The Sixth Dirt And Trail Funduro…
Over the years, Dirt And Trail has hosted several very successful funduros in and around Gauteng. The last edition was a cracker.
Pics and vids (With apologies for the sound track) by FoleyFoto and Black Rock Studio
Stephen Joubert sent us his take on his experiences:
FUN Duro
That’s what this one was all about. A loop through a private game farm that has a bit of everything from fast flowing spoor to cry yourself broken optional technical sections.
Why would they make the tech pink?
Who knows – pink is ‘sposed to be for girls right!
Well, that’s what I thought until I ended up on a pass called – Wake-Up Shake Up!
That was me, I was awake for the rest of the day, cognisant of the fact that I am no longer in my forties and that my enthusiasm (OFTEN) surpasses my skill level.
Going up was OK, but coming down again was not so fun and it was as I fell gently onto my side that one of the (little snotnosed) marshals chose to arrive and capture me in all my glory on his cell phone. He did, however pick the bike and I up after a good chuckle…
Thanks bud!
It was a definitive moment, one where I realised that pink is not only for the fairer sex and that the manly orange route was my course of action for the rest of the day. Especially when a passing participant informed me with a huge grin that the “Pink across the road is even better!”
I’ll tell you for free that even that was tricky in places, but it was all rideable and the next two laps went by in a bit of a haze of muddy stretches, twisting climbs, little rocky step ups… It was great.
After each lap it was fantastic to see the blue Michelin tents in the distance as spectators lined up to give you a cheer as you checked in for that magic tick on your helmet.
After lap two, I had it in my mind that my camp chair and Gazebo in the sunshine was calling… until the attractive lady checking riders through wished me luck for the next lap.
Call me chivalrous, old fashioned, whatever – my wife often refers to me as “Somewhat Silly”, but acting utterly cool and calm, I passed under the arch for my third lap. By the time I hit the new pass again (I think it was Foleys Folly) I realised that I had, once again got ahead of myself and promptly ended up on my bum facing the opposite direction.
Ah well what to do? Mutter mutter, bike up, try again… (Nobody to watch this time round) and over I went. Brilliant! With nobody to witness my great triumph!
Only another seventeen or so to do.
It was great! I vaguely remember being overtaken by a few riders – however, I also gleefully overtook a few riders who had come more unstuck than I did…
And then that blue tent came back into focus again!
I was tired!
“Three laps! Well done!”
It sounded as if I’d won the Dakar or something. I vaguely remember asking what the record was for the day. “Eight!” Was the reply…
I slunk off to my deck chair to suck down a cold one and get cooled off for the drive home. Many people had already headed for home, but we stuck around to witness an enormous fellow hurl a back tyre further than the route we’d just ridden.
I opted to be sensible and not to show him up.
He went home with a brand new back tyre for his efforts!
Prizegiving was festive with great trophies, prizes and medals. I’ll cherish that medal, it’s already up on the wall of my pub.
Lots of laughter rounded off what had been an excellent day in the saddle.
This was my first Dirt And Trail Funduro. Thanks guys!
Give me a couple of weeks to recover and you’ll see me on the next one.
Stephen Joubert.
Oh who did the most laps?
It’s not a race but, you know how it is…
In Ysterman class, Mr JJ Oosthuizen (With a Z) did 9 laps.
He was followed by Reinhardt Fourie and Brandon Snyman with 6 each.
11 year old Jake Haines managed 5 laps! Well done!
Team:
Team The Bronks, Team Aust, RCD Wannabe and World Of Enduro took gold with 5 laps per team.
The top lady rider was Cindy Porobich. Originally a team entrant, she rode 7 individual laps. That’s pretty impressive!
The next funduro is already being planned! Watch our socials, keep an eye on our site, we’ll open bookings in the next little bit!
