Perth Mountain Bike Club

How’s it going all ya mad mountain bikers—EH! Well ya brought this upon yourselves…Yes that’s right Steven (Canuck…AKA “Seal Clubber”) Buursema has become the new Vice President for DH in 2008—not bad…Eh! No one from Perth; from WA; or from Australia put their hand up so you’ve had to recruit from overseas and import a foreigner from Canada—eh, but hey we couldn’t let the club be shelved for a year and lose a majority of the races that were scheduled for 2008. So I would like to introduce myself and welcome back all the “old-skool” crew for another fantastic year of racing.

Well there’s a few races already planned for 2008 and you’ll find them on the PMBC website in the revised 2008 race calendar. All dates in the draft calendar have now been confirmed, may be only a venue change here and there. The first State round is confirmed for Nannup at the end of April which should be an awesome event as usual. First, PMBC will hold club race #1 at the Goat-farm just off Great Eastern High on Green Mount Hill. We hope to see you all out in force and renewing your club and MTBA memberships for 2008. The race will be held on the 2007, State Championships race track and is designated as a introduction to DH Racing for all new interests, and a welcome back for all the old skool crew.

As a result, this club race will be discounted and we will be charging only $25 for adult categories and $15 for the juniors. We hope to see you all there and if you know any “pinners” that are new or even relatively new to the sport please encourage them to come and try racing. It’s not just for the glory of competition, but it’s also for the excellent social atmosphere in which, you get to hang with a great bunch of crank-spinners who love riding bikes. Hopefully life-long friends will be formed.

Second, the race will take place on Sunday 6th April and there will be registration on-line as well as at the race (be sure to get into the habit of using the on-line rego, because there will be late rego charges at future races). We strongly urge everyone to register online once it is up, as there is always madness at the first race with sign ups for the season. There will be full rego at the event and anyone wanting to renew/sign up for licenses can do so. We will be distributing new number plates for the season which will be used at every state and club race all season. Plates are $5 and then you own it for the whole season. We are having extended rego from 8:00 to 10:30am and then the race will start at about 12 noon. If you are not renewing or signing up for your license on the day, you will need to show your CURRENT MTBA CARD as proof of membership or buy a day licence for $15 - NO EXCEPTIONS!

So the lowdown for the Goat Farm Race is as follows:
When: - Sunday 6th April
Registration - 8:00 - 10:30 (Also on line)
Practice - 9:00 - 11:00 (note no official Saturday practice)
Racing - 12:00 - 4:00 (approx)

Cost:
Seniors $25
Juniors $15
U13 Free!
Remember you either need to have a current license, sign up/renew on the day, or buy a day License for $15 in order to race.
All forms and Online rego can be found under the "Race Entry - forms and Online" link on the toolbar.
*Its a good idea to print out any necessary forms and fill them in before coming to the event to save time!

Directions:
The Goat Farm is located on Greenmount Rise, just off Great Eastern Hwy in greenmount. When you turn onto the rise go left at the T junction and all the way to the end, then right into the park. Parking is up in the new car park by the facilities - please do not park anywhere else.

Third, you should have already received a news-letter that was sent out a few weeks ago, and in this letter it mentioned something about a volunteer system for organising and conducting club and PMBC hosted state races. Basically this is how the system will work: volunteers will be contacted by an official PMBC committee member (usually the VP, Steve) by e-mail and a phone call. There will a general group of about 10 persons who will be involved in helping set up and pull down race events. Tasks will include things like: bunting (up & down), set up tents & regos, transporting equipment (compensation available), running timing wires & PA wires…etc. If you are selected for this volunteer assignment and not able to contribute then we deem you not available to race at that event; unless you are able to supply a substitute (must be an able body person to perform you task—friends/family members).

Then there will be a separate category of volunteers who will most often be parents/family members that perform specialist tasks such as: driving at shuttled rounds, marshalling, timing, start gate officials…etc. These 5 volunteers will be received in a 1st five to put their hand up for such tasks will be able to get their PMBC race entry fees waived for the person of their choice. For Example, at Nannup, if a junior member’s parent volunteers, to drive shuttles at the race then the junior will not have to pay the $60-50 dollar race fees. Plus the driver will be treated to free refreshments throughout the day. The details of the volunteer system will become more clear as we progress through the 2008 race season and as we all get use to contributing to our great club.

Cheers,

Steven “Clubber” Buursema
PMBC VP DH