14 replies to this topic Post Order

[meerkat]

What about an annual Gautrain MTB race?

In celebration of the Gautrain link between Pretoria and Johannesburg we should establish an annual MTB race. The idea would be to race from Hatfield station in Pretoria to Jo-burg alongside the railway tracks. Suppose there will be some sort of service or secondary road.

The finish should be in close proximity of a Gautrain station. This would mean that spectators and supporters commute to the finish using the Gautrain. The riders will return to the start, at Hatfield station, by train after a lovely day of festivities...

What are your thoughts?

[cat-i]

great idea ... was on the gautrain today and it looked very neat. bikes not allowed on it ( so there goes my plan of using it to get to & from the D&D rides ) but they could make an exception once a year for this race, i guess.

[Redline]

awesome idea!

[BumpNgrind]

for once someone has used their noggin & come up with a really really great idea

event organisers, hope youre taking a look at this one. itll be flippen cool if something like that gets put together & i reckon the turnout will be chockers

[meerkat]

How do I "move" this topic to EVENTS?

[kosmonooit]

It would be a great act of hypocrisy given their no bikes policy - and it sad indictment to apathy that they can get away with it.

Why? perhaps they don't want competition to their feeder bus scheme

[meerkat]

Quote

It would be a great act of hypocrisy given their no bikes policy - and it sad indictment to apathy that they can get away with it.

Why? perhaps they don't want competition to their feeder bus scheme

[ErikV]

I agree - it's a brilliant idea!!

But alas, I fear crap "rules" will get in the way - like the no bikes on the train policy.

I was reprimanded for chewing gum prior to boarding - only to find the security officer ON the train chewing gum. How ridiculous is this anyway.

Mates of mine in Dubai have actually been fined for chewing gum on the train there.

[Fritz Pienaar]

Great idea and I will certainly investigate the options, but expect that it will be difficult, becuase I tried to organise the Heritage classic earlier in the year at the Voortrekker Monument, but Murray and Robberts would not allow us to cross their construction site around the train on a Saturday.

I thought of another idea. How about a race against a old type steam train from Pretoria to Cullinan on the same basis? The family can ride in the train and support the riders (maybe stop and watch along the route) and they can all return from Cullinan after lunch.

[Trelawney]

Fritz Pienaar, on 02 August 2010 - 09:23 , said:

Great idea and I will certainly investigate the options, but expect that it will be difficult, becuase I tried to organise the Heritage classic earlier in the year at the Voortrekker Monument, but Murray and Robberts would not allow us to cross their construction site around the train on a Saturday.

I thought of another idea. How about a race against a old type steam train from Pretoria to Cullinan on the same basis? The family can ride in the train and support the riders (maybe stop and watch along the route) and they can all return from Cullinan after lunch.

If I'm right they do something along these lines in PE each year, running against a steam train ? If someone can find routes in that area which are not like riding on a beach, I'm in !

[Sharkie 2]

Fritz Pienaar, on 02 August 2010 - 09:23 , said:

Great idea and I will certainly investigate the options, but expect that it will be difficult, becuase I tried to organise the Heritage classic earlier in the year at the Voortrekker Monument, but Murray and Robberts would not allow us to cross their construction site around the train on a Saturday.

I thought of another idea. How about a race against a old type steam train from Pretoria to Cullinan on the same basis? The family can ride in the train and support the riders (maybe stop and watch along the route) and they can all return from Cullinan after lunch.

Now thats a very nice concept!

[ErikV]

Fritz... I think you may be onto something here. Chat to "Friends of the Rail". They do a regular steam train outing to Cullinan.

[Fritz Pienaar]

Will do - thanks ErikV

[meerkat]

http://www.friendsoftherail.com/

[meerkat]

The Great Train Race seems to be runners against the train?



GREAT TRAIN RACE FROM PORT ELIZABETH TO LOERIETrain Race

The initial idea of the Great Train Race stemmed from a University Rag gimmic in 1964 when athletes pitted their strength against a steam train that traveled from Grahamstown to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The Great Train Race commenced with humble beginnings in 1980, as 16 relay teams challenged the famous Apple Express train to a duel from Port Elizabeth to Loerie, a distance of 72 kilometres. An eight man University of Port Elizabeth team won the inaugural event in a time of 3hrs. 42min. 45sec. and beat the train.

A uniqueness of the train race is that it pits man against machine, and not just any old machine, but one of the last survivingnarrow gauge steam engines in the world! It is furthermore one of the only major road races in South Africa today that caters for team participation with companies having become one of the larger entry sections to foster team spirit and to overcome individualism.

The PPC /Spoornet Great Train Race became one of the most popular events on the South African athletics calender, and in 1996 entries peaking at 624 teams of 10 runners each resulting in 6240 participants. This event ranked alongside the Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans as one of the country’s leading long distance races. Some of South Africa’s greatest athletes have taken part in this challenge and all commenting on the incredible enjoyment of the event.

In 1999 nearly 5 000 athletes challenged the train to one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the race. The team that beat the train only won by a mere 2 seconds.

The last Great Train Race was in 2004 and the belief is that this annual race will soon recommence for South Africans and the International Community to enjoy.