2019 Conondale Classic Weekend Wrap

It’s sometimes hard to picture the perfect weekend when promised five idyllic tracks perfect for nearly all vintage bikes – sidecars, motocross, enduro, and trials. Most would just shrug it off as not possible until you realise it’s at arguably the best natural terrain motocross track in Australia, and spiritual home of good energy, yes we’re talking about Conondale’s infamous Green Park.

As well as the venue being off the Richter the host club, Sunshine Coast Motorcycle Club (SCMCC), is an open-hearted group of dirt bike fanatics who live for the energy Green Park provides. Being a non-competitive vintage event meant that tracks were open for everyone to ride as much or as little as they liked on both Saturday and Sunday.
The venue’s past history of being a horse racetrack, cricket ground, agricultural land, and motorbike events, that is limited to only 12 specials gatherings a year makes it such a valued place to ride, and when granted, it’s a celebration and blessing for all involved. The recently signed 30-year lease for SCMCC has given more reason to focus on hosting bigger and better events.

This year’s inaugural 2019 Conondale Classic Weekend is the new hallmark event run by Sunshine Coast Motorcycle Club to build their own gathering and provide an honest experience of peace, love, and excitement. The passion SCMCC have for the venue and desire to see happiness in rider’s eyes makes it so easy to understand the results of brilliant riding and memorable moments that keep the dirt bikers coming back in droves.

From Friday the prime camping was almost at capacity, final track prep in progress and happy volunteers greeting everyone with their bright green (park) t-shirts, a relaxed vibe at registration, merch sold out before the beautiful display at the Show’N’Shine exhibition presented by Shannons, followed by beers and campfire discussions into the night.
Walking around the camping alleys cleverly signed posted street signs like Yamaha Ave, Husky Lane etc, the bikes are on display, owners with a wealth of knowledge free to chat about their pride and joy, plus offer parts at discounted rates.

Saturday’s mist cleared after rider briefing attended by over 400 people in the trade village, the 9am go time erupted bores of all sizes spitting smoke, fumes and fire out exhausts, before clearing their throats and leaping onto the tracks in flocks of yellow, red, white, blue, orange, silver and green eager to make the most of the best conditions on two wheels. It is a nice way to kick off an inaugural event, naturally watered from the moto-gods overnight.

All tracks had action from morning to late afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday with the Pre-95 Track as old classics pass by modern fluro varieties with the Shannons Superrig parked beside Drunks Hill – the perfect vantage point for all spectators and riders resting between sessions. The Pre-78 Motocross Track made the most of Green Park’s hills and hosted side cars roaring around in teams of two. Trials riders enjoyed their technical obstacles, while grass trackers went full noise around John Stark’s beloved track. Enduro loops were divided into easy and hard – with bonus four kilometres of hard trail over Mango Mountain, which no one complained about.

Tom Kruger was captured overshooting drunks hill on an RM500 and the video went viral (collecting over 3000 online views before dark). Truth be told the young fella’s throttle locked and he accidentally pulled off a ‘full send’ moment without fault showing his style and skill – however, a new pair of undies was said to be used after fixing the throttle.

In the words of Peter Bell, the Clerk of Course and SCMCC Secretary, “All the club members put a lot of effort into making this the best event and have run it without a hitch with all five tracks being well supported by the riders from far and near. Those who attended are raving about how good Classic Weekend was.”
Rod Heading, SCMCC President said, “It was another epic event turned on by the crew from the Sunshine Coast Motorcycle Club. The rain came about an hour too early and stayed about an hour too long but with such great conditions on Saturday and with the raffle and party on Saturday night, a slow start on Sunday morning wasn’t a bad thing. It did, however, provide quite a few laughs watching those who braved the conditions first up on Sunday, before it dried out the afternoon.” Rod went on to say, “I would personally like to thank everyone who joined us over the weekend to make the first Classic Weekend such a success for the club. Hope to see you all again next year and bring a friend.”