Auscobul has it pretty right but to be fair, it's often far more complicated than just following Marks list. More often than not it's easier to flush a Rottweiller down the toilet than to get the local council approval to run a race meet. When your approval is accepted by the local council it is usually tabled at a council meeting to allow local businesses and residents to voice any objections. More times than not some local "do gooder" will offer up some bizarre reason for the event not to go ahead, usually citing bogus enviromental or noise concerns. For Lyndon Heffernan to get permission to hold the Picton Thumpernats round he had to get approval from the following.......
*The landowner
*Department of Sport and Recreation
*Department of Land and Enviroment
*MNSW
*MA
*Wollindilly Council.
*The local church diocese
The council then tabled the application for consideration and objection was recieved from the local churches, complaining that the sound of the bikes could be heard during their services, thereby distracting the parishiners from their worship. After some serious lobbying, Heffo was finally allowed to proceed with the Thumpernats event but no bikes were allowed to be started until the final church service had ended. This was only one of the many, many obstacles that were thrown at Heffo and his group of dedicated helpers but in the end perserverance won out and the Picton Thumper round went on to become one of the best rounds for a number of years until the series eventually faded from the scene.
It's even more of a tribute to Heffos dedication and resilience when it's realised that he had to go through the very same process every year he held the event.
