So went the advice of chief section-setter Tom Scott, when asked about how to set lines for a World Trials Championship round. Tom was one of ten hardy individuals who braved the rain, cold and wind at Mt Tarrengower, Malden, on Sunday for the first working bee at the site of next year’s World Trials Championship round.
(Click photos for larger versions)
The team met at the local footy ground, which will be the main paddock for the event and the site of a couple of arena-style sections. Behind the oval looms Mt Tarrengower where the rest of the action will take place.
Arriving on site the group was first lead around the loop by make-it-happen-man Gary Grealy. There are three or four distinct areas where groups of sections will be set, and all are easily accessible by spectators, and very spectator-friendly in layout. It is a very short loop, again making life easy for spectators.
As we walked around I asked Tom about the sections. Three lines will be set:
- World Youth, for 16-18 year olds and restricted to 125cc. The “easiest” line, a bit harder than our Australian Experts.
- World Junior, for 16 – 23 year olds is harder again. This is a ‘feeder’ class for the Pro class.
- World Pro, the elite, the Raga’s, the Bou’s; these are the best of the best.
Some of the rocks we looked at were just enormous – ridiculously huge. Would Tom have a go at that? “Nope, but I’ll stick a marker on it for someone else to try!” Seriously I was excited just imagining what these riders will do when they are here next year.
The primary task for the day was to poison the masses of wheel cactus that spoil an otherwise spectacular landscape. The weapon of choice was provided by Parks Victoria - a backpack containing weedkiller attached to a long metal spike. Jam the spike in the cactus and pull the trigger to pump in the weedkiller. Not hard work at all, and in about six months’ time the area should be looking a whole lot better as the cactus dies off.
Other tasks involved general clearing of dead wood, weeds and branches, all loaded into trailers and taken back down the hill for disposal. A couple of hours work saw a definite improvement.
Back at the secondary paddock area chief cook Phil Whittle and chief coleslaw maker Col Scott whipped up a feast for the workers, who huddled under a quick-shade to escape the rain.
Another hour was then spent clearing baby cacti from what will be the competitors car park area – again, easy work, just a swipe with a hoe and put them in a plastic bag.
All in all it was a very productive day. Sure, there’s heaps more work to do, and the more people that go along the better the place will look.
Thanks to Gary, Phil and Col as the organisers, plus the others who took the day off to help out. This will be a fantastic event, no doubt about it!