CommittEE rEports

Tony Gray President’s Report

We are on the downhill run towards our major celebrations for the centenary of BMW Motorrad - it will be less than 3 months by the time this journal hits the airwaves. Those three months will disappear very quickly - just like a favourite old saying ‘Life is like a roll of toilet paper - the closer you get to the end the faster it runs out’.

The two sub-committees organising the Dinner and Bike Show have been very busy but there is still a lot of work to be done. We have now added a third event being the bike display & parade laps at Morgan Park Raceway on 20 September. That will be run as a club mid-week ride event but we need an early commitment from club members so we can give the organisers an idea of expected bike numbers.

The BMWMCQ is leading the country in regard to the centenary celebrations and that is recognised by BMW Group Australia whose General Manager has accepted our invitation to attend. We are also looking to have some other special guests so these events will be occasions to be remembered.

These events are being staged to recognise a milestone for BMW Motorrad but they will be forever embedded into the history of this great club - one of the longest running BMW Motorcycle clubs in the world. You, our members, are vital to the success of these events so if you are still pondering your involvement then now is the time to commit. Put yourself down for the mid-week ride to Morgan Park, book your place at the table for the celebration dinner, nominate your bike for the bike display, we would love to see you all to at least one of these events. If you have a desirable BMW model that is not currently running or registered then still put your details forward - there will be the opportunity to accommodate trailered vehicles so do not hold back on that account.

If you are traveling from Interstate or Intrastate then what a wonderful time to visit the great South-East. As well as these three organised events we are looking to stage some led rides on Friday 22 September taking in some great rides around the region that only a local knows.

On the home front I have been busy rebuilding an R1100GS for the Bike Display. Possibly it was this dedication to another bike but the Gray Ghost decided to spit the dummy and play up, requiring more than a little bit of attention herself. You can read about part of her woes elsewhere in the journal along with many other great stories that members have contributed. It is opportune to thank Paul Hughes who has again done the bulk of work to compile this journal before Cindy & Duncan return from their overseas sojourn and reacquaint themselves with the luxury of the editors chair. I doubt they will have any resistance prying the editorial mouse from his sweaty palm before he himself heads off south on a very well earned ride & rest recovery. Thanks Paul.

Tony

A couple of Jane’s NZ pics from this year and their past trip on a hire bike. Look at that sky!