IT is coming to create Terror at Toodyay: WHES Rd 5 Pre-race.
IT is an enigma. IT can take any form, but IT always chooses to take the form its victims fear the most.
And in early 2026, IT took the form of #174.
What Steven King is producing on the bike is setting the scene for real terror at Toodyay, the final round of W.A. Hard Enduro Series and, perhaps, the final round EVER at this iconic track!!!!
King manifests as a bolt action Remington in a 10-gallon hat and a pair of size 12 Dan Posts Ostrich Quills. And he is very much looking to draw blood from Iron Class front runners Grant McCarthy and Andrew Lardner next Saturday.
Now that he has had a taste of the podium, following his P2 at Quindanning (Round 4), he wants to finish the season on the top step at the InSinct Toodyay Terror.
From Andrew Lardner, after Round 4 "Steve King overtook me during the 3rd lap while I was stuck on one of the steep slippery, rocky hills. I tried to catch him, but he was too far in front. It was a well-earned 2nd for Steve and great to have some serious competition in Iron class."
But from where did every Iron Class rider's newest nightmare emerge?
Well, he did not crawl out of the sewer like Pennywise the clown; that is for sure and certain!
In fact, quite the opposite.
Father of Gold Class golden boy, Boston King, and the man behind the series sponsor Demo-cut Australia, Steven King could never have come into the series quietly.
"Yeah..I’m pretty determined! I time myself through the creeks that used to take me 3 hours to get through. Now I get through them in 23 mins. I ride a LOT because I’m trying to catch Grant, but I’ve only been at it 6 months."
"Plus, I didn't want everyone thinking Boston's Dad is useless, so I put the work in on the bike!"
Some say 51 is a little late to get the red mist. But King does not know any different.
He started cutting concrete at 17, and he talks of 46 hours straight on the tools. Endless 27 hours shifts to get the work done, bring in the coin, and keep the lights on for his wife and 5 kids.
Resilience and grit? Steve has it in silos. Demo-cut do work in the tropics, cutting in conditions that would make your eyes bleed. So, for #174, hard enduro is just more fun in the same shitty conditions. And it is that mind-set that enables him to throw the KTM at rocks like it is just a sack of chaff.
"At Brookton I was in front of Grant, briefly before I crashed and smashed my front brake and starter. I lost ten places but managed to catch up and pass Lards....until the starter jammed on and killed the bike."
At Quindanning, Steve cocked the timing and parked up 45 minutes before the cut off. Realising at the last minute, after losing 10 min, he shot off to finish second on the podium behind McCarthy but ahead of Lardner.
For King to think he might get first place at Toodyay, and 2nd overall in the championship, is not pissing in the wind. I respect that; we all should. It is a brave call for the cowboy that only just moseyed onto the WHES ranch.
I just hope he has the right ammo in the chamber, because Toodyay is McCarthy's patch and he ain't lettin' no man paint his wagon and make him look like a clown.
"My goal is to try and lap the person behind me."
Whatever happens it is going to get ugly. But, if it looks at all like Grant is going to pull a lap on P2, I have put a special challenge to him.
Whether he takes it up or not will be revealed on the day, and if he does, you'll read about it here.
Be sure to be there making noise from the other side of the tape. The property is only about 50min out of Perth, down Morangorup Road. It is arguably the best track to spectate with every major obstacle minutes from the Race Hub.
Rain is forecast for Friday and that is going to turn the Toodyay Terror into a horror show.
Oh, and not to put to finer point on it, remember that after nearly 5 years of Hard Enduro and 20+ years of hosting trials, this may be the final event to ever circulate at this epic property. Or will it?
Never doubt there may be a sequel.
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