Let start pre weekend and the work put in by our fearless, yet sometime homicidal president Paul Copley.  I spoke to Paul many times in the lead up to the event.  I remember to speak slowly as he was actually living in Manjimup and also made certain i didn’t refer to any vegetables, just in case he was related to them!!!

People have to realise that a lot of work went into getting pre85 and filling pre85 on the programme.  Many people stated they were going to enter and a few failed to follow through. Well let me tell you from the point of view of a very old man (well that’s the way I ride, apparently) you missed a brilliant meeting. 

Paul not only had to deal with Willie Thompson who as a promoter was trying to fill his programme but also us in the club to cajole, trick anything to get us to enter.  He almost lost some weight over the whole thing.  But what he did do was arrange bikes for people including a friend of the wife (she who will be obeyed) who said he used to ride in the era in the UK.  Now Paul put up a CR480 for Jon Lloyd to ride without even meeting him, that’s how committed he was to getting us to the grid including Sir Nick (four stroke) Maxfield, nothing to do with lawn mowers on a 510 Husky  (what a pleasure that was to see) thank you James from Busselton Motorcycles.  So for those of you who are just sitting back in your armchairs after a great weekend raise your glass to Paul (oops and Nat) and say thanks mate.  Note also during this spiel, it’s about the pre85 race not just the club, because we had guys from other clubs bringing out their old bike, all adding to the movement!!

Now Saturday night  was a great spread at Paul & Nat’s place with Natalie providing a full three course meal, soup, roast (beef was over cooked like mine pinker, Nat!!) and apple crumble, yum.  It was a great prelude for the day to come.

Sunday:  Race day,  would you believe a beautiful warm winters day.  Ross (fatboy-slim) Campbell gave his time to help with the machine examining, thanks Rossco, oh and by the way I may only have had one gear Rossco, but it was on the track, and Vicki you looked stunning as usual!

Practice, I don’t know who the idiot official was who decided we should do our practice with Pro Lites, but I spent more time with my head ducked as they  “ROOSTED ME” than I did looking at the track.  Now it’s at this point in time I have to mention the damn bad luck of Brian Watson  (VMXWA) who did a gearbox 400 metres or less into practice, he deserved a lot better as I think Garry Spouge (BSAHD) at least I think it was him, who did a piston in practice.  Oh yeah and “Happy 50th Birthday Helen” whoever you were!.  So all the trials and tribulations over and away we go.

Now my whole aim was to finish every race and as usual there were those guys up the front Paul Copley and Glenn (I don’t need red bull to get wings) Darroch, trying to make us look slow, well succeeding.  There was a gentleman by the name of Paul Bailey #55 from the lightweight club turned up with a 78 Husky, well what was left of it (sorry Paul) his objective was just the same, just finish the race and I believe he did and now has a membership form.  There was Charly Smith (GMCC) riding an IT Yamaha complete with toolkit bag, and making quite few of us look like we should be in that Bag, he chased Alan machins #29 all day, Alan of course somehow spreading his meagre frame to stop him passing until the last race when Alan breathed in and Charly snuck past.

I was sat in the pits just before racing a guy asked me how much my 1983 RM250D was worth (oh yeah it’s for Sale), $4,000 (open to offers) I told him he cringed ”oh no” I sold a RM125D to some guy in Currambine.  Low and behold what was Richard (Arthur Daley of VMX) Jolly riding, yep that bike, enough of the frivolities.  Richard also had no luck with machinery, and was a pity to see such a good rider being so frustrated.

We have a few special mentions.  Daryle (Yep, room for one more tat!!) Mitchell (VMXWA), on a pre75 400 Husky. What a great time we had, from him sitting next to me at the start so he’d get photographed by Christine, to see him running alongside his husky and then riding it side-saddle up rock and roll hill (Let him tell that one) to having me hold on to his bike while he spoke to the officials, to see how long I’d hold it for, the bike is still for sale Daryle.

Jon Lloyd, a work colleague of the wife (feral photographer) mentioned before as being loaned a bike by Paul to ride, he is hooked, though he owes me like badly.  He caused my only fall all day and as I lay with my bike trying to mount me!!  He as a typical Honda Rider was just kicking his bike over, I lay screaming in agony (well shouting at him to give me a hand), before he would come over to help. Now on this subject I hate to say it, but my father Brian (Alison Melvin thinks I’m a god) videoed the whole scene.  I have to say it would win funniest home videos, Christine is trying to get it on Utube.

Now I’m not too sure about Martin Hornsby (VMXWA) as between race 2 and 3 he decided to have lunch except he was still having lunch when we went out for race 3.  Ah well, the gods of MX got their own back in the last moto as his bike gave up the ghost on the grid.   Rumours have it that Mike Waters got bored with the track and decided to get up close and personal with the crowd to gauge their reaction.  Glenn Darroch, paid members of the media to film him, including placing a web cam in front of him at the start, the start was delayed for 5 minutes while he had his hair (what there was) and makeup done.

Well who had the biggest smile on his face, as always, Mr I’d rather ride a four stroke than have sex, Nick Maxfield,  on behalf of his long suffering wife Linda, I urge you to visit the Tea Rooms in Bridgetown for the best coffee, (sounds strange I know) for hundreds of kilometres.  Now let’s get to Sir Paul of the Copulators, rumour has it his spanner man Bill (the claw) Copley even loosened the seat Bolts to make it harder for him to ride, Glenn was seen slipping him $20 after the race

Special mention on the day to my wife Christine, the reason you guys are so pleased to see me on race day.   She took over 1400 shots, so if you want some of yourselves email us.  She even caught up with her “best mate” Willie Thompson who remembered her antics last year, and this year removed all cherry pickers from the course!!.  Alison and Steve Melvin for their support on the day.  Rod Gilchrist, though unable to ride with us on the day,  looked after the bikes overnight and I believe ran a creditable 3rd in the over 40’s.

Not much left to say except, if you weren’t there you missed a great meeting and who’s up for the King of the Cross on  7-8 August, if an old fossil like me can survive Manjimup, you young guys should step up and put me in my place.  Come and have a go!!!

Barry Mitcheson

Last Updated ( Monday, 07 June 2010 20:36 )