8-Hour @ Coona: More Plasticware

Transmoto’s Enduro Events were conceived to encourage participation from riders of all abilities, so it stands to reason that the trophies we dish out don’t only go to those who land on the podium. That’s why there were more winners than ever before at Coona’s Transmoto 8-Hour. In addition to the trophies for first, second and third in the Ironman, Pairs and Team classes, we also hung our notorious Flavor Flav-style plastic clock trophies around the necks of the Mixed Team (KTM Newcastle) and Young Guns Team (Taree Motorcycles) category winners, plus these six Special Award winners:

PRIMO PIT AWARD – Dwayne Affleck

Dwayne may have made a rookie mistake by running out of fuel while leading the Ironman class, but his pit plot was so well equipped, he wasn’t about to run out of anything else. This down-to-earth serial Ironman-class entrant ended up fifth after a generous fossil fuel donation from a fellow rider.

PROACTIVE PARTNER AWARD – Modus Operandi

We’re not hiding from the fact we were excited to have a beer sponsor on board for the first time, but the award-winning craft beer crew from Modus Operandi sure made the most of their first foray into dirt bike circles. MO’s free stubby coolers and tasting samples, and the fascinating insight into their four-variety range, sure made Saturday afternoon’s Rider Registration process that much more palatable.

HARD LUCK AWARD – Maitland Motorcycles Team

Four hours into the race and two Maitland Motorcycles’ entries (their Team-of-Four and Pairs) were running 1-2 Outright and leading their respective classes. Sadly, a badly bent chain guide around lunchtime cost the four-man team 25 minutes and any chance of victory. But the boys remained gracious in defeat (they still ran a very respectable second in the Team class and fourth Outright), and happily took home a trophy and case of MO beer for their troubles.

START YA BASTARD AWARD – Chase Wilkinson

When this pint-sized eight-year-old in a 10-gallon hat demonstrated what he could do with a stockman’s whip, we got him to start to the race with the thing, and then wave the chequered flag to welcome the winners home eight hours later. He was such a classic little dude, we just had to bestow this confusingly titled award on him.

BEST OUTFIT AWARD – Robertsons Motorcycles

There were no Yeti suits or Bananas in Pajamas at Coona, but the eight-strong posse from Robertsons Motorcycles in Dubbo were a picture of coordinated sartorial elegance in their Kmart-issue green flanno shirts. Word, boys!

FASTEST LAP AWARD – Mitch Bowen

When we called Maitland Motorcycles’ four-man team up to collect the award and asked who’d posted the lightning-quick fastest lap time of less than 26 minutes, Mitch Bowen stepped forward without hesitation and took a bow. Ahh, the Bowen brothers … never afraid to step into the limelight!