CRUSTY QUINNS

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Trail Report: December 30th 2000

The more the merrier they say and the players agree with a new entry in Wolfie sporting his brand spanking new KLX300. A self-confessed trail biker from way back he quickly picks up rider of the day by putting in a solid run. The players agree that they will have to keep an eye on the new guy - just so he doesn't show them all up.

With Wendy driving out the 'cruiser for a look and some support the lads met at the usual first event - time trials.

The track was not much better than last time and again the 2-minute barrier was not broken. Tim still in form shows how it's done topping the day with a 2:02, Wolfie stealing second place with a 2:06 from JAW's 2:08. Ther is then quite a gap between 'the race leaders' and the end of the field. Mark has to work out high speed cornering and Brad has to start throwing it at the loose stuff with plenty of momentum instead of digging his way through. Mik of course just needs a trailbike ;) Yep, that's how it's done huh tim. Feed her as much power as possible. Your narrator, JAW, has been busy since the last trail report and is now video capturing and editing enabled on his new fangled PC. What this means firstly is that instead of trying to get that elusive perfect snapshot the players can simply be video'ed and then the interesting frames grabbed. More importantly video can be ripped so expect to see "Crusty Quinns" released on video CD in the near future. Watch this space. Speaking of JAW and video grabs - on the right is the sequence of frames for stack of the day. Some stolen and torched EA falcon has been left bogged at the entry to The Pit. Some players slowed down and went past it (just enough room for a bike) whereas others took a right and carved over dune to create a new entry to The Pit. JAW chose the latter, and as you can see he's pulled it a bit hard to the right at speed, crossed it up and come-a-cropper. Stacking it is not too bad ("If you don't come off you aren't trying hard enough") but more often than not one of the following happens: (a) As you ungracefully leave the bike you connect with the handlebars or other part of the bike and get hurt, or (b) You leave the bike cleanly and land on the ground okay but the bike then cleans you up. If you are really unlucky you cop a hot exhaust as well. Hate that.

Ouch. JAW was a DNF after this one - copped the end of a handlebar in the ribs good'n'hard.

The remaining lads try out the halfpipe for some air but the consensus was is that "there is no good lip". Nonetheless Tim gets a bit and even the Hog temporarily leaves the safety of terra firma.

Nothing too special...

As only Mik knows how...

Wrapping it up the lads head for Yanchep. JAW follows initially but has to bail out injured and head home. On that subject perhaps it is a good time to reopen the Riding Etiquette Files with specific attention to The Buddy System.

Trailbike riding is dangerous. People die. It would be nice to think that if you were pulling up the rear of the field, fell off and seriously injured yourself that your "mates" would notice you missing and check back for you, say, within 10 minutes (in case you only had 15 minutes to live.)

The Buddy System

• Whoever has point, ie the leader of the pack, takes on all responsibility for keeping the pack together. This means stopping and waiting every 5 minutes or so until he can see all players are still behind him. If they aren't send out the search party.
• Further to this whoever has point is responsible for choosing which track to take and ensuring that all players are aware which direction he goes when a fork in the track is encountered. This is usually a good time to check that the pack is together.

Simple stuff. Saves a lot of hassle both in waiting & wondering where yer mates are and getting onto them if they take a dive. The player at point must know he is at point and assume these responsibilities or not take point; just follow. Rotating point is fine, sometimes it is good to have the slowest player at point as everyone will be able to keep up. Other times it's good to have a speed freak at point "getting it out of his system" so long as he regularly checks up on the straglers.

What is it with circle work? the dust? the screaming power? flicking dirt everywhere? all of the above? ;)