Mildura Motor Cycle Club has many long traditions which have evolved over its sixty three years of operation, but there is another milestone being achieved next weekend, when Club members embark on the 25^th Anniversary Trail Ride to Rainbow.

About forty participants are expected to tackle the social journey, with most riders taking to dirt bikes, to ride through the desert country south of Mildura, some choosing to ride road bikes using the bitumen and some vehicular support teams who will carry the goods and chattels, like changes of clothing and sundry spares for the machines, to Rainbow.

Trail riding has been a massive part of the Mildura Club over many years, with a specialized group doing a traverse of the Simpson Desert back in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of Australian settlement and many of the riders who took that journey will line up again for the Rainbow ride, as most of them have done for many years.

There is not one rider who has participated in all twenty five rides, as family commitments and work requirements have had an impact, but there are some who have made the trip more than twenty times over the years.

The ride to Rainbow takes the dirt group through the red sand of the “Sunset Country” and onwards through the “Big Desert” and skirting the “Wyperfield National Park” and “Lake Albacutya”, coming into the wheat town of Rainbow from the east.

The road groups enjoy their trip south through Ouyen and Patchewollock, to Hopetoun and on to Rainbow arriving from the north.

A wonderful social occasion is held at the Rainbow pub on the Saturday night, with members booking the venue totally overnight, making ready for the return journey back to Mildura, usually by a slightly different route on the Sunday.

Energy for the continuation of the ride comes from a core group of Life members of the Club, with Peter Oliver, Craig Baker, Gary Watt, Sy Nunan, Mal Seymour and Jock Macleod providing much of the organizational effort required to harness the group.

The ride will take place over the first weekend of September as it always does.

Download the press release written by Brendon Gledhill: 25th Anniversary Rainbow Trail Ride 250810

A “Come and Try” day will kick off at Mildura’s Olympic Park motorcycle complex on Sunday 22^nd August commencing at 9:00am, with this activity continuing until around Noon.

The morning come and try session will be held ahead of the unique afternoon session, “One Bike Day” competition, where riders will pit their skills over a range of motorcycle disciplines, using just the one machine for each event. Regular protective clothing and safety equipment will be required for all entrants. Machines will be scrutineered prior to participation.

The “Come and Try” will have a particular focus on junior riders and those who have either not ridden too much or have not ridden in any competitive event before. Riders will be able to negotiate some simple Trials obstacles and participate in a gymkhana during the morning.

A special licence has been obtained, which will cover the riders for Insurance purposes, which will allow training, coaching and practice, but will not include any competition. The Club will have qualified coaches present to offer advice and will have a separate session, running concurrently for the smaller riders, especially those riding on the PeeWee machines, where individual tuition will be offered. There will be no fee for entry for the morning session, but riders are asked to be at the Club just before 9:00am for a general start.

Riders will need to supply proof of Ambulance membership and some identification and approval to participate from a parent or guardian, as the only requirement of their participation in the morning session.

Following the lunch break (a light lunch will be available at the Club) the One Bike Day will be conducted utilising both the Motorcross track and the famous Olympic Park speedway. Riders will be scored in this “Club day” event for their overall performances over all legs of the competition. A “One Day Competition” licence will be available at a cost of $45 for the afternoon session. Again, proof of Ambulance membership will be required and minors will need to be signed in by a guardian. As applies for some considered Club activities, a “One day Mildura Club honorary membership will be provided free of charge, in order to encourage participation. An entry fee of $20 for each participant will cover administrative costs.

Sidecars, Quads and Karts will have access to the speedway track from 2:30pm until 4:30pm and will provide the break in between the One Bike Day events.

Several rounds of Motorcross will get the afternoon session underway from 1:00pm until 2:30pm.

Competition licensed riders are welcome to participate with entries being taken for the One Bike Day and Practice from 9:00am onwards with entries closing at Noon so as an afternoon program can be  worked out.

Download the press release written by Brendon Gledhill: Press Release – OBD 220810

Canberra will host one of the biggest supercross races ever held outside of North America when the Monster Energy Super X, the Australasian Supercross Championship, hosts the second round of the 2010 series in Australia’s capital on Saturday October 23 at Canberra Stadium.

The biggest rider lineup ever assembled outside of the AMA World Supercross series includes all of Australia’s best and three of the current top five in the world based on the 2010 AMA Supercross and Motocross championships, including:

Chad Reed (AUS)

Australia’s greatest ever supercross rider and current AMA world motocross champion

Kevin Windham (USA)

Second overall in this year’s AMA World Supercross series

Davi Millsaps (USA)

Third in this year’s AMA World Supercross series

Justin Brayton (USA)

Fifth in this year’s AMA World Supercross series

Mike Alessi (USA)

Currently fourth in the AMA World Motocross series

The Canberra round will see 6,000 tonnes of dirt trucked in and molded into the largest supercross track ever built in the ACT.

Tickets are on sale now through www.ticketek.com.au. For further information on the Monster Energy Super X and series announcements visit www.superx.com.au

Motorcross action will be at Olympic Park this Sunday, 8^th August, with a Fun Day or Come and Try opportunity for junior and senior riders.

The activity will begin with sign-on for the Motorcross from 9:00 to 9:30am, which will be immediately followed by a Working Bee to spruce up the track, prior to the commencement of practice and racing.

Potential riders are encouraged to hop in and help get the “new look” track ready for competition, by being at the Club by 9:00am, taking their opportunity to sign in and then help out with some menial working bee tasks before setting down to having fun riding their machines.

As is usual at all Olympic Park events, the meeting will be conducted using a Club Day permit , which will allow potential riders to purchase a “One Day Licence” which enables them to ride.

For this meeting full protective riding gear will be scrutineered along with machines, prior to any machine or rider going onto the track.

Juniors and new members will be specially catered for on the day, with advice and coaching available.

Some Club riders might wish to use the Motorcross practice time to sharpen their skills prior to the traditional “One Bike Day” – the next Club competition, which will be held on Saturday 21^st August.

This event tests the skills of riders using just one machine, but competing in four different motorcycling disciplines. Skills are required in MotoTrials, Gymkana, Motorcross and Speedway, with the best points scorer being named as the Club “Iron man” for the year.

Written by Brendon Gledhill

Download the press release: MX Fun Day – 8th Aug

A strong band of talented motorcyclists were presented with their awards at the 63rd Annual dinner of Mildura Motorcycle Club last Saturday night.

The well attended dinner was held in the Auditorium of the Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club, the major sponsor of the Motorcycle Club, in keeping with the now long established tradition of mutual co-operation between the two bodies.

Individual presenters paid tribute to the various recipients in the particular categories of achievement in the Motorcycle Club.

The competition clubman, “Rigby Trophy” was made to Club Captain, Brock Gates, who has completed an excellent season, riding and excelling in every discipline offered in the Club.

The Motorcross, “Stevenson Trophy,” was presented to Life member and Club Motorcross stalwart, Rohan Hollis, who continues his riding activity at the top level well into middle age.

In what was an impressive roundup of awards to the younger Sedgmen brother, Justin, who is now riding in England and Europe professionally, he was awarded the “Nemstas Trophy”, speedway solo aggregate, while the Byren Gates and Mick O’Loughlin Sidecar team took out the “Teague Trophy,” for the speedway Sidecar aggregate. Gates and O’Loughlin finished their season in fine form, taking a sixth place in the 2010 Australian Title meeting in Newcastle over the Easter weekend.

The Dirt Karters Trophy went to the most highly decorated driver in the country when Rob Latta took the award. Rob has two National Titles as well as many State Championships and podium positions to his name, in what has been a memorable, even if well travelled season for him and his family.

The newest Trophy in the list was the initial awarding of the Quad Racers trophy, which went to Club committeeman, Troy Mills. Mills has been most active in getting and assisting recruits to the Quad discipline, which includes, even three generations of his own family. The category continues with good growth and great entertainment. Read the rest of this entry »

The Mildura Motorcycle club is conducting the 2010 Wintersun classic speedway meeting on Saturday June 12 2010.

Download the entry form: Wintersun Classic Entry Form

The rally attracts riders from all over Australia. This year the Mildura MCC is conducting a classic speedway as part of the festivities of the weekend.

The Classic speedway meeting will be run on Saturday afternoon from 1pm there will be sashes for all class placings. Sign on from 11am machine examination 11am to 12.30pm Racing from 1pm.  NO LATE ENTRIES

Presentation will be in the clubrooms directly after the meting followed by a BBQ.

The meeting will be conducted as a club day and is free to the public, all entrants who are not members of the Mildura MCC will need to become members of the club and your entry will entitle you to membership, and your membership will be included in your entry fee for the day. Read the rest of this entry »

• Saturday 1st May 2010
• Saturday 12th June 2010 (Ulysses’ Junior Wintersun & Classic Speedway)
• Saturday July 3rd 2010 (Jason Crump Shield) (date t.b.c)
• Saturday 7th August 2010 (Leigh Adams Cup)
• Saturday 11th September 2010 (tbc)
• Saturday 2nd October 2010 (Presentation)

All dates may be subject to change due to weather, etc. Please check.
Sign on time from 12 o’clock. Racing from 1pm.

Canteen operating on track.

PLEASE NOTE: SENIOR PRACTICE ALSO TO BE HELD ON DATES AS LISTED ABOVE.

Junior nominations required on Monday prior to meeting dates.

Please contact ROLY PAVER on 0408 502397 for junior nominations & general enquiries. Or email: rolandpaver@bigpond.com

Download a printable version: MILDURA JUNIOR MOTORCYCLE CLUB dates 2010

Australian international speedway rider Leigh Adams has announced that January 5, 2011 will be the date of his Testimonial meeting, to be held at his home track of Olympic Park, Mildura.

Adams is currently competing in his final year of European competition and hopes to go out with a bang on January 5.

“I hope to put on one of the biggest speedway events our sport has seen for many years” said Adams from his UK base.

“It will be a special night of racing for all the fans that have supported me over the years and this will be my thank you to them as well as a celebration of the career I’ve had in the sport.”

Adams is currently in negotiations with two foreign grand prix riders and he hopes to announce their participation in coming months – should he pull this off it will be huge news for fans down under.

The meeting will feature a very strong field of senior riders, some Junior competition, as well as Australia’s top sidecar riders and a host of other cameo appearances by champions past and present.

“The Sidecar field is nearly sorted” said Adams, “and all but one of the competitors rode in the Australian Championship this year”.

The odd men out are actually the brilliant duo of Glenn and Nathan O’Brien, who jumped at the chance to take part.

“What an honour to be part of such an event” said Glenn.

“As soon as I got the phone call there was not even a pause, I just said put us in and nobody will keep us away!”

“Leigh has done more for Australian Speedway than anyone else I know and this will be my thank you to him for the enjoyment that he has given me and many others over the years”.

More information on the Leigh Adams Testimonial will be released in coming months – should be a beauty!

A wonderful night of Sidecar racing brought Olympic Park’s competition season to a brilliant close last night, when the Broken Hill team of Rick Howse and Adam Commons stormed to a superb win in the Coca-Cola Sidecar Spectacular final over some very tough opposition.

Top points scorers for the night were Mildura riders Warren Monson and Deven Gates, who rode with plenty of speed, taking the first selection in the final on countback from the eventual winners. Third on points were fellow locals, Byren Gates and Mick O’Loughlin, who capped off an excellent season with another solid performance, while just sneaking into the final was World Champion, Mick Headland, with youngest son, Jesse in the chair. A three way Countback decided positions five through to seven, indicating the strength of the meeting all night.

Howse and Commons were delighted to receive the Keith “Curley” Carmes Trophy for winning the 33^rd Spectacular, which has finished off their best season ever in Sidecar speedway. The popular duo was full of praise for the slick conduct of the meeting and the excellent track which was presented to riders. They also paid tribute to all team members who have helped over many seasons of top competition, particularly, Phil Austen, who has spent many years of dedication and travel while on the spanners for his Silver City colleagues. Read the rest of this entry »

The current World Speedway Sidecar Champion, Mick Headland, from Murray Bridge, will head up a great group of sidecars to contest the 2010 Coca-Cola, Sidecar Spectacular at Mildura’s Olympic Park on Sunday night, 25th April.

Headland came away from the recent Australian Championships held at Newcastle, with a hard earned fourth place, even though he was riding with his youngest son, Jesse, in place of his injured regular passenger, Paul Waters, who was badly injured in a track accident in New Zealand back in January of this year.

Headland is a class act in any company, but he will not get many things his own way this weekend as the “hot shots” from that Australian Title, Broken Hill’s, Rick Howse and Adam Commons, will be keen to show that their Newcastle form, where they finished in second place, was not any flash in the pan. The Broken Hill pair have been slick all year and have just selected those meetings which have given them their best Title opportunity training as the important ones for the season.

Howse and Commons were the fastest team for the entire Newcastle meeting, winning all five of their heat rides on Championship night and just failing to win the major prize in the cut throat final. Gate selection was possibly just slightly wrong for the Broken Hill combo, but all present could understand that in choosing the inside gate position, it did give some insurance over the five times Champion, Darrin Treloar for Howse, but they did not expect to see the wonderful start that was gained by the eventual winners, Jason Aldridge and Cal Campbell. Read the rest of this entry »