Last weekend marked the centennial milestone of one of Australia’s most famous motorcycle events: the HARDI 24 Hour Trial Centenary (1924-2024). Hundreds of spectators flocked to the Kapunda Harness Racing Complex to witness a record 248 machines and 296 competitors, including 48 sidecars and 200 solo motorcycles, leave the start line at 11 am on Saturday. The atmosphere was electric as fans celebrated 100 years of thrilling competition and the enduring legacy of this iconic event.
Kicking off with a Friday rider sign-on, the buzz at the complex was electric with anticipation for the centenary celebrations. Despite a dry start to the year for the district, the week leading up to the trial had been quite wet, and intermittent light showers with heavy fog persisted throughout the event, making conditions difficult. Adding to Friday’s festivities, around 50 past competitors and their machines took to a modified lap of the 2024 trial course, paying tribute to the illustrious history of the event and offering a chance for past and present to come together in a spectacular display.
To further celebrate the event’s rich history, spectators were also treated to a static display of past machines at the main control, where they watched modern bikes and 24 Hour hopefuls tackle the special Centenary circuit.
The competition was fierce between the top two competitors in both the Solo and Sidecar class groups, with less than a minute separating them for most of the trial and the gap only widening in the final sections.
Provisional results show the following in Open Solo: 1st place went to Riley Graham with 19,417 points, 2nd to Cooper Sheidow with 19,546 points, and 3rd to Sean Throup with 20,209 points.
For the provisional Open Sidecars, 1st place went to Max Hutchesson / Sam Hutchesson with 23,389 points, 2nd to Shane Beckmann / Adam Brook with 23,920 points, and 3rd to Shaun Blenkiron / Nathan Saegenschnitter with 23,972 points.
In the end, 137 machines with 154 competitors on 17 sidecars and 120 solos rose to the challenge and completed the trial between 11 am and 3:30 pm on Sunday afternoon. For many, simply signing their names to the finishers’ list was a victory in itself, as finishing the trial can be as fulfilling as taking the top spot.
The organizing committee would like to thank the hundreds of people involved in ensuring a successful event, including volunteers, officials, control keepers, caterers, medical staff, fuel suppliers, landowners, sponsors, Kapunda Harness Racing Club, the Light Regional Council, the Regional Council of Goyder, Mid Murray Council, the Clare & Gilbert Valley Council, the Government of South Australia, Motorcycling SA, and all others.
The HARDI 24 Hour Trial Presentation Night, held on the Monday night following the trial at the Vine Inn Barossa in Nuriootpa, provided the final hurrah for the centenary celebrations and gave riders, organizers, volunteers, and fans a well-earned chance to let their hair down and celebrate the weekend’s achievements.
Due to overwhelming demand, some of the popular Centenary merchandise will be available again to order, check 24hrtrial.com. As the 91st edition of the trial wraps up, we celebrate the fact that it is the oldest continuing motorcycle event in Australia and shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s to another centenary!