- Photography at Portland
- Jackie Cogdell www.adrenalinephotos.co.uk
- Denise Amos www.enduropix.co.uk
Click to view race reports
Round 1 Tidworth race report 2,1,2012
Destination Portland,race report 13,11,2011
Mike's View of Portland
Round 1& 2 Summer Series Two Valleys report 12,6,2011
Round 3 St Martin Adult race report 17,7,2011
Round 3 St Martin Youth race report 17,7,2011
Round 4 St Norden race report 4,9,2011
Round 5 Moreton Park race report 23,10,2011
words and some photos Waren Slevin
The Track n Trail 2011 Summer Cross Country Series
Destination Portland 13th November 2011
2.5 hour extreme hare scramble
Course Description: updated 27,9,11
The course works its way round two quarries, incorporating gullies, technical climbs and descents with some open going. This is an all weather track with breath taking views from the top of Portland. Laid out like a labyrinth within the old overgrown sections but mostly in the new workings, also includes the occasional wooded area. Every part of the quarry will be used. On a toughness level we would gage it at about 8/10.
Parking and paddock will be situated on hard standing.
After the Adult competition the youth course will changed considerably, still giving them a challenging course but still ride able in a safer environment.
We would discourage riders without much technical ability from participating! This one-off event is aimed at all Clubman and Expert riders (not just for the superhuman pros), and open to national and local competitors who are looking for a challenging competition, so if you think you’ve got what it takes to take on Destination Portland, go to our events page and sign up.
Destination Portland - 13th November 2011 (updated 22,9,11)
After months of planning, Track n Trail will be hosting an entirely new event, a standalone competition. If you think you’ve got what it takes to take on Destination Portland, the closest thing to the Erzberg the south of England will ever produce, then look out for more information, regs and entry forms available soon from here also keep an eye on our Facebook page to keep you up to date. Photos and more information coming soon.
Officials
We are on the lookout for time keeper assistants who have a passion for the sport and officials to help out on event days. If you are interested, please drop me an email or give Mike a ring.29,8,11
Round Five of the Summer Series has been rescheduled from its original date, 25th Sept to the new date of 23rd Oct.
With the British Enduro Championship and Farleigh Castle Vets now having confirmed they will be running on the 25th Sept. We would prefer to support these two great events and run our Summer Series Final one month later on the 23rd of Oct. This way everybody can be a winner!Track n Trail: Giving you the Freedom to Ride be Heard!(29,8,11)
To be or not to be that was the question!(8,7,2011) When all votes came in we had an overwhelming vote to have a 3 hour Hare & Hounds at St Martins on the 17 of July. So that is what you shall have!
Today 9th July we have been out clearing the new woods and the flowing orchard sections. We have also had an offer from Dave and Nigel to create some artificial obstacles to enhance an already excellent race track and of courses we asked them both when can you start? So all being well, come race day there should be some log pile sections, sunken tyres and ditches etc for you to enjoy! We have the use of a JCB to add some interesting combinations of fairly easy obstacles, these beauties will be added to make the course more enjoyable and to reward those riders with the best line choice.
Sprint Scrambles
We will still organise the occasional Sprint Scramble, as there are definitely some who prefer these, but only at certain times of the year . They will always be part of the Track n Trail seen but this format will only be use to add spice and depth ,for as a kind Track n Trail member said “3 hours please that’s what you do best ! “ With that in mind sprints will added to a series or will be stand alone events not the main stay attraction. Thank you once again for all your support.
One last note, Regarding dates, almost as many riders have been in contact to ask me when we put our dates up for the forthcoming year. We announce them in November before anyone else
(Someone has to be first) and send a list to other organisers to help them organise their dates. We also do this so riders can plan ahead. I would like to thank all the riders that have emailed Track n Trail supporting our fixture clarity and honesty approach. Some organizers need the help of ACU to organize their dates and we always communicate with other clubs whatever banner they run under.
Hare and Hounds or Sprint Scramble: This is the question?29,6,2011
We have just secured a wonderful new venue in St Marten’s Nr Dorchester for our next event on 17th July. This course is a good mix of woodland and open going with steep, fast, flowing valleys and off camber joining onto a new motocross track over looking Maiden Castle. We at Track n Trail have been torn between race formats, sprint scramble or a hare and hounds, for Round 3 of our Summer series. We would like you, the riders, to vote for which format you prefer. Our hare and hound events consists of one challenging, brutal, hard going endurance race lasting 3 hours which will push you too your physical limits, whereas our sprint Scrambles are a lot more up tempo, instead of one long race you will be set out on two 1 hour races where you will have to push hard and go all out speed in order to challenge your opponents, you will be given a 1 hour break between races to gather energy before setting out again for your second race. This is your chance to be heard! We value your opinion! Please drop us an email at mike@trackntrail.biz either stating ‘St Marten’s Sprint Scramble’ or ‘St Marten’s Hare and Hounds’
Investing in the Future 29,6,2011
The summer series was set off with great start our 2 day event at Two Valleys. Day 1’s Sprint Scramble was fast, dry and dusty and after heavy over night rain, day 2, with a reversed course had completely different riding conditions. It was a wet, slippery and technical race, with an extra mile added to the track. Before the results were even finalised, the Track n Trail team along with the land owners started the huge project of reinstating the land using diggers, bulldozers and our newly build grading machinery to demolish the burms, level out the top soil and fill in the ruts that were left after the weekends event. Sunday’s wet conditions did a great job of softening the soil making our job that bit easier. The objective of this task was to put the land back to its original state to make way for a brand new track for 2012. We plan to make it tighter, twistier and more technical for an outstanding new track. For the remainder of the year the land will be put back to grass leaving the farm land looking untouched and picturesque.
21,5,2011
We can now confirm four of the five venues for our 2011 Summer Series. We have a great variety of tracks this year catering for everyone from beginners to championship riders. At Track n Trail we spend a considerable amount of time securing new land and in the last 12 months have offered riders 3 new race courses and 3 new practice venues. In addition we spend weeks after each of our events re-grading the land to ensure riders are able to return to wonderful tracks, in perfect condition.
Round 2 Winter Series Tidworth report 9,1,2011
Round 3 Winter Series Weatherby Fort report 13,2,2011
Round 4 Winter Series Matterley report 13,3,2011
Round 5 Winter Series Melplash report 10,4,2011
Track n Trail are well known for laying on friendly, very well organized events and providing some of the best venues in the south of England. This summer we will be running 2 Sprint Scrambles, as well as 3 Hare & Hounds events within this exciting new Series!
During the summer riders will visit some of our most popular venues and be able to discover our new tracks. Riders will enjoy the challenges of all our different styles of tracks inc, 4 wheel drive courses, forests, fast open going , stream beds and sandy trails.
Racing kicks off, on the weekend of 11th/12th June. There is a chance of a full weekends riding at Two Valleys Nr Dorchester. Incorporating, round 1 & 2 of the Summer Series, riders will be revved up and ready for the first of the four heat Sprint Scramble races on Saturday morning. And in the afternoon, the eagerly awaited Youth Sprint Scramble. On Sunday the track will be reversed and lengthened for the adult 2.5 hour Hare & Hounds & youth 1.5 Hare & Hounds for our amazing youth riders. Saturday Evening is the Winter Series championship presentation and with free camping, all weekend why not bring the whole family!
Throughout the series riders and on lookers will be able keep abreast of what’s going on at each race with Track n Trail’s Matrix Live Timing system showing riders names, lap times and position in class and lap by lap results on a large LED screen. This system even tells you the time difference between you and the rider in front of you. Plus there is no need to stop anymore, as riders use DAG passive transponders.
For the youth riders aged 10-16, Track n Trail offers a sighting lap plus a 1.5 hour race giving quality bike time and riding over miles of incredible, natural terrain which is excellent value for money. We are seeing more and more lads sign up for our events, as they appreciate this exciting riding which improves fitness and technique in a fun, safe atmosphere.
Not only will we be offering youth and adult races at all events there will be a free beginner’s course for the youngsters who are itching to get going but not yet ready to face a full Enduro course, helping to offer a great family day out.
Throughout the summer Track n Trail will also be putting on plenty of our popular practice days, we will be using large parts of our Hare & Hound tracks and introducing some new land in Dorset and Hampshire.
Whatever the event, Track n Trail welcomes riders of all ages, levels and disciplines.
Track n Trail Summer Series 2011 Dates
Round 1 June 11th Two Valleys Winterbourne-Abbas (Nr Dorchester)
Sprint Scramble Adult (2 x 1hour sprint races per class) and Youth 1.5 hours.
Adults Nb. MX riders please enter in the clubman, Expert, 040 expert or championship class, allowing a much more chilled approach to the Trail, sportsman, 0ver 40s sportsman and Over 50’s race.
Round 2 June 12th Two Valleys Winterbourne-Abbas (Nr Dorchester)
Hare & Hounds Adult and youth3hours and youth1.5 hours
With an large old school Scramble track fast & flowing fields with natural jumps, sandy 4x4 track, and flowing woods 70%, of the fabulous Course is grass based. This is a favorite with all riders from Championship right across to the trail class.
Round 3 July 17th New Venue to be announced
Hare & Hounds Adult 3 hours and youth 1.5 hours
We are in the stages of final negotiations to bring you a brand, new exciting track.
Round 4 Norden 4th September, Nr Wareham
Hare & Hounds Adult 3hours and youth1.5 hours
Norden (Nr Wareham) Set in the Purbeck Hills, gateway to the Jurassic coast, It includes an old open cast mine tracks and workings plus woodland. Making use of some really wild country this is a unique track. Camp site with power hook up available!
Round 5 Venue TBA Date 25th September
Officials
We are on the lookout for time keepers who have a passion for the sport and officials to help out on event days. If you are interested, please drop me an email or give me a ring.
Rnd 1 Summer Series 2010 Melplash 25,4,2010
Rnd 2 Summer series 2010 Castle park 16,5,10
Rnd 3 & 4 Summer series 2010 Two Valleys 19,6,10
Rnd 5 Summer series 2010 Longbridge Deverill 18,7,10
Rnd 7 Summer series Norden 12,9,10
Click to view race reports
Rnd 2 Winter Series Weatherby Fort race report 28th Feb 10
Sprint Scramble The Deverills race report 13th Dec 09
Track n Trail 6th Year Anniversary Party and Championship Presentation
Summer race reports
Rnd 1 Summer Series Two Valleys race report 21st June 09
Rnd 2 Summer Series Kings Hill race report 19th July 09
Rnd 3 Summer Series Forge Hill race report 23th August 09
Rnd 4 Summer Series Two Valleys race report 13th September 09
Rnd 5 Summer Series Norden race report 4th October 09
Most tracks have a number of hard and easy route chose to allow for the huge difference in abilities.
Remember we do hold some first class training schools with invited past and present British champions to cater from the wobblers to the championship class. Please do ring up and ask for detail of the days as they are much more likely to happen, cost only £65 for a day’s coaching, lots of riding and tuition no indoor stuff, just great tracks and profesional ACU accredited commercial coaches. Some of the best riders in the country will be able to answer all you questions, from how to pick up your bike, bike set up, race prep, cornering, braking , starts, woods, extreme. This is the way pros learn, lot more fun than learning the hard way! We endevour to show you the right way forward so that your confidence and ability grows hand in hand giving you the tools to point your riding in the right direction this is not just about racing, this is bike skills if you’re not doing it the best way speed and enjoyment are much harder to find.
Mike
Track n Trail, Taking event timing to a completely new level.
Track n Trail’s New State of the art Matrix Live Timing System is set to revolutionise cross country and enduro results.
This timing system does not just give give you your laps and time, it even gives you the time difference between you and your target :The riders ahead of you! With every lap you know your placing in class, It is all there on a large Digital LCD screen. And now there’s no need to stop! These passive transponders can pick up your detection at speeds over 60mph . The only problems are your trusty pit crew are out of a job and when you are in last place its probably best to look away!
More information coming soon.
