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SACU 2003 Championship ENDURO

Round 2 - Grampian MC Lossie Forest Enduro

27th April 2003

Another fantastic event from the Grampian club. Not too tough - but 4 1/2 hours of great riding.  It was a great event for Sportsmen as well as experts as everyone could get round - but it was getting harder as the hours worn on. Known as The Grampian BAJA or The Lossie Bike Wash due to the sandy stretches - all the bikes came back clean - except for the Stewards bike which started muddy.

107 riders started the day at Bears Head Forest - just outside Lossiemouth. It was dry and warm - a change from the previous week. A few drops of rain fell during the race but hardly even got the bikes wet. The course was laid out in two loops as a figure of eight coming back to two checks. The first half of the course was about 20 minutes of fast trails in the forest with sandy banks and some tight turns. Most riders cleaned the course (except for the Webmaster - who managed to knock his carb off and push the rocker cover gasket into the head losing  27 minutes stripping the bike to get it back on - but finished the course) with only a few Sportsmen needing extra time. The start area was well laid out with a concrete refuelling area - no need for Environment mats here !.

The second half of the course of 45 minutes was where it got interesting with some fast blasts through the forest and then down to the far end of the forest and some deep sand. Keeping the power on was the best way through - but this got harder as the day went on and riders tired. Weaving through the dunes on narrow tracks between the grass and then a blast up a steep sandy hill back to the road.  The course always required full attention and a few tight corners and slippy log sections kept you on your toes. Great fun - and no bogs.

Then the test just before the end of the lap. Starting at an old WW2 Military Pill box it was a very tight and twisting test changing from deep sand to fast moto x going and then tight trails through the forest. Rarely flat and with a few drop offs for the unwary. The fastest part of the course was the section where you dropped down to the beach and then had a straight blast along a taped narrow sandy track before turning back through the dunes. Most riders got a fair bit of speed up - but Richard Hay was reported as doing the entire strip on his back wheel - saves wear on the tires I suppose.

The end of the test was down past some old tank traps (one way to slow you down !) and a final downhill taped chicane at the B's. With the top riders getting down to the 260's Ricky Mair set a fastest test of 255 - obviously used to the sand at Woodside.

In the Experts Richard Hay took the honours from a hard charging and very consistent Murray Thomson ( 4 tests within 2 seconds of each other - exceptional considering the very tough terrain). Crawford Carrick Anderson came in 3rd to repeat his third at Pathhead. Joe Gilroy pushing hard for 4th ahead of Ricky Mair in 5th - both riders up to speed in their first year in the experts.

Clubman Michael Lowrie getting the win here with Duncan Jamieson improving on his 3rd at Pathhead to finish 2nd. Chris Stewart on his Suzuki 250  finished just ahead of Campbell Chatham who again showed he still has his old speed. With the majority of bikes either blue or orange it was good to see a GAS GAS finishing well up the positions at the hands of Chris Buchan. Local trials rider Peter Mitchell swapped his trials bike for a Yamaha 125 and finished in 8th - must be warming up for the Scottish. Stephen Palmer had a bad day and had to retire when his clutch started making noises ( Anyone know how to get a KDX cover off in a hurry)

Ride On Motorcycles manager Setphen Lafferty brought a team up from Glasgow - all resplendant in their matching race shirts.   Another 4 stroke convert he was on the Yamaha 250 - (needs the button though ). Finishing mid pack it was his first race for a year - hope to see them at more events.

Two trails riders - Alan Poynton and Jim Ballantyne did a lap but had to retire. A long - fast course - it was not really suited to trials bikes unlike some of the borders forest events.  Good try - hope to see them back next year as well.

In the Sportsmen Mark Anderson and Graham Melvin set some very fast times with Graham racing a big Husaberg - quite a handful but plenty of power in the sand. There were two lady riders again - Liz Millet returning from riding Enduro Sidecars in English events - and Pauline Hay - both finishing the course mid pack.  Phil Hay was out for one of his rare races - which meant that Mary had to refuel Richard, Pauline and Phil - all go in the Hay family.

The over 40 class was again a close fought battle with Andrew Flockhart on the big Yamaha 400 powering his way to the front - just ahead of Dougal Walker on his KTM 200. With very close tests it all came down to the last test with Andrew managing to keep ahead by 8 seconds. Ian Paterson pushed hard for 3rd with Geoff Pennycook leading the rest of the field.

Many thanks to the hard work of John Little. Gilbert Ray and their team in setting out a great event and as John promised - a dry one . Kevin Gauld Clerk of the Course and his team of Marshalls did a great job on the day and will no doubt have more ideas for next year.

Thanks also to the Forestry, Local council and residents for welcoming us to the North.

Derek Little was also at the event - only one week after breaking his leg and was chatting to everyone and offering lots of advice. He passes on his thanks to all the well wishers for their support. Getting round the track on a quad - he was spotted everywhere.