The inaugural Southern Skies 24-hour mountainbike team relay took place on Easter weekend (Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 April 2006). This format of mountainbike lap riding, over a course approximately 7km in length, is perfect for companies, clubs, teams and families who just want to have fun riding their bikes... The terrain is however also ideally suited to racing teams and solo riders, who are likely to post lightning-fast times, despite the challenges of the course. No twenty four hour race is complete without the fun of night riding, and this one promises to be memorable, especially on the loop by the graveyard!

the Fast Fuel 24-hour southern skies mtb team relay 2010! Sat 1 - Sun 2 May 2010 The Ride Arena, Parys (famous for hosting the Ride Crater Cruise) is only a stone throw away from Johannesburg, Midrand, Tshwane, Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Sasolburg, Kroonstad, Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg and Welkom! > there is no better way to observe our southern skies < presented by Ride Magazine

special event features
event format and categories
event regulations
night riding
what to bring
prizes!
how to get there
Vredefort Crater
2008 results
contact us

Twenty-four hour team relay racing highlights the sportsmanship, camaraderie and hard-core fun that have been hallmarks of mountainbike racing from the very beginning. Invented in 1992 by Granny Gear's founder, Laird Knight, these events were designed to appeal to the mountainbiker's keen sense of fun. For the racers, these events are some of the most memorable experiences of their lives. For the fans and spectators, they are sport spectacles rivalling anything they have ever seen.
(Quotation from www.grannygear.com)

late entries

• There wil be no late entries for the 24-hour solo or 12-hour two man team events
• Late entries for the 24-hour event will be R1 200

a truly special 24-hour event

Event features include:

• The Petit Paris venue is famous for hosting the Crater Cruise mtb event. The venue is complete with Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe and a Place de la Concorde - also ideal for swimming!
• Timing by Great Time
• Richest 24-hour event in Africa - R25 000 prize money!
• Battery charging stations
• Indoor rider changing zone
• Bike wash and bike park
• Indoor tented camp + mattresses. Tents and mattresses included in the entry fee - 1 tent/team (2 mattresses/tent) - a perc only for the first 90 teams to enter
• Covered pit space available (with 220V power).
• Free open camping space. Bring your own tent/caravan, set up your own pits!
• Hot showers & flush toilets!
• Free all night coffee!

Other attractions:

• Enclosed cycling course for kids to enjoy (no extra cost)
• DVD theatre (free) and DSTV Sport
• Cold drinks on offer
• Jumping castle
• Ocean Basket (Parys) will be the food vendor. Please support them well - they sponsor all the great all-night filter coffee
• All-night music!

event format & categories - 2010 event

• The event is a lap event - cross-country style
• Lap distance: ±7km of fairly challenging mtb riding
• A bonus lap will be awarded to all teams who complete more than 7 laps at night between 19h00 - 05h00

3 events in one:

• The 24-hour event is a lap relay event, starting at noon on Saturday and finishing at noon on Sunday (see the team categories below)
• The 24-hour solo event is a cross-country event on the same course, starting at Sat 12h00 and finishing at 12h00 on Sun (position 1-3 qualify for prize money - most laps/shortest time 12h00-12h00)
• The 12-hour two-man team event (not a relay) is a cross-country event on the same course, starting at Sat 12h00 and finishing at 24h00 sharp (position 1-3 qualify for prize money - most laps/shortest time 12h00-24h00)

There are 3 official race categories in the 24-hour event:

1. Overall - teams of up to 7 riders, any mix of genders (position 1-4 qualify for prize money - most laps/ shortest time in 24 hours)
2. Mixed - if you have 3 or more ladies in the team you automatically qualify for this category (position 1-4 qualify for prize money - most laps/shortest time in 24hours)
3. Biltong boys and/or girls - teams with an average age of 45 and more- (position 1-3 qualify for prize money - most laps/shortest time in 24hours)

event rules and regulations:

Please ride the event with the following in mind:

• Race safe: No-one needs to get hurt. It is a long race - don’t risk not finishing or, worse yet, preventing someone else from finishing. Pass slower racers with care. Let them know that you are there and which side you would like to pass on. Please select a reasonable and realistic moment to pass.
• Race fair: In other words, no cheating. Would the racer next to you have a problem with what you may be doing? If in doubt ask yourself. Also think of where you are riding. Stay on the course; DO NOT short-cut. Racing fair also means being polite. Discourteous and offensive behaviour could get you disqualified from the event.
• Race hard: Give it all you have without compromising the rules.
• Have fun: This rule needs no explanation. Bottom line, this is why we are here.

General information and rules:

1. All 3 event categories (open/mixed/six-hour solo) will be an open format. In other words, there are no ability or age categories. Please keep this in mind when registering.
2. No team members under the age of 12 will be allowed to participate in either the 24-hour or the 24-hour solo event.
3. Helmets are compulsory at all times while out on the course.
4. All riders will have to sign the indemnity clause before 11:00 on Saturday. A parent/gaurdian has to sign indemnity for all riders under the age of 18.
5. 24-hour mtb racing offers a great opportunity to introduce newcomers to the sport. The short and more technical course is ideal for beginners to gain exposure to the discipline of cross-country. Please note however, that 24-hour mtb racing is not necessarily a beginner sport, although the rules don’t specify “No beginner level riders”. Please make a sensible choice and assess your riding skills carefully.
6. The start will be Le Mans style, meaning the racers must run to their bikes from the starting line.
7. All the team captains are responsible for attending the pre-race captain’s briefing.
8. Support is defined as the act of helping another teammate or rider by means of offering food, water, mechanical and possibly medical assistance. Support on or off the course can be provided by anyone, teammate or not. Let’s not make this one complicated. This rule means someone can give you a tool, or a part, some water and food. However, this does not include riding in the back of Oupa’s bakkie!
9. Your race number board must be displayed on the bike’s handlebar without obscuring any part of it. No-one will be allowed to stick any sticker on his/her number board.
10. Passing: Racers pushing bikes must yield to those riding. When overtaking another rider, please use good judgement and pass with care. Although a slower rider does not have to stop, please find a safe spot to yield as soon as possible. Remember to be nice. It is not worth the aggravation over the few seconds you may gain or lose. Talk to each other and say “passing on your right/left”. “Please” and “thank you” are also good words to use.
11. Protests shall be made by the captain of each team in writing any time during the race or within 30 minutes of the final results posting.
12. Quiet hours around the tents will be observed from 01h00 to 05h00.
13. Each team shall provide adequate lighting for the riders. If you are found without a lighting system while on the course, lap penalties will be enforced. more on night riding...
    
    • You may choose to use Helmet-mounted or handlebar-mounted lights - either way is okay on their own but probably the best choice is to use both.
    • You may also equip yourself or your bike with a red flashing tail light. No white tail lights will be allowed on the course.
    • If a rider makes use of only one lighting system on the route he/she will be required to have a backup light while out on the course at night. A torch & tape has often proven to be sufficient.
14. Great Time will do the timing:
    
    • Live results will be published on screen.
    • Each rider has to wear the team baton - a Great Time chip with a velcro strap - while on the course.
    • It is recommended for teams to keep log of their own progress throughout the 24 hours in order to verify it against the log of the officials. A logbook will be supplied to each team as part of the race pack.
15. There are no individual lap requirements, however, if any of your teammates or a partner does not put in their share of laps, people will look at them funny (just kidding).
16. If a racer stops to assist another rider who is hurt, an average lap time will be calculated for that racer and the subsequent logged teammate will be allowed on the course at the designated time. The team being helped must verify the assistance.
17. At 12h00 on Sunday the finish line will be closed. No laps completed after 12h00 will count towards the total lap tally of the team.
18. No littering along the course will be tolerated by the organisers. Leaving tubes next to the road is also considered littering.
19. The decision of the event officials and race directors will be final. Every effort will be made to keep the riding/racing fair and safe.

more on night riding:

1. All riders going out at night must be equipped with a lighting system - you may choose to use either a helmet-mounted or handlebar-mounted light. Either way is okay on their own but probably the best choice is to use both.
2. You may also equip yourself or your bike with a red flashing tail light. No white tail lights will be allowed on the course.
3. Please be familiar with your lighting system before you get to the race venue.
4. It would be best if you have done some night rides before the race to get a feel for a trail at night.
5. Make sure your lighting system is fully charged before you go out onto the course.
6. Battery charging station available at the venue – please mark your batteries and charger to avoid confusion.

If you have only a single lighting system on your bike you will be required to carry a safety backup torch & tape with you while out on the course at night.

what to bring:

• Bike/s
• Tyres/ tubes
• Tools
• Bike stand (if you own one)
• Chain lube
• Helmet
• Bike pump
• Light system
  
  • extra batteries and/or
  • charger and
  • a double adapter if needed
• Gloves
• Shorts/ shirts/ socks (preferably more than one pair each)
• Cycling shoes
• Rain Gear
• Energy drink and bike bottles/ hydration packs – only if you are not going to make use of the drink sponsors ready mixed drink
• Own food, fruit and snacks
• Pillow
• Sleeping bag
• Own booze – no alcoholic beverages will be available on site
• Torch - as backup light, and to use around the terrain
• Garbage bags
• Enough warm clothing
• Camp chairs and gazebos and/or tents if desired

the Fast Fuel 24-hour southern skies mtb team relay - medals prizes & prize monies

Special event medals to all participants!

Category prizes 2009:

Additional prizes:

• First after first lap - R500
• Fastest lap throughout the day - R500
• Fastest lap throughout the night - R500
• A special prize to the team completing the most laps during the night between 19h00-05h00
• The team whose appearance impresses our judges most over the course of the event - free team entry for 2011

Random lucky draw prizes throughout the event - if you have a rider on course at the right moment, you are eligible for all kinds of lucky draw prizes.

how to get to the Ride Arena in Parys:

1. From the North - Johannesburg, Pretoria, Limpopo Province and Mpumalanga. Take the N1 South, go through the Grasmere Toll Gate. Stay on the N1 until you cross the Vaal River. Take the next turn off to Parys/Sasolburg. Turn right. Drive on for another 20km into Parys. Stay on the main road and follow the direction boards to the Ride Arena (previously the ARWA building).
2. From the South - Cape Town, Kimberley, Bloemfontein,Welkom, Kroonstad, etc. Take the N1 North to Kroonstad. Stay on the N1 until you are just past Kroonstad where you will find a turn off to Parys. Stay on this road, pass Vredefort and do another 16km to Parys. Follow the direction boards to the Ride Arena (previously the ARWA building).
3. From Klerksdorp and further West. Go through Potchefstroom and take the road directly to Parys. Cross the Vaal River into Parys and follow the direction boards to the Ride Arena (previously the ARWA building).
4. From Carletonville and further North West. Take the road from Carletonville, via Fochville, over Ertjiesberg to Parys. Cross the Vaal River into Parys and follow the direction boards to the Ride Arena (previously the ARWA building).
5. Via aeroplane. The Parys airfield is 4740 feet above sea level. The main runway is 4700 feet long with two runways, 06 and 24. There is a short grass cross-runway that is usable for landings; it is only about 2000 feet long with headings 11 and 29. The airfield is unmanned and has its own radio frequency - 123,5 MHz. Since the CAA messed up with its previous edition of the AIP please also monitor the frequency 124,8 MHz. Aviators with older frequency charts may not be using the designated airfield frequency – 123,5 MHz! The airfield’s co-ordinates are 26° 53’ 14” South and 27° 30’ 19” East. Please note that the Parys Airfield will be closed to visiting aircraft during the following times on Sunday, 16-10-2005: 09:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00. Please exercise caution at all times in the WHOLE of the Parys region as there will be much aviation activity, including sophisticated radio controlled aircraft, paragliders, parachutists, balloons, gliders regular light aircraft and aerobatic aircraft. Please all, FLY SAFELY, and remember to communicate on both the airfield’s unmanned frequency, 123,5 MHz and the unmanned regional frequency, 124,8 MHz

the Vredefort Dome

Die oudste en grootste meteoriet-impakkrater ter wêreld

- Dewald Venter, lektor: Avontuur-toerisme, Tshwane Universiteit van Tegnologie, Dept: Toerismebestuur. (artikel soos verskyn in Noord Vrystaatse Gazette bylaag)

Alhoewel sommige wetenskaplikes redeneer of die “koepel” die grootste, tweede, of derde grootste is en of dit die oudste is of nie, bly die oorblyfsels van hierdie natuurverskynsel steeds ‘n geweldige interessante en soms ‘n asemrowende plek.
Om die werklike impak van die koepel te verstaan is dit nodig om verder in die geologiese besonderhede en die geskiedenis van die wêreld te gaan delf.

Tydperk van ontstaan

Ongeveer 2023 miljoen jaar gelede het die koepel sy ontstaan gehad toe ‘n groot meteoriet die aarde getref het. In daardie tyd het Gondwanaland nog bestaan en dit was nog voordat die dinosourusse op die aarde geheers het. Dinosourusse het sowat 65 miljoen jaar gelede uitgesterf en het die aarde vir 150 miljoen jaar bewoon.

Vorms van lewe

Op die tydstip toe die meteoriet die aarde getref het, was die enigste vorm van lewe ‘n tipe alg wat stromatoliet genoem word. Dit is ‘n ronderige alg wat tot vyf meter hoog kon word en het gewoonlik in waterryke gebiede voorgekom. Hierdie stromatoliete was die enigste organisme wat op die aarde geleef het en dit het suurstof vervaardig, amper soos wat plante dit vandag doen. Die suurstof om die aarde vorm die atmosfeer en hierdie stromatoliete het nie soveel suurstof vervaardig soos plante vandag nie, dus was die atmosfeer ‘n baie dun laag en dit het ‘n invloed gehad op ruimtemateriaal wat teen die aarde gebots het – dit kon dus maklik weer gereflekteer word en weer die ruimte ingegaan het – dit het soms gebeur dat ‘n voorwerp die aarde kon tref en die ruimte in terughop.

Binnelandse moeras

In Gondwanaland se tyd was daar ‘n groot binnelandse meer of moeras (soortgelyk aan die Okavango Delta in vandag se tyd) waarvan die water van Mpumalanga af in hierdie moeras ingevloei het (volgens bespiegelinge kan die vloei van die water dalk verklaar word as die Vaalrivier wat in daardie tyd al sy loop na die laerliggende dele van die landmassa geneem het). Die moeras het (in vandag se tyd gemeet) vanaf Middelburg in Mpumalanga tot in Richmond in die Noord-Kaap gestrek. Die invloei van die water na die moeras het fyn spoelgoud en verskillende soorte sandsteen in die water laat beland wat weens swaartekrag afgesak het tot op die bodem en dan verskillende sedimentlae gevorm het. Die sedimentlae het met verloop van tyd versteen om rotsformasies te vorm wat uit verskillende sedimentlae bestaan. Dit verklaar die goud wat in die koepel voorkom en waarom prospekteerders en mynhuise selfs nog ‘n paar jaar gelede in die koepel wou myn – iets wat katastrofiese gevolge vir Suid-Afrika sou inhou as gevolg van die nagevolge van die metodes wat hulle wou gebruik om die klein hoeveelheid goud wat in die koepel voorkom winsgewend te ontgin. Die metodes sluit onder andere in die oplossing van goud met sianied ’n baie giftige vloeistof) wat in die grond kon inlek en ook in die Vaalrivier sou beland en negatiewe impakte al langs die Vaal- en Oranjeriviere tot in die Atlantiese Oseaan sou hê.

Rotsformasies

Die meteoriet was 10 kubieke kilometer groot – groter as Johannesburg se midestad en amper so groot soos Tafelberg – en het teen ‘n snelheid van 20 kilometer per sekonde beweeg. Die impak was so groot dat dit skokgolwe, wat tussen 8 tot 12 kilometer hoog was, oor die aardkors gestuur het. Die skokgolwe het al die rotsformasies in die omgewing gebreek en impakkeëls gevorm – wat vandag een van die bewyse is dat dit wel ‘n meteoriet moes gewees het. Die meteoriet het diagonaal 17 kilometer in die aardkors inbeweeg en ‘n druk op die aardoppervlak van tussen 100 tot 200 kilopaskal uitgeoefen. Hierdie druk het die temperatuur tussen die rotsformasies en die meteoriet tot 1200°C laat styg. Dit het veroorsaak dat die rotsformasies wat naby die meteoriet was, gesmelt het. Van dié gesmelte rots het in die skeure en krake ingevloei en later daar versteen – vandag staan dit bekend as pseudo-tacholiet en is steeds duidelik sigbaar, veral in die granietformasies.
Net soos ‘n waterdruppel wat in ‘n vol glas water val en weer terugskiet, het die meteoriet ook weer teruggeskiet, die ruimte in, maar van die nikkel-yster-bindings waaruit ‘n meteoriet bestaan, het in die granofiergesteentes agtergebly en dit is vandag die enigste plek waar daar fisiese tekens van die meteoriet self gevind kan word. Die hele ontploffing was gelykstaande aan ‘n ontploffing van 87 miljoen waterstofbomme wat gelyktydig sou ontplof. Dit is duidelik dat daar ook geweldig baie stof veroorsaak moes wees. Die stof het binne ‘n paar uur die hele atmosfeer van die aarde gevul en omdat die atmosfeer baie dun was het die stof 30 jaar geduur voordat dit weer oor die hele aardkors verstrooi gelê het. Die aarde het in hierdie tyd geen sonlig gekry nie en vir 30 jaar afgekoel en verys. Bewyse van die gletsers kom vandag nog in sommige rotsformasies voor en plek-plek kan gletsersand nog gesien word. Miljoene jare later het Vredefort se impak verreikende gevolge vir mens en natuur gehad.

Significance of the Vredefort Dome as a world heritage site to the Vredefort Dome Conservancy (VDC Free State)

As per the World Heritage Inscription, the Vredefort Dome is the oldest (2023 million years), largest and most clearly identifiable meteorite impact crater in the world. Its overall diameter is about 380km. The core of the dome straddles the Vaal River incorporating both the North West and Free State provinces and constitutes an area of about 30 000ha. It is surrounded by a buffer zone of about 14 000ha. The Vredefort Dome is the only identified site on earth which provides a full geological profile of a meteorite impact. The World Heritage committee decided that this was one of the most important sites for mankind to preserve. The site provides the best example of a meteorite strike and the consequences of a strike for researchers. The site also contains rich evidence of the culture of BaSotho, BaTswana and Khoi-San as evidenced by the caves with skulls and tools, remnants of kraals and rock art.
The Vredefort Dome has a wide variety of tourist options ranging from tented camps to luxury accommodation, from extreme sports to leisure options. It also has about 100 recorded plant species, 300 bird species, over 70 butterfly species, small mammals and a variety of other biological species which could still be discovered with the evolution.

Role of the VDC (Free State)

The next step now that the Vredefort Dome has been listed as a World Heritage site is for the Minister to nominate a Management Authority and then develop an Integrated Management Plan. The Integrated Management Plan will comprise, among other items:

• A Strategic Environmental Assessment
• A Conservation Management Plan consisting of a plan for the conservation of heritage and a plan for the conservation of this wonderful biodiversity
• A Tourism Development Plan
• A Social Upliftment Plan
• A Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

The role of the VDC (Free State) Conservancy Committee now becomes even more important as we have to guarantee that our landowners have representation on this Authority to ensure that the landowners' interests are recognised and incorporated into the Integrated Management plan. We need to continue the work with government to identify indigenous game species for introduction of a Game Reserve which will promote eco-tourism and community upliftment. We also need to monitor that our mandate from our landowners is maintained and preserved by the new Authority.

Clive Gillespie, Chairman VDC (Free State)

www.tvdc.co.za

contact us

For more information regarding the Fast Fuel 24-hour Southern Skies, please contact Ride Magazine:

Josh - (011) 888 8288, fax: (011) 888 1591 / marketing@ride.co.za

For any queries regarding online entries please contact Cycle Events:
(011) 707 2800/ clic@cyclelab.com