The 2008 Stockmans Rally

The 2008 Stockman’s rally was held at in the Victorian High Country and it was a pearler of a ride. 150 riders turned up this year, which was double the amount they had last year. It all began on the Saturday Arvo as the riders rolled up and set up camp for the night. Anything from a basic swag on the ground to a huge fully decked out bus converted to a mobile home and everything else in between. They had tucker available in the form of snags and burgers on the barby which was happily washed down with a beer or three around the camp fire. Bench racing was at it’s best and the more beer that was consumed the taller the stories got.

The most elaborate camp was this bus converted to a mobile home.

This DRZ with the baffle removed didn't pass the test.

Early Sunday morning the bikes were scrutineered and then on to the DSE crew for some noise testing, which all the organised rides seem to have these days. The one biggest complaint the public has with trail bikes is NOISE. So the last thing we want to be doing is annoy them even more with our noisy mufflers. Apparently the most common offenders are the older bikes like the early DRZ’s and XR’s with the baffles taken out. Some of the aftermarket pipes are really noisy too. A lot of trail riders seem to think that a loud exhaust makes the bike go faster, but fact it’s actually quite the opposite. There are aftermarket baffles available for most early model bikes that are not noisy but still enhance performance and they’re not expensive either. Anyway I’ll get off my soap box now and get on with the story.

The bikes all line up for the noise testing.	The Beamers line up for scrutineering.
The spiel before the ride.	How awesome was this creek crossing.
The ride consisted of a 70km loop which you could do as many times as you saw fit. It had roosters and hens sections in there towards the end of the ride for those looking for either an easier or harder way to go. It was fairly hot and dusty with a forecast 30 degrees, so it was a good idea to spread yourselves out to avoid the dust. The ride started with some fast flowing tracks with a few deep washouts and roots to keep you on your toes. That soon went in some great single lane tracks with some great hills and deep valleys which were just awesome. A small rocky creek crossing with a deep rutted exit claimed a few victims and soon had a few short queues happening but no injuries that I know of. The going just got better from here on with some rocky and very steep hills that had bikes sprawled all over the place when I got to them. Fortunately I managed to find enough room to weave my way around them all the way to the top. There were three girls caught out half way up, on one rocky hill and before you knew it, a heap of blokes popped out of nowhere to help them out. That’s the best part about these rides. Everyone is always so keen the help each other out. The sharp rocks caused their fair share of punctures too, with blokes on the side of the track frantically changing tubes.	OOOPS!!
This rocky creek was a blast.	Brett gasses up the BMW G450X in the tight stuff.

Con takes gets a bit of air on the BMW G450X	That's Con again ripping up the trails on the Beamer.
What is it about camera's that causes the front wheel of people's bikes to instantly pop up in the air.	There was a great section of rolling hills that would put many a roller coaster ride to shame as the ride went on for yonks. The roosters sections were awesome. The first one was a very tight steep single lane track that was covered in loose soil and rocks. There were a few good logs that you had to really launch your bike over which got the old heart racing too. The second roosters track was just as good with more narrow tracks and a few big muddy puddles and big logs. I got a couple of ks down and decided to stop and get out my camera for a few snap shots. Only to find a sweep rider come my way and tell me I was on the wrong track. I was having so much fun that I missed a turn off. Luckily my mate Paul saw me and sent the sweep rider to get me or I’d  still be there waiting for a snap shot. The real second roosters track was a blast too though, with plenty of tight narrow tracks and rocky hills to keep you on the ball.  As far as I was concerned the rooster’s tracks were the best part of the ride with some blokes even going back just to do them again instead of doing the full loop. I was fortunate enough to get a ride on the new BMW G450X and I was very much impressed to say the least. I'll give you the full story on the BMW's in another story coming up soon.
Here's a view from near the top of one of the rocky hills.	The two Belinda's left and Rebecca were exhausted after climbing a killer rocky hill but they had a ball all the same.
Now that's what I call a log!!	Miles Davis right and I with the BMW G450X after the ride.

Ride organizers Ray Smith and Con Thermos. Top job fella's.

The ladies did a great job of feeding everyone.

All up it was an excellent ride with and really good mix of awesome tracks and just enough short transport sections to give you a breather in between. Keep your eye out on Trailrider Magazine for more pics and info on this ride coming soon. Many thanks to Con Thermos from Otway Off Road Motorcycle Tours and Ray Smith and the crew from the Motorcycle Racing Club of Victoria, who did an awesome job and thanks to the DSE for all their help and support as well. Hope to see you there again next year for a real pearler of a ride. See you on the track. Rick Los rick@eatmydirt.com.au.