B2B - THE BEGiNNiNG

By Tony Gray, Member # 3905

Everything in this life has a beginning – some scientists spend a lifetime trying to find where life began on this planet or the beginning of the universe itself but that is getting a big too deep for this humble story. Let’s stick to something a bit simpler and closer to home – the ‘Back to the Bush’ event.

Contained in this month’s journal is a story of B2B number 17 which was enjoyed by many over the October long weekend. A jolly good time was had by all who attended including Jane and me. We have attended only a few B2B events as they have tended to fall at times when we have been away on overseas or long interstate bike trips. Covid put paid to that for us in 2020. Having an enquiring mind I sought out the dates and locations of the previous 16 events. That was not as easy as expected but we now have an accurate list which is appended to this story. The next step on my quest was to find out the how, who, where and when of ‘the beginning’. My quest led me to the very well-equipped workshop of Les Fitzpatrick to the south of Brisbane. I had ‘booked’ the Grey Ghost in with Les to have a new set of daytime running lights fitted and Mark Mustchin was there for the same purpose on his later model wet-head 1200GS. It is hard to beat a day spent with a couple of mates working on and talking motorbikes. Over a slice of Jane’s homemade fruitcake and a strong cuppa’ the story unfolded. The genesis for the B2B grew out of the Off Centre Rally -OCR- a biennial event with a very loose set of rules begun in 1984 by some hard-riding BMW types. In very simple terms the OCR is staged every 2 years at a place somewhere roughly in the centre of the country where fuel is available and only accessible on dirt roads (originally a minimum of 200km). The venue for the next event is decided at the current event and the information is passed by word of mouth and everyone just shows up in 2 years’ time – simple. Ask Rob Wynne, he has been to many. The 2010 version of the OCR was staged at Wanaaring NSW which is about 180km W-NW of Bourke, accessible by dirt road only and with a sparse population of 140 according to Wikipedia. Three current members of the BMWMCQ were in attendance, Les, Mark Gilbert and Mal Cremer. Les did admit that all three were DR650 Suzuki mounted. That evening in Wanaaring no doubt under a clear starry sky somewhat blurred by the ingestion of Bundaberg’s most famous export the B2B concept was born. A former member of the BMWMCQ from far north Qld lamented that the club only catered for riders in SEQ so really should have been called the BMWMCB. He was not going to renew his club membership for that reason.

As is want to happen, the effects of the rum took hold and by the time Les and Mark had hit their swags the idea for a B2B had formed into a plan using the OCR as a model. The idea and concept survived into the clear light of the next day and the long ride home (the idea possibly provided a

distraction from the uncomfortable seat of the DR). Here is the original concept:

Location: Central QLD within a day’s ride of Brisbane and therefore within a day’s ride of north Qld. Easily accessible to anyone roughly in the centre of the State.

Purpose: Opportunity for the wider club community to get together and to inject some dollars into the smaller country towns away from the Coast. Excuse for a bloody good ride.

Organisation: Meeting place can be put forward by any club member with a list of accommodation/eating options with members responsible for making their own arrangements.

Route: Get there any way you can by whatever route you choose. Share stories over a feed and a drink or two and head home.

Awards: Nil, zilch, nothing.

With this simple formula agreed and with a minimum of organisation required the first B2B was staged later that year at Mt Morgan just outside Rockhampton. Over the ensuing years the location has waned from Central Qld with three events having ventured south of the border and several in S-W Qld. Some of the events, like B2B 17, have been held over three days when the opportunity presented. Notwithstanding the variation in location the concept has held true to its humble beginnings. Don & Kate were novice ride organisers and put together a great ride for #17. Covid restrictions mean that more work has to go into organising eating and sleeping for everyone but the task does not have to be onerous.

If you have read this and think you know of an ideal location then put your hand up for a B2B event. Thanks to Les & Mark for taking the initiative and creating an event that has now survived and thrived for 10 years.

From Acorns do Oak Trees grow – the B2B idea

was formed here – Wanaaring NSW. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Back to the Bush - Events held to 2020

Mount Morgan Injune Texas Monto Goondiwindi Walcha Lightning Ridge Mundubbera Grafton & Inverell Stanthorpe Roma Hervey Bay Kingaroy Cherrabah (via Warwick) Miles Mundubbera & Dalby Maryborough & Goomeri Nov Apr Oct Mar Oct Apr Oct Feb Jun Oct Mar Oct May Sep Oct Aug Oct 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 2019 2020 2020