Australasian Dirt Bike – June 2019

and chips or quarter roast chicken,

chips and salad or chilli beef nachos

with guacamole). The Viet Vets tucker

was so popular that they sold out by

early Sunday so the DSMRA went and

bought another $3000 worth and gave

it away. Capitol Brewing sold out as

well – riding at Kowen can build a

industrial-strength thirst.

There was no live band this year but

ADB’s Andrew Clubb, who’d been

doing MC duties all day, pulled out his

vinyl collection and played music over

the PA whenever he wasn’t spruiking

or making announcements. Other

night-time entertainment was provided

by randoms all over the campsite

occasionally starting their bikes and

instantly giving them a good 30

seconds on the rev limiter. It sounded

like four-stroke mating season.

The welcoming glow of campfires

was everywhere and wandering from

onetoanotherwasasgoodawayto

talk“mudderboikes”asanyother.The

camaraderieatKowenisthestuffthat

minstrelsofoldandbushballadeers

writeabout.Theweathergodssmiled

uponusaswell,withthisbeingthe

warmestKowenIcanremember.

Usuallyit’sascoldasthehairona

polarbear’sbum.

ComeSundaymorning,afterafull

night’sslumber,Ifeltlikeanewman

(butcouldn’tfindone),sodecidedto

ignorecaution,ageandtheadviceof

bothwifeanddoctorsandtacklethe

WestLoop.Iknewitwouldbetaxing

butIneededsomegoodcarnage

photostogowithSaturday’sgeneric

trailshotsand,afterall,onemust

sufferforone’sart.

MymateClint(he’sreallynamed

Markbutwhatelseareyougoingto

callablokewiththelastname

Eastwood?),decidedtoaccompanyme.

Idon’tknowifitwasoutofconcernfor

The bike was

relatively

unscathed, as it

rode on top of

Jim all the way

down

84 | JUNE 2019 http://www.adbmag.com.au

TRAILRIDE I DSMRA KOWEN FOREST

Ouch, Dave Onyck’s busted wrist came early

Kato rider makes a clean run through the creek

No shortage of help for this fallen lady

Just enough water to make life difficult

Plenty of riders hung up on these tree roots