And Bahnzy, you blokes have the HBBB and I am sure it is not about to start moving around the country is it?
I’m not sure about CD1, (I thought that was on the border of VIC/NSW) but you are correct that the first group of CD’s were in Victoria, but they were nothing like CD4 and onwards. If my memory serves my correct there was no camping on-site for the CD’s up to Broadford and was a completely different event to what we get to attend nowadays. Drawing parallels between the CD and HBBB is unfair as they are different events with different drivers and objectives. Personally I can take or leave the HBBB event but CD is something special.
For most Victorians, Melbourne to Conondale & return is 3700km’s. In any mans language that 50 odd hours of bum on seat in a car, or if it sounds better to you that’s 5 days of driving. Add the 3 days (possibly 4 days) at Conondale that’s an 8/9 day commitment.
For some of the self employed guys that’s 5 days of lost income, fuel, 4 nights accommodation, meals and the list goes on and that just gets you to & from Conondale not taking into account the costs involved in being there.
Us VIC’s had it easy with some of the early venues of CD and in no way was I expecting it to come south to Victoria. I travelled to Conondale for 2009 & 2010 and would have been happy if it was in NSW or somewhere with less commitment towards funds and time, but I’ll still be trying my best to get there but it will be a stretch.
At the end of the day the Victorians represent a very small percentage of the total Classic Dirt VMX community and the organisers have to go where a guaranteed ROI & suitable infrastructure exists, and in today’s environment that is Conondale, Queensland.
Merry Christmas to all and have a great New Year, but above all please look after yourselves and be safe.