The Greenspeed Broadford OzHpv Challenge 2005,
April 2/3, Reg Hunt Park, Broadford, Vic.
The 2005 OzHPV Challenge was held in Broadford early in April. This year we had races on one day only which allowed more time for some social events and for interstate visitors to enjoy all the races. The Reg Hunt Park Track has recently been resurfaced and is now a very good smooth fast bitumen - but still lots of hills. Catering was again ably managed by the Broadford scout group and we had generous sponsorship from Mitchell Shire, Greenspeed, Stuty´s Bakehouse, MR Components, Trisled, Typing 2000, the CMG group, Freedom HPV and Flying Furniture.
For the challenge we had a fine warm day touching 30 degrees and the first event was the gut-busting hill climb. Competitors then stayed at the top of the hill for the start of the down hill roll. This "race" (no pedalling) was appreciated by all, as no effort was necessary or allowed, and it was over the fast big thrilling downhill on the track. Low racers did well, and Jamie Friday´s fully faired bike won. Mick Webster rode a standard racing bike and came 9th. In the interest of science, Matt Ellison ran his Toyota Camry, (car) over the same downhill course as the bikes, with the result that it went about as far as the best of the bikes.
The off road was held on a bumpy course around the top of the camping area with obstacles including a dry riverbed, a hot dog van, a BMX jump between 2 trees and a rutted grassy area. David McCook won and Jamie Friday punctured while negotiating the riverbed and did not finish, which probably cost Jamie the first place in the Challenge.
The road race was most gruelling and really consisted of a series of long hillclimbs on the South side punctuated by long downhills on the North side. I rode my hybrid tandem bike with my son Ewan, niece Josephine and nephew Fraser alternating as stokers. When they weren´t riding, they were cheering the riders on, along with a small group of scouts. All the cheering
was most appreciated.
The Challenge points races ended with the slalom and shopping races held on the tarmac underneath the race track control tower. There was a good audience for the events: Ewan Nurse took out the slalom beating Jamie Friday, and Jamie beat William Reid in the shopping race. Some of the lowracers proved impractical in the slalom with a few riders picking up their bikes and running to be competitive.
A fun relay race was held after the points event with a bike, recumbent bike, trike, junior and female competitor represented on each team. Teams were organised at short notice and the required competitors and vehicles obtained, swapped or cajoled. In the end Pete Heal, Matt Heal, Helen Curtis and Mister X (didn´t catch all the names, sorry) won the race. Just on dusk the presentations were made and “usual suspects’ David McCook, Jamie Friday, Ian Humphries seemed to be winning almost of the certificates. But there were a few surprises at the end with John Finch coming third overall, Jamie Friday in second place and Ian Humphries first. Ewan Nurse won the Junior Section and Helen Curtis the Ladies.
The Trivia Night followed and Secretary Atholl Reid gave a brief speech about OzHPV. The night was great fun & is becoming an institution at the Broadford Event. The Sunday of the Challenge was cold and windy but there was an enthusiastic crowd outside Stuties Bakehouse for the concourse. It´s great to see innovation in HPV´s continuing. Highlights included Ken Houghton´s fork blade for improving stability and aerodynamics of disc front wheels, Jamie Friday´s fairings, Damian´s back to back tandem, and new trikes by Lloyd Charter, Daniel Dobrosak and Jon Finch.
After the concourse Damian Harkin and Peter Moeller visited the large car parts fair taking place just near Stuties. The Challenge ended for me when I escorted Jamie Friday as far as the Hume Highway turnoff. (Jamie rode all the way to Melbourne on one of the windiest days of the year.) Damian´s Family played a huge role in the running of the Challenge, Joan ran the Trivia Night, Claire was a most capable official and Sarah worked tirelessly on the data entry. Frances competed and came third in the women´s section. Many thanks for your help. Thanks also to all who participated this year. May it be bigger and better next year!!
Steve Nurse
View the results here (.xls 262 kb).