Its Back and better then ever... The Hindon down hill race!
A popular race throughout the 90’s. For those of you who don’t know where Hindon is its about half and hour inland of Dunedin. Here is the low down from our race we here at Shoosh Clyles held recently...
Only the few who had raced there a few years back knew what to expect. Hindon isn’t you’re your standard taped off single track flying through local forests or a track carved through tissues. But wide open farm paddocks carved in corrugations like a huge piece of roofing iron. That made great natural jumps and a challenging service to descend on at speed. The track was marked out with ski type gates, so riders could pick whatever line they wanted. There was whole paddocks full of different lines to choose from between gates. Apart from the paddocks there were fast gravel roads a cheeky rock garden here and there and a tight steep section to finish. After a few practice runs it was back up the top for BBQ sausages/onions and drink (all covered in the $25 rego). The Reper pit bike boys had there ramp set up for a freestyle display and some pit bike racing for a bit of lunch time entertainment. They also put on a best trick comp off the moto ramp for any riders that wanted to give it a go. Conner from Invers took it out with a sick 360 and a back flip. He scored him self a new set of sunnies for his effort.
Then onto the race runs, There was the usual 2 timed runs they went off with out too much carnage. Followed buy a free for all run (for those who don’t know what that is don’t worry I didn't’t either until the race!). It started with a le mons style run to your bike. After a bit of pushing and shoving. About 40 riders tried to get round the first bend all at once, That’s when the carnage started. There were groms getting spat out left right and center. The wide-open track made for some exciting passing maneuvers and the most fun I have had at a DH race, as well as a lot of other riders from what i heard. At the bottom Emerson's brewery had a tent and a keg handing out beer (yes that’s right just handing it out complements of Sarge. Exactly what you need after a downhill race. And its funny how beer tastes better when you don’t have to pay for it.
What a way to end a great days racing. Not a grizzle could be heard from any of the riders. As word gets round next year there will be an even bigger turn out. There are talks of there being a lot more prize money to be won. That should entice some of the Christchurch boys in to making a weekend trip to Dunedin.
And why not. I have never been to such a good value race. Where for $25 you get lunch a few beers moto display and a race. Make sure you have a look at Vorb TV episode 5 there’s a good we section on the Hindon race and if your down in Dunedin for Uni or Nationals come in and take a load off, get your bike fixed or just talk bikes with me at Shoosh cycles on Cumberland st. That’s the one way north just before you hit Stuart st if you get to countdown you have gone to far.
Cheers, Woody
