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If the gates unlocked
Micks If the gates unlocked ride.
Mick450 called a late ride with a late start. As usual those who lived closest to the OVT where the last to arrive. By the time Mick turned up the carpark was full with an eclectic (look it up) group of Crusties. A XR650 standing proudly amongst the others, one of two bikes without the magic button, but thats another story. The riders meeting seemed casual with Mick announcing the route for the day would be: Quote. Well ride some tracks out to this gate I found. If its unlocked well be able to get enough fuel to get back, if its locked we wont! Not one rider seemed to mind Micks rye smile as he fended off questions of deep sand, dust, woops and hillclimbs. (standard Mick450 obstacles) ColMc gets a ride point for holding down the first ever cornerman at the OVT.even though he refused the invite to be Micks BBQ Bitch which would have got him ROTD. As if to lull the riders into a false sense of security, the ride started on bitumen (Pete did most of this on his back wheel to conserve front rubber, to the shock and amusement of a truck driver coming the other way) then flat limestone roads to a bit of easy single track then ..deep black sand. I loved it, the XR650, Carlo and Mark didnt as the track became littered with bikes and riders. This sandy whooped fence line track had a great looking smooth firebreak just the other side of the fence line. Later it was discovered, that the other track was inside the paintballing enclosure and would not have been a good alternative. At his point the XR650s lack of electric start and extra bulk became too much for Chris and two riders returned to the OVT. (Welcome Chris) Three riders down fourteen to go. Mick had found some great tracks which bordered the firing range and some interesting ground was covered without incident until Mick, entertaining himself, ran over a dead snake making it fly up into the next rider. (Nice one Mick, snake roosting) As luck would have it the gate was open and fuel and food were replenished and only 55kms had been done. Carlo spent this rest time making sure someone else had the SOTD, telling tales of anyone who had hit the deck more times than himself. (We have him worried). It was decidedat management levelto ride down the road to explore some tracks Mick knew about. The best was yet to come. Mick had planned some great single track winding in and out of a dry creek. Russell completed a double twist with a pike routine usually only seen by Olympic divers. While his confidence was at an all time low he turned a corner to be faced with the whole crew standing at the top of a hill climb, cameras ready, waiting for carnagethat never came. We discovered why Mick changed to black plastics on his KTM when he directed us through a burnt out section of track with sharp branches stabbing your unprotected parts. Not Happy Jan. Riders recovered in time to face a snotty hill. Mick looked down on the view of flying rocks dust and fallen riders, one screaming GasGas, and spoke these words of wisdom. Look what Ive made them do! Ive made carnage! Darin and TigeR had their hands full sweeping up the mess. (Great job guys) Once we had collected the riders and bikes at the top Mick let us know that the hard climb was just around the corner. Great! Fortunately we could go around the Hard climb, which was not good enough for Mackley who had two attempts at the climb. Final score: Hill 2. Mackley and new graphics: Zero! Some excellent single track allowed riders to recover then back to the bitumen and a very quiet refuel. Can someone explain how one KTM 450 can be corner man on one corner and the same bike and rider manning the next corner? Someone is making good speed. Riders hit the sand again and returned to the OVT with black faces and exhausted smiles. My vote for ROTD to Mick for expert leading or the KTM450 corner man (If someone can tell me who it was) or that DRZ with the big tank that made it to the top of every hillclimb without incident. A great ride should have single track, hill climbs, new tracks, gotcha rocks and a beer at the end. Mick managed to provide 200kms with the lot. FueltankerAllen  tommy attempt 1  tommy attempt 2  the tanker does it easy  attempt at killing the camera man  darrin  mick's rocky hill |
