DIRT BIKE FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING - Hambanani

COUNTRY TRAX Jan du Toit | chief instructor | ctrax@lantic.net
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BOOKING ADMINISTRATOR Celia le Roux | Bikebookings | 082 895 5009 |
info@bikebookings.co.za | Fax.086 528 5633
>>>> DIRT BIKE FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING
DATE
Check your booking for the date that you booked for.
DURATION 3 Days. Friday @ 9:00 sharp – Sunday @ ±12:00.
VENUE
INCLUDED IN FEE
EXCLUDED IN FEE
LEVEL OF TUITION
INTENTED FOR
Country Trax Off-road academy near Amersfoort, Mpumalanga. Directions to follow.
Tuition, accommodation Friday to Sunday, all meals from Friday lunch to Sunday brunch, drinking water, use of
facilities and loads of fun!
Fuel, insurance, use of bike, Thursday stayover (optional), Friday breakfast (optional), fee for non riding
companions (optional) and anything not stated as included above.
Although attendance at the Country Trax Weekend Off-Road Course or any other previous off-road
training is not a prerequisite for attendance, it is certainly recommended, as it enhances the rider’s
experience of the course. Please note that this is not a course for total novice off-road riders.
This training is suitable for Enduro/Dirt Bike riders riding bikes of typically up to 550 cc engine capacity.
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for your booking to attend a Country Trax course. We look forward to welcoming you to one of our training venues which has been
selected to comply with the high standards of County Trax, considered to be the benchmark of off-road motorcycle training in South Africa.
The academy is headed by Jan ´Staal´ du Toit who started the academy in 2000 and who has since developed a curriculum for courses which is
adapted for our South African off-road conditions.
Country Trax offers its training to all off-road riders, irrespective of what brand of bike they ride and aims at making a positive contribution to the
developement of off-road riding in South Africa.
ABOUT THE COURSE
The extremely competent and qualified instructors of Country Trax (details above) will be responsible for the training and they comply with the
national high standard of the academy. They guarantee that you will double your skills and halve your fears in one day. Surely something to look
forward to!
After meeting everyone over a nice cuppa, the course kicks off with some necessary theory, thereafter practical tuition and plenty of riding on this
beautiful farm with well prepared training facilities to safely teach you different techniques in a safe environment.
This 3 day course has been designed for dirt bike riders (typically between 125cc & 550cc), that aims at improving your basic off-road or enduro
riding skills. Even experienced riders can benefit, and we will bet you´ll agree after completion of course that there are always some of your riding
techniques that need attention to maximise the enjoyment of your two wheels.
Our training method makes it possible to accommodate riders with various skill levels, so anybody is welcome – from those new to dirt bike riding to
the more experienced riders. We believe that only if your basics are firm, will you be able to really excel and develop into a good rider.
Some key elements that is covered in the course:
Basic riding position & riding style explained
Balancing & riding
Cornering on flat ground and in ruts
Jumping over terrain
Jumping over logs and holes
River crossings
Emergency stops
Wheelies and ´stoppies` (or nose wheelies)
... and a lot of practical riding over all kinds of terrain, including up hills and down hills, sand, mud, rocks and through the forest
BRING THE FAMILY!
You are welcome to bring your friends and family with for the weekend. Its the perfect place to relax, bring your mountain bike or go for long walks.
Trying your hand at motorcycle photography remains a favourite! We have meals together. No children allowed if there´s not full time supervision
(safety precaution).
{Country Trax Amersfoort also offers open weekends where you are welcome to bring your bike, friends and family to enjoy the excellent facilities at Country Trax.
These weekends are self catering and its a prerequisite that you have attended a course at Country Trax before so you are familiar with the routes & the farm. Come and
ride!}

WHAT TO BRING keep in mind that the academy is ±40 km away from the closest small town
1. Your own motorcycle
Any make of dirt/MX/Enduro bike permitted, typically 125 – 550 cc
Extra petrol (20 liter should be adequate)
Any spares and tools that you might need like tubes, puncture repair, etc.
2. Full protective gear
Helmet (plus goggles if using open visor helmet)
Boots (Off-road/MX boots are essential!!!). NO army/hiking boots allowed for safety reasons.
Gloves
Protective clothing. Body/motocross protectors with enduro shirt works best, but protective jacket also acceptable. Enduro
pants or normal padded trousers. The more the better!
3. Other gear
Soft cloth/chamois for cleaning visor
Cap & sunscreen
Camel back is recommended to make sure you do not dehydrate. However, there will be occasional breaks to quench your
thirst.
Optional: rain gear
4. Personal
If you have chosen to camp, remember your camping gear (tent, matress, sleeping bag, cushion, towel & torch)
Warm informal wear for the evening. Keep in mind that it might be chilly at night.
Insect repellent (summer)
Basic first aid kit – plasters, antihistamine for odd gogga bite, etc.
Any personal medication that you might need;
Cash. Country Trax has a small shop with interesting bits and pieces.
TIPS TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM FROM THE COURSE
1. Although we strongly recommend that you have attended the Country Trax Weekend Off-road course as it teaches you the basics, it is not
compulsory. This course builds on the basics and are intensive training.
2. A high level of fitness is recommended as training can be both physically and psychologically intensive.
3. Drink plenty of water before and during the training.
4. It helps to carry small packets of raisins, jelly babies or energy bars in your pockets - it helps to boost energy if you get tired.
5. Especially in the colder months, wear layers of clothing which can be peeled off as it usually gets warmer in the day.
6. Get a good nights ´sleep on Thursday night.
7. If you drink alcohol, we recommend that you minimize your intake of alcohol before and during the course. It influences your body´s ability
to balance and focus. This is essential for safety reasons.
8. In case of rain, consider yourself lucky as you will have the opportunity to play with your bike in wet conditions!
The team is looking forward to welcoming you to Country Trax Off-road Academy! Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions.

MAP & DIRECTIONS
LOCATION AND CONTACT DETAILS
GPS COORDINATES S26 58.044 E30 11.549
WHERE IS IT?
Close to Amersfoort, Mpumalanga.
Approximately 2,5 - 3 hours drive from Gauteng.
ELEVATION
1´700 m above sea level (yes, its High Veld)
CONTACT PERSONS
Jan & Elsie du Toit
CONTACT NUMBERS 017 – 753 1720 or 083 669 7283
MOBILE PHONE SIGNAL Limited Vodacom and MTN reception
NOTES ON GETTING THERE
1. Please take into account that the last 45km of gravel road to Amersfoort is not a ´gravel highway´, and that it will slow you
down. Give yourself extra time to make sure to arrive before dark on Friday or on time for the course if you arrive on
Saturday morning.
2. IMPORTANT: It is not advisable to arrive after dark. If by force of circumstances you will be arriving after dark, please
contact us prior to your departure from Amersfoort so that we may monitor your ETA as there is little or no mobile
reception on the non-paved road to the farm.
3. Friday arrivals: Please try to arrive by 18:00 as dinner is served at 19:00.
DIRECTIONS
1. From JOHANNESBURG Johannesburg - Heidelberg - Bethal - Morgenzon - Amersfoort - CountryTrax VIA N17 (recommended)
- Take the N17 towards Ermelo. (this is a new highway!)
- At Bethal, exit the highway, drive through town and take the R35 towards Morgenzon.
- From Morgenzon, go to Amersfoort. This road is very potholed, so drive carefully.
- WARNING: The section of road (the last 10km) between the Majuba power station and Amersfoort is VERY worn on the
right (oncoming) side of the road resulting in trucks moving to the right (you side) to avoid potholes. Please be careful!
REMEMBER TO FILL UP YOUR BIKE IN AMERSFOORT PLEASE.
- Follow the directions through town towards Piet Retief. (Do not follow the signs to Volksrust and Ermelo)
- The road becomes a gravel road as you cross a bridge on the edge of town and it will remain unpaved until you reach
Countrytrax.
- Continue for about 37km.
- Turn right at a small COUNTRY TRAX sign on a slight uphill (on the left hand side of the road will be some workers’ clay &
grass huts).
- Continue on this road for 5km and turn left at the big COUNTRY TRAX sign. Follow the road to the farm for another 2 km
where you will be met by the Country Trax team.
Approximate travelling distance: 280km. Approximate travelling time: 3.5 hours

2. From JOHANNESBURG Johannesburg - Heidelberg - Balfour - Greylingstad - Standerton - Perdekop - Amersfoort - CountryTrax
- Take the N3 towards Durban.
- Turn onto the R23 about 8km after Heidelberg towards Standerton. No not take the first exit to R23. Continue on the R23
for about 146 km (you will go through Balfour, Greylingstad and Standerton).
- Turn left at the 3 rd Amersfoort turn off, approximately 45 km after passing through Standerton. This is just before you get
to the very small settlement, Perdekop.
- After about 500 meters turn left again towards Amersfoort.
- Continue for 31km to a T-junction, turn right to reach AMERSFOORT.
- WARNING: The section of road (the last 10km) between the Majuba power station and Amersfoort is VERY worn on the
right (oncoming) side of the road resulting in trucks moving to the right (you side) to avoid potholes. Please be careful!
REMEMBER TO FILL UP YOUR BIKE IN AMERSFOORT PLEASE.
- Follow the directions through town towards Piet Retief. (Do not follow the signs to Volksrust and Ermelo)
- The road becomes a gravel road as you cross a bridge on the edge of town and it will remain unpaved until you reach
Countrytrax.
- Continue for about 37km.
- Turn right at a small COUNTRY TRAX sign on a slight uphill (on the left hand side of the road will be some workers’ clay &
grass huts).
- Continue on this road for 5km and turn left at the big COUNTRY TRAX sign. Follow the road to the farm for another 2 km
where you will be met by the Country Trax team.
Approximate travelling distance: 280km. Approximate travelling time: 3.5 hours
3. From JOHANNESBURG . Johannesburg - Heidelberg - Balfour - Greylingstad - Standerton - Amersfoort - CountryTrax
If you are coming from Jhb, we suggest that you take the alternative gravel road going east just south of Standerton - although a bit
longer its a better option in our opinion than nr. 1 above. From Standerton, turn left on a gravel road about 10km from Standerton
going towards Volksrust on the R23. This gravel road goes to Amersfoort and you have to travel a few km's on the R35 to Amersfoort
after joining it just north of Amersfoort.
- Take the N3 towards Durban.
- Turn onto the R23 about 8km after Heidelberg. Continue on the R23 for about 146 km (you will go through Balfour,
Greylingstad and Standerton).
- Turn left at the Amersfoort turn off approximately 10 km after passing through Standerton, in the direction of Volksrust.
This is a gravel road for use by farmers and not big mining trucks!
- Continue for 47 km to a T-junction, turn right to reach AMERSFOORT.
- Follow the road into Amersfoort, which is about 10 km away.
REMEMBER TO FILL UP YOUR BIKE IN AMERSFOORT PLEASE.
- Follow the directions through town towards Piet Retief. (Do not follow the signs to Volksrust and Ermelo)
- The road becomes a gravel road as you cross a bridge on the edge of town and it will remain unpaved until you reach
Countrytrax.
- Continue for about 37km.
- Turn right at a small COUNTRY TRAX sign on a slight uphill (on the left hand side of the road will be some workers’ clay &
grass huts).
- Continue on this road for 5km and turn left at the big COUNTRY TRAX sign. Follow the road to the farm for another 2 km
where you will be met by the Country Trax team.
Approximate travelling distance: 270km. Approximate travelling time: 3.5 hours
>>> The map shows the part of the route from Standerton and Amersfoort.

4. From PRETORIA Pretoria - Delmas - Bethal - Morgenzon - Amersfoort - CountryTrax RECOMMENDED
- Leave Pretoria from the M10 (Hans Strijdom Drive) on the R50 towards Delmas for about 60km.
- From DELMAS, continue on the R50 for about 30km and exit left onto the R580.
- Continue on the R580 for about 27 km and turn left at T-junction onto the R547.
- Continue for about 5km and turn right at T-junction on the R545. Continue for 33km to BETHAL.
- Drive about 3km on the N17 in north easterly direction.
- Turn right on the R35 towards Morgenzon.
- Continue on the R35 for 77km via Morgenzon to Amersfoort.
REMEMBER TO FILL UP YOUR BIKE IN AMERSFOORT PLEASE. 44km gravel road
- Follow the directions towards Piet Retief. The road becomes a gravel road as you cross a bridge on the edge of Amersfoort
and it will remain unpaved until you reach Country Trax.
- Continue for about 37km.
- Turn right at a small COUNTRY TRAX sign/ second Waterfall sign on a slight uphill (on the left hand side of the road will be
some workers’ cottages).
- Continue on this road for 5km and turn left at the big COUNTRY TRAX sign. Follow the road to the farm for another 2 km
where you will be met by the Country Trax team.
Approximate travelling distance: 285km. Approximate travelling time: 3.5 hours
5. From PRETORIA Pretoria - Delmas - Leandra - Standerton - Amersfoort - CountryTrax Refer to map above at nr.2 for section
Standerton to Amersfoort)
- Leave Pretoria from the M10 (Hans Strijdom Drive) on the R50 towards Delmas for about 60km.
- From DELMAS, continue on the R50 for about 120km via Leandra to Standerton.
- From Standerton, follow the R23 towards Volksrust.
- Turn left at the 2 nd Amersfoort turn off, approximately 10 km after passing through Standerton in the direction of Volksrust.
This is a gravel road for use by farmers and not big mining trucks!
- Continue for 47 km to a T-junction, turn right to reach AMERSFOORT.
- Follow the road into Amersfoort, which is about 10 km away.
REMEMBER TO FILL UP YOUR BIKE IN AMERSFOORT PLEASE.
- Follow the directions towards Piet Retief. The road becomes a gravel road as you cross a bridge on the edge of town and it
will remain unpaved until you reach Country Trax.
- Continue for about 37km.

- Turn right at a small COUNTRY TRAX sign/ second Waterfall sign (on the left hand side of the road will be some workers’
cottages).
- Continue on this road for 5km and turn left at the big COUNTRY TRAX sign. Follow the road to the farm for another 2 km
where you will be met by the Country Trax team.
Approximate travelling distance: 290km. Approximate travelling time: 3.5 hours
6. From PRETORIA Pretoria to Middelburg via N4 - Hendrina - Ermelo - CountryTrax If wet,don't take gravel short cut from Ermelo to
Country Trax but rather travel via Amersfoort. This De Emigratie road badly damaged after recent rains.....
- Leave Pretoria and travel east on the N4 towards Middelburg.
- After travelling ± 130km on the N4, take exit 133 onto the N11 and continue south towards Hendrina/Ermelo.
- Travel to Ermelo via Hendrina. You will reach Ermelo after ± 92 km.
- REMEMBER TO FILL UP YOUR BIKE PLEASE.
- Stay on the N11 in a southerly directions towards Amersfoort/Volksrust.
- Travel about 7 km from the Church Str/N17 junction and turn left on a gravel road indicated by sign ´De Emigratie`(big
water reservoirs visible)
THERE ARE NO ROAD SIGNAGE FROM HERE, SO TAKE ODOMETER READING WHEN TURNING OFF THE N11.
- Follow this road for ± 39km. Turn left.
- After 9km, turn left at the T-junction in an easterly direction (towards Piet Retief).
- Continue for 5km and turn right into gravel road indicated by small COUNTRY TRAX sign.
On the left of the road will be workers´ cottages build with clay and grass.
- Continue on this road for 5km and turn left at the big COUNTRY TRAX sign. Follow the farm road for 2.3 km until you
reach the academy.
Approximate travelling distance from Pretoria to Country Trax: 280km. Approximate travelling time: 3 hours
ROUTE WARNINGS
1. Because of extensive mining in Mpumalanga, heavy duty trucks tend to damage the surface of roads and create pot holes
and uneven surfaces in some places. Be on the lookout for trucks avoiding these places and moving into your lane! Be
extra careful on the following sections of road:
Coming from Johannesburg, beyond Perdekop towards Amersfoort, past the Amajuba power station.
Coming from Pretoria, between Morgenzon and Amersfoort.
2. Look out for pedestrians and animals crossing the road. Watch out specially for cattle!
3. If you are travelling on the N4, look out for speed traps near Bronkhorstspruit.
4. On gravel road sections (e.g. the last part of the route to Country Trax, be careful of fixed stones in the surface. While
checking for oncoming and passing traffic, use the best parts of the whole width of the road to choose the best track/line.
There´s always a good line, just look for it!
Safe travels! We are looking forward to welcome you to Country Trax for an exciting weekend.