Just back from the Nats with a head full of great memories of some unbelievable racing and even nicer people. Being stuck in the announcers booth all weekend gave me the opportunity to see every race and with that in mind I've made a few observations.
* Glen Bell was great and despite me initially having reservations on the legality of some of the components I spoke to a bunch of folks who know such stuff better than I and I'm now convinced it's legal (although I reckon the bike could do without the wave disc rotor). Belly was his usual smooth self both on and off the track and his 'stuck in second gear' second moto win was a ripper. Bike owner Geoff Holmes and I have had a few disagreements throughout the years over his liberal use of the rulebook but I gladly admit that his bikes are something else as far as detail and quality.
* Dean Burt is the best thing to come along to VMX in years. His RM 400T Suzuki would have to have been the most meticulously prepared Evo bike at the meet and the fact that he owns and prepared the bike himself shows that he's here for the long haul. His riding was ubelievably smooth and rocket fast, the fact that his times were within a cooee of Belly who was on a far more modern and powerful bike says it all. He and his lovely wife Danielle really settled into the vintage groove in the combined Team Husky/ Klub Kevar pit. The happy vibe at the post race pissup gave a hint that there's a lot more to come from Burtys VMX involvement.
* While Burty and Belly recieved most of the accolades, the meeting really belonged to Brad van Barello. His 4 class wins were an amazing iron man display. It seemed that Drakie or I were calling his name in every second race! I don't know how he does it. He's a credit to the sport with seemingly no bias to any particular era with bikes ranging from pre 65 to pre 85. Good one 090!
* The West Aussies once again put in a great effort in getting over for the Nats. The very logistics involved in the effort would thwart most of us. A bit of political bullshit bunged on by one of their own prior to the event didn't help their image but after talking to a few of the WA contingent I think that they're at last over this clown and his annual display of pedancy as much as we are. The bloke didn't even come to the event but loaded his son up with a bunch of "issues" to confront the officials with. PL aside, the West Aussies were their usual competitive and enthusiastic group with some beautufully presented bikes. We could all learn from their enthusiasm.
* While pre 75, Evo and pre 85 are sailing pretty well and appear to be healthy, the pre 70, pre 75 4stroke, pre 65 and sidecar divisions had severe slumps in the entry numbers. The pre 65 and sidecars were especially woeful. It's all very well claiming 50 000 spectators would have lined the fence in Europe to see them but there would have been mayhem with those 50k angry punters wanting their money back for the substandard show. With the exception of John Cooper and Walter Preisig putting on a show for the crowd, the others were woeful. If the sidecars want to be taken seriously they'll have to pick up their act apreciably.
* It's the same with my own beloved pre 65 class. There were a number of notable omissions from the program and I've no doubt they all had good reasons not to be there but for the class to survive and for it to be taken seriously something has to be done. A wise old bloke told me over a beer on Saturday arvo "if the pre 65 class is going well and the Pre 85 class is doing well, everything in between should also be healthy". The pre 85 class is doing great so let's put some effort into getting the true traditional vintage class up and healthy again and everything in between can only benefit from having healthy "bookends".
*The standard of bike preparation was superb. The Bell and Burt bling bikes were the frontrunners of an entry of superbly prepared machinery. Thankfully the days of ratty old faded TM Suzukis, flat black DT1s and rusty old XLs is being replaced by bikes that have been restored to a presentable condition. Vintage racers are finally getting the message that the standards of bike presentation represents the standards of our sport. Rat bikes, as cool as some think they are, tend to send a negative message to the public. Interestingly, the really fast guys in nearly every class were aboard well presented bikes. That should tell us something.
I'm downloading the 800 odd photos I took over the weekend and will add more comment when I post the shots. I'm buggered from the trip and have come home to a bit of Casa del Firko houshold drama (thankfully nobody dead or maimed !) so it may be a little while before I get to upload the shots. Despite my above little criticisms, the Nats proved sport's in excellent condition and is manned by some of the nicest people I've ever met. Come on Broadford 2010.
