The City of Penrith Motorcycle Club will stage its 17th Classic Dirt Track Charity meeting at the Nepean Raceway this coming weekend, on the 4th and 5th of August. A top feature of the weekend will be the 2024 New South Wales Classic and Post Classic Dirt Track Championships.
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Over recent weeks many riders will have been delving into their garage or shed to prepare a variety of machines and some of the riders may have even been training to prepare themselves for a busy two days of on-track action.
There will be lots of old bikes, with the majority of riders entering more than one class, and of course lots of old riders, along with a few younger riders generally riding bikes that had previously been ridden by family members.
There is always some great camaraderie between competitors, at least before the race and after the checkered flag falls. But when the gate drops to start a race everyone will have a ‘race face’ on – even though they will not be racing for ‘sheep stations’.
Track action will commence at 10 am on both days with similar programmes – 61 events across 12 different classes on Saturday and then 57 events for 11 classes on Sunday.
Support classes are for those categories with smaller entry lists that have been insufficient to warrant championship status – not that it lessens the intensity of competition in those classes.
All classes will be decided over four rounds.
One age group that does not require a minimum number of entries for championship status is the Super Senior Classic class for the Over 70s.
On both days, the racing will wrap up with a 25-lap race – on Saturday it’s the All Powers Pre’75 and Evolution class machines and then on Sunday for the All Powers Post Classic Pre ’90.
Classic classes feature machines as old as Pre 1960, while Post Classic is for machines in Pre’85, Pre ’90 and Pre ’95 categories.
Several of the nation’s best current Dirt Track Sidecars teams will be seen riding old machines, and in recent times, any clashes between Corey Forde / Darren Fraudenstein and Jarred Marko / Shaun Fuller have been highlights of many meetings.
Some former speedway riders are among the field for the various slider classes, headed by Newcastle rider Rodney McDonald and local Mark Collins who both have years of experience racing overseas to call on.
Almost half of last year’s class winners are back this weekend – not just because they want to defend their title, but more because they know they are in for a great time.
Special mention must be made of a number of long-distance travelers who are heading to Nepean for this weekend. Queensland clubs Maryborough and North Brisbane, the Mud’n’Tars Club in Adelaide and the Albury –Wodonga Club from Victoria will all be represented.
As well as a massive entry from members of the host club, all other regions of New South Wales are also well represented.
A canteen will be operating and spectator entry is $10.00 per vehicle which will allow fans to check out all the action up close.
Funds raised from the weekend will be donated to Mama Lana’s Community Foundation based in Penrith which is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to the homeless and underprivileged people in the community to advance their well-being and prospects for future independence.
Report prepared by Peter Baker