Insurance Refusal Leaves Bikers Without A Track
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday July 17, 2002
Six-hundred dirt bike riders have nowhere to go after the closure of Wollongong Motorcycle Club's Mt Kembla track.
Locked fences and warning signs have greeted club members since the track was closed in mid-June because the club was unable to secure ongoing public liability insurance.
The only other track is in Dapto, but it is restricted to riders under the age of 16.
The closure comes at a time when Wollongong Police are trying to crack down on an increase in riders illegally using Illawarra bushland and roads.
Club secretary Karen Dean said the company that insured the club last year was no longer willing to cover it.
``We can't have anyone up there at the track anymore in case we get sued," she said.
``We have a broker who in the past has always been able to secure us an insurer, but now everyone is working on trying to find someone."
She said the club had not been given a reason as to why it could not be insured.
Since its insurance ran out on June 13 the club could open the track only on race days because riders were insured by the sport's governing body.
``Motorcycling NSW provides the insurance for race days, but three-quarters of our members don't carry a licence to race," she said.
``They are casual riders who come to the track when they want to ride for fun. Now they can't do that at all unless they want to buy a race licence, which costs $180 a year."
She said it left 600 of the 800 members unable to use the track.
The club is not the only group facing closure.
Mrs Dean said the majority of NSW motorcycle clubs would not be able to operate because no-one could get insurance.
Nowra and District Motorcycle Club secretary Kim Roberts confirmed the problem and said his club's public liability insurance would run out at the end of July.
``All clubs are facing the same thing, so we are all in the same boat," she said.
``We will be able to operate for race days, but that only allows 100 of our members to use the track; another 900 won't be able to ride."
Mrs Dean said the 50-year-old club had never had a claim against it since third party insurance became compulsory.
``We are hoping against all hopes that we can find some insurance through an American company, but if we can't get that we don't know what we will do," she said.
© 2002 Illawarra Mercury
Share This