SAORC

PRESS RELEASE: SAORC – LOOKING FORWARD TO 2024, AND BEYOND!

March 19, 2024 Filed Under: Enduro, News, SAORC

After a tough couple of years where the SA Off Road Championship (SAORC) has struggled to keep pace with the rest of the sport of motorcycling here in South Australia, with host clubs struggling to find venues big enough to suitably host the growth of the sport, 2024 is seeing a much-needed resurgence, with an injection of new faces stepping up to ensure the discipline of Enduro doesn’t get left behind.

In conjunction with the MSA Office, the charge for SAORC is now being led by the Throup brothers, Sean and Tristan, and they have landed very much on the front foot and are already breaking through barriers to ensure the Championship not only survives but starts to grow and get better and more viable as each season goes by.

So far they have been talking to a number of Clubs and land owners, both old and new, about a return to the proven SAORC formula, used for so many years of a rotating Championship, so Clubs aren’t expected to run rounds each year, so their members don’t burn out, and also to give their land owners and their properties time to recover after their use, which would ensure their use for many years to come.

The brothers have also been talking to potential sponsors, again, both old and new, to, not only support the Championship, but also the organising clubs to assist with the costs associated with running these events. Top this, they have a fantastic sponsorship package, that can be made available for any potential sponsors who may be keen to come onboard.

Of course, they can’t get it all done by themselves, so if you are keen to jump on the ‘Throup Train’, hit the lads up by email and let them know what you can offer!

SO – to 2024! 2024 sees the 2024 Championship jump from four (4) rounds in 2023, to a confirmed six (6) rounds in 2024, with the possibility of an extra two (2) rounds still to be confirmed, with 2 rounds also hosting rounds of the 2024 Australian Off Road Championship (AORC).

At present the 2024 SAORC calendar has shaped up like this:

Round 1	Saturday May 11	Black Hill	Velocette MCC	Sprint
Round 2	Sunday May 12	Black Hill	Velocette MCC	Sprint

Round 3	Saturday August 24	Kingston SE	Green Triangle	TBC	*AORC
Round 4	Sunday August 25	Kingston SE	Green Triangle	TBC	*AORC

Round 5	Saturday September 21	ACUSA Park	Velocette MCC	Sprint
Round 6	Sunday September 22	ACUSA Park	Velocette MCC	Sprint

There is also the possibility of an extra 2 rounds being added – with the weekend of June 22 & 23 slated as the preferred date – so 2 weeks after Finke and 2 weeks before Hattah – and note the change of this date from the original date released last December, which was in July.

SAORC is, at present, the second largest Championship series on the Motorcycling SA calendar, so the need for a united crew putting together an exciting Championship for all who enter is an absolute must.

SOUTH AUSSIES SHINE AT HATTAH FOR 2023

July 4, 2023 Filed Under: Enduro, News, SAORC

Hattah has always been an exceptionally popular staple event, Australians annually count down the days until they hit the road again for the trip over and 2023 was no exception. A strong field of South Australian ‘Hattah newbies’ and veterans alike, jumped over the border to join the 839 strong field of competitors in taking on the challenge for another year. We take a look at just a few South Aussies that tamed the Hattah challenge for its 25th anniversary in 2023.

Shaking off a tough 16th-place overall prologue run and 7th in class, Cooper Sheidow knew he had work to do and was definitely the man to do it. Putting his skills and course knowledge to the test, he went from 16th to 6th in the first lap and landed an exceptional 4th place class finish in ‘251 – 450 4 Stroke’ and a 6th place overall finish at the end of the weekend – Pretty impressive stuff!!

Above: Cooper Sheidow pushing hard 📸 Foremost Media Above: Cooper in between all the dust 📸 Foremost Media

No stranger to the Hattah challenge, SA’s Will Price got straight back into the rhythm from the get-go, scoring a 5th-place class prologue with sights set on the main show. Narrowly missing out on the top spot, Will took a well-deserved P2 for the ‘up to 250 4-stroke class’.

Did you say 3 top five class finishes for the ‘Ladies Tenacious Women Of Hattah 4 laps’? That’s right, congratulations Emma Haylock finishing the weekend with a 3rd place finish, Aimee Butler, hot on her heels in 4th and Chloe Barton chasing them both down, to finish 5th.

Above: Emma Haylock #52 ready to take on the challenge Above: Chloe Barton and Aimee Butler twinning it up.

📸 courtesy from Emma. 📸 from Chloe Barton #28

An outstanding effort for the Gear brothers from Keith in the ‘200CC – 250CC 4 STK – 13 – U16 Big Wheel Race’, Ollie finished second by a mere 15.430 seconds with a total time of 1:40:34.702 and Davey rounded out the top 5 in 1:44:25.284.

In the mix with the Gear Bothers, a special mention and congratulations go out to Archer Colwill for his 4th place finish and Will Mcinnes, keeping Davey on his toes behind him in 6th place – well done!

Shout out to Alex Head, after a solid weekend of racing, he put on a great show in the ‘Up to 250 2 stroke’ class, taking out the big P1 – Fantastic work!

Above: Davey and Ollie Gear ready to take on the Hattah for 2023. 📸 courtesy Penrite Hattah Desert Race 2023

📸 courtesy Brad Gear

Taking on some pretty stacked junior competition in 85CC 2STK and 150CC 4 STK – Small and Big Wheel – 12-U16, Harry Gilbertson let his riding do the talking and finished the weekend with a great second place class finish and just 40 seconds off first place Cooper Ford.

In the Junior Small Wheel race, Levi Rossi and Declan Smart had an exceptional weekend, finishing first and second against some incredibly fast juniors. Riley Mullen nearly made it an all SA podium finishing narrowly outside top 3 in fourth place – 3 South Aussies out of top 4, pretty great achievement!!

To all of our South Australians that made the trip over, congratulations for all your racing achievements.

For a comprehensive look at all the results – outright and class, junior and senior – head to this link to see how all your favourite south Aussies went! – HERE.

Above:📸 courtesy Foremost Media.

SAORC – Entries for Rounds 1 & 2 Opening

June 11, 2023 Filed Under: Enduro, News, SAORC

ENTRIES FOR ROUNDS 1 & 2 OPENING

PRESS RELEASE – 2023 SA OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE HELD OVER 4 ROUNDS IN 2023.

May 19, 2023 Filed Under: News, SAORC

Even with a final shout out for assistance to keep the opening weekend of the 2023 SA Off Road Championship a happening event, sadly there was not enough assistance offered to make the event go ahead, with thanks to those few that did register some assistance, meaning the 2023 SA Off Road Championships will now be a 2 weekend, 4 round Championship.

The Championship will be featuring 2 Sprint events and 2 Cross Country events and will take place as per the rounds listed below. Over the next week as it gets close to entries opening for rounds 1 and 2, Motorcycling SA will release the 2023 Championship sponsors, as well as the supplementary regulations for the 2023 Championship. Entries will be through Ridernet and, as in previous years, the usual range of junior and senior classes will be on offer.

2023 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

ROUND 1 & 2

JULY 15 & 16 Tintinara Keith & Districts Cross Country / Sprint

ROUND 3 & 4

*AUGUST 26 & 27 Keyneton Keyneton Cross Country / Sprint

* Being run alongside the AORC, rounds 7 & 8

Motorcycling South Australia would specifically like to thank the organising clubs for making the 2023 Championship possible, who had originally decided to have a year off to recharge their members, but when it seriously looked like there wouldn’t be a Championship in 2023, all decided that they would put up their hands to make it happen.

The Keyneton MCC are now running back to back AORC rounds, after running a round in 2022, as the final 2 rounds of SAORC will also be rounds 7 & 8 of the 2023 AORC, and along with Keith & Districts, will be opening up some new land to the Championship in 2023, and while it is disappointing that the Championship will only be held over 4 rounds, it is exciting that both organising clubs are opening up brand new land for these events.

As stated previously, Motorcycling SA are keenly aware that the sport as a whole, and Enduro specifically, is suffering from a serious lack of volunteers and have regularly been advertising for the past 4 years for persons interested in becoming the Sports Manager for Enduro, but to date there has not been a single applicant, and the position is still vacant.

If you would like more information on the position, please email administration@motorcyclingsa.org.au to get all of the information available.

2023 SA OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP LOOKING FOR HELP!

May 9, 2023 Filed Under: Enduro, News, SA Women in Motorcycling, SAORC

In yet another disappointing setback for the 2023 Championship, the Juventus MCC have sadly had to pull out of running the first 2 rounds of the 2023 SA Off Road Championship, due to a serious lack of man-power available to make the event happen.

No-one wants to see the 2023 Championship slip back to a 4 round series, so this is a FINAL CALL to see if there is a Club, or a group of people, that would be prepared to assist with the running of rounds 1 and 2 of the Championships over the weekend of June 17 & 18 at ACUSA Park, Harrogate.

Assistance will be available as to where everything is at the Park: car parks, toilets, access points, etc, and specifically to show where the tracks can, and can’t, go.

What would be needed are the following:

Track marking and un-marking teams (Monday of the June Long Weekend for marking, unmarking on the Sunday after racing or the following Saturday at the latest)
2 teams of sweep riders each day (minimum of 4 riders per team) – this is a must for the safety of all riders, as well as keeping the event on schedule.
General assistants on the day for the following;
1. Pit allocations and assisting teams/riders where they can set up.
2. Sign On & Scrutineering assistants each morning
3. Pit marshals – to assist with riders getting to the start line.
4. Starters and finishers for each Test.
5. Back up scoring teams.
6. Bike recovery team.

Motorcycling South Australia will assist with the following:

Assign the appropriate level officials to run the meeting.
Approve the supp regs and all relevant paperwork.
Set the event up in Ridernet and monitor all entries as they come in, and deal with any issues that may arise – specifically in relation to endorsements and numbers.
Organise the event programs.
Organise the round awards (trophies), that would be presented at the next rounds.

Motorcycling SA are keenly aware that the sport as a whole, and Enduro specifically, is suffering from a serious lack of volunteers to make events happen, so, if you think your Club, or a group could put together a team to make these rounds happen, please call the MSA Office, 8332 9000, or email administration@motorcyclingsa.org.au BEFORE Monday, May 15^th.

Motorcycling SA have regularly been advertising for the past 4 years for persons interested in becoming the Sports Manager for Enduro, but to date there has not been a single applicant, and the position is still vacant. If you would like more information on the position, please email administration@motorcyclingsa.org.au to get all of the information available.

2023 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – DATE CHANGES!

May 1, 2023 Filed Under: Enduro, Motocross, News, Reliability, SA Women in Motorcycling, SAORC, State Championship

Due to many reasons, and mainly due to Enduro not having a Sports Manager at present to coordinate the Championships or the discipline, with Wes Haydon no longer available to do it, as well as things like land availability, once again there have had to be date changes to the 2023 SA Off Road Championships, with the 2023 Championship now looking as per the rounds listed below.

Over the next week as it gets close to entries opening for rounds 1 and 2, MSA will release the 2023 Championship sponsors, as well as the supplementary regulations for the 2023 Championship.

Motorcycling South Australia would specifically like to thank the organising clubs for making the 2023 Championship possible, as all had originally decided to have a year off to recharge their members, but when it seriously looked like there wouldn’t be a Championship in 2023, all decided that they would put up their hands to make it happen.

The Keyneton MCC are now running back to back AORC rounds, after running a round in 2022, as the final 2 rounds of SAORC will also be rounds 7 & 8 of the 2023 AORC, and along with Keith & Districts, will also be opening up some new land to the Championship in 2023, while Juventus will be heading out of the forest for the first time in many years, to the Adelaide Hills and ACUSA Park.

2023 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

ROUND 1 & 2

JUNE 17 & 18 ACUSA Park Juventus Sprint / Sprint

ROUND 3 & 4

JULY 15 & 16 Tintinara Keith & Districts TBC / TBC

ROUND 5 & 6