GS Trophy SA - Regional Qualifiers 9 April 2016
You going to sign up Cecil? On one hand I am wary of manipulating Mr.Badger in the sandy conditions likely at Zone 7, and still feel weak compared to before my injury. And I am beginning to realize I will never make the team when there are bigger, stronger, fitter and more capable riders everywhere.
On the other hand:
- You will only regret things you haven't done.
- It is fun to ride with all my mates.
- It is an opportunity and goal to get fitter, stronger and better. A chance to get back on my pony.
I was a spectator at the Western Cape Qualifier at Nelson's Wine Estate last year and so regretted not entering for the event. Not because I could have won it (who knows? 
) but:
- It is huge fun
- It is so doable
- It is like training with added value - the element that it is "just a little more meaningful" than merely acquiring a certain skill.
- It is huge fun
So I am going to enter in the same spirit as so many people enter the Dakar or the Comrades - to participate and to finish!
Oh yes! I am going to have to get fit 
Last chance to enter into the Western Cape regional qualifier for the GS Trophy- http://www.gstrophy.co.za/qualifier/westerncape.html
Spectators are welcome - free entry!
You ready for this Cecil? I did some cones today and really battled. And for some reason I have gotten a lot weaker than I ever was, so everything is a huge effort.
On the trip this weekend I dropped my bike, and could not pick it up. Had to accept help from a local.
And when I signed up for the qualifier I thought it would be an incentive to get back up to strength, but Julie had other plans for me. So here I am 3 days before the event starting my training 
I'm afraid not, Charles!
You ready for this Cecil? I did some cones today and really battled. And for some reason I have gotten a lot weaker than I ever was, so everything is a huge effort.
I created a "training programme" when I signed up and followed it quite diligently over the last several weeks. Alas, as happy as I am to report that I am much fitter now than when I started, I realised, at the end of the Easter Weekend, that I am simply not ready (which suggests that I started from an extremely low base) and subsequently withdrew.
And I only signed up because of you! I have no hope in hell of qualifying, in a recent discussion with Clayton he said I can choose to go for the team, or I can choose to just participate for the experience. I had to explain that there is no choice for me: since the exercises are timed, and I am often likened to a tortoise (as a form of flattery no less!), I am just not equipped for what is required.
However, I will participate - for the experience.
However, I will participate - for the experience.
The idea with the regional qualifiers is first and foremost to be a FUN event for average (not professional) GS riders! All the exercises are based on intermediate level courses - so no white knuckle obstacles
since the exercises are timed, and I am often likened to a tortoise (as a form of flattery no less!),
In some exercises taking longer/riding slower is better 
Looking forward to Saturday!
Dirk, I intend to have fun - though you would not believe it when you see the expressions on my face during some of the items. Only a few of the expressions have names like fear, concentration, nervousness, focus, determination. The rest are indescribable.
Sometimes I think that my ability to do a tight turn is limited by the flexibility of my face...
Sounds like someone should bring a camera!
Ok, GS Trophy Qualifier done and dusted. Results:
- Henk Kotzé (yes, our very own Henk of LWYM fame),
- Gerrit Cornelisen
- Ian Friederang (of "help Charles ride out his bike when he can't make it up the dune" fame)
The event was great. Not as bad as I thought it might be given that I am weak, unfit and several grades beneath my usual riding skill right now. Cecil, you would have enjoyed it - it really was a lot of fun.
Even though I came last (just one second behind 7th place), I did manage to win one of the events: the elephant turn (of all things). Given that I am generally not able to execute this manoeuvre even under ideal conditions, the thick(ish) sand meant that I did it like an old man. Everybody else gave it horns and spent time picking themselves and their bikes up. I just rode in first gear, stopped at my leisure, and did the turn without spinning or sliding.
Cecil - I will raise you this event and see you at next year's event. Even if we have to set aside a few afternoons/evenings to practice together.
Here are some photies I snapped in between the events:
Behind the most beautiful bike is the slow-race course - up and down a steep hill, with a very narrow track and turn at the bottom. There wasn't much room for niceties - the best course of action was to avoid penalties: it is very hard to ride slowly enough to make up 5 seconds (the cost of a dab) than to just ride at a pace you can do without dabbing.
Below is the main arena, with the tyres on the right demarcating one of the elephant turn areas.
Although the area is flat, it was sandy.
Hats off to the guys who entered. I watched the first few hours before I had to leave. The temperatures were getting up but all the guys were doing a great job. Doing figure eights on a slope in variable sand is a real challenge! Congrats to the qualifiers
To all those who think perhaps they should enter but don't think they are ready:
How about next year we organize a few practice sessions in various locations to hone our skills? I'm thinking the first one on flat grass at a place like Nelson's Creek. The next one at Zone 7 say, and the one after that in the quarry. And maybe we all kick the sessions off by attending the BMW club training at Anura?
And for one of them, we get Country Trax to organize us the use of the coffee grinder?
Just to improve our skill and fitness, and to have even more fun at the qualifier.
Well done Charles. You're a brave man! Well done also to Henk and all the other competitors.
Cecil - I will raise you this event and see you at next year's event. Even if we have to set aside a few afternoons/evenings to practice together.
If my plans (see my profile) remain in sync with reality, I won't be here this time next year, so I can only make a conditional commitment to enter at this stage.
Your suggestion for practice sessions is a great one - I will definitely join whenever I can.
Well done on all who competed.
Charles I must say you did very well, you come first in the 1150 division.
I don't have the skills yet but would love to enter next year. Was exciting to see how even the advanced drivers are pushed to the limit.
I am in for the practice!!!
The guy that came 2nd, Gerrit Cornelissen stays in Durbanville.
He was my roommate at Varsity, nice down-to-earth Afrikaans oke.
Good friend of myself, Wayne Haylett and Russ Rathbone.
The WP Team.
Gerrit wrenched his hand quite badly on the second exercise but gritted it through to the end - just goes to show that duct tape really does fix just about everything!
Congratulations Guys, fantastic work Charles, Henk and all the guys who put it out there - what an awesome adventure.
I'm sure my skills are not anywhere near this level yet - but I'm super keen on the practice sessions Charles (great idea!) , then who knows......
Here is a video that captures it all very well, thanks to Craig Versfeld.
Nice!!!
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