Not since 1979 has a 2 Day Enduro been held in Dungog,.
Back then it was run by a private promoter but this year Dungog Motorcycle Club took on the challenge.
The event, held on August 29 and 30, started at the showground and travelled 150kms through public roads, private property, state forests and finally arrived back at the showground in the afternoon.
The 150km trail section was broken up by timed special tests on the properties of Jim Frances (Robs Roost), Mark Peacock’s (Marks Revenge) and Glen Charlton’s (Barrington Tops Trail Bike Tours) and a motocross style race on the showground.
“Having a race on the showground like this is great, it’s not often we get to watch our peers race motocross, we’re normally flying through the bush dodging trees,” one rider commented.
One hundred and twenty riders turned up for the event including four times World Champion Stephen Merriman, current Australian 4-day Enduro champion Jarrod Bewley and a host of other top professionals, expert and clubman riders.
Dungog club was well represented with Gary Orchard, Michael Charlton, Peter Clark and Steven Clarke leading the clubman charge and Trent Lean riding expert class.
“Peter was the stand-out Dungog club rider taking his home town advantage to a class and outright clubman win,” said club president Trent Lean.
“Peter’s test times placed him in the top ten outright as well including the pro guys.
“He commented that it all came together for him at the weekend.
“He said he had been training hard and it’s paying off now.”
Michael Chalton gave away any chance of a podium finish when he had “an over the bars” excursion in the Saturday afternoon motocross after colliding with a rider who had crashed in front of him
“It’s disappointing to have crashed,” Michael said
“I was looking for a way past in the log section and the next thing you know the guy in front crashes and I’ve hit him and I’m going over the bars.”
Gary Orchard’s weekend went better with a sixth on Saturday and a third on Sunday.
“I got it together today,” Gary said after Sundays podium finish.
“This class is very competitive with only 10 seconds between sixth and third, I knew a clean run through ‘Mark’s revenge’ today would probably get me on the podium luckily it all came together.”
The master class (over 45) was represented by Dungog club member Steve Clarke.
Steve needed to win at least one day to secure the State title.
Unfortunately former Australian Motocross champ Vaughn Styles was too good and wrestled the title away from Steve.
Steve was philosophical about the weekend saying Vaughn is a great competitor and his times on the ‘grass track special’ tests were excellent.
“I was able to beat him in Mark’s test but not by enough to win either day and the crash I had in the motocross test didn’t help my cause.”
Trent also used his home town advantage to finish third on the Saturday.
“I had some good test times today and a first and third in the showground test was a stand out,” he said.
“Mark’s test was world class according to Stephen Merriman and probably the toughest test I’ve ridden.
“Rob’s and Glen’s grass track tests were the best we’ve had anywhere all year.
“The club members put in a stellar performance as well.
“It is a lot of work bringing it all together and everyone should be commended for their outstanding contribution.”
Dungog Motorcycle club are very happy with the weekends event and the feed-back from the competitors and their families has been excellent.
“The riders thought the format was great,” Trent said.
“Having a motocross on the showground was something new. It was exciting racing and the competitors and supporters enjoyed the spectacle.”
Trent said thanks go to Dungog Council, Forests NSW, Dungog Police, Dungog ambulance paramedics, St Johns Ambulance, property owners who allowed us to traverse their land, local business houses who helped out and family and friends of club members who made the 2 Day Enduro an outstanding success.
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