SA’S KEYNETON MCC CELEBRATES THEIR 5OTH MOUNTAIN MAN TRIAL IN 2024! ENTRIES TO OPEN ON APRIL 1ST.
Coming on the back of running the Vine Inn Barossa 2023 Australian Trial Championships, powered by GASGAS, and the 2023 FIM Oceania Trial Championships last September/October, 2024 sees the Keyneton MCC having, for them, a ‘quiet’ year, with only one Trial on their calendar – but – it’s a biggie, the 50th running of their iconic Mountain Man Trial on Sunday, April 28th.
At this stage, their plan is to run the event on Menglers Hill in the Barossa Valley region of SA, itself famous for hosting many Australian Trial Championships dating back to the 1970’s, and very close to where the first Mountain Man was run back in 1975.
While no specific venue has been locked in as yet, the Club has a number of options in and around Menglers Hill and is keen to run it in the area where the event started – so stay tuned for a confirmation on the exact venue, likely to be announced shortly after entries open on April 8th through Ridernet!
To make this an event not to miss in 2024, the event will also feature the Rockhopping SA 2024 South Australian Women’s Cup and the 2024 Diener/Holmes Sidecar Trophy events – the 16th time these 2 premier events have been held by the club, and with 10 of the 15 already run having attracted interstate entries, the Club is keen to improve that percentage again in 2024. There will also be a full range of classes for the ‘solo blokes’ (see below), and senior and junior non-competitive classes for those just looking to have a ride!
The Club also has a few ideas up their sleeves on how they plan to really celebrate this milestone, with some to be released beforehand and some to only be unveiled at the event, plus, added to this, the man who named the ‘Mountain Man’, former A Grade Solo ‘gun’ and Keyneton MCC Life Member, Bob Petts, has already confirmed his attendance at the event, as have a number of other former riders who will be coming out for a look!
Says Bob when thinking back to 1975, “The naming of the first Mountain Man came from a perception of Richard Rake and myself that a certain gangly, bearded rough diamond of a gentleman named Geoff ‘Wack’ Barratt resembled a ‘Mountain of a Man’. There was a lot of excitement and enthusiasm surrounding this event. We were breaking new ground in a patch of new ground S.S.W. of Camel Rock.…”
Sadly, ‘Wack’ Barratt is no longer with us, but the club will be asking members of his family, and that of his long-time friend and passenger, Laurence ‘Willie’ Williams, to attend the event as special guests of the club.
As stated, the Keyneton MCC will be offering a full range of classes and are planning a possible 48 section journey of 4 laps of 12 sections, for all riders (observers dependent) who have entered the event.
The classes to be offered will be:
SA Women’s Cup; Pro, Expert, Sport, Masters +35, Novice White, Novice Black, Open Junior, Junior A,
Junior B, Non-Comp, Mini Trial
Diener/Holmes; Sidecar 1, Sidecar 2, Sidecar Classic, Non-Comp
Senior Solo Blokes; Trial 1, Trial 2, Trial 3, Trial 4, Trial 5, Trial 6, Historic Blue, Historic White
Junior Solo Blokes; Open Junior, Junior A, Junior B,
Non-Competitive; Non-Comp, Mini Trial
Junior B is designed for entry level riders and is suitable for small wheel bikes.
Mini Trial is designed for NEW riders, aged 4 to U9, on small wheel bikes with auto gearboxes, or electric bikes.
Historic Blue ride Blue Splits, and White ride white splits, bikes can be Classic, Twinshock or Air-Cooled Mono.
Sidecar 2 to ride Yellow/Black splits, Sidecar Classic have run of section, lowest score on the day wins.
A classic sidecar is defined as having an air-cooled motor and drum brakes, with no sidecar wheel brake.
All Mini Trial & Non-Comp classes ride for no awards.
The Keyneton MCC looks forward to welcoming all visitors back to SA at the end of April to help celebrate this event’s 50th running – and to negate a couple of other early questions – all the details in regards camping and catering will be answered when entries open at the start of April, if not before as they are confirmed!
PS: It’s also the last weekend of the school holidays in NSW & Tasmania – just sayen ………..
Entries open Monday 8th April, 2024 on Ridernet.
