Wheels carnival an 'unqualified success'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 579, 28 March 1995, Page 1

Wheels carnival an 'unqualified success'

"An unqualified success" is how Wanganui Cycle Club raceorganiser Warrick Funnell described the weekend's Carnival of Wheels cycle events in and around Ohakune, although specta- . tor numbers were low. All events ran smoothly and support for the competition events was very pleasing, he said. More than 90 riders took part in the Green Bottle Wholesale Ohakune Hotel Round Ruapehu Classic race, the main event, which was up substantially from the 50 riders who took part last year. Winner of the race was Paul Bishop from Rotorua with Tim Paulson of Auckland second and Scott Guyton of Tokoroa in 3rd place. Mr Funnell said the race was almost incident free apart from a crash on one of the descents on the Desert Road where one cyclist's wheel clipped another's and six cyclists came off. Three of the riders carried on and three pulled out due to gear failures as a result of the crash. "It was a normal, run-of-the-mill cycle racing incident and just one of those things," said Mr Funnell. The weather was just about perfect for the race, with a tail wind developing to push the riders home from National Park back to Ohakune. "We've had good feedback about the race, and also on the criteriums on Sunday," he said. "Most of the guys have said the course is brilliant and that we shouldn't change a thing."

He said the critexium course was good because it was quick, being just 600 metres long, and it was a misshapen rectangle, with sharp bends, dog legs, a slight climb to the Rimu Street corner and a longish straight. He thanked the Powderkeg for their support of the criterium races

and said it was well set up for the event, providing great viewing for spectators from its balcony. However, other cycle events weren't so good, with poor numbers attending the roller racing in the Ohakune Hotel on Friday night and only about 20 entries in the fun ride. Turn to Page 2

Carnival a success

FROMPAGE1 "We will need to re-assess the value of these events as part of the whole weekend for next year," he said. Comments he received regarding the fun nde was that it was too expensive and that "locals don't own bikes". "I can't buy everyone a bike, but maybe we should drop the entry price and forget about the free meal," he said. "We're open to suggestions." He said Katie Bramwell at the Ruapehu Visitor Centre, 385-8427 would be happy to gather ideas to pass on to the cycle club. Also a highlight was the Bill West Powerade Jazz Band from Wellington, which drew people to the gala organised by the Ohakune Primary School. Donald Suckling from DB Green Bottle said the band was brought to town thanks to the very generous support of the sponsor, Powerade and Coca Cola. "Overall it was a great weekend — better than last year's. I was really impressed with the way the local people who organised the various events got in behind it and made it happen." He mentioned Katie Bramwell at the information centre, the sports ambulance crew, the Ohakune Primary School, Ruapehu Lions and the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade. Buckets belt round Junction A good number of motorcycle riJfs tumed out for the Turoa Lodge Bucket Races on Sunday - on machines that are deliberately not state-of-the-art technology. Race after race was run around the 600 metre Junction circuit, with about 20 bikes in their events and four sidecars entertaining spectators. Organiser Phil Abel said competitors said they were especially pleased with the organisation and that the fire brigade did an excellent job with marshalling for the races. They enjoyed the track, finding it interesting with good bends and rises, although rough on the surface in places. Seventeen solo riders and four sidecar teams took part in the race, under the umbrella of the Manawatu Orion Motorcycle Club, vying for the "generous prizes" donated by the sponsors: Turoa Lodge, Green Bottle Wholesale, Harcourts, Lilburn Transport, Starline Services, McCarthy Transport, Koi Young & Sons, Dempsey Buses, Barrett Transport, Ohakune Tyres and Energy Centre, Horopito

Motors, Charmichael Transport, Hiscox Transport, Hot Lava Niteclub, Dekker Machinery , Rimu Park Lodge, and Taura Metal Supplies. Ron Frew supplied the straw bales. Constable Ian Harrison helped with the organisation, and also took speed camera shots of some of the riders — not as a revenue gathering exercise, he assured competitors. Mr Abel also thanked the two residents directly affected by the road closure, who he said were very obliging. The races ran smoothly with two minor "Minties Moments", one when a sidecar rider dropped his son whilst turning into the pits at the end of a race. The pair were embarrassed and bruised, but otherwise unhurt. The other was when a Lada Niva managed to slip through the marshals to take fourth place in one of the sidecar races for a time, until he was ushered off the course and onto the Ohakune Mountain Road - where the driver sought to reach. "It was the first time for the event and we've proved it can be done and we hope it will grow year after year," said Mr Abel. Steam and champagne Bubbly, nibbles and steam train smoke mingled to form a memorable cocktail for those who rode the Main Trunk Rail Ohakune (MTRO) Champagne and Vintage Cars run to Horopito and back on Saturday, as part of the Ohakune Carnival of Wheels. Sunday' s family rides were also well supported by locals, with most trips more than half full. He said the champagne trips were "absolutely brilliant". He hoped the exercise would be the forerunner to many more such events. On Saturday the very old F1 63 steam engine hauled the carriages, one loaded with passengers and one laden with nibbles, sparkling wine and grape juice, up the incline to Horopito across the Hapua whenua Viaduct, where the passengers alighted to be amazed and delighted at the trash-treasures to be found in the Horopito Motors car wrecking yards. Eyes glazed over and imaginations were abuzz with ideas of what could become of some of the vintage car bodies found there, given time, effort and cash. After a hundred photographs of the train, the passengers boarded once again to be carried back to Ohakune, taking in the magnificent views out over Tongariro National Park and the Waimarino plains. The odd drift of coal smoke from the little engine served to remind travellers that this journey was unique, while the tuxedo-clad MTRO members constantly served nibbles and drink. 1 The noise from the rails and the engine were no match for the constant chatter and banter of passengers — a sure sign that all enjoyed the experience. MTRO representative Graham Parker said it looked like they would break even on the weekend, although the final tally had not yet been done. The incorporation had to pay New Zealand Rail $4500 to run the weekend trips. One major problem they encountered was the late arrival on Friday, which meant the trip for Ohakune Primary School children had to be cancelled. They were given the opportunity to take a ride on the Sunday, and those who did not, would get their money back, said Mr Parker. The delay was through no fault of MTRO, he said, and was a result of hold-ups on the line, waiting for freight trains to pass. He said NZR gives freight trains priority on the line, even if they are late, and that they had no choice but to wait..