When Tom was gifted a 1998 KTM 200EXC by his mentor, Adrian “Red” Hendry, he had no idea what was in store. The bike needed a bit of TLC, since it was delivered in four milk crates, but being a 19 year apprentice at Cyclone Motorcycles, Tom was appreciative of the challenge ahead. Tom had no idea what he was in for at the 2024 Kamfari.
With the engine freshened up and bike checked over, Tom was ready for his first Kamfari. It took no time before Red, and his mates, pointed out that this old KTM has previously competed in five Kamfari’s with no DNF’s. All of a sudden the pressure was on! Don’t let everyone down.
With a mid-pack start, Tom quickly found out how gruelling the Kamfari can be, taking its toll in the humid 36 degree conditions. Dehydration sneaks up quickly and pretty soon it was time to pit for some much needed food and water. The next few laps went by with no real issues till Tom entered the back flood plain section that caught out all but the best riders. Extracting the bike from the mud saps valuable energy and can cause bike and rider to overheat.
Around the two hour mark Tom exited the pits and down into the first corner, but the KTM sounded sick. You could hear the throttle blipping as Tom tried in vain to bring the two-stroke back into life. A few stabs at the kick starter gave that familiar burble as the engine turned over with no spark. Hot and frustrated, Tom took off his helmet and grabbed his tools to swap out the spark plug with his only thought being “get the bike going again before Red sees me on the side of the track!”
A few minutes later the KTM fired into life, signalled by a cloud of blue smoke. Tom remounted and held the throttle wide open, roosting down the track. Less than a minute later, Red came along, oblivious to the trackside maintenance that had just been performed.
Tom went on to finish the final two hours with no other hiccups and proudly joined the finishers list of 2024 Kamfari. Keeping the KTM’s legacy intact was an achievement in itself and one that will be talked about for years to come.
GROWING NUMBERS & CLASS’S
With one of the largest fields in recent years, it is promising to see a bright future for the 2024 Kamfari that is now in its 53rd year. For 2024, a Women’s class was added to the list for the first time. Although women have raced the Kamfari for years, in both the bike and quad class, the numbers have always been low. However 20% of the field were women in this year’s event.
An impressive pit was set up, known as the Pit Palace, for the seven women in the Elsewhere on Wheels team. Kate Raymond was keen to bring women from all over Australia to the Northern Territory for her home town event. Although Kate has raced Kamfari previously, the other six women were rookies and it was one happy team when all seven completed the four hour enduro in some very hot conditions.
The women competing were from Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Catherine “Kat” Kingsley rode a fantastic race and was crowned the inaugural Women’s Class winner.
MEMORY LANE
When John Hickey rode into the Kamfari, he turned heads aboard his 1968 BSA 441 Victor Special. Little did people know, that this bike was ridden by John in the very first Kamfari way back in 1972, held at Peter Thompsen’s Kamfari Park. John purchased the bike new from Jack Veal’s motorcycles in Darwin for the sum of $880 and rode it in club events around Darwin, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. In between races, the BSA was used for daily transport and of course hooning around Darwin!
His preparation for Kamfari and race days was simple, remove the lights so they don’t get broken, and race! Can you imagine ripping around the swamps and mud on this old girl? You wouldn’t do it now, but back in the day, this was the bike to have and yes, John finished his first Kamfari, taking out 14th position.
John also remembers the first prize trophy awarded to Lyndon Schlein, the iconic Buffalo Horns. Peter Thompsen was a buffalo hunter and provided the now famous first prize for the Kamfari, so it was fitting to see the buff horns make a return in 2024.
WARWICK WINS AGAIN
It is ironic that some races in the southern states have been washed out, while the 2024 Kamfari became one of the dryest events in the races history. You can’t control Mother Nature and when the water table drops, the track dry’s up. However judging by the state of the bikes, I think the flood plain provided enough of the black stuff to keep the crown of Australia’s muddiest enduro.
As the shotgun signalled the start of the four hour race, Chris Warwick was trying to put last year’s disastrous start out of his head. Taking a dirt nap in the first corner was not something he wanted to repeat. Fortunately Chris fired up his Sherco SEF 500 and navigated the first turn without incident.
However the start was not ideal for William Thurlbeck who struggled to start his Husqvarna 300 two stroke and joined the race mid pack. Anthony “Choco” Charlton had a great start as usual but had four previous DNF’s in the back of his mind as he chased after Warwick.
Half way around the first nine kilometre lap, Warwick made it to the front of the pack and was being shadowed by Charlton on his reliable old Husaberg 500. The track was marked with pink ribbon as the riders raced through the palms and paperbark trees. Dust was an unfamiliar but welcome sight as the dry track imitated a pony express. However the back country flood plains held plenty of moisture under the speargrass and mud soon became the challenge for all riders.
A gumby fall by Warwick in the dry stuff handed the lead to Charlton who took full advantage, holding the big ‘Berg full throttle for the next few laps. Eventually Charlton needed to pit for fuel and with Chris hot on his tail, the lead was swapped again. By now the flood plains had chopped up, providing the mud the Kamfari is famous for and this will catch out even the best riders.
Warwick took a tumble in the mud after clipping a lapped rider and was pinned under his bike. Fortunately another rider was there to lend a hand. Number 007… Bond… Sean Bond.
Once he was extracted from the bike, Chris punched the start button but nothing. He tried several times with no result and thoughts of a DNF entered his head. Frustration set in as he watched Choco take the lead again and the race seemed to be slipping away. Finally after an excruciatingly long 5 minutes, the Sherco decided to wake up and start. The race was back on!
By the two hour mark, Thurlbeck had recovered well from his bad start and worked his way up to 3rd outright. Not known as a sprinter, the longer race format suited Thurlbeck but the heat and humidity was taking its toll, causing severe cramping. Choco was still out in the lead but a missing muffler on the Husaberg meant an unscheduled pit stop for repairs. This gave Warwick the break he needed and retook the lead on his Sherco.
In his familiar style that has taken Chris to three previous Kamfari victories, he looked smooth and in control. Meanwhile Choco was on the hunt, trying to catch Chris and as the race end was drawing closer, the drama continued.
With two laps left to go, the seat on Choco’s Husaberg bailed out somewhere along the track and the big fella struggled when it came to sitting down. On the final lap the battery decided to exit the bike as well, forcing Choco to stop and make repairs. He joined the race again, still in second place but the Berg had other ideas as it coughed and farted down the track.
Thurlbeck had to pit prior to his last lap as his fuel was dangerously low and he did not want a podium finish to slip away. His pit crew advised how close he was to Choco, so the chase was on. With only half a lap to go and a poorly running Husaberg, Choco had no option but to move aside and relinquish his position to Thurlbeck.
At the end of four gruelling hours, Chris Warwick took the chequered flag and his fourth Kamfari victory. William Thurlbeck was stoked to finish second and now looks forward to the 24 Hour Time Trial in South Australia. Anthony “Choco” Charlton came home in third place and was glad to get the monkey off his back and finally finish one of Australia’s toughest enduros.
WORDS MAX SULLIVAN || PHOTOS
