WONTHAGGI MOTOCROSS TRACK: First year out ...

[Berwick Boy]

This is my new DT360 - June 1974
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Practice Saturdays at Bihamco, Upper Packy
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Upper Pakenham pits
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Mum sewed me a shroud, using vinyl from Clark Rubber
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"Opposite Direction" day practising - Upper Pakenham.  (Later considered a dangerous practice to EVER reverse track direction)
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Hamming it up at home
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Another practice track - in farm paddock near Berwick
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Backroads leading to Wonthaggi.   Some sort of mining factory?
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Dandenong's first-ever event at Wonthaggi.  Just a club day.  Swampy black sand, with basic track pegged out.
As a guide, Stan, this bend later became that third banked turn where Halfpint Hunter jammed his leg into
Jim 'Floppo' Watson's CZ at the Vic Titles ... when they had to stop the meet, and cut it free.
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A boggy corner in low side of paddock.
HISTORY:
DMCC bought the land, probably late 1973.  ACUV would buy Broadford a few years later.
DMCC working bee weekends were supported by club families the Portburys and the Bergmeiers (both roadmakers).
Some guys were keen on getting the track done.  Others joyously got regularly pissed each weekend in 'The Grog-Inn' pub
they'd built against a farm fence in the corner.  Significantly, the club built brick toilets with sewer and taps and sinks.
The land was fairly flat.  It was unwanted, really.  Sewerage farm at the back and, later, and windfarm nearby too.
Amazingly, the track still exists.  Only one or two kms from town centre.

[Hoony]

Great Stuff Mate, how its changed now. i must get down and check it out as its been 2 years since i was there.

i have been a member since 1979 so its 35 years this year.

[Rosco86]

Can't remember the year but only the Pangbourne boys could have a head on at the entrance with one coming in and the other going out.

The Bergmeirs lived just out of Wonthaggi. Can remember my Dad and Ron running out of beer after a practice day. They gave Russell and I, money and a permission note to go into town and buy another slab ( non Victorians read carton) We were both 15 and they probably thought we would be excited to take the ute into town. Russell thought the 850 Norton Wasp sidecar would be more fun. Pub attendant looked bemused as we howled up. Had to take the back roads home as a blue disco light seemed to be following us. Raced home, handed over the beer and went to hide in the sleep out. Cops arrived spoke to the Dads and stated they had come past the shed and the bike motor was still hot. Dads hauled us in, kicked us up the arse and gave us the big warning. Coppers nodded in agreement and left. Moral to the story...... We took the ute the next time. Ah good times in a simpler time. Now it would be a booking, off to court and have the judge say "naughty boys" don't do it again!

[GMC]

Good stuff Rog, got any more?

[Berwick Boy]

I have a couple of book extracts from diaries, Geoff - which mention the Pony Expresses at Wonthaggi.
Sadly, am now making a Book about growing up in Berwick.

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[Stan S]

Very cool Roger,
I have some pic's of a working bee before the first Wonthaggi meeting and the first program. Will scan as soon as I can.
Love the overalls, hat, long hair and bare feet Oh and the 360.

Regards
Stan.

[jerry]

Love the SIDI desert boots Rog. Had the high sided Polish ones myself. J

[GMC]

By 82 the six hour was a who's who of the off road world

[Berwick Boy]

Mark Cochrane ... circa 1977 (Third turn again)

[John Orchard]

9th in the 250 class aboard a PE250, behind some good riders there  :-)

[80-85 husky]

I rode in 84, great fun! don't ask me where I finished up... got the results somewhere....

[John Orchard]

I think I rode a KDX175 in 83 or 84?

[80-85 husky]

I was on a mates dx 200 I think or did I take the 250? sh*t ill have to go look em up!!

[John Orchard]

Me in either 83 or 84, very rare for me to ride a green bike (back then anyway).

[80-85 husky]

we were 9th in 84, on the mighty 200. it was 83 you were john, you would have been shot wearing that helmet in 84!!(your not on the 84 results sheet )