CommittEE rEports

Tony Gray President’s Report

Youhave all heard of that eternal pessimist Mr Murphy. He wrote the law bearing his name that states in its full form “Nothing is as easy as it looks. Everything takes longer than you think. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” History does not show that Mr Murphy was a motorcyclist but I feel he must have been if my recent experience with fuel problems on the Gray Ghost is taken as an indicator.

I also have another favorite saying pinned up in my workshop that reads “Everything will be okay in the end, if it is not okay, it is not the end”. That saying is equally applicable to my recent spannering work where perseverance prevailed over time.

The Gray Ghosts fueling woes just kept going from one thing to the next, solve one problem then create another. At the same time Rex the Kwaka spat the dummy after his full service and refused to start. His battery was on the way out but the starter relay was also throwing up intermittent faults which ended up in a full strip down & clean up of the starter motor, new starter relay & battery and he is all good again. While doing the diagnostics on Rex, my multi-meter also spat the dummy lending more support to Murphy’s Law.

While all this was going on in the workshop, my R1100GS restoration project sat benignly on his lift table awaiting (how long is this going to take?) completion. That is required before our Centenary Bike Display that is now under two months away. I am sure there are many of you in the club are working towards this September deadline be it anything from a spit & polish to a full rebuild. Gary Bennett has assembled a very fine collection of bikes for the display that I am sure will not disappoint.

The sad part of these bike woes is that we have missed several club events - two when the Gray Ghost was on the way but had to be trucked home thanks to the RACQ. Ben has really settled into the Events role and is putting together a great range of events that should cater to every taste. Jane & I got to the Sunny Coast Lunch at the Landsborough Hotel last Saturday where there was a very happy bunch assembled who enjoyed each others company over a good meal. Isn’t that what Club membership should represent? New member Peter Alexander had an early start joining us from Hervey Bay. It was also good to see 45 year Club member and former club photographer James Campey who now resides in Tewantin.

Very sadly our Sunshine Coast event organisers, Steve & Mandy Maney, were involved in a car accident just prior to the lunch and were unable to attend. I am sure you will all join with me in wishing these two very popular club members a speedy and complete recovery.

Tony