Broadford Bike Bonanza 2018

[Kenneth S (222)]

Just did the run down to Broadford for my first bonanza. You Victorians are totally spoiled with that complex and yet again NSW is behind the times and our local government has NFI! Was great to ride around the Broadford MX Track again although last time I rode it in 82 it went anti-clockwise but it still felt familiar and brought back great memories. I was told attendance numbers were approx 5000. Pretty impressive numbers. Attended Rosco's Mini Reunion Dinner and mini Show n Shine which was a blast with a lot of great people there. Crumpy came and put on a show at the Short Circuit track and even though he was obviously riding at 70%, his 70% was still a thrill to watch. Those old short circuit guys are fun to watch and they are as tough as nails. Watched the road riding for a while on what I thought was a beautifully undulating road circuit with great vantage points. All in all a good spoil of a weekend for me and I highly recommend it.

[Hoony]

yes a good event, i have not been for 4-5 years but i reckon and i thought numbers were way down on MX track, but speedway was in high attendance and i spent my time there.

[John Orchard]

Yeh l tend to head-out about every second year, always the same bikes there, the mx crowd seems to be getting smaller; combination of a few things l think....

vmx guys getting old and losing some drive/interest/health.

All the bickering that goes on about race classes & period mods.

Hit & miss if the mx track is going to be rideable.

Cost.

More vmx guys turning to Vinduro.

l would have expected the mx track to be in great condition this year but it's still the same old track. I would have gone this year to catch-up with old friends but a herniated disc has put me out for a little while.

[Slakewell]

I see Terry's bike has caused a stir.
http://amcn.com.au/editorial/2018-shannons-insurance-broadford-bike-bonanza-brings-a-bike-out-of-48-years-of-hiding/

[Canam370]

The MX track was in excellent condition this year. I was manning the track entry and every rider I spoke with praised the track condition. Well done groundsmen!

[Tony H]

Some pic's from saturday-







































and pit lane- Vincent's, Norton's, Indian's and more

 https://youtu.be/hqcwkI9QSx4

cheers Tony

[Momus]

MX track was good. Since they've cut the top NE corner? from it the maintenance seems to be more manageable. MX numbers seemed to be down but the sliders where in abundance; as were minis of all shapes and sizes.

[Curtis]

I go every year and have the best time ever! ride the road circuit, long track and vinduro all in one weekend!!...

[GEET550]

As a South Australian that went over for the first time this year I just thought I would post my thoughts on the Bonanza. Spent Saturday shuttle busing around to the various areas. The size of the place is mind blowing. Spent my time at the road race track with my mouth open in awe. The machinery that was wheeled out and circulating on the track was unbelievable. If you have never seen the engineering masterpieces that are the Irving Vincents, do yourself a favour and have a look at them some time. They circulated the track like everything else was standing still! Speedway area was brilliant - great Vincent demonstrations and brilliant array of speedway, long track, flat track machines and riders. The swap meet puzzled me- bit of a non event, with 10 or so traders and not much passing foot traffic. There were some beautifully turned out MX and Vinduro machines, but they seemed to be scattered everywhere. There didn't seem to be much activity on the large MX track - only a few pre 90 and 85 bikes and a lot of the bikes seemed to be riding down to the enduro circuit by the speedway to do their riding or up to the top vinduro circuit. After a big part of Saturday at the speedway, I spent all of Sunday at the Road Racing. Thoroughly enjoyed the event and would come again, but am just wondering if I missed something, as the Road race and speedway/ long track, seemed to be the main focus of the event, with everything else just acting as gap fillers. What do others think? Maybe there is something that I missed or I am being a bit critical? Just thinking that if I had hauled MX bikes over to ride, may have been a bit disappointed.     

[BAHNZY]

Hit & miss if the mx track is going to be rideable.

The way that the sprinklers are set up do nothing but destroy the corners with deep mud/bog holes. Track came good in the arvo on both days but only a single line for the most part. Its a tough gig to maintain, but i'd prefer the dust to mud. Issue is that the road circuit guys don't run air filters so the 1st sign of dust coming their way and there whingeing.

[John Orchard]

Hit & miss if the mx track is going to be rideable.

The way that the sprinklers are set up do nothing but destroy the corners with deep mud/bog holes. Track came good in the arvo on both days but only a single line for the most part. Its a tough gig to maintain, but i'd prefer the dust to mud. Issue is that the road circuit guys don't run air filters so the 1st sign of dust coming their way and there whingeing.

I've had the discussion many times with the various track Managers, even recently with Rob Mestrom (who is also the CEO of MV).  It's very hard to keep Broadford dirt nice all the way around; if I had a dollar for every day I have worked on that track I would have a shed full of factory bikes  ;-)

Yeh the roadrace track guys complain about any dust that blows over the hill (in the 25 years I have raced on the road circuit, I have never seen dust blow over the track), making management turn on the sprinklers.  Lack of complete coverage of the sprinklers and not taking into account where water pools seem to be a big problem, plus the only top-soil that is on the track is what is laid in the lead-up to an event.

From the pics I have seen of the event, the track looked as good as it has been in the last 10 years, although I wasn't keen to come out and ride.  I've had in-depth talks with Rob about what the track needs, I don't think MV wants to spend the money required.  But really just the basics will help, like understanding gravity when it comes to running water and looking at the weather forecasts  ;-)

[BAHNZY]

John,
Broadford MX track always has been and will continue to be a pain in the butt to prepare and maintain over the course of a weekend for racing/riding. The people that are tasked with maintaining it are up against the elements all year round. When it’s wet it’s a mud fest, when it rains heavily any good soil or conditioning on the top of the track is washed away, when its dry its rock hard and dusty and when you water it with sprinklers it’s over watered in the wrong spots and turns the dirt into sticky clay. The Bonanza is meant to be a showcase of motorcycling from day dot to 1990 along with showcasing the facility itself. When HBBB first started the MX numbers were massive and year on year since it has dwindled to where there wouldn’t have been more than 20/25 riders using the track at any one time this Easter just gone, WHY? I understand that it not all about the track, camping, facilities, etc. all have a part to play, but why is the MX side of the Bonanza not growing or as popular with the rest of the disciplines. At a guess there would have been more Enduro bikes at the event this year than MX bikes (I may be wrong)

[Curtis]

Its not just Bonanza and the track, its vintage MX in general. The biggest class at the moment in victoria is pre 95.
That track is hard work and all the older generation are moving into something a bit easier on the body..vinduro or dirt track etc..
 its as simple as that

[John Orchard]

You guy's are right  :-)

I think there is still hope for the Victorian vmx scene.  Sure the Broadford mx track has been worn down to the bones from all the years of use, I think most Vic vmx riders know that and that's one reason why they don't ride out there,  although I think Viper had a great turn-out at a recent race meeting there?

Good turn-outs for Classic Dirt & VMX Expo in other states; which is in the same vein as the Bonanza, I guess the main difference a nice flowing grass-track verses 'one-line, mud, dust, mud' track at Broadford?

I reckon the rally-cross track, over where the supercross track was, should be graded with a few crests so old riders & bikes can get some gentle air.  If a grader can get around it then so can a water-truck (and old riders ;-) ).  A water-truck is the only real answer for motocross tracks; it gives constant coverage with the labour of only 1 person.

I will talk again to Rob Mestrom to see if we can organize a 'steering Committee' to offer constructive ideas.

[BAHNZY]

Its not just Bonanza and the track, its vintage MX in general. The biggest class at the moment in victoria is pre 95.
That track is hard work and all the older generation are moving into something a bit easier on the body..vinduro or dirt track etc..
 its as simple as that

Interested to understand, is Pre-95 seen to be the biggest class because it has the most bikes at the event/meeting (or) the most entries, they are two very different things.