WHO THE CLUB CATERS FOR

ENDUROS

Enduros are a major facet in the Keyneton MCC, with many of the Club’s members competing in this facet. Over the last  10 – 15 years the Club has had many members compete successfully at state and national level, with many bringing home medals from the Australian 4-Day Enduro Championships (A4DE). A number of members have also become Australian Champions in this facet, both individual and teams championships. David Holt, Craig Hage, Nigel Roocke and Shane Diener have all won Aussie Titles competing at the A4DE. Three members have gone on to win medals at the International 6-Day Enduro World Championships as well. David Holt has won a Silver and a Gold, Shane Diener a Gold and Craig Hage a Bronze at the ISDE.

The Club has in the past won the Enduro of the Year Award and while not running an enduro in 2003 the Club is heavily involved in the planning and running of the 2003 A4DE to be held in the South East in April and one club event usually has an Enduro included.

RELIABILITY TRIALS

From the birth of the Club in 1950 Reliability, or Road Trials have been at the forefront in the Keyneton MCC. Founder Joe Doddridge’s first taste of motorcycling was watching the 24 Hour Trial pass through Keyneton in the ‘40’s and it

was a reason for him to start the KMCC. The Club’s success in the ‘24’ has lasted now well over 40 years, from Dennis Weichert’s first win of 5 in 1962 to Tony Tscharke swinging for Dave Manuel in their 2002 win, the Club has now produced 20 winners, winning the ‘24’ a total of 34 times, as well as 13 Club Team Awards and 7 Sidecar Team Awards.

The Club also always runs a control at the ‘24’ and has always been a social highlight of the year, with many stories  coming out of the Club’s bonfire!!

The Club’s own event, The Mike Connors 6 Hour Trial is now into its 40’s, with the first recorded winner being Ken Warnest in 1961, and the event has regularly been regarded as one of the very best. Held, either in the Barossa and starting at the clubrooms or near Sedan at the Towitta Park, the event always has a wide variety of terrain and sections and is now an all daylight event, with a good social gathering at the finish.

The Trial was named the ‘Mike Connors’ after the death in 1977 of member, and 1976 24 Hour Trial winner   Mike Connors.

MOTOTRIALS

Mototrials, or observed trials gave the Club its first Australian Champions in 1976 when Roger & Phillip Holmes won the sidecars and over many years has produced Australian and State Champions for the Club. Club members Trevor Diener & Phillip Holmes are the most successful team in Australian history with 7 Aussie & 10 State Titles.
Mototrials has also proven to be a good stepping-stone, or introduction to motorcycle sport for many of the Club’s Enduro and Reliability Trials champions. Not only is it financially the cheapest but it also teaches great balance, throttle and brake control and how to pick your lines. There are also more observed trials and coaching schools during a year than most other facets, so a competitor can learn a lot and get good value for money.
Generally the Club will run 2 Mototrials every year and the Club’s events are regarded as some of the best in the state, with good terrain, but the Club has also distinguished itself nationally, running, what have been regarded as, three of the very best Australian Championship meetings ever held, in 1990, 1994 and 2002

MOTOCROSS

2003 sees the Club reopen its famous Mengler's Hill track from the 70’s and early ‘80’s, at this stage only for Closed to Club events, but with the view of running open events again in the near future. The Mengler's Hill circuit was regarded in the ‘70’s as one of the best natural terrain circuits in Australia, and the traditional Vintage Festival Scramble regularly drew thousands of spectators. With this in mind the Club’s focus on motocross will once again increase, although many members are already riding a variety of meetings, either to sharpen their skills for Enduros, or riding vintage motocross. Vintage motocross has seen a resurgence Australia wide in the past few years with many classes, both for the age of the bike and the rider.

JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT

With a number of members under the age of 16, or members having kids under 16, the focus of Club Events leans towards the juniors. While these events include events for the older riders, classes for juniors are always included, the idea being the juniors can also watch and learn from their more experienced members and also pick up tips from chatting to them between races.

The Club’s senior riders have always been approachable to the younger members and unless they are competing elsewhere on the day, do support the Club’s club events.

The Club also has a number of senior members who have successfully completed coaching clinics and are qualified motorcycle riding coaches with Motorcycling Australia.