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enduro
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The Dark One |
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   The WOR EVENTS / TRAILTECH D1 Championship - 2008. A 3 round hare scramble series in the dark of night…… WOR Events are pleased to announce that once again working with ROY KERR from TRAILTECH, A 3 round "DARK ONE" (D1) series is planned to run over the next few months. The D1 series will consist of 2 hour hare scramble races that run on a Saturday evening and have the majority of the race in pitch dark of night. WOR have pioneered this series and it's now in its third year with more and more riders taking part and investing in proper lighting systems, this forthcoming championship will see even bigger numbers of competitors and brighter lights!! The dates for D1 are as follows: SATURDAY 15TH MARCH 2008 @ Venue TBA (month before) SATURDAY 26TH APRIL 2008 @ Venue TBA (month before) SATURDAY 21ST JUNE 2008 @ Venue TBA (month before) Venues will be North Wales / Shropshire/ mid Wales. Camping is available at all of these events as they fit into one of WOR's existing weekends sport. The classes for the series are: OPEN CLUBMAN OVER 40 SPORTSMAN NOVICE The start times for the events will all differ because of the varying sunset times but the general plan is to run the first 45 minutes in the light and then the final 1 hour in the dark. The courses will be WOR's usual standard of hare scramble circuit with some slower and trickier bits thrown in to keep the speed down. Top of the range lighting systems are available from Roy at TRAILTECH and he is a spot on, very knowledgeable guy that will assist ANY WOR rider with any technical queries or set up requirements. ROY has also contributed to a healthy prize fund on behalf of TRAILTECH and this will be spread evenly throughout the classes for the winners in each class. As always some nice silverware will be given to the top 3 in each class at each round as well as overall awards at the end of the series. ROY can be contacted on 01642 554534 or sales@trailtechproducts.co.uk Entries for the series open mid February online at www.worevents.com or by calling Ian on 07944378432. WOR racing in the dark……………… "If you have not tried riding in the dark yet, you don't know what you are missing…..Everyone is welcome so come along this year and have ago……2omph feels like 40mph…Great fun." WOR Events.
"Nantmawr Quarry is getting quite used to being lit up at night time by the bright lights of the WOR Events road show. After the second running in the dark of the awesome "Tough One" event here in January just gone, the powerhouse Enduro organising team at WOR were back to run the final round of the "Trail Tech UK "Dark One series. A 2 hour multi lap Enduro battle, around the famous quarry and surrounding Shropshire mountainside and woodlands in the pitch of night time darkness. After round one in an icy setting in Corwen, North Wales, and the series moved overland about 30 miles to one of WOR Events' more prestigious venues and fingers were crossed for some good weather. Rain did come but did nothing to dampen the spirits of the riders and the course stayed bone dry through out with dust even bursting out of some of the berms along the fantastic circuit. Once again the WOR track building team did a fantastic job with an off road loop that had just about everything in it you would expect from these vastly experienced event organisers.
Young WOR GAS GAS UK rider Rowland Morris (above) had other ideas though and after getting himself a new 8" Trail Tech Eclipse Headlight was now on an even running with what is quite simply stunning lights on Ed Jones machine. With Rowland and Ed's machines, almost turning night time into day light!!! These two riders had a battle all race long with a brilliant challenge from KTM mounted BEC championship rider and former British 125cc Enduro Champion Andrew `Edwards. Edwards was pushing all the way in second and third place until his lights packed in and left him struggling for vision. Very unlucky really as with his lap times it would have been very interesting indeed. The match at the front of the pack was being struck by the determined young Morris but his lead was never too much on the super smooth Jones. Only when Morris came in for fuel did the KTM of Jones get out into the lead and with Edward running a big tank it looked like curtains for Rowland. However digging deep and showing a real capacity for big determination saw Rowland snatch back the lead from Edward and go on to take a well deserved victory by just over a minute. The two riders with the best lights were quite simply the best riders on the night and seemed to really enjoy their challenge. Paul Bolton once again had an awful start but his class and ability shone through with him eventually getting a final position on the podium and a second overall in the series. With the series only consisting of 2 rounds, the organisers (WOR) and the sponsors (TRAILTECH UK) decided to call Jones and Morris Joint winners of the series with them having exact results and both riding so committed. They shared the prize fund and now look forward to taking on the new 4 round 3 hour night time series that starts in November 2007. The riders in the other classes all seemed to enjoy themselves and some right tussles were taking place for class wins. In the clubman Jim Buchanan kept up his winning streak by taking the spoils from second placed Craig Reynolds with a 1.5 minute advantage. Nathan Bolton took a well deserved third place. The veteran class was topped as expected by the vastly experienced Enduro Guru, Steve Plain. Plain narrowly taking a ten second advantage over off road all rounder Andy Daniels, with Daniels in fact taking the overall series win.
So once again the Innovative talents of WOR race boss Steve Ireland have seen another successful idea come to fruition and the concept of racing "Enduro" in the dark come to be a recognised reality. WOR Events have asked me to thank all the riders for riding in the "something different" series and to land owners for allowing the activity to take place. The number one marshals and helpers that no matter what the weather or hour are prepared to do their jobs and make the events happen safely and professionally. A final big thank you also goes to series sponsor, Roy Kerr from Trail Tech Products UK whom has thrust 100% energetic and committed support to the series from the outset and has been on hand in person and on the phone offering advice and help to all concerned parties regarding his superb line of HID lighting. Roll on the dark nights of November!!
Once again doing something different with the sport of off road enduro riding by setting the riders off in the dusk and into the pitch darkness was another big step by the WOR team showing why the are the innovators and big movers in the organising world . The awesome range of venues that WOR have at their disposal was evident for all to see as this stunning North Wales mountainside came to life with banners and track tape and unbelievably over 1500 arrows. (More arrows used because of the dark) WOR had their inflatable arch up and music was being played through the PA system into the dark, Steve Ireland was back on the microphone doing his Jack Burnicle impression (commentating and entertaining the crowd GBHS style) and the floodlit pits gave just the right amount of light to keep the place safe. The racing was great too; the circuit was just under 6 miles in length and had a bit of everything including…ice!! The ground was frozen in places were the sun had not made it to earlier in the day and this caused the brave night riders to air on the side of caution as they learned the circuit. In the expert class experienced night time rider Ed Jones was the first man back past lap control, The ET James/KTM UK rider and multi British enduro champion was on great form and pushed hard from the start. On lap 3 the young WOR/GAS GAS rider Rowland Morris put in a fantastic spurt of speed to take the lead from a startled Ed Jones and Rowland held that lead until he had to visit the pits for fuel. Jones then took re took the lead and never lost it again, simply showing his class by going faster and faster each lap. Amazingly Jones’ last 2 laps were faster than his first 2 laps which had been done in semi light!!!! One of the big advantages for Jones was the fantastic 8” Eclipse Trail Tech light he had on the front of his machine…simply turning the dark intimidating track in front of him into beam of brightness. Morris kept pushing but in the end was over 4 minutes down on the flying KTM man Jones but over a minute ahead of 3rd placed man Paul Bolton. Bolton on the KB Racing GAS GAS 300 was
flying towards the end after having to play catch up from lap one problems
that saw him in last place. The clubmen class had a right battle going on as well with Craig Reynolds taking a very well deserved victory from Daz Cowan . Both these guys riding Gas Gas machinery ahead of third placed Beta mounted Jim Barrie. Reynolds is getting better and better each
ride and is really enjoying his time at the moment and at only 17 years of age
is soon going to be in the expert class giving the top boys something to think
about. Craig had a 6 minute advantage over the always smiling Cowan who in
turn had 10 minutes over local bike dealer and enthusiast Barrie, All 3 were
on 8 laps. At the 1 hour point course boss Ste Ireland
went out to do a lap to check out the circuit and basically over view the icy
conditions. On his return to his commentating post he was pleased to report
that the track had in fact thawed out and was now muddy yet flowing. The sight
of the bright lights working there way across the moor land and through the
wood sections in the pitch darkness really is an impressive view. After swapping the lead a few times with
Andy Daniels, Ian Barnett emerged as the fastest man in the veteran class with
just under a 3 minute cushion from the tall but elegant rider Daniels. Local
business man Gareth Lloyd took the 3rd place on the podium matching
the 8 laps of Barnett and Daniels but was 4 minutes down on Daniels after
having some lighting problems along the way. Finally onto the sportsman class and the
brave souls that faced the night to take the podium places were in third place
Yorkshire man Mark Bell on his trusty KTM 200 completing 6 laps. 2nd
went to Iwan Edwards on a creditable 7 laps and the victory went to the class
leader from start to finish Scott Smith. With the presentation by Trail Tech’s boss man Roy Kerr conducted straight after the last man crossed the line the floodlights were shut down and the car park emptied with the WOR team heading down to the local pub for a few well earned pints of cola!! With round 2 of this series taking place on March 17th (obviously later start time) it will be interesting to see if the entry grows and if the Dark One theme is catching on….everyone who has had a go is raving about it and it’s one of them scenarios of once you have tried it you do it again and again .
"Saturday night at 9.30pm saw the start of the second "trail tech dark one"…2 hrs of racing into the dusk and dark on enduro motorcycles on a welsh mountainside. After the 1st running of this event in early march in the most horrendous weather you could imagine, this time the riders had to face a fog of dust that on some sections combined with the bright lights that some riders were running resembled riding in falling snow. A small but quality entry that had the likes of Wayne Braybrook, Ed Jones, Si Pavey, Ashley Wood to name a few started on time and were out to chase the £450 prize fund. Event sponsor Roy Kerr was on hand explaining to and helping people set up their lights and then took to the track with a real special looking camera and became David bailey!! Using lights more or less from the start most of the quick lads were doing the small 3 mile loop which included several pieces of tight woodland and some interesting quarry type going in about 8 and a half minutes. Leading from start to finish was the impressive Wayne Brayrook (left), his Honda 250 coming round with a clear advantage over the chasing pack. In the early laps it was Nick Plumb on a ktm 125 that was pushing hard until the very quick youngster Ashley Wood took over and held that position for a while. Ed Jones, the victor of the 1st dark one event had bike troubles on the line and was 2minutes down at the end of the first lap, this was to change though as the hard charging Ed with his massive trail tech light set up started to pick his way through the dust in the dark and eventually taking a well deserved 2nd place and £100 prize fund. Ashley wood went on to finish a clear 3rd and took home £50 for his efforts. Braybrook went home £300 better off and fully deserved his win with a real consistent ride that was quick just about everywhere… Ed Jones did put in some quicker laps mid race but once Braybrooks pit crew gave him a wake up call Wayne stepped up a cog and secured the win. Towards the end of the race Wayne had a real moment in the woods when he clipped a tree and it sent him at pace veering up an embankment… like a true pro he "saved it" and carried on undeterred. something these top riders have an uncanny ability to do. Gareth Lloyd won the veterans class with another solid and committed ride, Eddie Holmes won the clubman and Iwan Edwards took the sportsman spoils. All riders commented how much they had enjoyed it and event though the entry was small there was a cracking atmosphere and feel to the event with dance music playing into the dark and WOR's Top man Steve Ireland giving a superb race commentary, seeing riders packing up and leaving a venue at 1am is a strange but nice thing….(continues) The club have announced that any future dark events will be run in the winter in late afternoon as to not mess peoples body clocks up too much… Results
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ROUND
2 OF THE TRAIL TECH UK "DARK ONE" SERIES. SATURDAY 17.3.07 @
NANTMAWR QUARRY, SHROPSHIRE. Report by Gwynne Turner Photos by Roy Kerr
Leading
the series from round one and looking to secure the healthy first prize cash
fund was KTM's BEC specialist and regular WOR dark one competitor, Edward
Jones (left). Ed was in fine form and with the knowledge and know how
associated with the famous Jones Enduro dynasty from mid Wales, he was a clear
favourite to carry on from were he left off at round one.
Sportsman top man was Midlands's warrior Scott Smith with a 1.5 minute
advantage over Friend of WOR and also landowner near Nantmawr, Glyn Pugh. The
final podium position went to Iwan Edwards.
ROUND 1 TRAILTECH DARK ONE SERIES 2007
Dark
2 WOR EVENTS @ ROBINS MOUNTAIN-ABERGELE. 17/18TH JUNE
2006 ..BY GWYNE TURNER… PHOTO'S BY ROY KERR AND
GWYNE TURNER.