Sunday the 19^th of August saw the Track n Trail’s massive return to Mike and the crews initial track at Eagle Hill near Salisbury (certainly a hill but did you see any eagles? I thought not!!!) back in the embryonic and retrospective humble beginnings, of what we know today as the South’s Leading Off Road Enduro specialist, Track N Trail.

(TracknTrail Massive)

It was a fraught week for Mike, to say the least, which almost had me feeling sorry for him, I said almost; with the recent and unfortunate suspected cases of Foot Mouth, it meant that Mike was in constant communication with DEFRA ensuring that the club and land owner operated to the set guidelines. The course also took many twists and turns and re-routes over the week, so Sunday morning, the atmosphere, like a bride on her honeymoon night was tense and highly charged to say the least!!!!

Then of course who could forget those little pink piggy’s, riders were asked on the parade lap to slow down near the electric fenced animals, for fear that they may run startled and scared directly into their wired confinement fences. This lead many riders to simply desert the burger van then and there and embark on the lap armed with sliced bread and ketchup ready just in case. Though Track n Trail would like to point out that no animals were hurt during the making of this event!!!!

(Pinky and Perky top left)

Despite the challenges of the week, Mike and the team had yet again laid on another first class course for the now standard full entry, the weather had certainly played its part lending her natural and rain soaked hand. Although the final instructions were clearly printed August, the morning offered all the true and characteristic hallmarks of an British Autumnal damp chilled October morning.

(Because he’d had such a tough week, the winner of this week’s wheelie competition was Mike Hooray!!!)

The track used the unrivalled landscape of the contoured bowl, the track then crossed, weaved and descended steep from off chamber grassy drops that challenged many, but was also managed by most. The course had three wooded sections, which all offered varying and differing challenges, from mud that for the first few laps felt like sheet ice, as riders tentatively and cautiously felt for grip and traction.

Then there were, of course, the roots, that to most of the Enduro world, just the sheer glimpse strikes a sharp cord of fear, like that of the Titanic’s Captain Edward John Smith as the night-watchman called "Iceberg". You know they are there, but now with mud filled tyres make the tough almost impossible.

(I said it was slippy!!!)

Two Moto-X section saw the riders weave and turn often around giant haystacks (for those that weren’t there, these are large straw mound-like items used to feed cattle not overweight hairy wrestles from the early 80’s in lycra!!!)

So to the race, and despite everyone’s fear of rain, the sky which began early with a thick grey cloud cover, had slowly started to clear omitting faint hints and wisps’ of pale blue, almost in time with the raising of the 30-second board. The Championship boys ready; feet resting on the out turned kick starts; fingers curled on front brakes and clutches engaged, the riders tensed with baited anticipation and then it was go

(Race winner Mark Cornick off and pushing)

A long straight that halfway down saw the riders kink quickly right, David Biles and Mark Cornick got clean away, though for Jonathan Hayman in what must have felt to him like an lengthened eternity, his bike frozen almost glue like motionless, until his engine roared and fired into life, Jon already playing catch up raced away down the greasy straight.

Jon’s race just didn’t get much better from there either, as he saw the fluid from his front brake dispense on the wind and fail helplessly to the flinty soil causing him to lose its full function, resulting in a lengthy and unwanted pit stop. So it was Mark Cornick who took up the leaders rains and crossed the line on 15-laps, closely followed by Gary Baker with David Biles in 3^rd.

(Riders took it in turns to count to 100 as other tried to hide)

In the Expert class Derry Milling was the only rider to break 15-laps, with Martin Jakeman and Joe Duncan 2^nd and 3^rd respectively separated by just 3-minutes, these three had also shared the podium at Kings Hill, so this little battle is hotting up nicely in their championship class.

(Joe Duncan on Route to 3^rd Place in the Experts)

As the flag dropped for the Expert over 40’s Tom Moore was first to react and took a small lead into the first turn. Gerry Howell on board a new 08-four banger Kawasaki, with his 2-stroke still in place under the impressive van awning. Though Gerry struggled with his erection mid race, and with using every competitive effort to win, Gerry’s erection blew onto the track forcing riders to swerve though most to just to chuckle!

It was the ever consistent Pete Archer, yet again, claiming the top spot with 14-laps, Mark Sommerton after his 12^th place in Kings Hill claimed 2^nd place with David Johnson in 3^rd place both on 12-laps

Going Going Jason Bailey Hangs on for 4^th place Clubman 4-banger

So to the Clubman four bangers, with Oliver Pope not riding and Guy Dix taking an early bath with a hot bike, Tyson Matom- Jones took the full 30 points with 14-laps under his belt. Kings Hill 9^th place Martin Brown took 2^nd with Gary Green in 3^rd on 13-laps.

(Jake Myrphy power slides the turn)

In the Clubman 2-stroke Jake Myrphy made it two wins on the trot though he was closely followed by Darren Gregory in 2^nd with Chris Tite in 3^rd all on 13 laps.

Ben Yule on his way to 6^th place in the 2-stroke sportsman

Next to the Sportsman 2-stroke group saw a three way battle that is also hotting up the group championship, with Ashley Buckland taking the win and improving on his Star Hill 3^rd place with a 5-minute lead over Seb Dexter, with David Brown in 3^rd all on 12-laps.

(Luke Wiggleton tackles the nadegery woods)

Sportman 4-Banger group saw a clear leader with Justin Tigwell on 13-laps with Dean Larkins in 2^nd on 12-laps with Lee White also on 12-laps in 3^rd this pushed Star Hill winner Stephen Mulliner down to 4^th.

Over 40’s Sportsman saw Philip Male claim a 2-minute lead over fellow 12-lapper Glen Woodland in 2^nd with Gary Lutering 3^rd on 11-laps.

(Simon Lovelace on his way to a race win)

The highly competitive Trail class, saw Simon Lovelace take first across the line and 30-points on 10-laps and 3-minutes ahead of Star Hill winner Gary Taylor, with Gary Hutchinson in 3^rd.

I think a huge thank you to the land owner for allowing the event to run, in such a difficult climate for the farming community, and also for supplying a trailer shuttle service that ferried riders and essentials to and from the parking area.

The next event is planned for weekend of 15/16^th September - a two day event in Wales. Mike is like a kid in sweet shop about the venue and is running a race over both days with a hill climb in the evening. Free camping

(Why are they all coming this way with Wellingtons?)

Adult Results   -   Youth Results

Check the web site for more details