BMWMCQ Journal September 2023

The Committee

President- Tony Gray

Ph: 0409 493 605 president@bmwmcq.org.au

R1200GS (The Grey Ghost)

R60/6

Vice President - Paul Hughes

Ph: 0409 814 633 vpres@bmwmcq.org.au

R1200GS, Tiger 900

BMW Clubs Australia Delegate

Secretary- Geoff Hodge

Ph: 0413 180 101 secretary@bmwmcq.org.au

R1200RS; R75/5, R51/3

Treasurer - Darryl Gowlett

Ph: 0438 083 996 treasurer@bmwmcq.org.au

R80GS; K100RS4V; K1300R

Events - Ben Nazzari

Ph: 0448 594 833 events@bmwmcq.org.au

R1200 RT, R100GS

Editors - Cindy & Duncan Bennett

Ph: 0401 610 671 editor@bmwmcq.org.au

R1200C; Triumph Tiger 900’s

Records- Greg Gaffney

Ph: 0411424 219 records@bmwmcq.org.au

R1200RT

Tools/Service - Bill Luyten

Ph: 0438 123 747 tools@bmwmcq.org.au

R1200GS; R1150 Rockstar

Regalia - Duncan Bennett

Ph: 0458 293 569 regalia@bmwmcq.org.au

Dealer Liaison - Don Grimes

Ph: 0411 601 372

R1200GS; K1300R

This Issue - September 2023

Club Details

On The Cover

particularly, by careful, courteous, considerate riding, especially when riding with the Club, and rendering assistance to all road users in difficulty.

2. Improving the service and availability of spare parts for BMWs in Queensland using the advantage of a united effort.

3. Decreasing maintenance and running costs by mutual assistance on mechanical problems.

4. Organising day trips, tours and outings.

5. Encourage and support Regional Ride Groups

6. Affiliation with other clubs/associations where such affiliation would be of mutual benefit.

DISCLAIMER

The views and opinions expressed in this Journal are those of each contributor and are not necessarily shared by the Editor, management, and / or membership of the BMWMCQ. The Editor reserves the right to refuse any advertising or delete any material which could be considered or interpreted as questionable, libellous or offensive, without consultation.

The R32 turns 100 in 2023. We’ve got a wealth of experiences coming up in September to celebrate the centenary - bikes, dinners, and race tracks. The trifecta.

Cindy & Duncan Bennett Editor’s Report

Pride comes before a stall as the old expression nearly goes. I’ve managed to balance the bike with both feet on the pegs at the lights for 2 or 3 seconds, casually putting the left slowly down as though I am Jack Miller’s balance mentor hoping it will be captured on the car behind’s video for world-wide distribution. And then as the light goes green, stalling the bike and taking longer than my balance record to find the start button while nearly dropping it. Such is life.

But no embarrassing minor dramas can take away from the pride we both felt at the August GM getting our 10 year membership badges and certificates. It is hard to believe we’ve been members since 2013, which came about with Cindy’s wander about the Laverda Concours and fronting up to the BMWMCQ marquee. Her then recent G650GS purchase broke the ice, and we were in. Yes a couple of years elapsed before we attended a meeting, but the welcome we received and the fun we have had since that first event has welded us on as extremely proud members of the BMWMCQ.

Hope to see you at the 100th.

Tony Gray giving us our 10 year certificates and badges. We’ll start practicing soon for our 20 year presentation to get it right.

Duncan & Cindy

Handshake tangle with President

CommittEE rEports

Tony Gray President’s Report

Eleven months ago we started a journey as a club that in one month’s time will culminate in what I expect will be an outstanding celebration of 100 years of BMW Motorrad. There has been a lot of work undertaken during the past 11 months and as we draw towards the end of this journey the work volume is increasing - that is the nature of the beast.

Cindy Bennett, Tracy Hepburn & Paul Hughes have organised the Centenary Dinner at the RQYS at Manly on 21 September. Bookings have now passed 70 with tables booked by M&W BMW and Coastline BMW. Our special guest is Andreas Lundgren the GM of Motorrad BMW Group Australia. This promises to be a very memorable night so thanks & credit goes to these club members who have given so generously of their time and talents.

The Centenary Bike Display at Reddacliff Place on 23 September will arguably see the greatest array of BMW motorcycles ever assembled in Queensland - over 100 motorcycles from the very first R32 up to the latest CE-04 electric motor scooter and many other models that filled the intervening 100 years. The focus has been on variety not quantity. The event has quite intentionally been termed a ‘Bike Show’ rather than a ‘Concours’ as we want to show how these motorcycles have been used during their life journey. Gary Bennett, Peter Ferguson & I have worked to pull this all together and it has been a rewarding experience discovering & unearthing bikes and bike-owners that were otherwise hidden in our midst. Thanks Peter & Gary for your dedication and commitment.

The third event and late addition to our centenary celebrations is our attendance as a club at the Queensland Early Motorcycle Road Race State Championships at Morgan Park Raceway on 20 September. The offer of a parade lap/s is a rare privilege that has been bestowed on the club. Chris Robertson has been educating us over recent journals as to what goes into building a period race-bike. Thanks to Chris for connecting the BMWMCQ with the QEMSC to pull this event together.

There are others who have/will be contributing to these events: Donna Wiltshire, Darryl Gowlett, Richard Maher and all current committee members who will be working at these events. Thank you one and all.

A very special thanks goes to Paul Hughes who as our delegate to Clubs Australia has facilitated the attendance of Andreas Lundgren and a display of bikes from BMW Australia and three very special pre-war BMW models from the private collection of Sydney resident Trevor Dean. Paul has also secured funding for our events from the very limited funds made available by Clubs Australia to celebrate the BMW Motorrad Centenary. Well done Paul.

It’s not too late if you have not booked your seat at the table or if you want to get your special BMW into the show but time is fast running out.

I am looking forward to catching up with many of you at these events.

Tony

2023 EvEnts CalEndar

BMWMCQ Club Events for

SEPTEMBER 2023

Datee Start Event Details

Sun 3 Sept 9:00am Monthly Club Ride Ride to Apollonian Hotel, Boreen Point. Meet at BP Caboolture for a 9:30 departure

Thur 7 Sept 7:30 pm Club Monthly Meeting Geebung RSL Club, 323 Newman Road, Geebung QLD. Meals from 6pm

Sat 9 Sept 9:00am Coffee Meet-up Pitstop Cafe, 2070a Mt Mee Road Mt Pleasant

Events Coordinator

President

Events Coordinator

Wed 20 Sept 9:00 am Morgan Park Raceway Parade lap and historic race day see advert in this Journal President

Thurs 21 Sept 6:00pm 100th Anniv. Dinner Manly Yacht Club - see advert in this Journal Events Coordinator

Fri 22 Sept 8:30am Casual Friday Ride Departing Cleveland Point 9am lunch Lockyer Valley Richard Maher

Sat 23 Sept 9:00am 100th Anniv. Bike Display Reddacliff Place - see advert in this Journal President

Tue 26 Sept 6.15 pm German Club Social Brisbane German Club dinner 416 Vulture St, Kangaroo Point Events Coordinator

9:00am Back to the Bush #20 To Gympie and Toowoombasee below Don Grimes

Back to Bush #20 (B2B20) is on!

BmWmCQ 2023 EvEnts CalEndar

BMWMCQ Club Events for OCTOBER 2023

Thur 5 October 7:30 pm Club Monthly Meeting Geebung RSL Club, 323 Newman Road, Geebung QLD. Meals from 6pm

Sat 7 October 10:00am Sunny Coast Brunch Ride TBA

Sat 14 October 9:00am Coffee Meet-up The Bay, Sandgate

Sat - Sun 14-15 Oct Camping Weekender Cullendore High Country

Wed 18 October 9:00 am Mid Week Ride TBA - ride leader needed!

Sat 21 October 9:00am Service Day 61-63 Saint Jude Circuit Jimboomba

Sun 29 October 12:30pm Club Lunch Ride Linville Hotel, Linville

President

Steve Maney - SC Riders

Events Coordinator

Gary Bennett, see Facebook for payment

Events Coordinator

Tools Officer

Events Coordinator

EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS CALENDAR

Sat 16 Sept Morgan & Wacker 100 Year Event 51 Ross Street, Newstead https://www.morganandwackerbmw. com.au/

Sun 24 Sept Ride for Greyhound Rescue Meeting 8:00am Bearded Dragon at Tamborine

Ride for Greyhound Rescue Facebook page 30 Sept to 1 Oct BMW “K” Series 40th Anniversary Woodstock Showgrounds, NSW

Gary Bennett or Facebook event

Paul Hughes Vice President’s Report

WellI have been travelling again in August with a wonderful jaunt along some inland routes to many quiet Qld Coastal villages. Met some great people and enjoyed some fantastic riding. Some of our quiet coastal villages are just magnificent. Nothing like the smell of salt air.

Whilst I was travelling I have seen some really stupid moves by people on Australian roads. They just don’t seem to care or notice that they were that close to causing a major accident. If you are riding this spring pay special attention to red light runners, overtaking moves that just defy belief and people involved in their own little worlds out on the road.

One of the things for safety that is important is pre-ride bike checking. Tyres and pressures, all lights working, no leaks from engine or brakes etc. If you do these checks every time you ride out of home you will at least have a chance of avoiding catastrophe when someone else does something that puts you in danger.

The 100 Year Celebrations are almost here and if you haven’t signed up for the dinner or the huge display you have very little time left to do so. Morgan Park On the Wednesday will be a hoot and join in on the Friday when Richard Maher runs a ride for members and visitors from out of state. BMW Head Office in Australia could not be more helpful in assisting us to make this a really great celebration. We should be grateful for everything they are doing.

See you at the events.

Ride safe and ride often, cheers.

Paul

A magnificent day and view at Evans Head

CommittEE rEports

Ben Nazzari Events Officer’s Report

Hi Everyone,

Once again we have had an awesome month of riding and gatherings and I have to tell you I’m really enjoying my role as Events Officer.

We have a big Month coming up in September, the 100-year celebration has a few events on which I’m really looking forward too. Mid-week ride out to Morgan Park, Dinner at Manly Yacht Club and the Display in the city on Saturday will be the highlight of the Calendar.

I have slowly progressed to finishing the 1150 GS and there are a few niggles I have to sort out but I’m over the moon with how well this bike runs and rides after all that I have done. I’m looking forward to fixing the few little problems and getting ready for the journey this bike and I will be doing in October.

Daryl Masterson, myself and for a few days of the trip David Harvey will be heading to Perth. Out west through Broken Hill down to Ceduna then across the Nullarbor and onto Perth, camping most of the way. Keep an eye out in the November journal for some great pics and a write up about said journey.

We have Duncan and Cindy back on board with whom I’m eager to work with and pick their brains about long distance travels.

I’m always looking for people to lead rides either mid-week or the first Sunday of the month led lunch rides so if you have ideas or want to participate, please contact me either via email or my mobile which is in the journal and the Facebook events page.

So, till next time be safe take care and stay upright,

Regards Ben.

The coffee morning for August was at the popular Cleveland Point Cafe

Geoff Hodge Secretary’s Report

BMWMCQ General Meeting Minutes – 3 August 2023

Venue: Geebung RSL

Meeting Opened: 7:30 pm

Apologies: Chris Robertson, Bill Luyten, Mal Cremer, Matt Leitch, Ben Azzari, Don Grimes, Kate Farrar, Craig Brennan, Geoff Hamon, Peter Ferguson.

Minutes of Previous General Meeting:

Accepted: Charlie Brown

Seconded: Darryl Gowlett

Number of Attendees: 34

New Members (Name & MC): Paul Maguire R1200RT: Johnathon Meichtry R1200RT.

Visitors: Edith 500 HD

Returning Members: Nil

Treasurer Report: Monies paid out for Canetoad Rally to RFDS. Report in Journal. No questions from the floor.

Editor Report: More articles please. Plenty of articles recently, great efforts.

Tools Report: Next Service Day will be after the September Centenary Events.

Regalia Report: BMW badges for sale.

Records Report: Currently 286 financial members.

Events Report: Frigid Digit attracted 51 attendees and there were over 50 attendees to Maggies famous biscuit ride. Gary Bennett standing down from organising the FD. Thanks Gary for your extraordinary efforts over many years.

Heritage race meeting at Morgan Park 20 Sept - parade laps for the club members & BMW riders around the race track at lunchtime. Details of ride to Morgan Park TBA.

Richard Maher to lead local ride on Friday 22 Sept between the Centenary dinner and Bike Show.

Secretary Report: NSW magazine received. RFDS Certificate of appreciation for $1,002.80 from the 2023 Canetoad Rally.

Dealer Liaison Report: Nil - still travelling.

Clubs Australia Report: NTR

Vice Presidents Report: NTR

CommittEE rEports

President Report: Centenary Dinner bookings going well with tables booked by M&W BMW and Coastline BMW. The Centenary Bike Display has now passed 100 entrants.

TMR Road Safety Committee progressing but the wheels of Government turn slowly.

Comment on the motorcyclists highway code - never pass another motorcyclist in trouble. You may not have any mechanical prowess but you still may be able to help in some way. Some recent examples where club members have needed assistance and members came to their aid. Great display of club spirit. Think about this when you are out on the open road.

General Business: Mileage awards made to Michael & Ann Ahlberg for 2 bikes: Their Heritage Soft-tail HD - 200,000km. BMW GSA - 100,000km.

Tony Gray Kawasaki ZRX1200R - 100,000km.

Cindy & Duncan Bennett - 10 year member awards.

Closed: 8:26 pm, next meeting 7 September 2023

Therehave been a lot of excellent suggestions from members regarding regalia recently, very much appreciated except perhaps for the mankinis, nice idea but unlikely to create interest in the club except from uniformed officers. Probably shouldn’t run ideas workshops around a late night campfire at club events on that basis.

I will be making a presentation to the committee at our next meeting incorporating these ideas and strategy for getting more members into regalia. I’ve got 87 PowerPoint slides so far on the bucket hat, and then we’ll move onto beanies. Click the email hyperlink above if you’ve got an idea - if you want something others might too. If you say stubbie holders then we are in lock-step - I use these for holding things like disc locks and tools that otherwise do lots of damage rattling around in the top-box. Besides being handy when needing a refreshment.

Regalia prices have been updated, see page 16 for details. Coming in soon will be more badges, these have been popular and the new ones will be slightly smaller, more akin to the BMWMCQ 60th anniversary size.

Duncan Bennett Regalia Report regalia@bmwmcq.org.au

Lonely regalia on a train. Oil on canvas (2023)

Bill Luyten Tools Officer’s Report Service Day

The Club will hold a Service Day on Saturday 21st Oct at Rob Wynne’s place starting at 0900 - 0930.

Location: 61-63 Saint Jude Circuit

Jimboomba

(Just off Mt Lindesay Highway)

Note: some GPSs require the suburb to be “Glenlogan”

The Hydraulic Bike Lift will be available to help make working on your bike a bit easier as well as a comprehensive tool kit. We will be providing a Sausage Sizzle and Drinks at very reasonable prices (proceeds to the RFDS).

Please let me know if you require specialty tools brought along.

There are a few club members that can help you run the GS-911 diagnostic tool on your bike to check for any fault codes or reset a service reminder.

See you there!

Repair Manuals

Two new manuals were recently purchased: F800 - Complete coverage of BMW F650, F700 & F800 Twins (06 - 16)

R1200 Liquid- Cooled Twins -

R1200GS*1170cc*13 - 16 *R1200GS

Adv*1170cc*13 - 16 *R1200RT*1170cc*14 - 16 *R1200RS*1170cc*15 - 16

*R1200R*1170cc*15 - 16

Various other repair manuals are available to borrow, mainly for older bikes.

Tools for loan

There are special tools available including the GS-911WiFi and 3 pin diagnostic tools.

Special Tools:

• 34mm socket for rotating crankshaft

• Twinmax electronic carburetor balancer (Twin BMW engines)

• Vacuumate (electronic synchronization of throttle valves up to 4 cylinders)

• Clutch alignment shafts (3 sizes)

• Compression gauge (cylinder pressure)

• Steering head bearing puller and seating tool

• Gearbox output flange puller

• GS-911 Wi-Fi Diagnostic tool (Wi-Fi and USB Version)

• GS-911 3 pin Diagnostic tool (for older bikes)

• Tyre Pressure Monitor Sensor (TPMS) tool

• Enduralast hall sensor tester

• Brake bleeding tool (suction bleeding via the brake caliper)

• Compression tester

Club Tool Loan: Tools and spares can be picked up or brought along to the next meeting or Club ride. tools@bmwmcq.org.au

Bill Luyten 0438 123 747

Geoff Hodge’s R75/5 out for a run

CommittEE rEports

Darryl Gowlett Treasurer’s Report

G’day Everyone,

I’m going to get a job as a fortune teller. I predicted that I was going to go on the Frigid Digit ride, and attend the General Meeting this month, and that’s exactly what I did. And that’s it. After the euphoria of riding to Crows Nest via the shortest route possible, at least by Gary’s standard, I thought I’d try to get to Maggie’s Glorious Biscuit Run the following weekend. But the phone rang. And rang. And rang. And rang. So, I got it right last month, but that’s not necessarily a good thing.

Anyway, enough of my waffling. Here’s the numbers. If you have any questions, write them down neatly on the back of your telephone numbers, and post them in, remembering stamps are now $1.20. Oh, by the way, the Treasury PO Box number is different as it increases every year due to the CPI. You have to work it out. Until next month, ciao,

Darryl

Greg Gaffney Records Officer’s Report

Theweather couldn’t be more pleasant at the moment, perfect riding weather. The committee for the 100 year Celebration in September have been doing a fantastic job and I’m looking forward to the upcoming 100 year events.

Welcome to New Members:

Cheers

Greg

Marc Mueller, PULLENVALE, F900R

Peter Bilton, LOGANHOLME, F850GS

John Davis, WILLOWBANK, R nine T Urban GS

Thet Tun, BRISBANE, R1200GS Adventure, R1200RS, R1250GSA

Craig & Claire Maultby, WATERFORD, BMW M 1000R

Pierre Waldron, KEPERRA, R90/6

John Higton, BURPENGARY, R1250GSA

Brad Speirs, KING SCRUB, G310GS

An addition to the 100 year celebration is a “Casual Friday Ride” on the 22nd September led by Richard Maher. Arrive at Cleveland Point Lighthouse by 8.30am with a full tank of fuel and you can grab a coffee or cake before a gentle ride south and then west for lunch in the Lockyer Valley.

Think of it as a relaxing low key ride around the scenic environs of Brisbane. The return ride will be approximately an hour back to Brisbane.

The 100 year event is mere days away - see following pages on how to be involved and to view the Promotional Video for the the events celebrating, click on the Link below:

https://vimeo.com/796122577

SEPTEMBER MID-WEEK RIDE: MORGAN PARK RACEWAY!

As a part of our BMW Motorrad Centenary Celebrations we have a very special mid week ride on Wednesday 20 September.

The BMWMCQ has been invited by the Queensland Early Motorcycle Sports Club to put on a display of BMW Motorcycles at the Qld Historic Road Race Championships at Morgan Park Raceway. We have also been invited to do a parade lap or two at lunchtime behind John Downes BMW Race bike. There will be a range of shirts, caps and other collectable items on sale at the track. Entry is FREE.

If you need any additional incentive then there is a very strong chance that there will be a very rare BMW Rennsport Race engine on display at Morgan Park.

If you want to join a group ride to Morgan Park then get yourself to the Puma Servo at Aratula for early breakfast or coffee. Departure time will be 9am with a one hour ride to Morgan Park via Freestone. Any bikes welcome but only BMWs in the parade lap and the older the better. If you have your older model all prepped for Saturday’s Bike Show then here is a good chance to blow out some cobwebs.

This is a unique opportunity to do something very special - it won’t be repeated.

Lady Shirts

2LPS - $33.50 65% polyester 35% cotton

Bloke Shirts

2LCP - $34.50 65% polyester 35% cotton Comfortable and alluring!

7LPI - $35 100% polyester

Only for those in the A set!

ICE Tee - $28.50 Cotton

As worn by Cleopatra!

210 - $33.50 65% polyester 35% cotton

2CP - $35.50 65% polyester 35% cotton

Gender Neutral Hats & Bags

7PIP - $38 100% polyester

As worn by Toby Price’s gardener!

Cotton

As worn by Tutankharmun!

AH695 - $18

Bucket Hat

Sandwich Design (with trim)

AH715 - $17 Bucket Hat. Not all that gender neutral.

AH230 - $16 Cotton Cap. Cooler than a beanie.

B2B essential PPE!

Ladies Vests $56.50

Non-Ladies Vests $56.50

Get one of these on ya bonce!

Metro - black/charcoal or black/royal$25.50

Swiss -$40.40

Note: a bag order small surcharge may apply - talk to Daniel!

AH742 -

100% Wool Beanie

AH770

100% Cotton Beanie

ICE Tee - $28.50

$18

- $18

Club order form for shirts, bags and hats

Send this form to daniel@goldstarembroidery.com.au or call Daniel on 0403 150 857

Name: ___________________________Email address:_________________________

If delivery is required an additional fee is charged. Delivery required Yes or No:______

Delivery address: ______________________________________________________________________

A minimum 50% deposit is required before the order is started. Payment in full is required if Gold Star Embroidery is to organise delivery. An invoice will be emailed after the order form is received.

Shirts/Vests order:

Shirt product code number Quantity Size Colour

Bags order:

Bag product name Quantity Colour

Metro

Swiss Headwear order:

Product code number Quantity Size Colour

Cap AH230 - $15 each

Bucket Hat Sandwich AH695 - $17 each

Bucket Hat AH715 - $16 each

Wool Beanie AH742 - $17 each

Cotton Beanie AH770 - $17 each

There are also heaps more colours, styles and fabrics available through Gold Star Embroiderycheck out the website at goldstarembroidery and call Daniel - he knows all about BMW regalia!

For100 years, BMW Motorrad has meticulously crafted motorcycles that are more than just machines - they are a symbol of precision, innovation, and heritage. From the iconic R32 in 1923, a groundbreaking machine that featured a horizontally opposed twin-cylinder engine which remains the hallmark of their motorcycles today, to the classic R80GS of the ‘80s and the contemporary R nineT, BMW Motorrad has consistently set the standard for two-wheeled excellence.

In recent years, BMW Motorrad has embraced cutting-edge technology with the introduction of electric motorcycles, such as the C Evolution and the electric scooter C1-E. Throughout its history, BMW Motorrad has consistently combined performance, style, and innovation, earning a reputation as a premier manufacturer of motorcycles for enthusiasts around the world. This September in Brisbane, it’s time to honour a century of BMW Motorrad Heritage and dust off the legacy, polish those chrome details, and prepare to be part of history.

Join Morgan and Wacker BMW on Saturday, 16 September for a special one off “100 years of BMW Motorrad” store event that promises to be a spectacular tribute to timeless craftsmanship and the enduring spirit of heritage bikes. You are invited to showcase your cherished BMW bike in Morgan and Wacker BMW’s exclusive Show & Shine event. This is your opportunity to let your prized bike shine in the spotlight to help celebrate the remarkable 100-year journey of BMW Motorrad.

CE nt U r Y o F motorrad E v E nt

How to Participate

Participating in the Show and Shine at Morgan and Wacker BMW is a breeze. Here’s how you can be part of this prestigious event:

1. Register: Secure your place by filling out the registration form – MWBMW_ ShowandShine

2. Restore Your Classic: Give your BMW bike the care it deserves. Restore, polish, and ensure it’s in impeccable condition for the Show & Shine.

3. Bask in the Spotlight: Showcase your BMW bike to fellow enthusiasts. Your bike will be pitted up against another bike online and the one that gets the most likes will progress to the next stage.

4. Compete for Honours: The top finalists will be on display during the event. Finalists stand a chance to win prestigious awards and fantastic prizes, including BMW Motorrad gear and accessories.

Join the Celebration

Mark your calendars for Saturday, 16 September and make your way to Morgan and Wacker BMW. Let’s create history together!

For registration and event details, visit our website at https://bit.ly/BMW_100years or call us at (07) 3259 5787.

See you at the 100-year celebration of BMW Motorrad heritage!

Thank you to Fiona Grossi who took these wonderful Digit snaps

THANK YOU MAGGIE

Each August we look forward to it

Enjoying every tasty bit

It’s such a popular event

The flavours must be heaven sent

Maggie’s Annual Biscuit Run

It’s guaranteed to be great fun

We gather in the Granite Belt

George’s presence keenly felt

A hearty dinner the night before

With lots of laughs & yarns galore

Next morn out to the dam we ride

42 bikes & cars parked side by side

So many biscuits it’s hard to choose

Whichever you pick you just can’t lose

While munching happily we pass the tin

For RFDS the dollars flow in Thank you Maggie you’ve done it again

You even managed to stop the rain!

100 YEARS of BMW Motorcycles

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of BMW Motorcycles the BMWMCQ are hosting a dinner event on Thursday 21st September. This will be the warm-up to the display of bikes on Saturday 23rd September.

Date: Thursday 21st September 2023

Time: 6:30pm - although there is a lovely bar area if you arrive earlier for a drink

Cost: $60 per person for a sit-down dinner with share table dining

Venue: Royal QLD Yacht Squadron, 578 Royal Esplanade Manly QLD 4179

Nearby accommodation:

Manly Hotel (pub style) 54 Cambridge St, Manly (07) 3249 5999

Manly Marina Cove Motel (next to Yacht Club) 578a Royal Esplanade Manly (07) 3348 1000 Or check out AirBnB listings in the area

BOOKINGSCLOSEEND OFDAYWED.6thSEPT!!

Display - Saturday 23rd September 2023

This event will be run by the BMWMCQ at Reddacliff Place in the Brisbane CBD.

We are looking for suitable bikes from all years and all models to display at this special event to celebrate this enormous achievement of the BMW brand that we all love to ride.

Do you have a bike that is suitable? If it is an older BMW (60’s or earlier) and it is completely assembled, presentable, registered or not, we want to hear from you.

If your BMW bike is from the ‘70’s up to latest models and is in good visual condition, special or a rare model, we want to hear from you as well.

We have a target of one hundred bikes, to display an example of as many different models as possible. A selection process will be undertaken from the applications and consideration will be given to bikes that fit the above criteria as well as bikes with hi gh kilometers or extraordinary travel achievements. These considerations do not apply to newer BMW’s.

If you are interested in applying to show your bike, please use the link below to view the Video, full Celebration Plans and the Application Form. www.bmwmcq.org.au or email for further enquiries:

bmw100@bmwmcq.org.au

By Cameron Coles, Member #4051

Hello! The first episode of my MotoADV safari across South Africa and Namibia is finally up for viewing on YouTube.

Please like the video and leave a comment, this really helps. I hope you enjoy the videos as much as I enjoyed this amazing journey.

https://youtu.be/TJ0EGv2uR_0?si=ZtHPECBPWVWi5_xo

SEPTEMBER 2023

By Duncan Bennett, Member #4171 - the good photos by Fiona Grossi

Biscuit /ˈbɪskɪt/ noun

noun: biscuit; plural noun: biscuits

Usage examples:

1. I ate one Maggie biscuit. But I want more.

2. I ate all of Maggie’s biscuits. But I want more.

The Biscuit Ride (capitalised because it thoroughly deserves it) remains one of the highlights of the BMWMCQ calendar, and if numbers and universal feelings of contentment are anything to go by, it is the highlight. Organised by Peter Todd, it ticks every box - Maggie’s biscuits, a very nice part of the world, Maggie’s biscuits, and Maggie’s biscuits. This year’s chapter started and nearly ended for me at the Springfield Ampol with a terminated battery issue, but there was no way I was going to miss the action biscuits so after a quick trip to Team Moto BMW Slacks Creek I was on the road and heading to Stanthorpe to catch up with the rest of the group. Into the Top of the Town Tourist Park to refresh and prepare, we wandered the 270 km down into O’Mara’s Hotel, to find that the BMWMCQ had overwhelmed the place. Non-members need not try to get in.

An excellent dining and socialising experience was had, apart from Mario pushing up on my Irish Sausage Stew, with lots of chat amongst friends old and new.

If that had been the highlight of the weekend, I think many of us would have put it down as a great event, but it hadn’t even started.

Into a taxi for the 380 km ride back up to the Top of the Town, and then I got stuck into doing alterations on the pants, adding 3 ft of elastic into the waistband.

A nice sleep in and casual breakfast of alfalfa sprouts drizzled with watercress

juice, and we were ready to attack the biscuits like they were baby fur seals. Probably not the most appropriate analogy I could come up with there but that’s the sort of ravenous passion that Maggie’s biscuits inspire.

The kick-off. Ian first removed all non-essential teeth to fit more biscuits in. Well played.

Besides the fabulous turn-out of high-quality members which a Maggie biscuit event always pulls in, it was also a fabulous turn-out of BMW motorcycles including my vote for the most beautiful motorcycle of all time; the R90S. But let’s not get too distracted talking to the A-listers, there are chocolate chips and Anzacs, jam drops and raspberry slice, Armenian nutmeg cake and almond toffee, passionfruit slice and raspberry blondies, gingernuts and date cake, and these I can’t remember the name of. I only ate four trying to learn.

B is CU it rid E 2023

In my humble opinion, perfect....

Mario thinking Maggie had Irish Sausage Stew in her cup

SEPTEMBER 2023

The day at Storm King dam was a cracker; gentle breeze, nice cool temperatures, and water water everywhere compared with the Frigid Digit at Storm King a few years ago when the tide was already starting to go out.

The event always concludes with a very sincere thanks to Maggie and her elves (including Toddie) by the President, then a Black Friday sale frenzy of divvying up the remainder. Then the worst part; realising it is a year until the next one. Huge thanks from all the BMWMCQ to Maggie.

President Tony giving thanks while Richard completes Tilly’s biscuit retrieval training

Andy now wondering why he pushed an Anzac into the RFDS tin

Part 6 - Ecuadorable

By Duncan Bennett, Member #4171

Pleaseexcuse the title of this article, sure it covers Ecuador, but it also includes getting out of Peru. Pecuadorable or Perecuadorable were thrown around by the workshop team but didn’t make the cut. Anyway, Lima Peru was the location that we changed chameleon-like from Minibus Peoples into our more highly evolved form of Adventure Motorcyclists in the sultry atmosphere of Lima. Day 78 was a big day as a result; leaving a city that is usually best avoided for reasons we’d soon discover and can be summarised in two words: insane traffic.

2023 soUtH amEriCa part 6

given. Most of the roads we were travelling on through seemingly endless urban sprawl were 3 lanes, but the slow lane is a mixture of entries, exits, and worst of all random bus stops. Buses start most of the trouble because they block one lane to let people on and off, then merge back in using the proven “I’m just coming in and I don’t care” method. No-one sits behind the bus and thinks “I’ll just wait until it moves off because it is too dangerous to try to get around”. Drivers and riders therefore end up weaving between lanes 2 and 3, especially after the appearance of merging traffic, which causes everyone to avoid smashing into the stopped bus while maintaining speed. The squeeze comes when everyone in lanes 2 and 3 are still travelling fast while traffic in lane 1 is trying to get into lane 2, and lane 2 into lane 3. And vice-versa as some drivers try to get themselves set up for the next exit. R1250 GSA HP rider David was a victim of the squeeze with a lane 3 truck trying to get past a slow-moving lane 2 bus that was sidling towards lane 3, clipping his handlebar and turning him into the side of the bus, smashing his top box and a few plastic bits but fortunately not him.

Ecuadorable

The Lima San Isidro hotel was well placed, virtually no deviation required from the main road through the city and out via the coast road to the north. Sounds easy but wasn’t. It is not so much that the traffic was heavy – we’d seen a lot worse in La Paz – but Peruvian drivers are hyperaggressive and move very fast with no quarter

Lima

Pushing on after David had provided performance feedback to Peruvian drivers both specific and general, we eventually reached slightly less insanity, but way more rubbish. Peru is still part of the Atacama Desert, and nothing makes a desert look its best like piles of rubbish and wind-blown debris. We’ve been in a lot of third world poverty-stricken countries, but none have the piles of rubbish Peru has accumulated along the roads. Ironically they have a comprehensive

traffic. Riders highlighted in yellow are screwed. Riders highlighted in black soon will be.

rubbish grouping system with separate recycle, general waste and organics bins everywhere, but seem to prefer just dumping it by the side of the road for someone else to sort out.

This wasn’t actually that bad compared with some spots

Going through occasional urban madness with green river valleys followed by open road through the desert, we reached the morning tea stop at a servo to discover that the owner had not yet arrived. None of the staff dared to make coffee or open the shop until he put in an appearance, which he fortunately did 15 minutes later. A large and weird tasting coffee consumed after rampant speculation as to why a servo had a bedding and mattress shop attached, it was back on the road for the push to lunch which was in a location where apparently only sand would grow, even though we were now within 10° of the equator.

to satisfy even the most greened-out traveller. The hotel had a nice pool though and did a mean Pisco Sour – we only had a few more days of official Piscos for the trip, not a thing in Ecuador according to JC our Ecuadorable Ecuadorian leader. Day 79 was more of the same sort of countryside, not terribly memorable except for an excellent lunch at a beachside restaurant in Trujillo after we’d missed finding the Incan ruins of Chan Chan on the outskirts. The afternoon ride continued up the coast to Chiclayo, pronounced Chick Layover by the Boganised members of the riding group. Somehow Cindy and I and a select few had gotten well behind the main group, so navigated ourselves with little confidence through the urban madness. As always, the entry to the hotel car park was well camouflaged, luckily Gina was standing out the front wildly pointing up the road in the direction we’d just come from. A blocky later we were parked and ready to experience Chick Layover, which was basically pizza.

Still not very tropical

The afternoon was a casual 160km to Chimbote, best described as a sister city to every other town in the Atacama, with no shortage of sand and dust

Day 80 continued the northerly trek, and we headed off after fixing Peter’s V-Strom broken gear lever with a piece of PVC pipe which may or may not have been important for the hotel plumbing/electrical systems. The exciting part of Day 80 was that at the end of it we’d be back on the original schedule and route plan, not followed since Day 59 when being Bus People took over our lives. Also exciting was that we were slowly getting out of the desert, greenery started to coat the landscape even between river valleys. Leaving the city of Sullana which included a section of main street that the Dakar organisers would avoid as too rough, we headed back to the still deserty coast. A sort of pre-border crossing was gone through with exposure of all our paperwork – apparently the coastal route is favoured by naughty people carrying naughty stuff – and we arrived sweat drenched into Punta Sal at a nice resort. Too early to check in, luckily we’d brought our swimmers so could leave the riding gear in a toxic pile and hit the pool. Almost literally, the edge and steps of this pool seemed to have been coated with grease, so crawling into and out of the pool was necessary which always gives a good overall impression of one’s sanity

and physical capability. Lunch and having a rest saw out the afternoon before resort-style drinks overlooking the calm Pacific sunset from nearly the most westernmost point of South America.

ice cream cart, impossibly an even less stable vehicle than a Robin Reliant, and the risk of tipping over while cornering with imaginings of the legal repercussions meant no speed records were broken.

Resorting to Pisco Sours

Day 81 commenced with regret that we couldn’t kick back at the resort for at least one more day, but we had a border to cross and arriving late to these is rarely a great idea. It was bloody hot, the instant one stopped moving the sweat would just start coursing down from the usual places. To the border crossing, and unfortunately we all had to stop. The border facility was nearly devoid of people, so we wandered around trying to find someone to help us get into Ecuador. The heat made an ice cream vendor’s day very profitable, and in fact we had so many Peruvian Sols left we just about cleaned him out. He decided I deserved a bonus ride of his

Greensleeves playing at full volume

Unsuccessful in any border crossing endeavours, we ended up outside a shop for a few hours, trying to sit near cracks around the door to get the small amount of escaping air-conditioning. Eventually someone returned from lunch or whatever, and we managed to get the forms processed and enter Ecuador. Well most of us did, JC’s BMW 850GS bike didn’t. South American customs is a fickle beast, and because JC is Ecuadorable, and the bike was hired through Compass in Santiago Chile all those months ago, it just didn’t seem kosher to the border officials to let it in. So Cindy volunteered to let JC ride the Tigresa into the border town of Huaquillas while she pillioned behind him and waved his phone in front of his face to simulate navigation, find a friend’s place to store the bike, and meet us at the lunch stop. I was charged with group navigation in his absence, as the Garmin South America map used by everyone didn’t include Ecuador. I’d realised this before the trip started and had downloaded a free Ecuador map, so I knew where we were going. Luckily the road went straight up into the highlands with the humidity and temperature dropping off, and we reached a restaurant with a good view for lunch. The menu of chicken or tongue or lamb’s stomach lining meant the chook population in the district was given a fair old touch-up by most of the riding group, but the tongue and

Adventure motorcycle riding is a tough gig!

ECUadoraBlE

stomach lining was jolly good and appreciated by the old skool diners. A bit of a change of bikes in mid-ride was required after lunch for the trip into Cuenca, I decided that JC had been wellbehaved enough to have a go on Storm Boy, while I rode in the support vehicle to see what that was like, never having done it on two major expeditions. This was a decision I’d later regret on many levels.

and where I kept the keys, carnet paperwork, and my medication.

We all love border crossings in the tropics

First level of regret was that the support vehicle couldn’t just zip around trucks and cars, or go flat out enduro style across the rough gravelly roadwork sections. Second level of regret was the seat was seemingly made of seasoned hardwood and made Storm Boy’s seat seem very plush by comparison. The welcome from Juan, Gabi, and Roisin into their secret world made up for some of the bottom discomfort, although the expected hotbed of steaming gossip was either a myth or much more likely they didn’t want an outsider to hear the riding group deconstructed to their psychological, physical and behavioural basis. It was suspiciously quiet in there. Into Cuenca quite late, we unpacked the luggage and hit the town, the bit we were interested in was luckily only 100m away. It was Mother’s Day, so the ladies got a bit of special treatment in the Golden Prague pub with a red rose each, while the blokes had to make do with lots of beer. Third level of regret from loaning Storm Boy to JC materialised at this point; he had fallen in love with the Triumph Rally Pro package and I felt I might need security for both myself and the bike given his probing questions for costs

Happy Mother’s Day. Father’s beers not shown. Day 82 suggestion was a hop-on hop-off (HOHO) bus tour of the highlights of Cuenca. Sounded good, so a taxi into the city later we were wandering aimlessly about the standard Spanish Plaza with its cathedral. The HOHO turned up, so off we went. Strangely the bus didn’t seem to ever stop at any of the Cuenca sights to allow anyone to HO, but eventually we arrived at the Homero Ortega Panama Hat factory where became clear that we weren’t actually on a HOHO bus, but a tour bus so no choice but to HO. Just to clear up more confusion; Panama hats were never made in Panama, but that was where they were sold into the world market so poor old Ecuador missed out on the name. They are hand woven and naturally the price reflects the time taken to weave them which reflects how tight the weave is. The basic hat can be woven anywhere, the factory is about finishing them into the required shape and colour and selling them at a considerable mark-up to people who have HO’d the bus. An unfortunate rumour circulating around the riding group since about Day 5 was that all genuine Panama hats can be rolled up and stuffed into luggage, and upon discovery that only very few of the hat designs can be stuffed, riding group planned orders were cancelled en masse.

All stuffed back into the bus, we cruised around the narrow streets and went to a lookout to see the whole town, which has a population of

about half a million people.

easily finding big shops to satisfy our repressed purchasing urges. The influx of retirees and immigrants from the USA seeking a pleasant and cheaper existence seems to have driven the economy of the town onward and upward, for a mere $25,000 investment they can buy citizenship.

Leaving Cuenca on Day 84, JC had still not been able to get hold of a bike so was relegated to leading from the back in the support vehicle. Most had the Ecuador Garmin map now, but given my demonstrated skill in only sometimes getting unrecoverably lost, I was tasked with leading the troops out to confirm the mapping was correct. Traffic was better than most South American cities so no dramas, and soon we were heading up into the mountains where it got even cooler than cold, then misty and a bit rainy. Not bothering to stop as the Parc Nacional Cajas scenery was basically thick cloud, we reached the top at 4165 m and scooted down the other side before gasping became necessary.

Cutting the ends off looked like the only job we could do

Duck or you’ll lose your new Panama Hat or your head or both

Called Cuenca because it sits around the meeting place of four small rivers, it is a very picturesque and pleasant place especially for those who have just come from the sweaty coastal strip. It has first-world feel with consumers like ourselves

Lookout over the steepest road of the trip

We stopped at a convenient lookout over what

we’d soon discover to be the steepest road of the trip, bypassing a major landslide. We all made it down and then first gear and terror of burning the clutch out or stalling if stuck behind a truck heading up, we survived OK and continued the overall descent along relentless winding roads with little traffic other than the odd truck.

18°C for de-sweatification purposes, once desweatified we went for a wander down the riverbank. Things were quiet as it was a Tuesday, but most attractions were open including the La Perla Ferris Wheel, so with our Ecuadorian US dollars handed over, up and around we went.

With Garmin trying it on to take shortcuts across impossibly steep terrain, easily ignored because it was obviously impossible even on the Rally Pro package, we eventually ran out of descent and hit the coastal plain below the impressive sounding hamlet of Corona de Oro. Humidity and temperature ruling out any comfortable wearing of a crown of gold, we coffee’d and fuelled up before the sweaty push into Guayaquil. We’d been worded up about getting to the hotel, had forgotten everything that was said, but fortunately were at the back so saw our riding buddies David and Peter go into the tunnel we’d been told not to go into at any cost, luckily we managed to spear across 3 lanes of traffic to get to the hotel exit. Telling everyone that David and Peter were no longer with us, luckily we hadn’t officially started the auction for their luggage when they miraculously appeared having done some illegal turning. Once again too early to check in, we parked the bikes in the secure facility across the road, left the mountain of bags in the hotel secure room, and went off for lunch.

Checked in and with air conditioning set to

Guayaquil’s La Perla Eye in the Sky

The height was impressive and we got an aerial view of the city which is about 50 km upstream from the Pacific, and therefore well within coastal mozzie flight paths. Back to the hotel where the buffet dinner was close to the most expensive of the trip, we discovered it can be very disturbing to make the conversion from USD to AUD in Ecuador. Mentally scarred by that experience, we were back into the room to jam all motorcycling and non-tropical gear into one bag which would be staying at the hotel while we jetted off to the Galapagos Islands on Day 85.

Flying to the Galapagos is a bit like heading to another country even though it is definitely part of Ecuador. Permits must be purchased, passports scrutinised, and baggage inspected

Loosely translates to “The Brave Motorcyclist”. I hope.

before boarding. Then the 900 km across which would take 1½ days by motorcycle if they could travel at normal speed and go on water, a rather pointless non-fact there, and landing on Baltra Island which was the US base from the 1930’s to protect the approaches to the Panama Canal.

The entry fee system followed through the entire transport chain to get to the main town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. First a bus ticket to the ferry terminal had to be paid for, then a ferry ticket had to be purchased to get across the strait. This type of system common in South America confuses westerners – I’m getting on a bus which literally only goes to the ferry. There is only one road and you can’t stay on Baltra Island. And it’s not like there are 18 bus and ferry companies, there is one. So given the utter lack of options, surely when you buy a bus ticket you are also buying a ferry ticket? No. No, you’re not. We looked less condescendingly at those who would have thought it made sense to include the Galapagos entry fee on the airline ticket after that. Luggage into a school bus complete with a school group, we headed south to the Galapagos Garde Hotel.

First what in the world was never made clear. Finch beak length study perhaps.

Into the terminal building and it was still like heading to another country – passports, inspection of permits, and a US$100 entry fee. In cash. Shouldn’t we have been told about that or paid it back on the mainland? asked the many unfortunates who didn’t have $US100 cash, but fortunately for us JC was all over it and we were able to look condescendingly at them as we headed to the bus.

Galapagos military holding a strong defensive position

Land iguana showing how un-tropical the Galapagos are

During check in, a cleaning lady was standing next to Cindy at the desk and thrusting her chin toward a particular room key while making grunting noises, so Cindy took it and up we went. Odd. The room was nice, the air-conditioner worked fine, and all was good. We had arrived at about lunchtime, so went to the restaurant where we were served a meat stew with rice from a Bain-marie that appeared to have

ECUadoraBlE

been salvaged from a Russian Gulag. Red flags weren’t up yet, but they were certainly being taken out of the flag locker. As the hotel was 6km out of town, we asked what was available to buy. Nothing, must go into town to purchase drinking water, beer, wine, and snacks. Started unfolding the red flags at this point. After lunch was a tour to the Charles Darwin scientific station down in the main town, so off we went with the school kids who we now realised were our travel buddies. Checking the flagpole hoist mechanism commenced.

positions near the waterfront. Marine iguanas are everywhere, and care must be taken not to step on them as they park up in warm places to recover from trips into the cold sea.

Cindy posing in a nest of baby marine iguanas

The scientific station was very interesting, the Galapagos are practically on the equator but the cold Humboldt current from the south makes them quite desert-like. Cactus is a common large plant, and the abundant prickly pear cactus provides food for the truly famous giant tortoise. Unlike many of the Galapagos’ wild inhabitants, giant tortoise are no longer cruising around outside captivity and breeding facilities, which is probably a good thing for small car insurance premiums.

Then a wander into town, amongst more wildlife including seals who just hang about in relaxed

Stocked

Karen the giant tortoise discussing her concerns with the manager

Cindy distracted by seals from the Deep Dive happening just behind her

up with beer, wine, and snacks, it was back to the hotel and into the very nice pool.

Dinner was something not terribly impressive, but good enough to ask for seconds using the Oliver Twist technique which fortunately played out better than Oliver’s crude attempt. Up into the room and preparing for bed, a message came through from our group who were down in the town at a craft beer establishment. Oh alright, dressed and back down for a taxi to town, maybe one drink and then back and off to bed.

the port to hang around waiting for our school group to join us back on the bus. Up to the hotel, the mutinous had won so we were moving down to a hotel in the town. With luggage and struggling one-drink karaoke victims packed, off we went. Halle-freakin-lujah.

One drink somehow ended in karaoke and freestyle dancing

Day 86 started with a group meeting to request a move to a more central and better-appointed hotel. It had turned out that the cleaning lady chin pointing and grunting at our room key was because for whatever reason she felt Cindy and I deserved the very best on offer. Everyone else was in a room that smelled of sewerage or was assailed by loud air conditioner or mozzie whine all night, tough after one drink and then karaoke and freestyle dancing. Luckily JC had only had one drink so was well up to sorting this out. Meanwhile, we had a boat tour planned with our school group so headed off in the bus. Down to the port, we loitered about then got on a boat, then sailed around in circles for some unknown reason, then headed off to see Galapagos wildlife. Blue footed boobies get a lot of airplay for schoolboy humour reasons, but otherwise the big names are turtles and the world’s most northerly penguins. We did a walk which was mainly to look at lava and a beach with more marine iguana, and then some snorkelling, then back in the boat and back to

Magnificent Galapagos wildlife

Day 87 will long be remembered as a day when we all wished for a shipwreck but weren’t granted one. Up early, we were down to the port, and into a small boat for the ride out to our vessel, the interestingly named Blue Fantasy. The Blue Fantasy was one of a large number of boats taking day tours across to Isla Isabela, the largest and most volcanically active island which is about 85 km away. The Blue Fantasy is not what you would describe as luxurious, and once in you couldn’t move for the entire 3 hour crossing because there was nowhere to go and it was so rough. Those who suffered from seasickness and had forgotten the Kwells were in for a world of hurt.

The smart money was on the girl on the right

Arriving onto dry land at Isla Isabela like Titanic survivors, we went on a tour of the giant tortoise farm where all they seemed to be doing was trying to make more giant tortoises. A walk through the bush, then into a bus to go and check out some flamingo, then a nice lunch for those who’d already forgotten about the Blue Fantasy. After lunch was the real excitement – a walk amongst the lava fields and finishing the day snorkelling potentially with all the big Galapagos draw-cards. None of whom appeared.

north-east to our target for the day; Toilet. At least that’s what I thought the translated town name was as it was Baños, which I thought meant toilet given that almost all facilities in South America have that sign.

Snorkelling in the washing machine

Another disadvantage of the Fantasy was confirmed on the way back, it was easily the slowest in the fleet and the advertised 2 hours return with the following sea was still 3, fortunately we’d all given up hope by the time we arrived back at the dock. The day was finished off with a nice calming drink and dinner on the waterfront with some light souvenir purchase –the Galapagos is a place one is probably unlikely to return to.

Day Ocho Ocho (88 for the non-Spanished) was the flight back to Guayaquil, a casual transit day. Checking in our baggage went well for me with my tag going onto Cindy’s bag and viceversa, so it was Cindy who was dragged out of the line getting onto the plane and being asked to explain the rock samples. All from Patagonia was her answer, which the authorities luckily bought, not that any were from the Galapagos which is basically 500 billion tonnes of boring basalt. Into Guayaquil it was mainly a free day for wandering about, repacking, and finding a supermarket for purchase of a cheaper dinner than the waterfront restaurants could offer.

Day 89 was back on the road, with the humidity talking a toll getting out of the city as we headed

Turns out baños means bathroom, so Baños is the Ecuadorian equivalent of Bath in England, with people flocking to take the waters. Once up off the coastal plains the temperature started to improve as once again I led a select few through the navigationally tricky bits because JC still hadn’t managed to get a hire bike to re-take the leader’s role. The scenery and road then became awesome up in the steep mountains as we rushed to the Baños.

Religious souvenirs including Dr Nigel Boils, Mary’s personal physician

Yet again into the destination too early to check in, we were across the road into a small restaurant for a chicken and chips lunch. Baños on a Sunday was absolutely chokkas with tourists and people taking the waters, so we decided to have a wander in town and then a calming bed-based relax rather than go to the baños just across the road. Roisin and David then suggested a trip to the lookout with glass walkway, so we jammed into a taxi with them for a ride up to the edge of the steep valley.

Cindy bravely waving from the non-glass-seethrough end of the Baños lookout

The next, No.90, started at about 5:30am, a loud rumble woke us and drew a big motel crowd to outside our room. To our annoyance the chatter wasn’t going away, so we got up and readied for breakfast. The breakfast news was that there had been a landslide into the Baños baños, but amazingly the dawn bathers had generally decided that as they’d paid to get in, they weren’t leaving and would have a mud treatment instead, until emergency services threw them out.

We didn’t really need to leave early because we only had 183 km to get to the destination of Quito, but a small landslide has the effect of making one ask whether there will be a larger landslide soon afterward. The road around our hotel was blocked off, so we decided getting the hell out via the footpath was the better part of valour. Through the town with its nasty blind intersections, and back to the highway from Ambato to Quito which was the famous

Ecuadorable road works with entrepreneur pothole fillers

Gathering into a group before the Quito traffic madness, we made it into the hotel, again before we could check in, so after a lunch and mucking about organising a wash of the bikes across the road, it was laundry time. After a $134 Lima hotel laundry disaster, we didn’t consider using the hotel, so slogged down the hill to a lavandero. And then back up. Quito is at 2,850 m, so nothing much for hardened death zone people like ourselves, but up the brutal stairs seemed like we were coming from sea level.

91 was a free day in Quito, at least for those who didn’t want to see an important landmark/ theme park – the equator. Off we went north, or at least most did, Peter’s V-Strom 650 bike

Pan Americana and thus easy riding on the dual lanes.

Gully above the baños, before and after everything turned to what one does in a baños

stopped about ½ a kilometre up the road without completing any change management forms or giving any warning, and then refused to restart. So I rode back to the hotel to drop my bike off, then walked back and we pushed it to the hotel so he could stare at it while I rode on to get hopelessly lost in the city. Miraculously finding the correct road, I made it to the equator well behind the crowd.

it worth by the way? Our last night in Ecuador was a Compass dinner, so dressed in our finest pre-lavandero, off we went to a very pleasant restaurant up the road for the usual laughs, hijinks, and shenanigans.

Street name matched the pathetic sound made upon seeing these Quito steps

Checking out all the stuff and the shops at the Mitad del Mundo village, there was some lunch and mild souvenir shopping, then back to Quito to collect the lavandero from the Lavandero, then slog back up the hill creating yet more dirty lavandero in the process. The afternoon highlight was a visit to a coffee and cigar bar under the hotel, which had a walk-in humidor full of Cuba’s finest. JC was also up for it so a couple of Romeo Y Julieta No.3’s and reds later, he was still going on about what a fantastic motorcycle I had, it would be a shame if it couldn’t leave Ecuador, and how much was

Small “G pig” on the spit is popular in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador

The normal routine was adhered to for our last day in Ecuador – up 2 hours before departure, breakfast, pack, check wardrobe and then reopen bag and pack all the laundry that had been left in there for very important reasons no longer remembered, and lug everything down to leave it in a pile in reception. We wandered to the carpark and mounted up to head off, before discovering that once again Peter’s bike would start but only run briefly before giving up. The

Nearly over the line

main 30 amp fuse was blowing which is never good, so some minor delay while up it went on the truck. On the plus side, JC had managed to get a hire bike in Quito, also a V-Strom 650 which unfortunately didn’t have the charisma to stop him leering at Storm Boy. The day was 250km to Ipiales just inside Colombia, so quite a big one for a border crossing day. The main excitement was once or twice again crossing the equator as we drifted north-east, the first time it was marked by a bus stop, and the second time by a proper facility.

First low-key equator crossing point

We reached the Museo Solar Quitsato for our final crossing, and with a bit of staff greasing we were allowed to take the bikes one at a time through a back track to park them next to the official Equator post in the middle of the giant sundial. My JC alarms were still going off at this point, he insisted that only my motorcycle could provide the right atmosphere for his turn for photos, the hire V-Strom simply wasn’t right for such a big occasion.

We made it. Not necessarily on our own bike though.

A tour through the museum which bizarrely had a huge map with Brisbane at the top, giving us bragging rights, and it was into the northern hemisphere, the second time riding across this important line, with Nanyuki in Kenya the first heading south in 2017. The northern hemisphere roads were relentlessly winding as we stayed up in the hills, eventually finding our way through the border town of Tulcan for the usual experience of wandering about trying to find someone interested enough to process our paperwork and let us out.

The end was definitely in sight now, with only Colombia to go. Surely it would be easy from here, but you’ll have to wait until the final South American instalment to find out.

The A listers.

Fiona and Maggie caught not keeping an eye on Mario.

hates biscuits.

Rosi

Craig’s Yellow Peril is always a stand-out.

Google “most addictive substances”. Maggie’s biscuits come in just in front of crack cocaine.

I see your cider love Graham, and raise you a German beer love.

Not many know that Frigé Digé is French for Frigid Digit!

The Frigid Digit Legend that is Gary Bennett. After 22 years of utterly selfless service building one of the BMWMCQ’s premier events, no-one disagrees that a rest is deserved. So he can focus entirely on the Toad presumably....

A Gary FD briefing; short, to the point, and now we know everything. Except how not to get lost in the ‘burbs heading down Mt Coot-tha.

The eastern view for FD starts

The western view for FD starts. “Oh that’s where we are going!”

Introducing……Club Mileage Awards

Have you clocked up 100,000km, 200,000km or more on one bike?

To celebrate the epic achievements of these milestones, the Club will be issuing Mileage Award Medallions and Certificates to those who qualify. It can be for any make and model of bike that has reached these impressive kilometres in your ownership, and must still be in your ownership.

To nominate your bike, email our Secretary, Geoff Hodge on secretary@bmwmcq.org.au with:

• Photo of the bike or you with bike - this photo will feature on your certificate so a good quality photo will enhance the certificate

• Where and when purchased and mileage at time of purchase

• Photo of the odometer to show the kilometres.

Presentations at the monthly meetings for those that live locally – so get your details in!

mil E a GE aW ards

Congratulations to Tony Gray who clocked up 100,000km on “Rex” his 2004 Kawasaki ZRX1200R, which he purchased new from Midtown Kawasaki Bowen Hills on 11 July 2004. Tony was presented with his certificate and pin at the August General Meeting.

Rex the Kwaka enjoying the serenity at Fassifern Valley.

maint E nan CE C orn E r - B ra KE s

By Tony Gray, Member # 3905

Hydraulic operated disc brakes were first introduced on mainstream motorcycles in 1969 with the introduction of the classic Honda CB750/4. BMW followed soon after with the R90s, R90/6 and R75/6 carrying a front disc brake. My R60/6 of 1976 was the last BMW model to carry a full set of front & rear drum brakes.

During the past 50 years anyone who does their own servicing would be very familiar with the process of replacing the hydraulic brake fluid by draining and flushing the brake lines - out with the old fluid and in with the new.

There is an added complication to this simple process when the hydraulic system is completely drained as was the case with the R1100GS I am restoring. I replaced the deteriorated rubber brake hoses with braided SS lines. Like any pump system the new dry lines need to be ‘primed’ with new fluid before the lines can be ‘bled’ of air bubbles. This is achieved by leaving the new hoses disconnected at the brake caliper and pumping fluid through until fluid starts to drain from the end of the hose. The hose is then connected to the caliper and the bleeding process completed through the bleed nipple on the brake caliper.

Another complication to this procedure was the introduction of ABS brakes and the associated pump. In the case of my R1100GS, it came fitted with the early version of the BMW ABS system - the next iteration with servo assistance as fitted to the later R1150 models is a more complicated beast. On the 1100 however the 2 compartment ABS pump for front & rear brakes has bleed nipples for each compartment. These are treated in the same manner as the brake caliper with the line from the master cylinder to the pump primed with fluid then bled of air at the pump bleed nipple. The most time consuming aspect was the rear brake where the master cylinder is lower than the ABS pump so you are literally pumping fluid uphill.

Les Fitzpatrick has designed and made a neat little suction pump using an old refrigerator compressor that makes this process very fast but it still can be done with a length of 6mm clear plastic tube. As for ‘Big Red’ she has working brakes for the first time in several years.

E nan CE C orn E r - B ra KE s

W int E r o F B att E r Y dis C ont E nt

By Duncan Bennett Member #4171

It never happens suddenly; there are always signs and warnings. Firstly, the weather turns cold. Should be fairly obvious, but somehow in the glorious riding weather period here in south-east QLD, ignored. Then the bike doesn’t instantly fire up when your thumb gets within 3 feet of the button anymore, but might take a few slow turns of the crankshaft to get going. No problems, off we go. Then it is taking rapidly slowing turns before getting away, but you aren’t paying much attention because you are looking at the clock and realise you are a bit late to get to your underwear modelling shoot. Then one day it takes half a turn like the crankshaft was coated in 5 minute Araldite 4½ minutes ago, and then just clicks. After switching off and on again, it does the same. Go around the front and check out the headlight - that looks bright, so it can’t be the battery. Maybe I just need to get some fuel into the lines so I’ll twist the throttle a few times while trying again. Still no luck. It can’t be the battery, I only just replaced it!

The first thing to know about batteries is that Battery Time is not the same as the time standard we use for every other part of our lives. Battery Time is defined as the Earth Rotation Angle scaled to Mean Solar Time at 0° longitude, divided by the battery constant 4.354. Therefore a brand new battery you installed outside a Battery World somewhere last year while missing a club ride is in fact 4½ years old. Taking the old battery out and seeing the “charged at selling point” date is always a shock, this is calibrated to Battery Time, as is the date you scribbled on the battery with a permanent marker, or in your service booklet depending upon how retentive you are in the back passage exit department.

So guess what? It is the bloody battery. Off to Battery World again, where they pretend they’ve never heard of Battery Time, or that they don’t know your name, or they weren’t expecting you.

Give thanks every day if your co-editor doesn’t have an R1200C with the battery located conveniently under the fuel tank.

This year’s battery catch

t HE r E storation o F an i C on p art 4

Building a Richthofen 750 or the creation of a Franken R75/6 Part 4. The engine rebuild commences.

By Christopher Robertson, Member #243

Hieveryone. Hardly seems like a month has gone by so quickly, even with an Ekka holiday. Two quick recaps to update on. The first one is that I went to order a small part (I will discuss it in Part 5) from MaxBMW (https:// www.maxbmw.com), the other day and the website would not work. I worked through it and it eventually came up in bright big red letters “Due to COVID-19 we are only shipping to the United States and Canada.” Now as Jed Clampett, from The Beverly Hillbillies would say, “Welllll… doggy, ain’t that a thing, thems is sure slow folks over there.” So realistically, I would give them a bit of time before you try to contact them, if indeed you need to. I will say their parts’ fiche, which you can still navigate, are a great help when you need to see where things fit and what you might need.

Now for the second update, which actually impacts upon the subject matter of this Part. Initially (in Part 1) I said I would not pull the motor down until I was ready to overhaul it, for fear of losing bits. While this in fact did work out it as I intended, it had one big negative impact. And this negative impact was when it came to sorting out parts, actual knowledge when I needed it! The questions that became evident were; what bloody parts did I need and from which model?

The Engine:

In light of the above posed questions, I have finally deducted through much pain and effort that we are indeed dealing with are three (3) models of motors: R75/5; R75/6; and, R80. Now while 9/1975 is the changeover date for BMW motors (being modified with bits and pieces) as I have found, many bits straddle both time periods – before and after the 9/1975. Further, remember we are using modified R80 barrels and cylinder heads. You see, “The trick William Potter,” as said by Laurence of Arabia, in a film

of the same name when demonstrating a trick with a match and putting the flame out by hand, “Is not minding that it hurts.”

Now the motor came apart quite relatively easily. If one remembers I purchased a number of trick motor parts from the UK, prior to stripping down the motor. Once stripped three individual matters of consequence became evident. For ease of identification let’s call these matters F1, F2 and F3. I will leave you, the reader, to work out what the “F” stands for. In all instances Tighe Cams (Ivan Tighe Engineering. http:// tighecams.com.au) were able to machine parts to make it work to my specifications. However, we will really only know if these are successful once we get the motor going or near going.

F1: Cylinder heads

I refer you to Photos 1 and 2. These are the bridges/spacers that the rockers sit upon, among other duties, including allowing cylinder head bolts to pass through them. Photo 1 shows how the head came with no bridges/spacers.

“Damn, damn and blast, I should have seen this.” Fortunately, Tighe Cams made new ones

Photo 1. Missing Cylinder Head Rocker Mounts.

You cannot buy them for love nor money.

for me as per the photo. Now these heads came finished from Richard Moore. I should have known at the time and discussed the absence of the bridges/spacers. However, did he know what motor I had? The onus was squarely upon me. Realistically, this was the trade-off - motor in one piece and nothing lost or rusted - for intricate knowledge of what I needed. Overall, I feel the scales are indeed balanced over this matter, pros and cons wise. I now am a much wiser man!

as I am using the old reground camshaft, old rocker gear, pushrods, and cam followers that are nearly 50 years old (48 to be exact). Caution might be the best part of valour in this instance. However, with any such build with motorsport involved, constant reassessment is part and parcel of the task.

Yet, the old Bower Bird in me cannot help but admire the shiny, brand new cylinder heads. And oh yeah, did I mention the new heads are very, very, very shiny? (Refer to Photo 3). They really should be hanging on an art gallery wall

Interestingly, while the bridges/spacers were being made, Dean Tighe suggested the double valve springs was overkill with the tension they are set at. He further exampled that even with modified motors, i.e 2.0L Ford race motors, he has dealt with, the springs are not do not have that much tension.

Honestly, I will need to think it over as to whether I remove the second spring. I will pull the head apart using a valve spring compressor and feel the tension. I will then compare this to the old cylinder heads I have. A bit of old school work. At the moment, I am inclined to take his experience into consideration, especially

F2: Camshaft:

Now if you look at Photos 4 - 6 you will see an interesting tale. OK A new race camshaft was supplied by Richard Moore (http://www. moorespeed.co.uk/bmw-road-bike-parts). I asked Tighe’s to remove and repair the old end, to fit in the new camshaft. They actually come in two pieces and somewhere along the line it got damaged. However, the end section (compare to photos 4 and 5) would not come out of the old camshaft, try as they might!

Plan B - was then implemented. Repair the old camshaft end, leave it in the old camshaft and undertake a mild grind - about mid-region - like its owner these things are getting old. Photo 5 discloses the finished product ready to fit.

Photo 2. As per the arrows the cylinder head bridge/spacer. Note double valve springs.

Photo 3. One of two new shiny Cylinder heads, with enlarged inlet and exhaust ports.

F3: The barrels v. Engine Block. Now for the next bit and I hope you are sitting down with a stiff drink. This stuff is enough to keep you up at night! Talk about a Nightmare on

Elm Street. With the motor apart, I went to try the new shiny barrels (yes, they are wonderfully

piece of advice anyone could give. In my joy I said, “You can have it for a few weeks, no hurry.” They reply came, “Don’t tell me that, you might not get it until next year!” I went white, but he smiled a reassuring smile. Not sure I believed him. Thank Christ I do not have a heart condition. Actually, they removed my heart when I did law at university and implanted a leather wallet in its place – said it would much more useful in the legal profession. Otherwise, sure as hell, on that day I would have been another ramping victim on some Queensland hospital statistical graph somewhere!

Realistically it only took a week or so. I refer you to photos 7 and 8 that show what was required to be machined (a small lip in the block) and how it worked out. Barrels now fit. The only issue I can foresee is whether the piston will hit the valves from the barrel now sitting lower. If this happens I believe I can space it using steel

Photo 4. Damaged end of the cam. This end holds on the points operating mechanism. The points will be replaced by a trigger mechanism for the electronic ignition.

Photo 5. New and now unused race-ground camshaft.

Photo 6. Repaired and ground camshaft (old) one. Ready to go in. The arrow points to repaired end.

gaskets as spacers at the bottom of the barrel (refer to Munich Motorcycle’s ). But, my preliminary measurements disclose this should not be an issue (famous last words)!

t HE r E storation o F an i C on p art 4

minimalised. Photo 9 shows the bearing being removed from the front casing using the puller I got from Cycleworks – essential bit of kit.

Yes,

we reach the assembly stage:

Now the last item I removed from the block were the crankshaft bearings. I did this on purpose to ensure assembly was easier memory wise and as the casings were alloy any distortion was

Before I removed the bearing, I placed the front casing and engine block in the oven and heated to around 122 degrees Celsius, then gingerly fitted the puller to the front case and removed the old bearing. With the rear casing I supported the block and just tapped out the old bearing using the correct die supplied by Cycleworks.

Photo 7. Comparison of Barrels. New

Photo 8. Machined lip on engine block. Now able to take the new R80 barrels.

Photo 9. Bearing being removed, after a spell in the oven, using Cycleworks puller. No issue with removal.

Photo 10. Bearings in the freezer overnight next to the ice cream. Warning do not mistake packages!

t HE r E storation o F an i C on p art 4

Before fitting the new bearings, I put them in the freezer overnight (refer photo 10) and put the casings in the Queensland sun. I decided to only use the sun as I wanted the bearings to retain their cold (shrunken state) for as long as possible and not heat up quickly as would occur with the oven heat on the castings. That is, to a degree, I could expose the sun heat where I needed it most on the castings. Photos 11-12 show the bearings finally in place. I will cover what you have to do with these bearings once they are in place the next Part. This work is also crucial for success. Both the front and rear bearings are the same. The crank journals looked perfect, so there was no need to have it ground. I therefore used the standard size bearings obtained from Munich Motorcycles.

We are now well and truly are heading to putting this motor back together. Funny thing, I thought this was going to be the easy bit with the parts I had…….however, I often wonder if this project is like an episode of that older TV series Lost (2004-2010) where you used to sometimes wonder

where the hell is this going and when will the bloody thing be over? But have no fear kiddies, we will get there…And as we know and say “…much, much more pain and enjoyment to come…”

block housing where I tapped the bearing in, using the spacer/ die provided in the pulling tools from Cycleworks. The actual recommendation here was to use a press. However, I preferred to get a feel of how it was fitting by tapping it. Only took 3 soft taps of the hammer.

Any questions or comments or abuse only too glad to receive them.

Yours in the saddle, Chris PH: 0403 868 375 christopheroberston@bigpond.com

Photo 11. Fitted front bearing in the casing. Standard (Red) sized bearing.

Photo 12. Fitted rear bearing in the block. I supported the rear of the

BM’s, Flatbed, Aeroplane, Train and a Taxi

By Charlie Brown, Member #410

IPSWICH TO SPRINGSURE 772KM

Mr. Maher met me at Casa Charlie for an early start. The plan for the day was to get to Springsure. We got away at about 07.00 and rode straight up the freeway toward Toowoomba and beyond (I sound like Buzz Lightyear). We had a bit of a larf watching a couple of small cars duelling for place on the freeway near Gatton. The Gatton bypass (another of my least liked roads) was behind, and we got onto the Toowoomba bypass. Good road but 90KPH WTF!!!! No surprises past Oakey and Jondaryan to Dalby. A quick refuel and drink and Richard taking photo of a red dog like his (Tillie), we were back on the road. There wasn’t much in the way of roadkill apart from the numerous Toyota land cruisers on their roofs and missing their wheels. The other thing of note were the termite mounds with shirts on them. Weird.

At Dalby we stopped for some lunch at a Subway in the main street. I miss the local milk bars that these towns used to have where you could get a great hamburger with chips and a strawberry thickshake. They all had such wonderful names like The Parthenon or Acropolis but now have been forced out by things like Crapdonalds or Hungry Craps. Anyhow a thing from Subway was ok. Back on the road we turned north toward Rolleston. The road was a bit dull for a while until we got to Upper Dawson where the hills raised their rugged battlements on high.

We pulled into Rolleston and looked for fuel. Richard fuelled up then came to me and said, watch the price. When I lifted the nozzle the price jumped 15cents. When I finished pumping the price dropped back. We weren’t having that so inside and confronted the cashier. After everyone came and looked at the machine including the children, a toddler and the dog

they got out the abacus and worked the true price. ‘We are so sorry sir, we don’t what happened to cause this lamentable outcome’. Yeah, right. Back on the road and we rode off into the sunset. Sounds romantic but was a gigantic pain in the ass!!!! Into Springsure and we found the Springsure Overland Motel. It looked very new and the room was very well set up. Shower, change and put the steeds under cover and we set out for food. We ate at the motel and the food was very good if a bit pricey. Back to the room and the big black.

SPRINGSURE TO WINTON 663KM

Woke and waited for rip van Richard. Richard had a coffee and then we packed the bikes and rode up to the market for a bacon and egg roll. We told the tradies from the local mines about the fuel situation at Rolleston. They weren’t surprised and said that they would pass the tip on.

‘That lot couldn’t lie straight in bed mate’ one of them said. Anyhow a good bacon & egg roll and we headed off to Emerald. Good ride up to Emerald and fuelled up. A huge penis compensator (Dodge Ram) was filling with diesel at the next pump to me. It was $300+ when I went inside to pay. The road from Emerald to Alpha was pretty good and quite scenic. We were passed by a couple of bikes and a sidecar which powered off into the distance. We got to Alpha and saw the bikes looking for fuel. From there to Barcaldine the road was straight and featureless. We did come up behind some livestock being herded along the road. It took us about 20 minutes to get past 5-6 HUNDRED steers that looked like yearlings. Through Barcaldine past the Tree of Knowledge and back to the long and non-winding highway. Longreach and lunch. Looked like everyone in Longreach had the same idea and it took a while to find somewhere to park the steeds. We had a feed at a bakery and talked to a guy who had a broken Guzzi at the auto electrician

2022 o FF CE ntr E

with a fuel pump problem. Fuel up and off to Winton. On this stretch of road in 1988 I had the most frightening ride of my life. Daryl, self, Gabe and Nick from WA left Winton at dusk just as it started to rain. The road was only single lane sealed. The trucks would not get off the sealed section for anything smaller than a Leopard Tank. I was worried about the end trailer on the road trains snaking and taking me out. We got to Longreach and I spat the dummy and said I was going no further. The road now is very good, and we rolled into Winton in the late afternoon.

highway was on fire. Further up the road the Winton CFS was belting down to the fire with blues and two’s going. Booked in and showered and got out on the town. We had dinner at the North Gregory Hotel. More Grey Nomads than you could point a bottle of blue rinse at. Had to wait for a table to become vacant. We tried to sit at a 6-seat table, but the couple gave us the look of death when we asked. A two seat table became vacant next to them, so we fought off half of Winton to get to it and had a feed. A bit later a couple came and sat at the fourmentioned table and just ignored the dark looks the other two shot at them. There was, for want of a better word, entertainment that consisted of a guitarist supported by a tape deck and a feral hipster sitting on a box banging the sides of the box! A hot time was being had in the old town that night. Got some take aways, not the band, and retired to the room.

WINTON TO GREGORY DOWNS PUB 657KM

On the way there we were sitting just over the limit when I noticed a Ute coming up fast in the mirrors. It was a Ford Ranger and overtook us. It had two dirt bikes in the tray, along with all kinds of stuff crammed in between the bikes, towing a horse trailer complete with horse. As it disappeared up the road and I noticed a smoke cloud in the distance. About 10 minutes later we came over a rise to find an old Ute with the stuff in the tray on fire. There were cars that had stopped so we carried on. Every 5 to 800 meters after that the grass on the side of the

I woke up and went for a walk around town while waiting for Rip van Richard to stir. Didn’t take long. Packed the bikes and rode up to fill up. Suitably full we rode back through town and headed to Kynuna. About 5 km from Kynuna we turned on to the Julia Creek Road. Another boring road but we made good time after we got past a trio of caravans. Honestly these people never look in their mirrors. The road was in pretty good condition and we had a good ride to Julia Creek (funny bout that) and more fuel. We had a yarn with some guys on dirt bikes that were heading to Adels Grove who had ridden up from the south. We left them and rode off to the Fourways Road and proceeded to the Burke and Wills Bushranger petrol station. In 1988 P.A. and I watched loads of young nubile things get off the tour buses. A plan was hatched that he and I would set up a tour company catering for people who wore skirts. Knowing our luck, they would be a Scots Pipe Band. You know, the type who when they spoke, they sounded like Mack

Winton not realising Germany isn’t a town

trucks grinding the gear box or dogs barking. Fill the bike with 91 fuel and ourselves with expensive chips. Only 147Km to Gregory Downs Pub so we got on the way. The last time I was on this road it was about 100Km of corrugations but now it is all sealed. We made good time to the pub and met up with P.A. and his Guzzi and Comrade Rick and his Ural. So, up to the bar for a drink and book into the motel. ‘Sorry, you should have booked’ they said. ‘I did book and here is the email confirming the booking,’ said I. They didn’t have any record, so Richard bunked in with RTO and they put me in an unfinished donga. It had a bed and that’s all I needed. A good night was had with Rick, RTO, P.A., rip van Richard.

wonderful friend from Switzerland. She and her partner Manfred loved Lawn Hill Gorge National Park and she had come out to scatter his ashes.

GREGORY DOWNS PUB – ADELS GROVEGREGORY DOWNS PUB 176.4Km

Richard was going to stay at the pub again, so I decided to come back to the pub on Saturday night. We got a feed from the café over the road and came back to the room. I offloaded the tent and we started off for Adels. The road was sealed for the first 20 k or so but there were some HUGE potholes on one of the concrete causeways. About 20 minutes into the ride Richard pulled up with a flat tyre. Out came the air pump and puncture kit. After a few tries we got the air to stay in the right place and Richard went back to the pub. I continued on to the grove and started to enjoy the dirt. I got to the Grove and caught up with Regalar, our

We went to the restaurant, and I got hamburger and chips for lunch. At $22 it was a bit expensive but pretty good. I spent the next few hours catching up with old friends from Newcastle, Sydney and beyond. Midafternoon about a dozen of us accompanied Reggie to the gorge to say goodbye to Manfred. Back to Adels I said goodbye to all and got back on the road to the pub. I enjoyed the dirt and made a good time back to the pub. I filled the bike and rode round to the motel. I got off the bike and Richard said ‘there’s oil on your wheel’. Had a look and the diff was covered with oil. I hoped that it was brake fluid, because I could get home on the front brakes alone, but it was final drive oil. BUGGER!!!! Wheel off and a clean up gave us an idea where the oil was coming from. We tried a few things but no go so we retired to the bar for food and drink.

GREGORY DOWNS PUB TO MOUNT ISA. 306Km

A new day and a new hope. I called a few people, El President, Chris Hodges etc and the general consensus was to not ride the bike. OK, time

Busted tyre

Gregory Downs Pub

2022 o FF CE ntr E

to call RACQ. God bless RACQ Ultra. A flatbed was organised to come from Camooweal and take me and the bike to Mt Isa. We swapped rear wheels so Richard had a non leaking back wheel.

mate”. Back on the phone and RACQ said they would truck the bike home and fly me home. I left the bike at the shop and went and hired a car for two days. I packed all that I could into the tent bag and took it to a transport company to send home. I caught up with Reggie and Tony at the Irish club for dinner. Very pleasant evening. Reggie was flying out early in the morning and Tony early evening the next day. I said goodbye to Reggie and arranged to pick Tony up after he took the truck back in the morning.

Perceptive Horse: “I don’t know what you’re doing Richard, but it just looks wrong.”

He left and I organized somewhere to sleep in the Isa. Once that was done, I pushed the bike to the front of the pub and went over the road to the café and sat talking to the people coming back from the Off-Centre. There were a few get offs on the road including an old friend Dominic. He was ok which is the main thing. I caught up with Reggie and Tony Malone, who was acting as a chauffeur for Reggie, and organized to catch up the following evening for dinner. The truck arrived and bike was loaded. The trip to the Isa was a loooong and rough ride, in fact it shook my tits off. The truck dropped me off at the motel and headed back home to Camooweal and I booked into the motel. When I booked over the phone the lady told me the room was very basic. No problems as long as it has a bed. It had a bed, a TV, fridge and a microwave! I showered and walked the ‘5 minutes down the street’ to the Irish club (more like 20 min). I ordered kidneys for dinner because mine were left somewhere on the Camooweal - Gregory road.

A tow truck came and got self and bike and took us to Bike and Rider motorcycle shop. The owner looked at the BM and said, ‘Can’t fix that

anything blue....

Had an interesting day with Tony. We did the underground tour and hit the tourist spots (all three of them) then I drove Tony to the airport. That night I had a huge steak at the Isa Hotel, very nice. Next morning I dropped the car at the airport and flew home. Train to Ipswich and taxi home.

All I can say is RACQ Ultra.....Don’t leave home without it!

Something borrowed, something blue... Well Richard had Charlie’s wheel so didn’t need

BMWMCQ TRAINING COURSE SUBSIDY

Your club encourages all members to continue to improve as a rider and offers a financial incentive to foster greater uptake in rider training. A broad interpretation of training has been adopted to include First Aid Training and Traffic Accident site safety management. The intention of the subsidy scheme is to not only improve the road craft of individual members but also to enhance the safety and enjoyment of club runs and events for all participating members.

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and Crash

Digit Dilemma’s

By Cindy Bennett, #4170

The Frigid Digit is always a favourite event and we were very pleased to be back from our trip in time to attend (having sadly missed the Cane Toad this year).

A bit of shuffling with 3 bikes and 4 riders saw me riding my R1200C solo, sister Kim riding her Triumph Tiger (Silver Sally) solo and Duncan riding Gino’s Triumph Tiger Rally Pro (I have nicknamed Black Beauty) pillioning Gino. Two men comfortable in their masculinity! We had received the GPS route the evening prior and were excited to know that it was to be Crows Nest.

Some technical advice was provided by the Club Sages over lunch and the suggestion of pumping the clutch lever a few times prior to changing gears was offered up. This did work for a while, but at Yarraman the issue escalated to not being able to change gears at all, so I pulled over. We decided to take the direct route via the main road to Crows Nest and all was fine until some road work lights. The bike stopped and would not start with it effectively in gear. A running jump start by Duncan and Gino saw it being able to go again, but the clutch was now completely dead. Duncan decided he would ride it to Crows Nest and meet us there, so some rejigging of pillion riders and we were off. Not willing to risk it stopping again Duncan wasn’t able to stop at subsequent road work lights so filtered along the edge while keeping the 1200C ticking along and into the comfortable Crows Nest Motel. It was a welcome catch up with the other riders who were staying there in the covered area outside the rooms, while imbibing in cups of tea and general chit chat on our days fun and excitement to Crows Nest.

Trying to start the 1200C led to some expert advice that the starter motor had now gone as well as the clutch, bugger and bugger.

All good and an early start on Mt Coot-tha in not very frigid conditions for Gary’s instructions and the handing out of his famous route guide. The group spread out fairly early due to lights and traffic. The morning tea stop was to be Kilcoy and due to a navigational snafu by me while poor Kim was following led to a back-track to Clear Mountain and a meet-up with Duncan and Gino. Due to our delay we decided a coffee stop in Woodford would be more convenient to soothe the nerves (which banana bread is wonderful for).

My 1200C had previously been experiencing some difficulty in changing gears and after Woodford this was more pronounced. By the lunch stop at Linville I was having to do gear changes without the clutch which only functioned in a random fashion.

Thoughts of the problem getting it back to Brisbane to mechanical care were soundly put to sleep until tomorrow. We had a Frigid Digit event to celebrate!

Start of the Digit (Fiona Grossi photo)

A forlorn looking Molly Maroon outside of the Crows Nest Motel where she would spend a night alone.

tHE last Word

The buffet dinner was ample and the crowd was lively, Gary made a speech and advised that this sadly was his last year of organising the Frigid Digit, having done so for the past 22 odd years! Cudos to Gary and his wonderful organisation skills ably assisted by Graham Healey. This year Paul had planned the ride route which was a cracker and much appreciated by all the riders. The next morning scenarios were put in place about getting the bike back to Brisbane. However a generous and unexpected offer of retrieval the following day by Graham Healey was accepted thankfully. Paul Hughes offered his assistance to accompany Graham, these two blokes epitomise the Club culture of helping out members in need.

So, an after breakfast re-jig of the 4 riders on the now 2 bikes it was off to Toowoomba to visit one of my older sisters who was in hospital after an emergency trip from Stanthorpe to get her appendix out. It was convenient of her to have this emergency with 2 of her sisters so close to visit.

And the 1200C, a new clutch master cylinder and starter motor and $820 later - good as new!

BMWMCQ BOOK EXCHANGE

NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE!

Race to Dakar Charley Boorman

Extreme Frontiers Charley Boorman (Racing Across Canada)

What If I Had Never Tried It Valentino Rossi (The Autobiography)

The Road to Mali Craig Carey-Clinch

No Room for Watermelons Ron & Lynne Fellowes

A Motorcycle Courier in the Great War Captain W.H.L. Watson

Australia Motorcycle Atlas

With 200 Top Rides (6th Ed) Hema Maps

Overland Magazines - issue #’s 11; 19; 21; 22; 25; 26; 27; 28 and 29.

Adventure Bike Rider - issue #’s 44; 46; 51 and 53

The Touring Motorcycle Jeff Ware & Kris Hodgson

BMW Twins Mick Walker

BMW Boxer Twins Ian Falloon

BMW Motorcycles Bruce Preston

A Century of BMW Manfred Grunet & Florian Triebel

The BMW Story - Production & Racing Motorcycles Ian Falloon

Bahnstormer - The Story of BMW Motorcycles LJK Setright

BMW Company History

1972

BMW Munich

Berry on Bikes - The Hot 100 - Steve Berry

2UP and OVERLOADED

2 x On Tour with Compass Expeditions DVDs

The initiative is being overseen by Jane Gray and you can communicate with Jane via email at:

library@bmwmcq org au

Arrangement can be made with the librarian to pick up & drop off at the monthly General Meeting or other arrangements can be made

Fireside fun at the Digit!