TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS NEWS:YAMAHA NEWS BULLETIN
As the Tragics on the Getting There Ride will know, Yamaha Motor Australia's Communications Manager, Sean Goldhawk, joined us for the first three days of the Ténéré Tragics Run to the Rocks ride from Goulburn to Hillston to Broken Hill to Hawker, before having to turn around the next morning and return to Broken Hill and fly home to Sydney. Earlier this week Sean (pictured) distributed an official Yamaha news bulletin about the Tragics event, which is reproduced below:
Ténéré Tragics Run to the Rocks
50 Yamaha Ténéré owners have showed their enthusiasm for the legendary model by tackling a dirt bike adventure to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. The Ténéré Tragics Run to the Rocks was the first event of its kind for owners of all kinds of Ténéré from the original 1983 XT600ZL to the latest XTZ1200 Super Ténéré. The event was the brainchild of trail boss and Ténéré Tragic #1 Andrew Clubb (Clubby), editor of Trail Zone magazine and owner of an original 1983 model.
"What a blast of an event. It certainly was an action-packed ride and it appears all the Tragics have gone home well satisfied with the event," says Clubby who is now busy planning next year’s ride.
There were 27 Tragics on the official getting there ride which started from Hillston in NSW and took in Ivanhoe and Menindee on a variety of sealed and unsealed roads before rolling into Broken Hill. From there the plan was to head to Cameron Corner before turning south-west down the famed Strezlecki Track to Arkaroola for a for a day’s ride in the scenic Flinders Ranges.
Unfortunately bizarre weather patterns put a stop to the northbound fun because the road from Cameron Corner was closed due to rain. So the Tragics headed west to Yunta and then north on the dirt to the SA village of Hawker. The detour took the group across some water-covered sections, numerous sand wash-aways, dry rocky riverbeds and endless miles of Ténéré Tragics en route to Arkaroola Village in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges remote station tracks. But despite the challenging terrain, the Tragics made it through with minimum drama.
Having arrived at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, the Tragics were offered a choice of three loops of varying distances to choose from. Fortunately Steve Wolfman Smith from Adventure Moto was on hand to act as sweep on the ride and his good mate Big Pete provided a support vehicle with trailer.
Some minor incidents meant they were called into action on several occasions.
However, the Tragics returned to Arkaroola for a bivouac BBQ dinner on Sat 5 March where Clubby presented event merchandise and the much anticipated Ténéré Tragic awards to the well travelled group.
The major category winners were:
Best Presented/Prepared First Generation XT600/660 Ténéré: Michael Tucker (SA)
Best Presented/Prepared First Generation XTZ750 Super Ténéré: Paul Sitar (WA)
Best Presented Current XTZ660 Ténéré: Colin Hayden (NSW)
Best Presented Current XTZ1200 Super Ténéré: Dave Smith (Qld)
Oldest Ténéré: Neil Asplin, ‘83 XT600ZL Ténéré
Oldest Super Ténéré: Paul Sitar ‘91 XTZ750 Super Ténéré
Oldest Rider: Harley Drew, 64, XTZ1200 Super Ténére´
Youngest Rider: Luke Partridge, 16 (on L plates!), XTZ660 Ténéré
Most Kilometres Ridden to Event: John Wheeler, from Darwin River, NT, approx 3600km
Hard Luck Award: Chris Zakelj, cracked ankle
Most Truly Tragic Ténéré Tragic: This was a four-way tie. All four rode their original '83 XT600ZL Ténérés to the event and home again. That's the true Ténéré spirit! They are: Colin Jay (SA) Mike Haysom (Vic) Neil Asplin (Qld) Dave Bottomley (Qld)
"The inaugural Ténéré Tragics event was a huge success," says YMA Communications Manager and event participant Sean Goldhawk. "The numbers were capped at 50 and the organisers ended up turning away 25 owners who did not register in time. The high level of participation was mirrored with an equally strong appreciation of the Ténéré model and the Yamaha brand. These guys are all passionate about their motorcycles.
"Everyone enjoyed the ride, and there was a great spirit of cameradie among the riders -- the Ténéré spirit you could call it," explains Goldhawk.
The Ténéré Tragics ride is now set to be an annual event and with the increased support of YMA, the anticipation is for increased numbers in the future. Many thanks to organisers Tania and Andrew Clubb, Steve 'Wolfman' Smith and Big Pete. And well done to Yamaha dealers Dave Readford (Readford's MC Centre), Dave Wilson (Lithgow Bike Stop) and Craig Hartley (Dalby Moto) for participating in the event and supporting the product they sell.
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