Dirt Trackers Unite!

[Graeme M]

OK, I know this is the Oz VMX forum. But...

My first love was trail, second was dirt track. I was a very keen dirt tracker for a while in the early 80s and luckily lived in one of the big DT centres of the time - Maryborough Qld. We had a nice fast track called appropriately enough Action Park. As well as all the usual races etc there we held an annual 3-Hour which was a fairly big event back then.

Now, in keeping with my MX skills, I was only ever an average dirt tracker altho I did win a race - once. However, I loved the sport and we even ran a few DT-ified enduro/trailies on the road. We had seen superbikers and supermotard and copied that with things like XR600s with 18" wheels shod with racing wets. Fun around town alright.

Anyways, this post is an invite for any dirt trackers out there to share their story, post their photos and generally reminisce about the good times. And with any luck, we'll put on a great show at Wagga in October!

Here's a favourite photo from my collection. Most of my pics are slides and just as soon as I get a slide scanner I'll share some more...

The lead rider is a local who was a fairly successful B-Grader - David McDowell. Behind him on an XR600 is the local Honda dealers son, A-Grader Craig Howlett. This was taken in about 1986.



Here's a page from my photo album. Some sliding action, and amazingly enough for 1982, we ran a 'vintage' class!

[Graeme M]

Craig on the gas on the mighty CR500

[Graeme M]

And finally, it's all about me!

Leading Craig at Kingaroy (or is he really lapping me???)



And a nice view of my RM250Z, a brilliant little racer.

[Graeme M]

Ooops... one more. Couldn't resist showing this one. What racing DT and reading about Superbikers did to us...

[Rosco400]

Great photos Graeme , Back in 1982, you said they had vintage class,can you remember what classes/bikes were they running, Ive only ridden one dirt track meet in my life age 44 at Coffs and had an absolute ball,felt after one race was hooked, even managed to go OK in a couple of races and the body was thanking me afterwards i.e no aches or pains, hence why I'm so desperate to get the mighty 465Z out for a play in Wagga National event or not, just hope it happens to be a part of it, feel that need for speed

[Graeme M]

The vintage class was actually a 'demo' class. I am not sure looking at the photo who is who now, but I think the lead rider in the group of three shot is on an ex-Matt Daley KX250, the guy in second is local Suzuki dealer Greg Ohl on a CZ of some sort, and trailing them might be an AJS Stormer, tho I might be completely wrong on that. I am pretty sure that Donny Newell used to rock up to Maryborough a lot too, tho not sure if he ever rode in that class. I have to admit that at the time I couldn't have cared less about the old bikes and I am surprised I even took those photos!

Dirt track is a good option these days. I do enjoy MX but I love the speed of DT and the feel of sliding etc. The feeling of cranking into that first corner with 12 other desperates is just second to none. I have a grainy old video of some Action Park action in our trailbike class from about 1982, with PE175s, 250s, DR500s and XR500s etc that I'd love to convert to digital. If I can figure that out I might post it up here sometime...

Yes, I hope the Wagga event goes off. Imagine if we could get this thing really happening, maybe 100 entrants and 100-200 bikes. Man that's be good! And after a full day's racing we'd still be able to walk..

[Tim754]

No worries here ,look at the machines in the pics VMXers and lots of them. Go for It Sideways!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gerard De Ruyter (Twistandshout)]

i reckon dirt track was made for 'the older rider' - nothin to bang your body round.  so its already on my plan for 'how to keep on two wheels as body gets more decrepit'.  and more cc's equals more fun too (unlike mx, where i'm beginning to think i might go faster on a beta 50). 

thank god they're about to reopen the fairbairn dt track - time to dig out the trials tyre!

[Hoony]

i too did dirt track down in vic for about 5 years, i will never forget the "Sultan of Slide" Chris Watson on his GR500 godden full noise in the dog leg at broadford, the rooster tail swapping from right hand side to left and back to right again, i even have DVD of that somewhere in the collection.

also another highlight was the 3 (i rode 2 of them) Ivan Mauger Australian Long Track Grand Prix's with all the internationals and the late great Simon Wigg, Action a plenty !!!!!