HPV Racing with the ExPats Team in 2009...

With a successful 2007 & 2008 behind us, and a LOT of HPV Racing to come in 2009 the ExPats crew are happy to welcome aboard 3 new riders in Matt Leonard, Kyle McDonald, and Brock Mills which should mean we'll have a full roster of riders available to choose from at every event this year. With the extra engine power in conjunction with some new recumbent HPV Racing trike design ideas and possibly a new canopy/fairing at some stage during the season we aim to be more competitive than ever as we race our way around the country. If you see us at an event during the year, please do come up and make yourself known - it's always nice to be able to put a face to the online names. Our intention, at this stage anyway, is to try and compete at as many events as possible this year, work, school and funding permitting.

If you're looking for HPV Racing Photos, look no further than our site, we have hundreds and hundreds of photos from HPV events around Australia. If you see a photo on our site you'd like to use please just drop us a note to let us know and provide a link back to our site. Check back often for updates on the home of our HPV recumbent Trike Racing endeavours...

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Adelaide, Australian HPV Super Series Round 1, May 17th, 2009, 2nd Place.

Steele, Mick, Matt, Brock, Henry, Ty, Kel, Aaron, Paul, Kyle

Another case of always the bridesmaid and never the bride, or put another way... "If my Aunty had balls she'd be my Uncle!" What we'd hoped would be the breaking of our run of second places turned into another one on the weekend as a derailuer failure put paid to our chances just as we took the lead with under 2 hours to go. Read the race report, or check out the Round 1, 2009 HPV Super Series Photos (when they're updated).

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Wonthaggi 24 Hour Human Powered Grand Prix, March 20-22, 2009, 2nd Place.

Kyle, Brock, Jordan, Mick, Ty, Henry, Kel, Matt, Aaron. MIA: Jeremy, MattE, Clancy  

With hopes high, some new ideas implemented and boys fitter than they've ever been at this time of year - keen to make amends for previous visits - the ExPats headed off to do battle over 24 hours of the technical & testing track at Wonthaggi. Read about the race happenings, or check out the Wonthaggi HPV Race Photos.

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Bendigo Madison Cycling & HPV Pursuit Racing, March 7th, 2009

Ziptar, Silver Bullet, Bullet Proof, Bullet Head, Reloaded, EcoOwnage, OohLaLa, XIA, Boris

32 riders lined up for the 2nd running of the Bendigo Madison HPV Pursuit day in an assortment of vehicles. ExPats had both OohLaLa and XIA running as per their Casey configurations from the previous week, and Gareth brought Boris over from Ararat as well. A fun & successful day was had by all - read more about the day here: Bendigo Madison Race Report or check out the 2009 Bendigo Madison Cycling Weekend Photos and some Happy Snaps as well.

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Casey - Cardinia Cycling Festival , February 28th, 2009, 1st, 2nd & 4th

Aaron, Nigel, MattE,Jeremy, Clancy, Romani, Ned, Jordan, Gerard, Mitchell, Kyle,
Mick, Jordan, Kel, Henry, Ty, Brock, MattL,??,??, Geoff, Gareth and Tyson MIA

Fri, Feb, 27th: Some minor dramas on the way to Melbourne...
Sun, Feb 22nd: Most of the crew again ventured off to Casey Fields again this weekend to try out some changes to the new race trike, and to give all the boys a decent hit out around the track for the HPV race next weekend.
Sun, Feb 1st: Most of the boys ventured off down to Melbourne Saturday afternoon for some practice with the rest of the team (now Melbourne based) at the Casey track with a view to a longer session on the Sunday to follow. Some interesting times followed .

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Round 3, Australian HPV Super Series, Murray Bridge, September 18-21, 2008 - 5th Place

Aaron, Josh, Kel, Stewie, Henry, Daryl, Ty, Jordan, Andrew, Kyle, Todd, James, Mick

Hit by illness, work commitments, and football finals finding enough riders to make a team is turning into a struggle. The last minute push is on to have a semi-decent team available for the 24 hour race. Our flash new aerodynamic trailer (courtesy of Daryl Stewart) is ready to roll, and the race trike is fitted out and ready for painting.

Wed, Sept 10: We're officially worried.
Sun, Sept 14: Time poor so "shortcuts looming warning" ahead...
Tue, Sept 16: Final trike preparations almost done.
Wed, Sept 17: Paint job done, the new look is on show!

More updates as they happen on our Murray Bridge HPV Tike Race Report, Pictures as time permits on the 2008 Murray Bridge HPV Race Photos page.

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2007 & 2008 Videos Added

Courtesy of Aaron Stewart we've included his HPV Race Videos in the Photo & Video Gallery section, and where available they'll also be included with race reports. Check them out here 2007 Videos, 2008 Videos.

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EPIP Maroondah GP, August 17th, 2008

With apologies to the TriSled team who were DQ'd after the race, we took out 1st and 2nd at our first, and possibly last, visit to this event. Not much of a  race report to speak of, and sorry, but no photos as our photographer was too ill to attend the race.

Aaron, Jordan, "Blow-In AKA Tristan", Tyson, Tom, Josh, Kel, Ty, Henry, Chris, Stewie, Kyle, Mick

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Round 2, Australian HPV Super Series, Adelaide, July 26-27, 2008 - 4th Place

Saturday, Aug 2nd: Happy Snaps and Start of Photo Gallery added.
Update 2, Saturday PM: Nearly ready to race...
Update 1, Saturday AM: Not too many dramas on the road trip over to Adelaide on Friday night - made a nice change! Details in the Race Report.

With the production of a new frame, new fairing, reworked mechanicals, and a couple of new faces... could this bring the change of luck we've been needing this year? Time will tell as we approach Round 2. Read more in the Race Update & Report.

Josh, Steele, Brock, Mark (AKA Henry), Kel, Ty, Matt, Aaron, Mick

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Round 1, Australian HPV Super Series, Adelaide, 2008 - 16th Place

Whilst the first round of the Australian HPV Super Series was fast approaching the ExPats boys were busy building a new fairing, although not for themselves, which has meant preparations for the upcoming race were behind where they ideally should have been. Not to worry though, in true ExPats fashion we were there on the starting grid come race day, even if we did have a few more trials and tribulations than could ever be thought possible! Read more in our race report , or check out the photos of Round 1, Adelaide, HPV Super Series 2008 .

Aaron, Mick, Stewie, Kel, Josh, Steele, Mark, Ty

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2008 RACT Insurance Challenge Tasmania Update - 1st Place!

The ExPats boys returned to Tasmania for some more HPV Racing on the weekend of April 25th-28th, to defend their title at the RACT 6 hour challenge. After some minor mishaps (such as riding with only one crank) the boys eventually brought home the victory. Read our race report, or view our HPV photos gallery of the race.

Tasmania-Salamanca Winners April 2008
Aaron, Ty, Kel, Matt, and Pit Chief Mick

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Casey CCHPVCC Festival 2008 Update - 3rd Place

"My Kingdom for a spare back wheel..."
What a close race it turned out to be HPV Racing at its best! We always enjoy coming to the Casey track as it really suits our trikes, and the ExPats guys love to race there. The race was fought out between ExPats, TruBlu and TriSled's Easy Tiger. Whilst a 15+ minute off-track delay after a flat rear tyre, and no spare wheel of the correct size, virtually put paid to our race chances, the ExPats boys fought it out to the finish. Reducing a 5 lap deficit to only 2 laps at the finish. With 63 laps under the 3 minute bench mark, compared to 54 for TruBlu and only 45 for Easy Tiger, we proved we were consistently the fastest trike on the track. The lack of that spare rear wheel really cost us dearly. Read our full race report, or view our extensive photo gallery of the race.

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Wonthaggi 2008 Update - 8th Place

Wellll... What a race! With the ExPats boys, as per usual, doing yet another nothing-to-almost-race-ready HPV Race Trike in 3 weeks, and this time having to organise all the building themselves a few problems were to be expected. Read more about the story that unfolded during the race in the 2008 Wonthaggi Human Powered Grand Prix Report or just view the race pictures.

The boys getting Nug-Nug ready to do battle at Wonthaggi 2008
Matt, Henry, Ty, Potta (out sick), Azza, Lachy, Shane, Tom, (MIA - Kel).

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Energy Breakthrough @ Maryborough 2007 - 1st Place!

ExPats riders and support crew were there in force. 6 Riders competing in 3 different teams, with many of the support crew helping out 5 different schools over the weekend and the weeks leading up to the race. Congratulations to the Highview Open teams (Delilia) progression to a new distance record, race win, and overall win, and to their Class-C Team (Conrete Donkey) that won their section of the Trial, Design & Construction, and their Overall as well! Read the race report, or see the event pictures.

Highview College's victorious Delila from EBT 2007

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Murray Bridge 2007 - 8th Place

We've been, seen, and didn't quite conquer, but we did fight back from last after an hour to 6th in the open category, and 8th overall in a field of 225+. We'll hopefully return with lessons learnt for a stronger showing in 2008! Check out the race report and race pictures for full details.

Murray Bridge 2007 Team
Aaron, Ty, Kel, Mark, Ryan, Kyle, Dom, James

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Casey CCHPVCC Festival 2007, Update - 1st Place

It was cold, its was very windy, and with some trikes just picked and tipped up by gusts of wind there was always something happening. After a slow start the ExPats boys worked their way back into the race, andonce in the leaded were never headed again. Read the race report or check out the HPV Race Photos.

Casey Cardinia Winners May 2007
Ryan, Ty, Kel, Aaron

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2008 RACT Insurance Challenge Tasmania Update - 1st Place!

On their first visit to the Apple Isle, the ExPats boys battled a touch of sea sickness, the lads from HPRacing, and eventually came away with a hard fought win in the 6 hour HPV Race. Read the race report or check out the HPV Happy Snaps.

Tasmania-Salamanca Winners April 2007
Kel, Aaron, Henry, Ty

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2007's most time consuming project - the plug/mold redevelopment

With barely 3 weeks to go before the running of the Murray Bridge 24 hour race in 2007, a decision was made to redevelop the existing fairing/canopy design to allow a wider track and keep the wheels fully enclosed with no removable spats required. Sounded like an almost doable kind of thing. It is, if you give up 3 weeks of your life and oodles of cash, you can read all about the trials and tribulations of the building of the X1.

Front profile of the new X1 canopy