Brisbane, Where are you Gonna Ride?
Let's face it, Australia is shit when it comes to moto culture. Yeah it's a bit better here than say, Indonesia or some shit, but compared to the US and Europe... fuaark...
Still, you gotta ride somewhere, or else you are an enormous douch. Biz-vegas is my place of residence, and around these parts we have a few places to ride. Now it's not just about choosing the place closest, loading up the bikes and hitting it time after time after time, because all the local parks have something going for them, and if you don't try them all then you just ain't living son. So where's best for you? Read on, and I'll tell you. Actually, I won't tell you, but I might prod you in one direction or another. We'll see.
QMP: The biggest, the newest and in many people's eyes, the best. Queensland Moto Park is located in between Boonah and Beaudesert, on the aptly names Boonah-Beaudesert Highway. It's a group project between some avid freestylers and the government (thankfully they got the park up and running before our good friend Campbell got into power, or else they'd probably be locked up for being outlaw motorcyclists or something.)
Whatever, the point is it's open and provides some of the best riding you can experience in and around Brisbane. On a good day, nowhere else comes close, with thick loamy soil, professionally designed tracks and a matching business model. Unfortunately, the tracks still sometimes suffer from over watering and under watering respectively, and the place is a fucking nightmare to ride when really wet. Still, they do a better job than most and the tracks are top notch.
Some people bitch about QMP not having enough jumps, but that's because it's really a traditional motocross park, with traditional tracks. Long uphills, blast-able burms, multiple lines and jumps that flow with the land rather than being carved out of it are the order of the day at QMP. The tracks are more natural terrain orientated than other parks. All in all, QMP is probably the most professional outfit in Brisbane, and we can all thank our lucky stars it's here, or else getting some casual riding in would be a seriously long hike for most. The government influence comes to the fore sometimes with bureaucracy rearing its ugly head, but overall QMP is an awesome place to ride, and where my mates and I spend the majority of our time.
Motocross Mountain: The old dog, Moto Mountain has seen a drop in rider numbers since QMP opened, for pretty obvious reasons. It's a seriously long drive from Brisbane, almost three hours, and the tracks aren't really any better. Fortunately, MM hasn't gone under, because it makes a nice change from QMP for several reasons:
The atmosphere: Quieter, fewer people, and far more relaxed than QMP, Moto Mountain doesn't take itself too seriously. They know you're there for fun and they let you get on with it. One of my favoroute things about this place is that you can park right next to the tracks, and there's no awkward path you have to follow to go riding. At QMP it's a mission to get out to the tracks from your parking spot, and its not as simple as just jumping of the track for a quick drink before heading back out. The set paths that you MUST follow put paid to that, and the unintuitive way that they're designed only makes it worse. Moto Mountain is different. You can park right next to the tracks, and quick breaks and quick sessions are how most people manage their day. It's a far better system that makes for a far less daunting prospect when trying to work out just how dehydrated you are, just how badly you want to head in for a drink, and just how much you feel like like taking a break. It's not feasable at QMP thanks to its track layout and number of people, and that's fine, but it's nice that Moto Mountain does it the other way.
Pictured: The Cars are just behind this bloke. Like literally, just behind.
The tracks at Moto Mountain vary massively to the those at QMP as well. It's not that they're better or worse, just different. MM has far more jumps on both its tracks, and the soil is far more hardpack on the main track, while being sandy and dusty on the supercross style one. The track design is technical and focused on jumping rather than the fluid, flowing and fast riding at QMP.
Unfortunately the maintenance just isn't up to the standard or the far more professional QMP. The tracks are rarely (if ever) ripped, and are watered sparingly.
Motocross Mountain is a fantastic park, and before QMP came along it was where we did most of our riding. Unfortunately, due to the distance from Brisbane, I would only recommend the place over QMP if you planned to camp the night and spend at least 1 and half days there. Camping is awesome, and I recommend spending a weekend there one time.
Parklands: Parklands is closer to Brisbane than Moto Mountain but further away that QMP. It has a similar layout to the former as you're parking spot it right up close to the tracks ,making breaks less of a hassle and making the place a TON better for spectators than QMP.
Built into the side of a hill right next a Pine plantation, Parklands is a pretty awesome setting to ride in, and the tracks do it justice. The top track especially is a great mix of jumps, technical parts, flowing sections and fast sections. It also has what was once a 100 foot jump on it. It's been shortened a little, but it still poses more of a challenge to clear than any of the jumps at QMP or MM. Once again, maintenance of the tracks simply isn't up to the standard of QMP, but with so many fewer riders taring up the tracks it's less of an issue.
Smaller, tighter, more technical. So what? It's fun as hell.
I love riding at Parklands, and in pure enjoyment, I think I get more out of it that QMP sometimes. The tracks aren't up to the same standard, but its a nice, relaxed environment and the entrance is CHEAP!!
Manar: A five hour drive, an expansive park that you share with quads and 4WDs, Manar is a slightly different kettle of fish. Not worth the drive from Brisbane unless you plan on an extended stay, Manar has a mix of brilliant tracks, exceptional trail riding an great facilities too. It's not really an option for a causual day at the track if you live in Brissie, and it's a sight more expensive than some others, but if you plan on having a week long getaway or the like, its hard to go past Manar.
Black Duck: After a few lawsuits, being closed down and a couple of deaths, Black Duck has been through the mill. It's also one of the more hardcore off road parks in the state, and it has a reputation to go with it. Once again you're sharing the space with 4WDs, but the moto facilities are top notch. Another long drive, Black Duck for me falls into much the same category as Manar.
Ripley's: Iv'e never been to Ripley's, but I have friends who went before its unfortunate shut down. A 10 dollar "donation" was the only entrance fee, and by all accounts the experiene you got for that was above and beyond any others. A couple of mates of mine actually rode there with Andrew McFarlane a few weeks before he was killed in training, and if a park is good enough to attract a FIM World Championship GP winner, then it should be bloody well more than good enough for the rest of us. Tragically, it doesn't seem to be in operation anymore, but I've been hearing conflicting reports on weather or not it is actually open, or might be opening in the near future. Thought I'd mention it anyway because if it does open back up... you'll have to fight me to be first in the door.
Righto that's the lot that I can think of. If you know of others then hit me up because I always want more places to ride. The more the merrier and the closer the better. Hopefully the government pulls its finger out and gives us even more of what we love.
