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JB500 2022
JB500 -2022
Riders: Inver, XRCass, XRAdam, Dazza, MicKal, Jed, Flip, Todd, Jersy Boy, Pav, Jack and Guests Nine years on and the ride just gets bigger, better and tougher. All thanks to the CQ’s who organise it every year. Inver and XRCasss plan, plot and lead the ride, XRAdam provides the support vehicle to transport bags, broken bikes and Helen our Gurdian Angel who drives the support vehicle, meets us at refueling locations and rescues broken bikes and bodies when called upon. From all participants in this years JB500, Thank You to the “Fabulous Four” for putting together an awesome ride and one which created everlasting dirt biking memories. Inver’s house was the take off point where riders gathered for the prestart briefing, introductions and a show of their Japanese and Euro steads. Stands up at 8:30 signaled the start of a 15 bike procession through the ever sprawling suburbs and raising the attention of regular folk on their morning walks. Nearing Yanchep the tracks opened up and a 2stroke had blown its engine, instant DNF. Quick thinking from XRCass escorted the rider back to his vehicle whilst the rest of us continued on. Not long after electrical gremlins surfaced on another bike and further delays extended XRCass’s wait at Moore River in rejoining us. We refueled at Moore River, hooked up with XRCass and shortly after on our way to Seabird another electrical issue developed on the same bike. Now Lancelin felt a long way out of reach for us, but eventually we got there 2 hrs behind schedule at the ½ way mark. The tracks to Jurian Bay would now open up, rev limiters would be tested on all bikes and theoretically a straight forward run was to be expected with cold beers awaiting at our destination. Well, we were wrong ! Recent rains filled up the local watercourses spilling them onto the track. First puddle crossing was fun, some took the left shoulder, others on the right and the last few riders went wide into the bush to try and stay dry. Second puddle resembled a lake with a track through the middle of it. No detours around it this one and carnage for the 2strokes, both flooded and required dewatering. Unfortunately one was to DNF as it could not be revived from the drowning and required a tow to Cervantes The sun now setting low, beer time looked further away then ever. Towing the KTM was a slog on these sandy tracks but it got worse when we were halted 5km up the track by a River Crossing. Now there was no turning back, going forward was the only option. Inver wadded into the river to check the depth and concluded carrying the bikes was possible, so in the true spirit of adventure sticks were sourced and bikes individually carried across the river. With all bikes across we continued to the bitumen and through to Cervantes. Here the first SOS was sent to Our Guardian Angel requesting a bike recovery. Jurian Bay was finally reached in the dark and the celebrations commenced immediately and went through to early hours of the morning. Here I made a “David Edinboro” observation on human behaviors, where the specimens which rode hardcore during the day had intrinsic tendencies to party just as hard at night. After a hardy breakfast on Saturday morning we were back on the return tracks with only 12 bikes, three 2strokes retired due to mechanical failures. Playing safe and avoiding water XRCass lead us back to Cervantes and onto the beach run to Lancelin. Along the way the Conservation Warriors stopped us for a chat and rego check, MicKal washed his bike in seaweed and saltwater and Pav tapped out his Yamaha to the Rev Limiter for most of the beach run squeezing out every bit of horsepower he could. Oh I forgot, drama was now our best friend so to continue with the previous days events another bike at Wedge experienced collapsed rear wheel bearings, bike number 4 DNF. The Beta limped back to Wedge Island access track with Inver in tow for safety reasons. Both reaching mobile reception and once again calling on our Gurdian Angel for recovery assistance. An extended lunchbreak in Lancelin was enjoyed by all, waiting for Inver to rejoin. Some even managed to sneak in a quick nap on the lawn and re-energize. With our soul’s battle hardened from hardships over the last two days the return leg from Lancelin to Quinn’s was no longer a challenge, the focus was on bike and body preservation and not incur any more incidents. We safely reached Seabird, Morre River, Yanchep (temporally lost XRCass our sweep) and boom back to the metropolis of Quinns with smiles beaming from cheek to cheek, broken bodies and cured hang overs for some. Words can not describe the fun, comradery and adventure experienced on this JB500, thank you to the Fabulous Four you rock !                                   |
