Dirt and Trail Magazine 2021

Western Cape
Off-Road Club
Koue Bokkeveld
Round 2 & 3
With weeks of preparation behind the organizers, and the weather
for the weekend varying between rain and shine, the anticipation
was high for the Koue Bokkeveld Double Header on the
weekend of the 29th & 30th of May 2021.
With lowering clouds and the icy breeze, the 50cc class of 5
young riders, with their attendant marshals (Dads) in tow, got
off to an early start on their 3.8km loop. The concentration and
determination was clear even among the young ones.
Young Donovan Jacobs C923 rode with consistent determination
and even dispensed with his marshal (Dad, you can stay in the
pits!) and rode like a champion. Definitely a rider to watch for the
future!
The other riders also kept up their momentum and clocked off
their circuits, keeping their marshals on their toes.
All too soon their 1 hour was over and the chequered flag came
out to herald the finish line. Kudos to J105 Jamie Gulliver whose
bike stopped out on the loop but he doggedly pushed it through
the final part of the section and over the finish line, with motivation
from his mother, and to cheers and clapping from the
onlookers.
Next up were the juniors who had speedily lined up with the ease
of familiarity while the 50cc’s had finished their event.
Within minutes they were flagged off in their rows for their 22km
Day 1 loop as the sky took on a more threatening look and the
distant surrounding mountains disappeared into the lowering
clouds.
J329 Joop Coetzee and J406 AJ Louw had a head-to-head battle
all race in the 85cc class with AJ eventually taking the overall
honours even though he is Junior while Joop rides Senior 85cc.
Jariegh van Lill 424, even though riding a 65cc, was snapping at
their 85cc heels all the way and took the 65cc top spot for Day 1.
All too soon their time was up and while the seniors lined up, one
by one the chequered flag reduced the field until everyone had
completed their ride.
As always, the senior start attracted great interest as the pit
crews came out to egg on their rider to greater effort. As the first
rows were flagged off the rain that had been threatening proceedings
all morning began to come down and the riders were
off into a rainy first round.
Fortunately by the second hour of racing the rain stopped and
the clouds lifted, leaving many puddles and as much mud as any
rider could wish for.
The rain had obviously not dampened any of the competitive
spirit present and as the time passed the front runners lengthened
their lead with the rest of the riders trailing them at a greater
and greater distance.
Jarryd Coetzee #2 riding Open, showed the rest of the field his
heels and romped home to an easy first place in 3 hours,
5 minutes and 16.822 sec.