduro.
Firstly there is the learning to ride a motorcycle, progressing through the skills and coaching courses, education in the school of hard knocks and finally venturing into Enduro. From there it is learning the trade riding wise, mechanically and of course psychologically coming to terms with riding Enduro itself.
Then it is preparing the bike for the 4 Day and getting all the licences, clearances, registrations, carnets, shipping container, crates, incidentals and still even more.
You have to be without your bike for several weeks and you need to keep up the riding to be on form for the 4 days of Hot Hot Hot competition.
Once on the plane, there is a little time to relax as there is nothing you can do to make things happen 20,000 feet in the air.
From Rental Vans not being at the airport to collecting new ones at the venue, swipe carts at the motel not working and restaurants closing early it is a challenge once you reach OZ.
Eventually you are settled in it is off to walk (yes WALK) the terrain (special) tests out in the country. Fancy walking a terrain test that is bunted on both sides for 1 hr and 15 min walking. It’s a damn long way and a lot of bunting to put out.
Our container was locked with the doors butted up to the ACT container for safe keeping. It means even we can’t get into the container even if we wanted to. So it is hurry up and wait for the local towing company to reposition the container and give us the chance to unlock and open the doors.
We know customs in Australia decided that a steam clean was appropriate. What cost we are yet to find out but you can bet it is going to be really steep.
Monday and our first look at the container – what a shambles – Customs just dumped everything back in after their inspection leaning bikes against each other, things on top of things etc.
We eventually sorted it out and fixed up all the damage like plastics, levers, etc. The boys who had arrived with us on Saturday got to work sorting out their bikes ready for the competition. Handle Bars, wheels and such like were reassembled and the horn and mirror attached for the legality of the scrutineering.
All that was completed by mid afternoon so Karl, Heath and Jason headed for a local riders hang out to check out their bikes and set up a few things. Karl spent a few extra minutes practising rock hopping with trials technique lessons from uncle Greg.
Sean Clarke arrived Monday afternoon with the rest of the crew who set about assembling their bikes, finishing in time for a quick trip out to the extreme terrain test after the horror stories from the early birds.
Decision time is looming with the extreme Terrain test having an option that saves up to 40 seconds. Unfortunately the quick option is a steep and rocky gully with a rock face at the top. Ride it clean and you save the 40 seconds. Cock it up and you could be there 10 minutes or even worse with a broken bike or painful body.
So all the riders are agonising on what they will do at the extreme test. The start of the test is only 5 metres from the gully so you can see most of the way up. The general consensus is that it will depend whether there are riders stuck in the gully as to what line to take.
The local RSL Club has been our home away from home with or dinners being taken there. Ross Davis has been designated chief cook after providing a magnificent bacon, beans and scrambled eggs for breakfast.
We have decided that communal BBQ’s overseen by Ross are the way to go for our future dinners. Looks like Ross has established a permanent place in the team.
Best wishes have come in from all across the country such as the Neild’s from the far north to Philippa in the South. Even multi NZ champion and last years team member Chris Birch who is riding in England sent a well wishing telegram from the other side of the world.
Thank goodness he survived the London bombings. Thanks to all those who have send messages. Much appreciated.
Our sponsors have come through with fantastic support in unexpected areas. MNZ have secured financial support from the Oceania group of the FIM which will go a long way towards our costs.
Murphy Busses have guaranteed the carnet expenses which run into thousands and have also given us a cash donation to pay for our fuel. Castrol Oil has supplied all our lubricants and Michelin Tyres in New Zealand have paid for the cost of the container that brought our bikes all the way to Australia. Fantastic and thanks.
Not forgetting Wrightson’s stock agents for outfitting the team in our uniform shirts resplendent with sponsors logos. We need all these people to get us to and from the far reaches of Australia and we can’t thank them enough. We are parked right next to the Western Australia team with our containers arriving around the same time which is two days before the security firms steps in to look after the gear.
We have joined forces with the West Okkers to cover the cost of security for the next two days to ensure our bikes are still there in the containers in the morning. At about $30 per rider, we feel it is pretty cheap insurance. Coming all this way to end up going home without a bike is not the way to go, especially after missing out on riding the event too.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will be finishing off the last of our bikes by getting prepared for the Wednesday morning scrutineering and sign in. Once we are ready, it will be off to walk the terrain tests and back to the camp for a BBQ dinner and an early night.
With the weather a fantastic 30 degrees with cloudless skies and a gentle breeze, it has been a fantastic few days of preparation in the Aussie sun.
After a star studded performance last year, Christopher Power has been honoured by being given the No 1 plate for the event. This is the number that Shayne Watts used to win the Aussie ISDE back in 1998.
The 125cc class rides first and it is the Trophy Teams that lead off. Chris will join Ben Grabham on minute one and it will be an honour to be one of the three to lead off the A4DE in this the 20th year..
So Bring it On!
