Home - www.scottishenduros.co.uk

Thirsk DMC White Horse Enduro
24th March 2002 Silton Forest - Thirsk
(Full results available from www.endurosport.co.uk)

Another big team of Scots and others headed south to the forests near Thirsk off the A19. 13 riders and support crew found a lovely dry day with no rain - even if the night before was bitterly cold. All the water was safely locked away in the forest for the benefit of the riders later in the day. A slightly shortend course due to harvesting activities meant checks were slack for a lot of riders - although many still found the course very demanding. Similar to a lot of Scottish enduros it had lots of ruts which got deeper with each lap and many exposed tree roots showed up later. No stoppers anywhere in the forest but nowhere for a rest either.

Riders turned up on a wide variety of machinery. The usual plethora of KTM's - a lot of 4 stroke yams  and Honda CR's. There was also a PBR 500 Honda in a twin shock frame - at least the rider had long legs to reach the ground. One of the nicest machines was the Vertemati of Paul Eastwood of Halifax. Being Yorkshire there were also a lot of trail bikes and CRM Hondas. If it had wheels it was in the Forest.

The Scots had an interesting time getting to the event when the new team transport of Greg Walker ( An Iveco truck/camper/workshop previously campaigned by Richard Hay) developed a clutch problem. Getting to the bottom of the hill at Osmotherly the clutch died again. Jim Wightman was a great help by getting it going in gear - then jumped out and yelled "Who's F***** driving this thing " at which point Greg had to run after the truck and leap in.The rest of the riders climbed aboard as best they could - this van wasn't stopping again!! Finally arriving at 11:00 pm they called the AA. The AA man arrived said - it's bust - but I can't fix it - Byeeeee.! Next morning it was driven to the start and parked - bogged down more like - and the clutch fixed by Doug Maclean and Dave Donald. Well done lads. The combined efforts of Yorkshires finest 4 x 4's eventually getting the van on the road again. Thanks to all those friendly Yorkshire folk.

Back to the race. -- The course was fairly tight with a single line in a lot of places. And then there were the muddy tracks. Looked like easy going but were greasy and the back end was everywhere - nothing for it - just wind it up and hang on. No major river crossings but I still ended up soaked - all the water was in the ruts. The Thirsk club did a great job of cutting out bad bits of track and rerouting riders so no one was held up for long. A couple of good climbs which only proved a problem if you didn't attack hard to start. One long down hill near the start - just like Innerleithen but without the trees to smash into. The second check was faster in places and had the special test.

The Special Test - This was a fast blast down a forest road then into the trees, over a muddy hole which caught you out if you took the "wrong" route. Then up a rough climb through trees, down a narrow track and back out onto a very fast but slippy climb, then finally turning onto a cobbled track before the final chicane at the finish. Nothing hard just tiring over the ruts. Good fun though - but shorter than previous years due to course restrictions.

Finally - just when you thought you were at the finish of the course they dragged you off down a hillside for a couple of steep rocky climbs. As usual get it right and it's no problem - but of course - here everyone is watching you. And then back out for another lap.

Riders -

Champ Class Murray Thompson 6th Overall - All his test times were within a second - how does he do that?

Expert Class  Martin Pennycook Got all his tests in but DNF'd

Clubman Class
Dougal Walker Winner ( And over 40 Champ)
Stuart Livingston 4th
Richard McVicker 9th
Andrew McConnel 16th
Geoff Pennycook 25th
Stuart Young 43 rd ( In his first hard Enduro - fell off in the test trying too hard- but great performance for a newcomer)
Charlie Mackenzie DNF - Knackered after two laps
Dave Donald - DNF after one lap - but will be back
Jose Vega-Lozano - Could kick himself for not finishing - if only he had a kickstart to do it with . Lost - somewhere . Sponsorship sought for a new one. Good ride to keep going and do  lap.
David Ramsay - DNF - First ride on his new WR 250 F - just running it in
Greig Walker - In his first hard Enduro. Did his laps but out of time. Still he kept on going right to the end. Good on yer mate !

Finally - the true story - there is always one.

Someone - who we will not mention by name - but he rides a Husky - arrived at the check in the middle of the forest - and I shall let Murray tell the rest

"Sitting at the out check with 10 or so Championship riders and as you know Charlie it was a path 10 foot wide and 10 inches deep in slop ( you forgot to mention the ruts as well ). Up behind comes Mr X, to me obviously late but he didn't seem to think so. I asked him when he was due and the answer was 11:13, as it was 11:48 I suggested he went through. Snails pace between the bikes sitting then , Gatling Gun Greig let ripp as if he was warming a tyre for a standing quarter. All of the riders were sitting on their bikes, most had helmets and goggles off and hanging on the handle bars. We now had mud both inside outside and any otherside of the previous mentioned items, there was even a few face packs. To say the air was blue, nothing to do with the nuts being revved off a Husky, is a massive understatement. I know he had already had problems earlier in the weekend but I it was going to get worse. The statements went along the line of Roost, Dick & Payback. His only God sent was that it was fairly firm going for the start of the check and then into the test. Only rider I saw passing him was Westy and he did try his hardest. I'm a nice guy so I coasted by. So when he says that these Championship riders don't half rev their bikes its not true, only when in front of him. "

I have had couple of folk mention this story and apparently every single Championship rider managed to get a flying roost in on the way past. But he wasn't finished yet. Spinning the bike round at the finish he also got a couple of riders and the odd van. They won't forget the Scots.!

A great event and a very friendly atmosphere - definitely one again for next year - when we all finish.

[bottom.htm]