Classic Dirt 12 – Green Park Conondale / June 11 – 12, 2016
Words and images by Greg Smith
Classic Dirt 12 was held last weekend at Green Park, Conondale Queensland in glorious Winter weather.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Craig Dack leads the way - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-DackLeadsTheWay-1024x683.jpg)
The sun was out for the first day creating perfect riding, camping and spectating conditions plus the ideal spectacle for the two International legends of the sport that were in attendance – Four Time World Motocross Champion Heikki Mikkola and Six Time AMA Motocross Champion Broc Glover.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Broc Glover understands how important a part history plays - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-BrocGloverUnderstandsHowImportantAPartHistoryPlays-1024x683.jpg)
Yamaha Motor Australia were the naming rights sponsors of the VMX Magazine run event, and as a result helped bring the two Yamaha motocross legends out to Australia.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Heikki Mikkola and Broc Glover - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-LtoR-HeikkiMikkolaBrocGlover-1024x683.jpg)
Yamaha also had their 60th Anniversary celebration display at the event for it’s last outing before being packed away for good. There were plenty of iconic race winning Yamaha’s on display along with a few of the iconic racers that took these bikes to the checkered flag.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Craig Dack's Championship winning Yamaha YZ250 - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-CraigDacksChampionshipYZ250-1024x683.jpg)
The Classic Dirt event is a unique thing that needs to be exposed for what it is, time with your mates reminiscing about the good days.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Lots of stories from both the bikes and the riders - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-LotsOfStoriesFromBothTheBikesAndTheRiders-1024x683.jpg)
It’s time to bring those two wheeled pieces of history out from under their covers and ride them side by side with whomever you can find no matter what your discipline is MX, Enduro, Flat track or Trials.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - More than one immaculate Suzuki - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-MoreThanOneImmaculateSuzuki-1024x683.jpg)
Conondale is the perfect setting for this type of event with more than enough space for the designated ride areas and more than enough room left for over 1000 people to call it their campground.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - The trade stalls had some great things - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-TheTradeStallsHadSomeGreatThings-1024x683.jpg)
A busy event timetable saw the tracks open on Saturday morning from 9-12 then it was over to the microphone for an official introduction of the Legends followed by a few demo laps.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - It's the happiest I've seen Dacka around a motocross track for years - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-ItsTheHappiestIveSeenDackaAroundAMotocrossTrackForYears-1024x683.jpg)
This was a great spectacle to see Heikki Mikkola who was mounted on an immaculately restored YZ400 that Mike Landman had only just recently finished.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Mike Landman enjoying life - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-MikeLandmanEnjoyingLife-1024x683.jpg)
Heikki was lead around the MX Track by Craig Dack on his “politically incorrect” Peter Jackson YZ250 minus the logos.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Craig Dack letting Heikki Mikkola past on the parade lap - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-DackLettingMikkolaPastOnTheParadeLap-1024x683.jpg)
They were also joined by Broc Glover and Stephen Gall both still looking smooth and fast as ever.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Broc Glover looked to be having fun - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-BrocGloverLookedToBeHavingFun-1024x683.jpg)
After the parade lap the riders were interviewed again and then allowed to get back out onto the track for a few “full speed” laps much to the applause of the crowd on drunks hill.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Geoff Ballard was on fire on his maygomaynotgo - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-GeoffBallardWasOnFireOnHisMayGoMayNotGo-1024x683.jpg)
After this all bikes were allowed back out onto the circuit and with hundreds of bikes circulating the entire venue without any real incident it has to be said that the Sunshine Coast Motorcycle Club is one of the best clubs at running events this large. Congratulations team you did a great job and that also goes out to the entire VMX Magazine crew for creating such a great concept when the original was held.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Such an awesome piece of history - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-SuchAnAwesomePieceOfHistory-1024x683.jpg)
Later that day there was a Question and answer session and a trivia quiz with some pretty cool prizes then a live band played into the darkness of night.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Jon Hafey screwing the neck of his Husqvarna - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-JohnHafeyScrewingTheNeckOfHisHusky-1024x683.jpg)
Sunday ran an identical track time schedule only to drop the night activities so that attendees would have a chance to pack up and get home for work the next day. That was if they weren’t from Interstate where it was a public holiday on the Monday.
![Classic Dirt 2016 - This BSA made me want to ride - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-ThisMadeMeWantToRide-1024x734.jpg)
I’m already on the lookout for a bike that I can buy so that I can attend next year and become part of this awesome event as it was awesome with a great vibe!
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Yamaha machines were everything from YZ490 to MX80 - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-YamahasWereEverywhereFromYZ490sToMX80s-1024x725.jpg)
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Craig Dack hasn't lost it - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-DackHasntLostIt-1024x683.jpg)
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Robert Scott on the gas - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-JamesDeakinOnTheGas-1024x683.jpg)
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Riding skills and looks to kill - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-RidingSkillAndLookstoKill-1024x683.jpg)
![Classic Dirt 2016 - The standard of motorcycles was so high - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-TheStandardOfMotorcyclesWasSoHigh-1024x779.jpg)
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Dave Armstrong dialling in Mach 5 on his Honda CR500 - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-DaveArmstrongDiallingInMach5OnHisCR500-1024x683.jpg)
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Honda CR500 - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-cr500-1024x683.jpg)
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Mike Landman enjoying life - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-MikeLandmanEnjoyingLife-1024x683.jpg)
![Classic Dirt 2016 - This XT sounded tough - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-This-XTsoundedTough-1024x756.jpg)
![Classic Dirt 2016 - Sunshine Coast Motorcycle Club, thanks for the location and the organisation - Image by Greg Smith](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Classic-Dirt-Conondale-2016-ThanksForTheLocationAndOrganisation-1024x683.jpg)