Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Harrow 2012 DVD now available

Professional photographer and long-time vinduro supporter Tony Tervoert (Barossa Photo Company) has released a DVD of video footage from this year's spectacular Harrow Vinduro. They are $20 each and make a perfect souvenir if you were there, or a way to compensate for missing the best vintage dirt bike event of the year if you weren't!

You can contact Tony at tonytervoert@yahoo.com.au

Friday, August 17, 2012

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Harrow 2012 pics from Drakie

In between running this massive vinduro, and even riding a bit, Drakie also managed to snap a few pics which can be seen over on the ozvmx forum. Just click on the link below:

http://ozvmx.com/community/index.php?topic=25008.0

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Post Harrow hostilities continue

Far from abating, the rivalry between several of the teams competing at the 2012 Harrow Vinduro has continued to rage, with the release of lurid images too disturbing to be published on a family-friendly site such as this, and an ominous communique from Petr Drakfallov's masters...


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From: RS

Sent: 7 August 2012

Subject: Harrow update

This is hot off the press… A picture of the Welsh captain , after all the broken bikes and bad luck with his team members leaving the presentation after the event with the arse out of his pants and a hand full of cold chicken/humble pie.

[Pic removed for reasons of good taste]

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From: RS

Sent: 9 August 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: RE: Harrow update

Rumour: Team Husky New South will most likely be campaigning two autos at The Harrow in 2013.

Who knows there may be two Husky teams from New South…

The Welsh team's aspirations already appear to be diminishing and we have approximately 11.5 months to the next test at The Harrow. Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin have a little cup of cement and harden the hell up. It also helps if your machine's stays operational.

The talk around town is that there will be three more teams from the New South. It would appear that the much coveted Tony T trophies are on the most wanted radar.

Stay tuned, only about 350 sleeps to go.

RS

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From: MH

Sent: 9 August 2012 10:04 AM

Subject: Harrow update

I think you have all been giving SB a bit of a hard time..... I know he deserves it but he was hampered this year by having the backbone of his team withdraw at the 11th hour... 11.59 to be precise...i.e. me! No excuses but work has to come first... sometimes, but not in 2013 - it's in the diary!

To help Steve out, I have acquired a new weapon... related to Husky but only for a short period - Cagiva 1980 250 WRX!

I have ordered some bags of cement - all for SB!

MH

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From: RS

Sent: 9 August 2012

Subject: Harrow update

Hey MH,

Cagiva 1980 250 WRX: great bike.

Best get Steve some bags of quick set Reeksy , as well as being a great rider , great builder and all-round good guy , he could also be a film maker* .


RS

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From: JR

Sent: 9 Aug 2012

Subject: Harrow update

 Hate to be the bearer of bad news but it seems your team captain has finally figured that if you can't beat them you’re best to join them. Firstly Shoey can testify that Bacon Balls has put in an application to join team New South for the 2013 campaign. Wisely, Shoey has declined his offer due to his lack of pace and physical toughness. Secondly   Baker has abandoned his SWMs and Maicos for a Husky Auto.

Hammond has been rumoured to be interested in the captaincy of team Wales now that Baker’s gone, I'd suggest mike, Team Wales has never looked stronger.

It will be interesting to see what team will be desperate enough to take on Baker for 2013. And as for the aggressive passing, you haven't seen anything, just wait for the 2013 video then we will see some aggressive manoeuvring.

JR

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From:  CSSR DUKLA Club

Sent: 9 August 2012 12:25 PM

Subject: Harrow update

Gentlemen,

While other lesser nations squabble over Team Selection for the 'Whole Test' (ref: Carl Cranke ISDT comment) alias The Harrow 2013, Team Czech has been sent to Intensive Re-training Camp Gulag 13.

CSSR is confident retrained riders will be a match for excellent Jawa/CZ machines and no match for so called 'Free Nations'.

Please abandon foolish notions of superiority in the face of our skilled riders and superior machinery.

Commissar Drakfallov is undergoing retraining too as it was noted that he was a little too close to the opposing Teams and possible was bribed to slow down with supposed 'engine trouble'.

The Secretariat of the CSSR DUKLA Club knows engine failure of mighty Jawa/CZ is not possible and confidently predicts all posturing of opposing Teams in this hallowed Harrow competition is futile.

Team Czech Secretariat

DUKLA, Praha, CSSR

Helmet camera footage from Harrow 2012

Thanks to John Reeks for the video clip below. It includes footage from both Saturday and Sunday.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Sour grapes of wrath after Harrow

Well, the 2012 Harrow Vinduro may be over but apparently hostilities between some of the teams are not!
The latest round of leaked emails reveals a deeply embedded enmity that does not bode well for future events.
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From: JR
Sent: 31 July 2012
Subject:  Harrow update
Gentlemen and the Welsh,
Well what a weekend, some may say what a golden weekend, the Welsh may not agree but who really cares? Firstly I dip my Bell Moto helmet to our chief commander Shoey. A faultless preparation of man and weaponry had the enemy shaking in their hi-point boots well before their minute.
Shoey’s first master move was to get the embroidered victory jackets. It goes without saying this opening salvo put the opposition on their back foot from the get go. The enemy’s response of buying low quality jackets from a St Vincent de Paul charity shop were almost gallant, but ultimately were akin to firing a .22 rifle at the Bismarck.
For me Shoey, your most defining moment was how you conducted yourself after you had been taken down in a truly despicable event that contravenes the Geneva Convention rules of engagement. God only knows the level the Welsh may sink to, but to have a undercover agent throw a large unforgiving rock under your front wheel is indefensible. It is a testament to the man you are Shoey that you literally took it on your chin and soldiered on. I have also been made aware that on your final charge through enemy lines, you gathered fallen and broken civilians and enemy soldiers and carried them back to Parc Ferme even though you were at your limit just to make it back yourself. It was a Simpson and his donkey kind of moment (no disrespect to your Husky intended).
To you our commander I recommend the VC award to you.
Wayne, our sergeant of arms, always dependable always gallant and never tiring. I open my Belstaff in a manly kind of way for you my friend. Your faultless performance in keeping a rear guard on my forward attack prevented the enemy getting anywhere near us. And resupplying the forward attack with supplies to continue on assured us victory.
To you I recommend the star of gallantry.
So for now we may all enjoy the spoils of war. Team members I raise my glass towards you, savour this joyous moment, taste the bitterness of our enemy, delight in the disgrace  of the Welsh, embrace the disrespect the Czechs have shown us, engage  the French arrogance, for this will only make us stronger till we  next meet.
Victory is ours and ours alone.
May the golden jacket remain in custody of the mighty New South Wales Husky team from here on in.  After all, the jacket does fit you like a glove Shoey.

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From:  SB
Sent: 31 July 2012
Subject:  Harrow update
The Welsh humbly except defeat on this occasion and you may all bask in your moment of victory in the sun, however after chatting with the other members of the welsh team we feel you victory was a Bradbury moment and you were able to take advantage of our misfortune so in hindsight you may have won the battle but you didn't win the war. Only 361 sleeps before we meet again. Be scared, be very, very scared.
Team Wales

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From:  RS
Sent: 2 August 2012
Subject:  Harrow update

“Damn , help . Someone bring me a Husky.”

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From:  SB
Sent: 2 August 2012
Subject:  Harrow update
I was waiting for that photo to surface! Damn!
Breaking News
Team Wales mascot found dead in Northern Beaches Swimming pool foul play suspected, no one is pointing the finger yet but the Japanese and French have been mentioned!
Team Wales

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From:  PK
Sent: 4 August 2012
Subject:  Harrow update
Mon dieu! M. Baker attempts to shift the blame for the reprehensible neglect and treatment of their own mascot! Such low morals to use, abuse and discard but, not unexpected. I suspect that there is a connection between one who is employed in the food industry and the high value of whale meat at present. Team France is currently embroiled in 'discussions' with the commissar of the Czech national enduro team regarding issues of SABOTAGE of J-C's ride.
Team Wales have also been implicated. Beware! This may end nuclear. You all have been warned. And to those of you who enjoy the dubiously attained spoils of victory, the French have the last word - you enjoy champagne at your celebrations ce n'est pas?
Team France. Vive!

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Tex's Harrow report

My team

The Green Triangle Has-beens, was made up of my two younger brothers and me. One had ridden at Harrow twice before, but no other vinduros. The other had never ridden in any vinduros before. 
Preparation
I wasn’t sure what I was going to ride until Friday afternoon. In the end I had to settle on my PE175 which needed a bit of work, but came together ok. 

My youngest brother rode his 1980 PE250 for the first time at 5.30pm the evening before the event! We were still in his workshop putting the finishing touches to the Suzukis on Saturday night. At 6.30am the next morning we were scratching around for fuel. My other brother’s XR250 still had mud on it from last year’s Harrow Vinduro...
Cold start 

I hate the cold starts! This time the dreaded cold start went without a hitch for me, as the 175 fired up with just two kicks. My team mates’ steeds weren’t so obliging, and we lost a bit of time as both their bikes had to be push started.  

Finally we were on our way...   

The course 

It’s hard to try and describe the whole 35 kms so I’ll just pick out a few bits that stick in my mind: 

* We had already decided to take the detour around the first river crossing. When we arrived it was obvious that people were already having trouble, so we skirted around it as planned.
* KLX250 blowing more smoke that a two stroke (I later saw it parked by the side of the track).

* Those poly pipes in the grass!
* The off camber section where everyone’s boots had scraped a mark along the side of the hill
* The final river crossing as you completed section 4.
* The guy on the Bultaco who had a low speed crash right in front of me.
* Chasing my team mates around on our first lap (I didn’t see much of them the second time around).
* My PE developed an annoying habit of dying right after I’d come out of the river crossings, I guess water was dripping on something and causing a temporary short.
* I decided to push the PE over some slippery logs, but dropped the bike. A bit of huffing and puffing later I was off the log and back on my way. At the next steep downhill I discovered that when I dropped the bike the brake pedal had been pushed in under the engine. As my right foot pressed down on fresh air, I switched between praying and swearing 1000 times before safely arriving at the bottom.

* Hitting one of the sandy creek crossings at full noise because I didn’t want to back the overworked little PE off. An explosion of water everywhere. Inside my helmet, down my shirt, in under my gloves... I kept that momentum going though!
* The folding gear lever tip became jammed and I had to stop to free it. My mat eon the CT125 pulled up and offered some help. As I waved him on he called out, “I guess this means I’m passing you!”
* Blasting around the sandy special test track, chasing my brother on his PE250 like I had some remote chance of passing him.
* Loving the PE175 in the tight stuff. Hating it on the long paddock straights.
* Gnarly creek crossing. As I approached I could just see a few helmets lined up. I stayed up on the bank instead of joining the fray. I saw both my brothers waiting in there and decided to look for an easier way though, which I found a bit further down. The next time around there was dozens of tyre tracks where others had decided the same thing.

At the end of the day the Green Triangle Has-beens all managed two laps for a silver medal each, and we were pretty pleased with that.






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Look out for more first hand reports about Harrow in the fourth edition of the Vinduro Victoria newsletter.