Registration for the Port 6x6 is open and entries are rolling in!. Teams need to nominate a Team Captain so we have a single, simple point of contact (this may or may not mean that the team captain is simple). All registrations are via Register Now on the MTBA website:
Here are a few things to know before you enter:
Entry Costs
6 x 6 hour solo $85 per person
6 x 6 teams 4 $260 per team
All Classes and Categories start at 12:00 midday on Saturday 12th
We will have a wave start, as directed by the Race Director.
The 6 x 6 format is a relatively new one in Australia, but it is gaining popularity and features in other big-ticket 24's, like the Jet Black 24 and as an adjunct to the 24 Hour National Solo Titles. It has the obvious appeal of minimising time spent riding in the dark AND allowing for a comfortable refuel and sleeping in a nice bed before hitting out on stage two the following morning! Conduct of the race is governed by the rules and by-laws of the Mountain Bike Association of Australia - MTBA. Applying those guidelines to the event itself is the responsibility of the Race Director. All of this means you will need an MTBA licence to race, or to purchase a Day Licence for the event when you register on-line ($20.00) If you would like more info on any of the rules and regulations, you can check it all out at the MTBA's website:
Our two main concerns as race organisers are your safety and enjoyment! We reckon that track and the atmosphere will help take care of point two. Here are a few tips on point 1: Naturally you need a helmet (and a bike). You may also need lights.
Because sunset will be before the first leg of the 6 x 6 finishes, if you choose to ride right up until the official 6:00pm cutoff on Saturday, you should expect to be running with lights fitted to your bike from about 4:30pm. Actual time for turning those lights on will be determined on the day by the Race Director.
- Expected Time for sunset is around 5:00pm. Be prepared to head out with lights fitted from 4:30pm Saturday. You will be advised the exact time for lights on on the day -
If you intend to head out on a lap from around 4:30pm on you will be required to have lights fitted, ready to use. You can choose to stop riding before this time. There is no penalty for this, as such. We understand many people do not wish to race at night. However, you will suffer an obvious time disadvantage to any in your class who continue under lights.
A note on lighting. Often tech regs prescribe 10 watt primary light source, but that's a bit obsolete with LED's (a good LED which was rated at 10 watts would be a real possum fryer, though). We recommend as a minimum, one 200 lumen light on your bars and a similar light helmet mounted. Running a single headlight is not permitted. It will leave you in the dark if the battery dies or there is any other failure and a single-source light doesn't provide good depth perception.
Make sure your batteries are fully charged before the event.There will be a free light battery recharge tent at the race. We suggest that 6 x 6 riders staying off-course do not use the charging facilities, leaving maximum available space for 12 and 24 hour riders. You won't need to for day one if your battery is fully charged when you start. If you are staying trackside overnight, please plug in and recharge, but do remember to remove your battery and charger when they are ready. Leaving a battery and charger plugged in overnight could inconvenience others in need of an outlet and could cook your battery! It’s a good idea to mark your recharger and battery so that you know which is yours. Coloured electrical tape with your name on works well.
You are also required to have a tail light. Red in colour. There are no governing rules on brightness but we ask you, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't have it switched on to flashing modes. This will cause epilepsy and/or road rage in anyone following you.
Sunrise on Sunday will be around 6:30am. If you choose to start at the allocated start time for resumption of the 6x6 - 6:00am, Sunday May 13th, you will need lights on from start until around 6:30am. If you don't want to ride before it is light you will still need to check in for the 6.00am start.
For first-time soloists, especially - good on you! It might be worth pointing out, though. It's a long ride. Pacing yourself is vital. Only you, of course, know what a good pace is. Eat and drink plenty! Rehydrate with more than water (a well-balanced electrolyte replacement is suggested, rather than the soft drinks advertised on TV, but each to their own...). Having pit crew is invaluable. In fact, pit bosses are the unsung heroes of this crazy kind of races. So let's sing their praise now - good on you pit crews everywhere!!!
Similarly for teams riders: it's going to be two long days. Make sure you, too, stay well fed and hydrated. Marquees are a great way to enjoy the vibe trackside, as are camper trailers, even if you stay elsewhere overnight. We can accommodate them on the camping ground, right by the track. Take a chair and you might also consider taking a stationary trainer or rollers. There will be quite a gap between laps for team members. Your muscles will get cold. You need to warm up before your lap and it is not permitted (or practical) that more than one team member is on the track at one time. If you have a good sense of when your transition is due, you can get on the bike in the comfort of your mobile home-away-from-home and be ready to rocket from the blocks like Fabian Cancellara.
On that note, teams riders. You will no doubt be fired up, ready for your lap. Please remember, as you rocket from the transition area, back on to the track, there will be other riders still circulating who are not as fired and not nearly as fresh as you! Many of these poor sods will be 24 hour soloists. Not, perhaps, those in contention for the world championships, but tough blighters who, no matter how hard you have pushed yourself, are doing it way tougher than you! Please be considerate as you pass these souls (they are usually easy to spot - heads slumped, shoulders dropped from about 10:00pm Saturday, eyeballs jiggling out of their heads, occasionally bumping the top tube and looking like they just left a shift down a Welsh coal mine. Give them warning and a little time to react, then a few words of encouragement and you've just made a new friend!
For all 6x6 hour categories and classes you will need to finish your last lap by 12:00 midday, Sunday for that lap to count. Any laps completed after that time will not be counted towards you or your teams' total. You DO NOT need to be on course when the race officially finishes at 12:00 midday, Sunday 13th. Any and all laps completed prior this time will count towards your total and you will be given a finish and place.
Port 24 hour cancellations and refunds
We’re looking forward to a great race on a great track for the 2012 Port 24.
Part of your entry fee goes directly to the Hastings Valley Mountain Bike Riders club to help the club develop and maintain the track. We think it is important to support the club in their excellent work and so we have decided to pay the club that fee on every entry whether or not the rider or the organisers cancel the event.
There is also a considerable admin cost in putting together an event like this, that includes among many other things the credit card use fee charged to cover credit card payments on entry fees.
For these reasons, we cannot offer full refunds for any withdrawls. We will offer partical refunds up to April 31st. Unfortunately, if you decide to cancel from 1 May there will be no refund of your entry fee.
