I just received this press release from the club, so it sounds like it's all coming together. It's quite an amazing looking track, but I am keen to have a ride on it, even if I won't do justice to it. And how about the sound of that track surface?
"The ACT Government has provided generous financial support and Hewatt Earthworks the tonks toys and fill to enable us to re-develop our Fairbairn Park MX complex for major events like the 2009 Australian MX Nationals, Oceania MX Teams Challenge and Yamaha MX Cross Cup.
We have built a new American Motorcycle Association (AMA) style FIM Standard 1.6 km man made MX track from clean virgin fill on a clay base over undulating terrain. It has drive in pits that can accommodate over 500 competitors and new elevated spectator peninsula's that place fans up to 6 metres above the track and in the thick of the action.
The surface is a sand/soil loam mix fortified with 500 cubic meters of composted organic green waste to retain moisture, provide excellent grip and minimise dust.
The new 40 gate start grid leads into a banked right hander onto the main track where there are 6 berms, 6 flat corners, a high speed sweeper, a man made g-out gully ("The Big Dipper"), 3 tabletop jumps, 3 ski jumps, a curved rolling jump ("Mister Twister"), 5 step-up jumps and 2 step-down jumps to challenge the riders.
The Club used its ACT Government "Sustaining Sport in a Drought Environment" grant to build a new "Dam to Track" remote control automatic track watering system. Stormwater run-off is harvested on the property and stored in an enlarged on-site dam. A new self starting high capacity diesel pump delivers @ 80,000 litres of high pressure water per day to over 200 sprinkler heads spaced 6 metres apart around the entire track. This system can soak the track prior to an event, water the whole track on race day in 4 x 12 minute bursts, and minimise dust all at the touch of a button.
The Pro Riders who designed and built it are confident that this track sets a new standard for Australian outdoor MX tracks.
Matt Haskins, 21 yrs, from nearby Yass, designed the track with help from fellow MX Nationals riders including Cody Mackie, Lawson Bopping and Mal Cash. Matt, a Yamaha Australian Institute of Motocross Pro MX rider and the Club's resident Level 2 Coach, is a Director of FastMX Coaching and Specialised Fitness. His dad, Mark Haskins, a Civil Engineer, project managed the work for the Club.
Mal, from the Bega Valley, Bikebiz Honda MX National's rider, spent a week on Hewatts D7 dozer and a bobcat, turning the mounds of fill into an awesome track. His goal was to make the obstacles fast and challenging for the Pro Riders, but safe enough for Club riders from beginner to expert.
Lawson Bopping, 19yrs, Shift Motul Suzuki Team Pro MX and SuperX rider #338 from nearby Braidwood NSW grew up in the Club and this is his home track. He tested it for Mal while it was under construction and says it's "awesome".
Our sights are set for the opening round of our 2009 MX Club Championship on Sat/Sun 28/29 March. We expect to see an influx of top shelf riders entering that event to gain valuable experience on the newest MX Nationals track.
Regards,
Allan McNeice
President,
ACT Motor Cycle Club"
