Cape Town – The 2016 Nomads Economy Run, run at the weekend over a 519km route in the Southern Cape, was not a ride for sissies.
Traditionally held at the coldest, wettest time of the year, the two-day ride demanded intense concentration from the competitors if penalties for late arrival at any of the checkpoints were to be avoided – because half a litre of virtual petrol would be added to the rider’s overall fuel-consumption for every minute that he was late at a given checkpoint.
For instance, the 205km first leg from Montague Gardens to Napier had to be completed in 2hr15m - an average of 96.5km/h. That sounds easy when you say it quickly, but included the towns of Somerset West and Caledon, as well as Sir Lowry’s and Houw Hoek passes, where lower limits and tight corners wreak havoc on carefully judged average speeds.
In addition, riders also had to avoid getting lost (very expensive in terms of penalties) and keep their eyes open for the answers to 10 questions related to features along the route – each one not answered or answered incorrectly would add another third of a litre to the rider’s total.
The second leg took the riders through Bredasdorp, Stormsvlei and Bonnievale to Robertson – 117km, which had to be completed in 1hr20m, at an average speed of 87.75km/h. The third and final leg was split; the first part, 37.5km to the overnight stop at Nuy, had to be ridden in 22 minutes at an average speed of 102.3km/h, while the second section, 160km through Worcester, Villiersdorp, over Franschhoek Pass, through Franschhoek, Simondium and back down the N1 to the start point and final check-in at Montague Gardens, was scheduled for 1h59m, at an average of 80.6km/h.
Which makes the overall fuel consumption of 4.74 litres per 100km, including penalties, recorded by winner Kevin Farrow on a Suzuki V-Strom 650, all the more impressive. Winner of Class B, for motorcycles with engines bigger than 1000c, was Eddie Duncan’s Suzuki Hayabusa, which returned an overall figure of 4.89 litres per 100km, while Robert and Lizl Todd, riding a BMW R1200 GS, took the honours in Class C for motorcycle with pillion, with an overall consumption of 5.81 litres per 100km.