The moto gods were shining at this year’s Ballards Off-Road Conondale Classic Weekend presented by Rat Racing. Brilliant winter sunshine, prime conditions and a sold-out rider field combined for what many were calling the best Classic Weekend in years.
Friday kicked off in style as Green Park quickly filled with riders from all over Australia. Vintage machinery rolled off the backs of utes, campfires fired up, cold beers were cracked, and mates who hadn’t seen each other in 12 months picked up right where they left off.
The afternoon saw the second Dirt Action Built To Ride Bike Build Competition roll into action, with riders lining up their pride and joys before putting them to work on the tracks over the weekend.
The turnout was unreal and made judging a serious challenge. There were beautifully restored bikes, trick factory replicas, survivors, farm bikes and custom creations everywhere you looked. Thankfully, Garage 11’s Kane Sedonja was on hand to help sort through the field. With years of experience restoring old bikes and a sharp eye for detail, Kane helped narrow the entries down to five deserving winners.
Congratulations to all the entrants. The effort that goes into these builds is incredible, and the best part was seeing them all getting ridden throughout the weekend rather than sitting under a gazebo gathering dust.
The winners were:
Ballards Off-Road Best Artisan Bike Build
Craig Riddle’s Honda CR340 Mugen Replica
Pro Circuit Best Factory Replica
Russell “Rusty” Williamson’s 1985 Kawasaki KX500
Rat Racing Best Stock Resto
Greg Allan’s 1974 Hodaka 100MX
Motul Best Survivor
Mark Barnes’ 1974 Husqvarna 400CR
Axiom Best Farm Bike
Brock Kenneth’s 1991 Yamaha DT175
Another Friday highlight was Geoff Ballard’s Q&A with Australian motocross legend Glen Bell. Joining Geoff was Bell’s famous XR654 race bike, which had spent the last 29 years on display in a Bathurst museum before making the trip to Conondale.
When the old Honda fired into life, the crowd loved it. The bark from the big thumper instantly transported everyone back to a different era of racing. A push-up competition for a signed Glen Bell T-shirt kept the laughs rolling, and the next day, Geoff kicked the XR654 into life on the first go before taking it for a lap around Green Park.
The inaugural Husky Muster was another huge success, attracting around 60 vintage Husqvarnas. Everywhere you looked, there were silver tanks, yellow plates and plenty of old-school Swedish goodness. With strong numbers and plenty of interest, it’s easy to see the Muster becoming an even bigger part of the Classic Weekend in years to come.
RIDE TIME
Saturday was all about tracks and cutting laps. Two-stroke smoke filled the valley, colours and noise filled the paddock, and the smiles on riders’ faces said everything you needed to know.
The conditions were the best we’d seen at the Classic in five or more years. The FIST Handwear enduro loops were all-time chocolate-cake single trail, with not a speck of dust in sight. There was an easier loop for the cruisers, along with longer and harder breakout options for riders wanting more of a challenge.
The monster hillclimbs tested plenty, but the smiles on the dials of riders rolling back into the pits said it all. The froth was high.
The At Chippy’s grass track was in prime form thanks to the huge effort from the club keeping it watered throughout the weekend.
“I’ve never seen it this good,” said one rider.
“It’s defo worth hanging in the line to get amongst it,” said another.
Between sessions, riders had time to talk bikes, check out builds and soak up the Classic Weekend vibe. On track, it was all about twisting the throttle, sliding the rear end and remembering why old bikes are so much fun.
The Dirt Lab EVO track was the best it’s been yet, and there were more than a few riders wishing they had a twin-shock machine just so they could have a crack. The fast-flowing layout, complete with some serious downhill sections, tested what suspension the older bikes had left in them.
And brakes? Who needs them?
It was a case of charging into the next corner, tipping the old girl in and winding it on, hoping you made it out the other side without highsiding on your head — which unfortunately a few riders did.
Last but not least was the Ballards Off-Road Pre-95 MX Track, where things got a little more serious. Bigger jumps, bigger bumps and slick corners kept riders honest, and more than a few egos took a hit when someone faster blasted past and left them eating roost.
Not that the Classic Weekend is about racing, but if you wanted to test your bike, your fitness and your form, this was the place to do it.
ON SHOW
The Dirt Lab Show ’N’ Shine once again filled the Village with an unreal collection of bikes from across the country. From immaculate restos to rare machinery and bikes with serious hours poured into them, there was no shortage of eye candy for anyone who loves old dirt bikes.
Judges Mick Jaeger, Andrew Martin and Howard Cox had a tough job sorting through the field, but eventually landed on this year’s winners:
Mini Bike Award
Wayne Goodfellow – 1976 XR75
Pre-1978
David Press – 1974 CR125M
Steve Parry – 1975 Red Frontera
Wayne Goodfellow – 1970 400 Cross
Pre-1995
Eden Wilson – 1989 RM250
Adam Smith – 1984 KTM MX495
Craig Riddle – 1980 CR250RZ
Modified Award
Peter Kendall – 1979 CCM
Saturday night rolled on with beers, band and bonfire, while the raffle draws kept the crowd fired up. The major prize, a 1993 Yamaha YZ125, had plenty of attention, while the MXoN auction raised $1200 to help Team Australia defend its title.
Sunday delivered another beautiful day, with a slower start on the tracks but mint conditions once again. Riders made the most of the final sessions, squeezing in laps before packing up and heading home with dusty bikes, tired bodies and plenty of stories.
Another Classic Weekend was run and done, and it was unreal to see old legends, young crew and everyone in between enjoying Green Park for exactly what it was built for — riding dirt bikes.
Next year will be a special one, with SCMCC celebrating 50 years of hosting motocross events at the venue, so expect something big.
Massive thanks to the SCMCC crew for hosting another awesome and safe event for the riding community we all love being part of.
See you next year.
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