BUNBURY (WA)
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previous years www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/bunbury-back-beach-circuit-1980.html
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BUNBURY AROUND THE HOUSES BACK BEACH 1988
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1988 - BUNBURY BACK BEACH CIRCUIT
a series of photo's from the collection of Murray Barnard
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1988 - BUNBURY BACK BEACH CIRCUIT SLIDESHOW
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 11 images)
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1988 - BUNBURY BACK BEACH CIRCUIT
Gary Cranston pictorial feature
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 9 images)
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1988 - SOUTH WEST TIMES REPORTED
Mark Boyce with his "baby"... the $1800 dirt bike on which he outshone his 1988 road racing rivals.
Photo: John Evans.
Mark Boyce, bike racing's unsung hero
MARK Boyce of Bunbury has emerged the unsung hero of WA motorcycling in 1988.The 28-year-old electrical contractor began his first season in road racing "as a bit of a dare".He went on to win the prestigious Prince of the Golden West motorcycle racing series.Boyce, whose only contact with "fast track racing was as a lad astride a big Yamaha "before the days when police were out in force", clinched the prince series at Collie where several of the state's best riders failed to complete because of the dangerous conditions.Quite and unassuming Boyce admits he is not well known in the racing scene, In fact, even the Motor Cycle Racing Club secretary in Perth failed to realise the winner of the Prince series came from Bunbury.Perhaps the most surprising feature of Boyce's win was not that it was his debut season, but he rode an $1800 ex dirt bike on a very tight budget, He pitted a motocross bike, formerly used in the Manjimup 1500, against the powerful racing models, worth in excess of $12,000, ridden by competitors having years of racing experience.Adapted with a small front wheel, a big disc brake and high ratio gearing, Boyce's machine was backed by local sponsors including Ray Buck Motorcycles, South West Detailing, Stirling Refrigeration and Boyce Hydraulics.Competing against the likes of the 'King" winner Anthony McFadden and Owen Coles (who is off to Daytona in the USA) did not deter Boyce. "We were just from Bunbury with our trail bike" Boyce said."We don't know any of them either but just go there, ride and come home again"After Bunbury, Donnybrook, Minengew, Wanneroo and Kalgoorlie, the last round of the year proved the decider of the "Prince" series for C and D grade riders.Boyce a division two rider entered the Collie round just ahead of his main rival - Perth rider Reg Bruce, Bruce onboard a 350cc Yamaha GP, experienced machine trouble allowing Boyce to take the title with a fourth and a second.During the course of the year, after a seventh place in the opening round at Bunbury, Boyce finished in the top three seven times. |
For Boyce the season has been a lot of fun but admits finding road racing dull compared to the rigours of his former motorcross days."Its boring, As much as I hate to say it, especially Wanneroo which I think is the worst", he said.He plans to defend his title next year on the same bike, They will have to fight me for it if they want it from me, he said.Circuit racing to Boyce is a little monotonous and a far cry from the more physical aspects involved in dirt racing.Although he doesn't aspire to the dizzy heights of fellow countryman Wayne Gardiner, Boyce will continue his winning formular of "riding within your limits, be sensible and don't go crazy".His battle-scared machine, which can be converted quickly for weekend hacks in the bush, has been frowned upon on the grid by some racers."Its a bitza" he said "We were definitely the cat among the pigeons and not the most popular people"He says fellow riders on board faster and far more expensive machines, could not keep pace with the motocrosser which was lighter, more manourvreable in corners, quicker to accelerate and had superior handling."With that sort of thing you could hit a curb at 80mph and wouldn't feel it", he said. "Its quite amazing to line up with half the machine they've got and incredible to see you can beat them".After defecting to the Kawasaki camp from owning 11 Yamaha's. Boyce was delighted with the performance and reliability of the machine.He did experience a close shave at Donnybrook, where a brand new chain broke at the end of a straight , threatening to lock the rear wheel after slowing from speeds of around 200kph.The engine was badly damaged and he relinquished a top place after gaining a second place earlier in the day."I'm the boss of the bike and that's what I like", Boyce said."Next year, we might put a new spark plug in it and it might even go a bit better".(Editorial Colin Svanberg) |
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2015 - NOW & THEN PHOTOS
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