VINTAGE RACING | Bikesportnz

Same old bikes; same old dirt; same old fun.

That’s the catch-cry for the new season’s Mr Vintage Motocross Championship Series, with the third round of five set for Taupo on Sunday.

The Tricky Dicky Racing-sponsored series is not to be confused with veterans’ motocross – this competition pits riders of all ages against one another, but on motocross machinery built before 1986.

With three championship points races at each round, it is imperative that both bikes and riders are made of stern stuff to survive until the final round in March.

That resolve and stamina was surely put to the test at the season opener near Feilding in October when clinging mud made conditions very unpleasant. Round two near Whakatane more than made up for that, with perfect conditions to greet the riders and this weekend’s third round at Taupo should also pose no real problems in terms of traction with free-draining pumice soil under the wheels.

The fact that these motorcycles still withstand the abuse of off-road racing after all these years is testimony to the manufacturers and also to the bike owners who spend so many hours lovingly restoring and maintaining them.

There are separate classes for 125cc, 250cc and open class bikes, ranging in vintage from twin-shock spring suspension pre-1975 motorcycles through to the more modern water-cooled and linkage suspension bikes of 1986.

Top riders expected to enter include many-times former New Zealamd motocross champion Murray Anderson (pictured above), Taupo’s Bill Doe, Wanganui’s Mark Ellen (pictured right), Taranaki’s Steve Gallichan (pictured below), Palmerston North’s Tom Vandenburg, Wanganui’s Danny Willemsen, Katikati’s John Bouzaid, Auckland’s Mark Wooding, Wanganui’s Lloyd Mackenzie, Stratford’s Stan Jones, New Plymouth’s Niven Muir, Norsewood’s Kevin Hermansen, Christchurch’s Mark Meadows, Taranaki’s Peter Sacree (pictured at bottom), Manawatu’s Wayne Moxham, Feilding’s Stephen Shirriffs, Kapiti brothers Ian and Stuart Pike and Tauranga’s national champion and former Woodville Motocross winner from the 1970s, Peter Ploen, to name just a few.

Riders are able to discard their three worst results from the series, meaning just 12 of the series’ 15 races will count, ensuring tight racing to the conclusion, set for Wanganui on March 10.

VMX CALENDAR (2011-2012 season):

Round one: Halcombe, Sunday, October 16.

Round Two: Whakatane, Saturday, November 12.

Round Three: Taupo, Sunday, December 4.

Round Four: Taranaki, Sunday, February 12.

Round Five: Wanganui, Saturday, March 10.