BMWMCQ JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2018 by BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB QUEENSLAND

www.bmwmcq.org.au

FEBRUARY 2018

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF QUEENSLAND INC.

Established 1958

BMW MOTORRAD

MY17 SAVINGS AVAILABLE NOW ADVENTURE R 1200 GS ADV.

$28,990

RIDE AWAY

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F 800 GS

$16,990

C 650 SPORT

RIDE AWAY

F 700 GS

R nineT URBAN

$13,890 RIDE AWAY

RIDE AWAY

F 800 GS ADV.

$18,990

RIDE AWAY

SPORT

$18,990

R 1200 RS

S 1000 XR

$25,990

RIDE AWAY

HERITAGE

R 1200 GS

$25,990

$14,990

RIDE AWAY

$24,990

R nineT SCRAM.

RIDE AWAY

TOURING R 1200 RT

$29,990

RIDE AWAY

$18,990

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R nineT RACER

$18,990

RIDE AWAY

ROADSTER R 1200 R

$23,990

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S 1000 R

$21,690

RIDE AWAY

Morgan & Wacker BMW Brisbane 51 Ross St, Newstead | (07) 3259 5787 morganandwacker.com.au *Manufacturer’s promotional Ride Away price based on dealer stock only with no other optional extras (apart from those included, if any). Savings amounts cannot be redeemed for cash and have been applied to reduce the manufacturer’s recommended ride away price on eligible products. Offers apply to motorcycles ordered and delivered between 4th January and 28th February 2018 at participating BMW Motorrad dealers. While stocks last and cannot be combined with any other offer. Stock levels may vary between BMW Motorrad dealers. Excludes fleet, government and rental buyers.

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF QUEENSLAND INC.

The Committee President - Richard Maher Ph: 0415 111 454 president@bmwmcq.org.au R 1150 R

Vice President - Les Fitzpatrick Ph: 0418 197 709 vpres@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 GSA and a few more

Secretary - Greg Gaffney Ph: 0411 424 219 secretary@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 RT & R 90 S

Treasurer - Tony Gray Ph: 0409 493 605 treasurer@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 GS (The Grey Ghost)

Editor - Dave Hepburn Ph: 0422 080 524 editor@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 RT

Records Officer - Craig Brennan Ph: 0422 907 934 regalia@bmwmcq.org.au R 100 RT

Regalia - Kellie Wicks regalia@bmwmcq.org.au F 650 GS

Tools/Spares - Geoff Hodge

Ph: 0413 180 101 tools@bmwmcq.org.au F 800 GT + R 51/3

Tools/Spares - Bill Luyten

This Issue - FEBRUARY 2018 Contents:-

Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Committee Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Motorcycle Trip Challenge. . . . . . . 7 General Meeting Minutes . . . . . . . . 11 President’s December Club Ride. . . 12 AGM NOTICE /NOMINATION FORM. . 14 January Club Ride Jolly’s Lookout. . 15 Duncan Bennett - Pigman Cometh. . 17 Nick Hese Argentina Dec 2017. . . . 23 Tony Malone - I amAlone . . . . . . . . 26 Gary Bennett. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Nick Hese Argentina Jan 2018 . . . . . 27 Town Meets Country. . . . . . . . . . . 26 BMWMCQ Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 BMWMCQ Events Calendar 2018. . . 30 A Couple of Adverts . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Around the Workshops . . . . . . . . . 33

Advertisers

Northside Motorcycles - P.34 Morgan and Wacker- Rear Cover TeamMoto - Front Cover

Cafe2U - P.28 Good Wool Store - P.32 Motorcycle Adventure Products P.28 Caloundra Motocycle Centre P.28 Munich Motorcycles - P.32 Shannons Insurance - P.34

n The Cover...

As always, with supreme style and grace, that should earn me a couple of articles, Cindy heralding a new year of motorcycling fun and mayhem.

Ph: 0438 123 747 tools@bmwmcq.org.au R1150 Rockstar - R1200 GS LC

Events -Trent Smyth

events@bmwmcq.org.au R1200 GSA and a 92 R100 GSPD

Sub Committee • Dealer Liaison / Advertising - Don Grimes Ph: 0411 601 372 • Forum Moderator - Garry Hilton

Club Details BMW Motorcycle Club of Queensland Inc. ABN 30 351 243 651

Address all correspondence to: The Secretary PO Box 3669 South Brisbane QLD 4101 Monthly meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at the:

Moreton Bay Sports Club, 175 Boundary St., Tingalpa

A Club Ride is usually held on the first Sunday after the monthly meeting. BMWMCQ AIMS The objectives of the BMWMCQ are to increase the enjoyment of motorcycling by: 1. Improving the opinion of the public towards motorcycling in general and associated members 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. WEB SITE Visit: www.bmwmcq.org.au

Editorial

FEBRUARY 2018

Dave Hepburn

Editor’s Report

ere we are again - a new year with resolutions that will never be honoured, one year older but certainly no wiser, discussing what was and what could have been; more pleading with members to be proactive and assist with rides and functions: what are you guys and gals going to do when those that contribute to the club have moved on???? I have put my name up to do one more term as the Editor, providing there are no objections. I have started the year off by publishing an Events Calendar on our web page and on line (ISSUU), so members can have a better idea as to how the year will unfold and can preplan accordingly. As mentioned in the Calendar there are a number of TBA event listed and they are for members to put forward, or arrange and plan, or both to assist the Committee in providing motorcycle enjoyment and great social interaction. The challenge has been taken up to a certain extent but we still have a long way to go. I will only publish the events calendar three months ahead which will show any TBA taken up and other amendments. There are two major events this year - our 60th year celebrations on 16 June 2018 Gala Dinner at the Brisbane International Zillmere and our club hosting the BMW MOTORRAD Nationals at the end of September 2018. I have not heard much mentioned about the Nationals and I am starting to become concerned that we need to put more human resources into the management, operations and administration of the event very soonrather than later. Overall, it would appear that it is going to be our most eventful year yet and I look forward to enjoying it immensely with you all. THE AGM NOTICE AND POSITION NOMINATION FORM IS LOCATED ON PAGE 14

Stay Shiny Side UP!!!!!

PS Can we have less bikes sleeping on the Job this year Dave....Ed.

AROUND THE WORKSHOPS - MMM’s BOXERWORKS

MMM’s BMW BOXERWORKS

Mark Morrissey the Proprietor of MMM’s Boxerworks, has managed to achieve what most of we mere mortals aspire to – turning his love and passion into a paying job.

Nestled on the banks of Breakfast Creek in a largely leafy residential street in suburban Windsor is an unpretentious shed adorned with a hand painted 107c sign. There is no other indicator of the treasures that lie within 107c. This is the home of MMM’s Boxerworks where Mark fettles the much loved range of BMW airhead motorcycles manufactured between 1971 and 1996. Mark’s journey to his present works nirvana was neither straight nor ordained. His varied work life has covered a diversity of roles from banking to business management, car sales, tyre and service businesses and facility management. Premier Campbell Newman’s tunnel building frenzy consumed Mark’s Bridgestone Tyre Business on Lutwyche Road at a time when he was also Facilities Chair of the Jondaryan Woolshed, a role that he held until June 2016.

Continued on page 33

Policy Regarding Submissions Submissions to the journal should be relevant to BMW motorcycles and or to the BMWMCQ and its activities. Articles or Letters to the Editor may or may not be published if space does not permit or if the content of the submission and or letter is not considered to be of interest to members or not in the interests of the Club, our sponsors or advertisers. Members are encouraged to use this, our journal; to express views, float ideas or make inquiries of other Club members on technical, organisational or other matters which may benefit the Club and its associates. Submissions should be kept to a reasonable length and maybe edited or published in part only, if the Editor considers it necessary. Note – submissions close on the 15th of each month! BMWMCQ Committee

Committee Reports Richard Maher

FEBRUARY 2018

President’s Report

Welcome to the 60th year of the BMWMCQ.

es, you heard right, we are 60 years old. We have weathered the terrible teens and the awkward 20’s, the divorce we don’t speak about in our late 30’s the comfortable 50’s and now we are entering the mature 60’s phase of our club’s evolution. The phase where we enjoy each other’s company and get out and ride whenever we damn well please. There are not many BMW clubs in existence around the world of a similar age. I know the Germans have maintained a motorcycle since the 1940’s and of course there is the South Australian BMW Club who is also celebrating their 60th Year in 2018. We have planned a series of events throughout the year to celebrate this milestone. We have tried to vary the type of events to attract both newer and older members. I’m hoping to see some members who I have not seen since maybe the 50th Anniversary. Keep an eye out for the Events Calendar to see what is happening every month. In the run up to our Annual General Meeting in March we still have a few positions vacant on the committee. The committee is encouraging members who feel they can offer their time for 12 months to consider taking up a seat. A nomination form will be included with the February Journal so have a think about joining the management team. You do not necessarily have to have management skills or be an effective public speaker. If every member stepped up and accepted that it is a requirement of being in the club is to do a year’s service, we would not need to advertise for positions. I have been encouraged to stay on the committee this year, however it won’t be as president. I have had my fair share in the big chair as the President over the last 20 years. I reckon its fair time to let someone else have a shot at it. I have some health issues at this point and this is restricting me from spending time on my motorcycle or anyone’s motorcycle really. The irony is that now I need someone else to ride my motorcycle and keep it active until I’m able to get back on it and ride it in anger. You can’t be the president of a motorcycle club and lead the Sunday rides in your wife’s car. We are of course hosting the 2018 National Motorrad Rally in Stanthorpe on the last week-end in September. It’s a coincidence that this is happening during our 60th year. It was simply our turn. So we have incorporated this event into our own events this year. So far its working well, ask me in early October if it has been wise to run two big events in one year. If the committee and organising party has any oomph left I’m sure we’ll give you an honest answer. I hope we can cater for all members during this landmark year. I hope to see people I have not seen in a while and I hope to get back on my motorcycle at the earliest possible moment. A Very Happy 60th Anniversary to you all:

Richard Maher

I apologise for the condition of the Photos: they were the best I could find... Check out the story on Page 8....Ed.

FEBRUARY 2018

Les Fitzpatrick

Committee Reports Vice President’s Report

BMWMCQ Vice Presidents Report - February 2018

he Club year is drawing to a close and my tenure as Club Vice President is almost over. I have had a mixed year and many things remain to be completed but they will be carried over to be done by the incoming committee. I started the year, hoping to increase transparency and confidence in the work that we do in running our club. When I stepped into the role it was to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of the recently elected President who stepped down due to personal reasons. At the time there were questions being asked by some long standing club members about the club finances, specifically related to the cost of membership after the printed Club Journal was discontinued and it was made a PDF/Web based Journal. A special resolution was put forward by a member and we were asked to vote on a membership fee of $35.00 suggested as the new club dues. I did ask for a Financial Forward Estimate (Budget) to be prepared and for the vote to be held over for a month so that we could all see what expenses the club could expect to have to deal with over the coming twelve months. This should have given us a better idea of our financial situation and would have made calculating realistic membership fees possible. The special resolution didn’t take any of this into consideration, and when it came time to vote the special resolution was defeated. The forward estimate placed before the club at that time wasn’t complete but there was enough doubt for the majority of the club members present to decide to leave the membership dues as they were at $50.00. A year later the Treasurer is preparing that estimate and it will give our members a clear idea of where the money goes. I look forward to seeing that information tabled at the AGM. The other issue of concern is transparency. For a club to be run well, the bulk of the membership must be involved in the daily affairs of the club and this is a two way street. The Committee must inform the members of every issue and decision as it relates to the club. There can be no closed door sessions and no cliques. Every club member must make the time to inform themselves of the direction and motivations of the club and be prepared to assist with the running of the club in some way. There will be little things to be done almost every day and there will be much larger events to organise throughout each year. While the committee members are all carrying the largest burden it is beholden on all of us to contribute some value to club life over and above simply paying our dues and sitting back waiting for someone else to make our lives easier or more interesting. The final item that I need to discuss is mateship and respect. During my time as a member of this club I have made many life-long friends and each time I go to a meeting or a ride I look forward to meeting our new members. I have opened my home and my workshop many times to all club members. There is always a cold drink in the fridge and I have lost track of the lunches and dinners that I have hosted at the Rum Jungle and the bikes that we have fixed together. I think I have been a generous and giving member through all of the time that I have been in this club and I am always prepared to give people the benefit of the doubt. That faith in people was tested at the 2017 Christmas party when a club member verbally abused my partner when she caught him trying to remove club property from the venue. This is an issue that the club members may be asked to vote on at the February meeting. I have asked the remainder of the committee to deal with this but I have to mention it here because it relates directly to my decision not to continue on the committee next year. There are other personal matters that I also need to attend to in 2018 so I won’t be able to spend as much time assisting with club affairs but I will still be ready to help where I can. I have every confidence in the current committee members and I have enjoyed working with them all over this last year. They work hard for no pay to bring a quality experience to all of our members and they do it happily year after year. It has been a privilege to share some time with all of them. I wish the incoming committee all the best and hope they do well. Thank you all for your support over the last year and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Les Fitzpatrick – BMWMCQ Vice President, soon to be retired.

Committee Reports

FEBRUARY 2018

Tony Gray

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer’s Report BMWMCQ Meeting – as at 11 January 2018 Funds Available Business Cheque Account 10243020: $ 2,288.86 Funds Available Premier Investment Account 2249 3654: $14,910.57 PayPal Account: $ 333.49 Total Cash Assets as at 11 January 2018:

$17,532.92

Comment:

The PayPal Account funds are currently being transferred to the BOQ Cheque Account as is the standard practice each month. There is one invoice currently being processed for $324.50 for website monitoring and maintenance. Significant outlay in December was for the Christmas function for $2,655 which was fully funded by those attending the Christmas function. The club remains in a strong financial position. From a personal perspective Jane and I have done very little riding over the Christmas/New Year Period. Family responsibilities have taken priority. The Grey Ghost returned from our big southern trip in September/October and is now to be readied for her next overseas adventure later in 2018. Her front and rear shocks are in need of a rebuild along with a heavier rear spring but not unexpected after some 165,000 km thus far in her life journey. The driveshaft will also be coming in for some attention but the GG remains in top condition for her 10+ years on the road. Plenty of reading and planning lie ahead, part of the fun of a big trip especially when that is to new territory in foreign lands. It was also my absolute pleasure to spend an afternoon before Christmas with club member Mark Morrissey of MMM’s Boxerworks at his Windsor workshop. Time travels fast when absorbed in conversation with like-minded individuals. Look out for Mark’s story in this month’s club magazine. It made me itchy to get stuck into the restoration of the ‘Blue Ghost’ our recently acquired R60/6 airhead. Mark had a beautifully restored black example of the same model in his shop and she looked and sounded a treat. Don’t knock back a chance to ride one of these ‘old girls’ if the opportunity presents, they really are a pleasure to ride.

So You Think Your Motorcycle Trip Was A Challenge - tony gray

et a group of motorcyclists together, preferably around a campfire with beer in hand, and there’s a fair bet that the conversation will centre on stories of the road. Tall tales and true: never let the truth get in the way of a good story. If you believed everything that you were told then you would not venture out of your driveway. Everything from killer kangaroos, searing temperatures, blizzards, pot holes that swallow cars alive, machine failures and dodgy GPS directions await those brave but foolhardy souls who dare to try. Jane and I have had our fair share of adventures on bikes with a sprinkling of gotcha moments better remembered than when experienced. Our machine of choice has largely been fit for purpose and well prepared to handle the worst that the road and Mother Nature could throw at us. The fact that we have lived to tell the tale proves that we must have been doing something right. On a recent crossing to Tasmania we had the privilege of meeting Ron Fellowes the author of “No Room for Watermelons” a tale of his epic 2012 journey

across the world on a 1910 FN motorcycle. Upon returning to Brisbane I ordered a copy of Ron’s book and consumed it with ever growing admiration for what Ron was able to achieve. Ron is an interesting character who was born and raised in the land of the long white cloud and has lived in Brisbane (where this trip commenced) as well as Indonesia and who now resides in Tasmania with his wife Lynne. I have a view that Kiwi’s born in the post war years are very mechanically capable people due to the necessity of keeping old dungers of cars and bikes going as new replacements were not available. I well remember my first visit to NZ in the 1970’s where I was surprised by the large number of old Vauxhalls’ and Austin’s running around as well as many old British singles and twins. This was at a time when every Aussie teenager lusted after a Monaro, Z1 or Honda Four (or maybe an R90s for those cash rich individuals).

Continued on page 8

Committee Reports

FEBRUARY 2018

Trent Smyth

Events Coords Report

i all, welcome to 2018 and our 60th birthday as a club. We have a big year ahead of us full of many great events. We are still looking for people to put there hands up to run some of these great events so please have a look through the calendar and have a think about what you as a member of our great club could do to help make our 60th year a great one.

Craig Brennan

Records Officer’s Report

s we speak the fine tuning of the website, especially of the administration side, is continuing apace. It appears to be working more smoothly than previously and I am noticing the things that didn’t come across when we went live. Fortunately, Greg Gaffney is getting on to those things for me and all is reasonably sweet. Mistakenly I thought that the automatic renewal reminder system was running, however it was switched off again during all the work and I am resorting to the manual system again until we get that sorted. I feel that this hitch will mostly explain the drop in membership we have had in the last few months, down to just under 250, but I am addressing this as we type. I Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas break, I did, and are all refreshed for another year of motorcycling. See you all around the traps.

Tony Gray -Motorcycle challenge contnued - photos on page 5

Ron, a certified diesel mechanic, is a product of that upbringing and is a very capable and resourceful soul. Ron had acquired the FN in NZ as an unidentified and unloved rusted engine and frame laying in a sawmill when he was a sprightly 26yo in about 1970. He kept it for many years and after moving to Australia began the painstaking task of restoring the rare machine. This process required the manufacture of many parts using no more than grainy photographs as a guide. The Belgian FN (Fabrique Nationale) company was (is) an Arms Manufacturer established in 1899 who from 1901 to 1967 also manufactured motorcycles. Beginning in 1905 it was the first manufacturer of in-line, 4-cylinder machines. The brief specifications of Ron’s 1910 example are an in-line 4 cylinder of 498cc capacity, shaft driven with a fixed gear and pedal start. Pedal start I hear you say? Yes just like a push bike. The technique which Jane & I witnessed was for Ron to raise the rear wheel on the integral stand, turn the wheel by hand to start the engine, hop on and rock the bike off the stand with the engine at idle and then pedal to get the bike rolling and the engine up to speed. The bike originally had no clutch but Ron retrofitted a clutch as it would be close to impossible to negotiate modern traffic without a clutch. To me a surprising item of the FN’s specification was its dry weight of 75kg. This is for a 4 cylinder, shaft driven, 500cc motorcycle with not an iota of plastic in its build. Okay, I accept that it doesn’t have a gearbox but that really is small beer in the total

context. There is no modern equivalent to this specification but I have compared it to a modern Honda Hornet 600cc 4 cylinder chain drive naked bike. The Honda makes use of modern alloys, plastic and coated cylinder walls but weighs in at a dry weight of 180kg – over 100kg heavier than the FN! Where have the manufacturers’ gone wrong? Have modern motorbikes ‘porked-up’ in line with the waistlines of western populations? The story of Ron’s epic 2012 trip (co-written with wife Lynne) from Nepal to Belgium is a rollicking tale of one man’s determination to achieve his goal no matter what the God’s of the road threw at him. Consider that Ron was on a very tight budget, was totally self-contained, slept and ate rough in third world countries at a time when many have put their feet up to enjoy a life of quiet retirement. Yes Ron was approaching his 70th birthday at journey’s end. How he managed to keep the FN (named Effie) going over 14,606 km is outstanding and a testament to Ron’s ingenuity. I will never complain again when presented with a problem on the road. My new mantra will be ‘what would Ron do?’ Do yourself a favour and grab a copy for a bloody good read. I got my copy on bookdepository. com but I know that Mal Cremer was able to source a copy from the Holland Park BCC Library.

Tony Gray

Committee Reports

FEBRUARY 2018

Bill Luyten & Geoff Hodge

Service Day

The Club will hold a Service Day on 18 February at Charlie Brown’s place starting at 0930. Location: 31 Wall St. Bundamba. (Ipswich area). Oil drain pans, oil disposal; as well as a comprehensive tool kit is available. We will be providing a Sausage Sizzle and Drinks for a gold coin donation. Even if you’re not going to maintain your own bike, come along and help someone else or give your expert guidance/ opinion on how it’s done. There are special tools available (see below list) including the GS - 911WiFi and 3 pin diagnostic tools.

Contact Tools Officers: Bill Luyten 0438 123 747

(wluyten@bigpond .net .au) or Geoff Hodge 0413 180 101 (ggilps2@optusnet .com .au)

Club email:spares@bmwmcq.org.au

TOOLS HIRE SPARES AND SALES

There are special tools available:

Special Tools 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 interface Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor (TPMS) tool Enduralast hall sensor tester

Club Tool Loan:

$50 deposit (refundable) for GS911. Tools and spare can be picked up or brought along to the next meeting or Club ride.

Spares Sale at Cost Price

The Committee has decided to not continue selling spares so when our existing spares are gone they will not be replaced.

Spares Still Available Filters - Air

Tool’s Report K Series K1200 (LX628) x2 $16.00ea

Filter - Fuel

K & R Series in line (KL145) x1 $20.00ea

Brake Pads

520HF - R60, R75, R80, R100 x1 $27.00ea G391ST - K1/100RS/1100LT, RS/1200RS, LT R80R, C/850/100/1100/1150 x6 $43.00ea

Spark Plugs

XR5DC (K/R1100) Bosch Super x2 $10.00ea

Tools

Oil filter removing tool - (OCS 1)K/R4V x5 $13.00

From the Pen of Jane Gray

CLASSIC – FOR SALE JEGJan2018

I saw your ad online dear It sounded pretty good I almost called you right away But wondered if I should “A classic, a vintage, Low mileage on the dial” “No leaks, no damage, All serviced with a smile” “One owner, well cared for, Some parts replaced in time” “Enticing, inviting, Just like a good old wine” I need to be sure now It sounds just what I’d like Please tell me you’re selling A classic motorbike !!

FEBRUARY 2018

Kelly Wicks

Committee Reports Regalia Officer’s Report

his is my last report as the Regalia Officer. Thank you to everyone who came and saw me and made a purchase. I also would like to thank the committee members for all of their support over the last 12 months. It’s been a pleasure working with you all. Welcome to all of the new committee members. As discussed at the last couple of monthly meetings, Regalia will be limited to special edition shirts only eg: Back To The Bush/60th etc. Shirts will have to be pre-ordered and paid for up front. No stock will be held. This is to reduce excess stock being held and unsold and carted to and from meetings then becoming years old. Also as discussed, you are still able to buy your own T-shirt/dress shirt/polo shirt etc and have the embroidery done by Gold Star embroidery who have the club logo on file. Please call Daniel on mobile number: 040 3150 857 or call in at Unit 7/256 Leitch’s Road, Brendale. Daniel will try to do the embroidery while you wait or alternately you can post your shirts to Daniel and also have them posted back to you (at your cost). As for the remaining old stock! The following is the very last so one could say that they are now rare and time is running out to gain a memento or keepsake.

Beanies = 7 Bucket Hats = 1 x med and 1 x Large Centre stand trays = 3 Ladies Pink T-shirt = 2 x Size 12, 1 x size 14, 1 x size 16 and 1 x 24 Men’s black polo shirt = 1 x small Men’s Grey polo/white stripe = 1 x 2xl, 1 x 3xl Ladies Grey polo/white stripe = 1 x size 12 Ladies Navy polo/white stripe = 1 x size 8, 1 x size 12, 2 x size 14 Men’s Navy polo/white stripe = 2 x size xxl, 1 x size 3xl Men’s navy polo = 1 x size small, 2 x med Men’s grey t-shirt = 1 x xl, 1 x 3xl Men’s black t-shirt with club logo printed in centre of front = 2 x Extra large Fleece vest = 1 x L, 2 x XL Back to the Bush (Cherrabah) = Grey 1 x L = Black 1 x M, 3 x L, 1 x XXL, 2 x 3XL All of the above must go. No reasonable offer will be refused. Thanks again everyone. Kelly.

Secretary Report for January 2018-

continues bottom of Page 11

MINUTES OF THE JANUARY GENERAL MEETING 11/01/2018

Opened: 7.35 pm Minutes: Paul Hughes seconded by Dave Hepburn Apologies: Peter and Sue Ferguson, Ian and Alison Sayce, Tony Malone, Craig Brennan, Mario Grossi, Peter Todd Visitors: Rikki Dryden from Euro Moto Tours President: Richard invited everyone to the first meeting of our 60th year. Our gala dinner will be held at The Brisbane International Hotel on the corner of Sandgate Rd & Zillmere Road, Boondall. There will be plenty accommodation for those who book in advance and free parking for all. Kelly advised that there is a discount available but only if you say you are from the BMW club. Tickets will be limited to 100 tickets only! Paul Hughes has organised a Facebook sales page for motorcycles, accessories, and regalia. This page comes with certain conditions of use which can be found in the ‘About’ section. Treasurer: Tony advised the Cheque account is currently $2,288.86, the Investment account $14,910.57 and PayPal Account $333.49. The club remains in a strong financial position.

Committee Reports Greg Gaffney

FEBRUARY 2018

Secretary’s Report

MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER GENERAL MEETING 07/12/2017

Opened: 7.35 pm Apologies: Peter Allen, Andrew McLeod, Ian and Alison Sayce, Tony Malone, Terry Fitzpatrick, Derek Morwood Minutes: Dave Hepburn seconded by Paul Hughes Visitors: Rajib Ray is looking forward to getting a bike now he is in Australia. David with Honda VTR 250 and Steve Mullen with a VTR 500: Graham and Narelle riding a R1200 GS and Adam Hodges. New Members: Dale and Sue Hewitt with an R1200 RT President: Richard spoke of the intended For Sale section on the Facebook site. This will be for the sale of bikes, accessories and apparel. The details and rules of use for this new page will be discussed at the next committee meeting. Vice President: Les spoke of Morgan and Wacker reneging on the promised vouchers for gifts for the Xmas party. We did however obtain a number of items under the Clubs Aust PESP to the value of $780 which were raffled off to all current members. Donations for the RFCS was also carried out at the Xmas party which raised $445 Richard donated a 100 year BMW commemorative book to the raffle. Treasurer: Tony reported we have a bank balance of $14,910 in the Investment account, $17,399 in the Operating account and $740 in transfer from PayPal. Editor: Dave advised he is happy to continue as editor for another year which was gladly received by all. There will be no January journal. Dave will however compose a comprehensive calendar which will be published on the website. Regalia: Kelly advised the committee had decided the club will no longer be carrying regalia in stock and shirts will need to be pre-ordered. For those desiring embroidery they can go to Gold Star at Brendale who have our template and can do the club official logo for $7 - $9 and also can provide shirts. There was some discussion about a standardised club shirt however Richard advised there will be further debate on this by the committee. Events: Trent advised next year he will be seeking member’s assistance with some events. For those who are new or inexperienced with organising an activity or ride there will be plenty of assistance provided. Raffle: 1st – John Allan , 2nd – Craig Brennan , 3rd – Ariella Woods , 4th - Rosi Johnson, 5th - Drew Ray, 6th – Sasha Woods Closed: 8.40 pm

Secretary’s January 2018 Report Continued from Page 10

Secretary: Greg advised the next change to the website will be to enable members to delete their own classified ads. Also with Craig away Greg advised the meeting that our financial members are currently 244. Editor: Dave advised he has the latest calendar of all identified events for 2018 published on the website. Events: Trent notified every one of the upcoming events and asked members to look at the recently published events calendar for 2018 and assist with any events which are still marked TBA. Tools: Bill advised the GS 911 diagnostic tool has now had an upgrade which allows it to talk to the latest model bikes. The device is available for loan with a $50 deposit. Bill said he will write an article for the journal with information on its operation. General Business: Rikki Dryden from Euro Moto Tours presented her European and Australian tours. Raffle: 1st – Graham Healey, 2nd – Tony Gray, 3rd – Garry Bennett, 4th – Paul Hughes, 5th – Cooper Ray Closed: 8.55 pm

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PRESIDENTS RIDE DECEMBER 2017

PRESIDENT’S RIDE – 10 DECEMBER 2017

he Sunday following the very successful Christmas party at Evans Head was ordained as the President’s Ride. Now our President is well known for many things (mostly positive) including an extensive knowledge of the country backroads of SE Queensland so a ride planned by Richard is not to be missed. Other Presidential attributes include a penchant for riding other people’s bikes and never washing his own. It was therefore with some surprise that Jane and I motored up behind a burgundy coloured R1100R on the Ipswich Motorway. It looked like Richard’s bike but was being ridden by Richard? On arrival at the anointed start point at BP Blacksoil the dirty state of the R confirmed that it was indeed Richard’s bike – OP bikes must have been returned to their rightful homes from Richard’s garage for Christmas. The bevy of the ‘usual suspects’ assembled for the ride was swelled by a large number of past presidents – I am not sure if there is a collective noun for a group of past presidents but ‘gaggle’ seemed appropriate for this lot as Tony Malone was among their number. Needless to say the ride briefing albeit brief did not proceed without contributions from the ‘gaggle’.

Important stuff included that we were proceed to coffee in Laidley, 20 odd km from Blacksoil, but that it was going to take us an hour to get there. Also to go easy on the throttle hand when descending the rollercoaster Paroz Road descending from the heights into Laidley – a popular place for photographers apparently.

The ride did not disappoint taking us first to the northern side of the Warrego Hwy through Glamorgan Vale, Lowood and Brightview over some great country roads before recrossing the Highway to Laidley after an hour of very enjoyable riding.

Our hosts at Eagle Rock Café in the main drag of Laidley had kindly blocked off street parking in front of their premises so it was a good photo opportunity for the 19 bikes lining both sides of the road.

This 50’s retro style diner provided plenty of interest in the décor and memorabilia items covering the walls.

PRESIDENTS RIDE DECEMBER 2017 On we went after our coffee fill through more of the country roads of Brisbane’s Salad Bowl through Tenthill and Grantham before crossing the Warrego Highway for the third time towards Murphy’s Creek. We ascended the Toowoomba Range past Spring Bluff before crossing the New England Hwy for more great roads through Meringandan, Goombungee, Haden and onto our lunch stop at the Grand Old Crow Hotel in Crows Nest.

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Some reported getting caught in some patchy very heavy rain showers but we managed to dodge those. For us the ride covered over 400km door to door on what was a very enjoyable day to finish the Club riding year. The ride was well researched and managed, the corner marking system worked well and no one got lost. Good friends, good roads and plenty of

laughs, what more could you want? Bring on 2018. Tony Gray

From the Pen of Jane Gray COME & GONE JEGJan2018

Now Crows Nest was recently declared as a Motorcycle Friendly Town and evidence of that was the line of Motorcycle ONLY parking spaces outside the pub.

How convenient for another photo opportunity. It was good to catch up with some of the Warrego Riders who had made their way over for lunch. After an enjoyable lunch and much bonhomie people drifted away on their own way home.

Our chosen route included a descent of the Ravensbourne Range to Esk then a loop around Somerset Dam and a crossing of Mt Glorious.

Another year has come and gone These days don’t stay around for long Memories made & times to forget Was last year the best one yet? Time spent with friends or on our own One thing is for sure, the time has flown Travels spent at home or abroad Itchy feet that can’t be ignored Homes revamped with flair & style End results met with a smile Family & friends so valued and true Don’t worry about the occasional blue! Challenges set & conquered by some Others bewildered & left feeling numb Obstacles thrown & hurdles to jump Inner strength needed to face the hump Remember the good & forget the rest 2018 could just be the best!

AGM documents for March 1

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meeting

Notice of Annual General Meeting of the BMW Motorcycle Club Queensland Inc

The Annual General meeting of the Club will be held at: Moreton Bay Sports Club; 175 Boundary St, Tingalpa, Qld 4173, at: 7:30PM on March 1st 2018.

The Agenda of the meeting is as follows:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The General Meeting for March 2018 will follow the AGM.

Acceptance of the 2017 AGM minutes. Management Committee Report. Presentation of the Financial accounts (Audit report). Election of Committee members. Any Special resolutions presented under the rules of the Constitution (30 daysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; notice).

Greg Gaffney Secretary BMWMCQ

BMWMCQ Inc.

NOMINATION FORM Election of Committee Members Nomination of Volunteer Positions (Non-Elected)

COMMITTEE POSITIONS FOR YEAR 2018 I,

(must be a financial member), nominate for the position of: President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Editor

Records Officer

Events

Tools

Regalia

The above positions being elected officers of the BMWMCQ Committee. IT Officer

Dealer Liaison

Advertising Officer

Trainee Editor

These final four positions being volunteer, non-elected, non-committee positions. Signature of Candidate

Membership No.

The nominations and voting procedures will proceed at the AGM as per the Club Constitution

January Club Ride to Jollys Look Out

First Club Event for 2018 Jolly’s Lookout Mount Nebo Jan 14th 6.30am

his has, for many years, been our first event for the club year. Past President Tony Malone created this event as what you would call a soft event to start the year off. It the middle of a Queensland summer so it’s usually hot and for this reason Tony chose the highest point around Brisbane and hopefully the coolest point at 6.30am in the morning to start the year’s events off. Last year’s event was undertaken in heavy fog in previous years we have endured fires and even the 2011 flood did its best to cause us grief. Thankfully, no such pestilence was observed this year. It was a hot morning: however, the ride (or drive in my case) up the mountain makes up for early heat. You need to bring all your brekkie requirements with you to this venue. Some riders get creative and do a drive through Maccas enroute. There are free BBQ’s available I chose to throw in the gas Barbie and some bacon ‘n eggs and toast and a thermos for plunger coffee. It’s worth turning up to see how creative people get with their brekkie. We usually share the picnic space with the Brisbane Historic Car Club and there are some very interesting machines to ponder over. No vintage cars this year, perhaps it was too early for them this year. The resident Goanna was in attendance and despite my best attempts to feed it the last remnants of my bacon sandwich it just wasn’t interested and casually wandered off to look at a Ferrari. We did manage to attract the attention of a lone F800GS rider who followed all the BMW’s heading in this direction. He stopped, had brekkie with us and has subsequently joined the club and turned up at the first coffee get together as well. Some members take the opportunity to add several hundred kilometres to their machines by heading further into the country for another meal. This year I planned a ride to The Farmers Arms in Cabarlah north of Toowoomba but as I was in the car I dutifully passed the baton to Paul Hughes to manage the ride and the lunch activities.

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As the keeper of the Traditional BMWMCQ club Banner I undertook a cheeky move and hung the Traditional Flag in a prominent position at the lookout to celebrate the club’s 60th Birthday. The Ed has promised to put the image on the next Journal’s cover; hopefully I won’t get in trouble for this brazen display of outdated club history. We had around 18 motorcycles, 2 cars and a total of well over 20 attendees. Also in attendance was our Mechanical Engineering intern Cameron who made the pilgrimage up the hill to see us and chat about his 6-month tenure at the BMW Berlin factory. Poor Cameron had only been home for 10 hours from Berlin and was heading out first up Monday morning to take up his new job in Melbourne. If he can make the effort so can you!

See you up there next January. Richard Maher

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January Club Ride to Jollys Look Out

Duncan Bennett - The Pigman Cometh The Pigman Cometh

hey say a change is as good as a holiday. So if a holiday is combined with a job change, then one week of riding around in NSW before the BMWMCQ Christmas party is mathematically two weeks of holiday, but with only one week of expenses, Sweet. The schedule was brutal; last day at work drinks on the Friday night, with unregulated IPA consumption, then up early on Saturday for a 7:15am departure. The IPA didn’t dovetail well with the GPS, which was trying to get us to Beaudesert, while the IPA thought we were supposed to be going to Boonah for reasons only the napalmed remnant brain cells could recall. Finally, the navigational fog cleared and a seamless transition onto the Beaudesert road occurred, celebrated at the Beaudesert Café with coffees and toasted banana bread. Fortified, we proceeded south to Innisplain Road and the transition onto Lions Road. We had reconnoitred Lions Road recently due to closure on the NSW side; the objective was to see whether the road was still open as far as the turn-off to the Border Ranges NP. It was, so we headed down with confidence, doing a soupcon of off-road practice through the Grady’s Creek Road with its five creek crossings. Although a reasonable amount of water was still coursing, it wasn’t the raging torrent carelessly ridden through a month previously, so no serious challenges were faced. A few more kilometres and we were onto Simes Road which got us to Forest Road for the climb up to the National Park.

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ger-all from the top let alone Mt Warning, so a backtrack was required that got us into Kyogle two hours earlier than planned. Our bush lunch was consumed in a Kyogle road side stop, fuel was purchased, and we were off again. The target was the Bruxner highway, via Stratheden and Dyraaba dirt roads including the fabulous long straight section which encourages Dakar racing speeds. Appearing on the highway at Mummulgum, named after a husband’s standard verbal response to an odd-looking credit card statement purchase inquiry, we hooned along until the dividing range separating the Richmond and Clarence River valleys was reached. As we were early in the afternoon, a quick trip up to the Mallanganee lookout with its sweeping views was appreciated by all those who had missed the Border Ranges NP, i.e. both of us. A surprise vehicle on the dirt road on the way back down caught Cindy unawares, resulting in the first official drop of Gus the 700GS. After assistance from the vehicle occupants to get Gus upright, again confirming that it is a good idea for me to get way out in front and not have to get involved, we headed on into Drake. We stopped at the General Store for a drink, before discovering it was shut and re-mounting for the trip to the pub on the other side. Cindy seemed to have lost the ability to be an omni-turner, so only left-hand turns were possible which is tricky when making U-turns in Australia. After a scary moment for Cindy getting across the highway, the mechanical team swung into action and quickly discovered Gus’ right Barkbuster was broken and jamming into the side panel. The broken bits were quickly removed, binned, and we were back on the highway after a refreshing drink at the Lunatic Hotel.

Cindy highlighting an artist’s impression of the magnificent NP views we missed out on At the park entrance a sign helpfully stated that absolutely everything was open, except for the road. A committee meeting was held to discuss this early disruption to the day’s plan, however, the marginal weather indicated that we’d be able to see bug-

Broken right-hand Barkbuster gone and right hand turns possible once more Continued on page 18

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Duncan Bennett - The Pigman Cometh

The fabulous winding sections of the Bruxner negotiated, we swung into Tenterfield. Timing was a little tricky, it was a bit early to stop for the night, but the magnetism of the Peter Allen Motel was strong. So, we gave in and checked in, before a rest and a wander about the quiet town, inevitably running out of puff in front of the Commercial Boutique hotel. A couple of boutique beers and wines, a cracking steak, and a pleasant conversation with a new 1200GS Rallye X rider on a shake-down run was a lot of fun, before we nearly got back to the hotel without paying causing a poor staff member a serious cardio workout trying to catch us. Day 2 was all about dams. For some reason, seeing the dams of north-central NSW and south-central QLD became a theme during the route planning; highlighting the risks of having a few reds while using Garmin Basecamp. We also wanted to visit Texas, likely also, the result of drinking reds. So off we went west along the Bruxner, cutting across the big loop of the Dumaresq River at Mingoola and into QLD to the Glenlyon dam.

Gus and Cindy sneaking through the un-signposted border at Bonshaw Weir on the Dumaresq River

We headed back down south, through Ashford, and then east to the Pindari Dam on the Severn River. This dam has an impressive wall, which we decided to walk along for some reason even though it was getting hot by this stage. We got about half way across to the spillway viewing area, then stopped as looking down on a bare rock channel suddenly didn’t seem terribly exciting. Doing the sequenced rush back into earplugs, jacket, Camelbak, helmet, and gloves before realising the bike keys were still in the pants just as the sweat flood broke, we got back on the road as quickly as possible. Some interesting dirt roads led us down toward Inverell, with a profusion of purple flowers blooming on the sides of the road after the recent rains. This resulted in a change of the trip theme from dams to Cindy finding beds of flowers to park Gus in and nail the artistic shot.

Cindy jammed in traffic on the Glenlyon dam wall

After the dam, we took the dirt along Pinnacle Road which continues west, eventually crossing the Dumaresq River at Bonshaw Weir to get back into NSW. Then we headed the short distance up to Texas, crossing the Dumaresq River to return to QLD. A coffee and refuel in Texas, then we crossed the Dumaresq River again to return to NSW. The little wheel on my watch fell off at this point due to the constant time changing, and it was fortunate we weren’t transporting rabbits as each time we’d crossed into QLD we’d have worn a $40,000 fine per head of bunny.

Cindy setting up for artistic shot No.1, with Gus’ hot exhaust caressing the thick dry grass

Duncan Bennett - The Pigman Cometh

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Luncheon was taken in Inverell at the Chinese restaurant annex to the Imperial Hotel, the air conditioning, cool drinks, test cricket coverage, and buffet appreciated roughly in that order. Once our lunch was complete and lunch had started at the cricket, there was no point hanging about in the mainly closed Sunday streets of Inverell. Movement was the only solution to the uncomfortable heat, so we headed off west and south to the final and largest dam of the day, the Copeton on the Gwydir River.

Professor of Ethnomusicology at Manilla gets to park his Ute out the front.

At least I’ve now got her phone number

The boredom with dams was now complete, with the number of photos taken at each dam following an exponential decay function, so Copeton was damn lucky even to get one.

Day 3 was Monday, so the shops were open. The route plan was to cut south-west across to Gunnedah, before the final push south to the destination town of Mudgee. However, with Gus missing a Barkbuster the risk of another minor drop breaking a lever was unacceptably high, so we filled in the corner and went to Tamworth. The western side motorcycle dealer suggested by Google Maps didn’t exist, however the Western Ranges Honda/Triumph/Harley dealer on the south side was a major facility with lots of bikes and gear, including a full range of Barkbusters. With temperatures rising, we loitered about and looked at bikes and stuff while a stylish set of red Barkbusters was fitted to Gus. Another benefit was that a better route was suggested to Mudgee rather than the “boring” highway to Gunnedah, via Werris Creek, Spring Ridge, and Premer. It would have been better if it weren’t for the torrential rain after Spring Ridge, with no place to shelter until Premer, where a full change and donning of wet weather gear was required under a picnic table shelter.

Damn all these dams, not even getting off for the photo

The journey continued, zig-zagging south-ish through Barraba to complete the riding day in Manilla, presumed birthplace of the ubiquitous stationery item although no giant folder statue or plaque to Cyrus Q Blatherington the inventor of manilla folders was seen. Then it was realised that Manilla has one L too many, so Cyrus must have been living in the Philippines at the time of his office filing efficiency breakthrough.

When a burnt stump is the highlight of the day, you know you are living the dream Continued on page 20

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Duncan Bennett - The Pigman Cometh

Lunch at Premer was abandoned after it was realised that the town held the first-world record for the most burned-out and derelict cars per head of population, and so we moved onto the Black Stump Way to continue the journey south. The black stump is well known to everyone, millennials naturally excused. I had always believed it to be simply an Australian saying; as in “beyond the black stump” being anywhere out in Whoop-Whoop

No freakin’ way

and not an actual place. Then suddenly our ignorance was exposed; the black stump was not only an actual thing, it had been a mere 220 yards from a trendy wine bar. The wine theme built to a crescendo as we rode further south. A late warming lunch of a pie at the Coolah bakery, and the journey continued down through the recently rained on farmland and Gulgong before finishing up for the day in the destination town of Mudgee. A stroll about the very pleasant and affluent-looking centre, purchase of new adventure boot in-sole liners, and checking out potential places for dining were the order of the late afternoon. Mudgee is surrounded by coal mines, farms, and wineries so has prosperity as a result of economic diversity. A Mudgee rosé and sparkling at a wine bar matched the aura of the town, which was then destroyed by dinner and Guinness pints at the Mudgee Irish Pub which was pretty much the same as every other Irish Pub anywhere in the world.

Wondering what the attractions of Mudgee could possibly be

Day 4 commenced with the routine of get up, shower, dress in motorcycle gear, pack bags, attach bags to motorcycles, install GPS, don jacket, helmet, gloves, then remove gloves because keys are still in pocket, then remove helmet because of the huge bug

splatter, clean visor, put helmet and gloves back on, remove gloves because bug splatter distracted from getting keys, put gloves on, and mount up. After refuel and breakfast, it was heading east toward our next destination location of Harrigan’s Irish Pub and Accommodation in Pokolbin, creating fresh doubt about the dining choice of the previous evening as we may have been over-Irished. We turned east at Budgee Budgee and motored through the Munghorn Gap, passing through Wollar and following the valleys to the south of the Goulburn River, which eventually becomes one with the Hunter River. The road was nowhere near as “adventure rider extreme” as imagined, and only included a relatively short section of dirt road along the Bylong Valley Way which looked as though it was being done up for all the coal mine traffic. We eventually reached the Golden Highway at Jerrys Plains, and joined the traffic for the run down to Broke – if it ain’t, don’t maintain it. The journey included the famous Putty Road, one of Australia’s top motorcycling roads.

Our Putty Road experience with 100m of dead straight bitumen and no scenery

After Broke it was through the Singleton Military area with signs every 10ft explaining that live artillery rounds could be landing unexpectedly on the road, so just move along. Surviving non-improvised explosive devices, we pulled into Harrigan’s Irish Pub at about lunchtime on officially our shortest riding day. A traditional Irish Caesar Salad; (potatoes with mash and a Guinness pie); later, we had booked on a half day winery tour, and booked into the hotel. Quickly changed, we were on the bus with the others and off to a few wineries for extensive tastings. A distraction at a cheese and chocolate shop, a final winery or two, and we were back at the Irish Pub for a traditional Irish Cheese Platter with Cheeky Hunter Valley Merlot, and well-deserved bed. Day 5 commenced with a traditional Irish breakfast of orange juice and cereal that both tasted like Guinness, before loading up the bikes and head-

Duncan Bennett - The Pigman Cometh ing north. The first part of the journey was highway through Singleton and Muswellbrook, before heading east at Aberdeen toward Gundy. The touring objective was a saunter up the dirt roads through farm land to Timor, then back out to the New England Highway for morning tea. The plan went well after the navigational rod wasn’t spared on a recalcitrant GPS, with some very pleasant country traversed and a very nice coffee and scone consumed at Murrurundi.

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Australia’s classics, and in future smile and nod when amongst a group of riders talking about the best rides.

The proletariat rise up against authority at Hanging Rock lookout

Only would have been half as funny/disturbing 10 years ago A blast up the highway and we turned off to the east after visiting the oddly-located First Fleet Memorial at Wallabadah. The reason why the memorial is at Walladabah is basically because no other council wanted it and a local convict descendent man did; so an excellent park with a lot of information on most convict fleets and the lists of convicts on each vessel is the result. The following easterly journey led to Nundle, which was a lot bigger than the expected population of zero, and it even had a Woollen Mill built using equipment bought for a song in the early 2000’s after the collapse of the Australian textile industry. The little town was attractive and seemed to be thriving, no doubt assisted on weekends by its proximity to Tamworth. After a Nundle lunch, we motored up into the hills to Hanging Rock (this one 100% Miranda free), and after a brief stop at the lookout hit the dirt on the forest roads through to meet up with Thunderbolt’s Way. The weather by now appeared threatening, so a removal of jacket and pants and insertion of linings was completed at the intersection. No tooting was recorded from passing cars, so it is obviously well within NSW social norms to stand next to a highway without pants on. We headed up to Walcha, ignoring the opportunity to cut the corner across to the Oxley Highway as fuel was required. Thunderbolt’s Way is one of Australia’s top motorcycle roads, except for the bit we did which was pretty much straight, but it meant that with our 100m of Putty Road we could tick off yet another of

That left just one more classic for the day; the Oxley Highway, probably one of Australia’s highest car-sick incidents per number of travellers’ roads. By now, the weather had moved from threatening to downright abusive, with fog and rain almost all the way down to Mt Seaview. The speed limits had not been decreased to 80kmh as that change was occurring in December, but on Mitas E-07 dual sport tyres with 18,000km wear on wet bitumen, even doing the new speed limit wouldn’t have lasted for long on the relentless bends. It was a couple of fairly happy travellers who finally appeared in Port Macquarie after a very long day. After finding lodgings, we went off for drinks and dinner, choosing a place near the waterfront as we couldn’t find an Irish Pub.

The rain in Oxley Highway falls mainly on the road Continued on page 22

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Duncan Bennett - The Pigman Cometh

Day 6 plan was to get to Grafton, and fortified by an egg and bacon McMuffin breakfast at an establishment that will remain nameless, we headed up on the newly completed highway to Kempsey. At Kempsey, due north became north-west as we rode up Armidale Road through Bellbrook, before the road suddenly turned from first-class bitumen to reasonable gravel along the Macleay River. There was about 80km of winding dirt, and some spectacular scenery as the road meandered beside the river with green grass flats running to the edge, or rocky bluffs pushed the road up the hill so we could get a view. After leaving the Macleay, we followed George’s Creek north and popped out on the appropriately named Waterfall Way, because water was indeed falling, turning back east to Ebor for lunch.

selves in. A short time later, the room and anything that could hold up sodden gear was festooned, while we went for a stroll about the small town to purchase pneumonia medication, just in case. Dinner that evening was at Hickory’s Country Kitchen, where the best meals of the trip; including a homemade pasta with meatball sauce, were consumed, accompanied by a BYO merlot and slightly easing rain.

Cindy with Flowers but no Motorcycle artistic shot No.3 at Ebor Falls

Cindy with Cicadas artistic shot No.2 on the Dyke River, named after a settler with sensible shoes

The café at Ebor had several motorcyclists attempting to dry sodden gear, but the rain meant that the waterfalls would be pumped up so after a quick bite and slight drying we went down to Ebor Falls. Here, where the water of the Guy Fawkes River has found its way through columnar basalt and worked at the weak spots, floods have broken through and pushed basalt lumps over the edge onto the harder rock below. The result is two sets of falls, creating a nuisance for visitors as there is a fair walk between the two, unless they are smart enough to realise that both falls are serviced by a bitumen road suitable even for heavy articulated vehicles. By now, water was falling a lot more heavily on Waterfall Way than was pleasant, and by the time we pulled up in Dorrigo it was relentless, so a quick meeting of heads of the motorcycle touring division was held to discuss the growing crisis. From our position under a shop awning we could see the Dorrigo Hotel was offering accommodation, so checked our dripping

Day 7 plan was to get to the ultimate destination of Evans Head. After breakfast in the Dorrigo Hotel we donned still slightly damp gear and headed north out of town for a quick stop at Dangar Falls on the Bielsdown River. With the viewing platform about 3 metres from the car park, there was no requirement to disrobe before a couple of quick photos and continuation on toward Coramba via the East Dorrigo Way. Once again rain set in, making sections of the track look as grippy as an oiled-up Sinead O’Connor. (wow how do I get rid of THAT image Duncan???? Ed...) We pressed on slowly, with the scariest part being the Paul Hughes Bridge, scene of his broken leg incident in 2016.

The Result of early settlers naming things after a few beers

Duncan Bennett - The Pigman Cometh The wet wooden planks had a thin film of red clay slime covering them, however it was safely negotiated by lining the bikes up dead straight and riding slowly and smoothly across, which turned out to be more successful than Paul’s method of starting a big high speed drifty while still on the bridge. Eventually we left the dirt and stopped for a much-appreciated morning tea refreshment at Coramba, on the Orara Way heading toward Grafton. Fortified with a heady mixture of scone, jam, and cream, it was back on for a bit of bitumen. Apart from seeing a group of red clay-misted and clearly traumatised Harley riders coming toward us, and a section of slippery wet red clay roadworks, the riding challenges were almost done. Cindy and I had a trial separation at Whiporie; I still hadn’t had enough dirt so took the Bungawalbin Road while Cindy stayed on the Summerland Way. My road cut across a big corner so at high speeds on the well-formed gravel road, and then at low speeds on the well-formed gravel road after a kangaroo incident, I arrived into Evans Head in time to find a spot for lunch and wait for Cindy to join me. After a solid week of riding, it was nice to check in to our accommodation at the Evans Head Bowls Club, do some laundry, and get some solid drinking practice in with gathering friends for the BMWMCQ Christmas Party the following night. On Day 9 we arrived back home, glad to be back as every day is perfect in Queensland and it never rains when riding.

The official GPS route which in hindsight was designed to resemble a diving seahorse

Duncan Bennett, member No.4171

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NICK HESE - December 2017

ick Hese provides regular blogs on Facebook which in their own right are a great read and very informative….For club members; Nick also provides a travelogue for the BMWMCQ Magazine and for members …enjoy..Ed.

ARGENTINA

obernador George’ s turned out to be a bit of a surprise, not a large town but long established to support the local rural community. Finding accomodation was not difficult but was a little surprising. I was led to a newly constructed house and told it’s yours for $35 Aus a night, WIFI, Cable TV, and secure parking all to myself. The big surprise was secure parking was in the kitchen. Hey, he is the owner, how can I refuse. It Turns out Pablo is the local Tourism Head and he took me on a drive around the town and a hike into the surrounding hills to explore Flora , Fauna and Mapuche Indian sights! The road South was 70 km of unmaintained road, which was a bit of a challenge, but we made it to El Chaiten, the Hiking Capitol of Patagonia. 3 nights in this Amazing place was gone in no time. It has 106 accommodation options, excluding the 3 campgrounds and 46 food/drink outlets, not bad for the middle of nowhere. I managed a few small hikes to Glaciers, waterfalls and lookouts, though the more ambitious manage 2 to 3 day hikes in the mountains. This place is popular, not just for hiking but, trout fishing, rafting and mountain climbing, the natural beauty is astounding. From El Chaiten it was off to El Calafete and the Perito Moreno glacier.

Continued on page 24

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NICK HESE - December 2017 Well after 70 km of great concrete road I arrived in Cerro Castillo and it turned bad from there. It was 15 km of the dreaded roadworks and about 70 more km of dirt ahead of me. After about 20 km the rain and wind returned, so I did too! The idea is to “survive the ride” and the lookout was not worth the risk.

What an amazing site! You could hear the glacier moving and see pieces falling off! The wind was quite strong but worth the 80 km trip to see it! Next stop is Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. Alas the weather has turned and the wind was is back with a vengeance. I had planned to camp and do some walking, only to discover all the walks are away from anywhere I can take the bike and the forecast is for rain and lots of it. I have a one day window in the week to day trip it, so that’s my best option.

My plan was to go to a lookout and at least admire the view.

Of course the winds returned later in the week and I made an early start to Punta Arenas, the last major centre in Chile, with a population of 150,000, must be the tax free status that brings them. The weather is quite variable with sun, rain and snow in the same hour! I managed to catch a “good” day and took a boat trip out to the Penguin sanctuary in the straights of Magellan. An amazing experience, walking through the colony with the penguins showing no fear at all!

NICK HESE - December 2017 After my week in Punta Arenas it was time to move on to Ushuaia, but did I pick a bad day! The winds turned out to be “Gale Force” which made anything I had seen before look like a mere puff of wind! After managing the 60 km Northwards with the wind on my left, I turned East and had a tail wind for 100km. Crossing the Straits Of Magellan was a rough ride with me having to hold the bike down for the entire crossing. More winds on Tierra del Fuego saw me stopping at Cerro Sombrero: an oil and mining centre, with prices to match. Next day dawned fine with not a puff of wind, but the good times would not last.

On the way to the Chile/Argentine Border is a new section of roadworks, after about 20 km it ends abruptly, with a steep, loose dirt ramp to take you back onto the “dirt road”, well the inevitable happened, 700km over some pretty miserable roads and I drop it at 1 kmh, locked the front wheel and could not touch the ground on the ramp and down I went.

FEBRUARY 2018

I managed to right it and head on my way. A night in Rio Grande saw me meet up with a French couple on a Super Tenere, whom I had befriended in Punta Arenas and we travelled together to Ushuaia. Of course the weather goods were against us and we had 80 km of rain whilst negotiating the tight winding roads into Ushuaia.

I am now ensconced in Ushuaia for a week of R and R over Christmas and hope to meet up with other bikers with the same idea. After that it’s North for a couple of months into Northern Brasil. Felice Navidad… till then.

Nick Hese

No damage except scratches on crash bar, rocker cover and pannier and my pride! So why is it when you have to pick up your bike no one comes past to help! Pannier, soft bag and tank bag removed:

FEBRUARY 2018

Tony Malone - Presidents Mystery 2017

The President’s Mystery Tour 2017

n annual duty falling to each President, and even though not contained in our (gender non-specific) Constitution, is to organise a mystery tour for the puzzlement and enjoyment of members. With the year coming to an end, I was a little concerned as to not having seen anything from President Richard as to what was happening, so it was with joy that I read that on Sunday 10 December 2017 we were to meet at Blacksoil at 08:00 for an 8:30 start. The mystery was enhanced by knowing that the morning break was to be at Laidley at a venue to be revealed. I could hardly wait to find out! Quite a few had gathered, and I guess about 24. Richard gave his briefing, and markers were assigned to their duties. Richard then led us along the Warrego Highway, turning off to the right taking us through to Lowood. The day was not too hot, and the fields were green – a very scenic mystery so far. We ended up on the Warrego again at Plainlands, and Richard led us over the hill into Laidley. These are roads that I had not travelled before, even though I had seen the turnoffs many times. Morning tea, as we had been told, was to be at the Eagle Rock Café. At the briefing, when this part of the Mystery had been revealed, I had visions of Ross Wilson and Daddy Cool performing “Hey Hey Hey, good old Eagle Rock’s here to stay, I’m just crazy ‘bout the way we move, Doin’ the Eagle Rock”, and a lot of hippy type people, sugar man and Mary Jane. The reality was different, with the theme of this (excellent) establishment being Rock and Roll in the 1950s, something quite similar to Happy Days. Of course, the Eagle had landed (which was the 1960s, and the Apollo Moon Mission, but I digress). I was truly mystified, but can recommend this as an excellent stop and worthy of your patronage, whether or not you have an Eagle, and/or a Duce Coupé. As the web page told us (and I quote), the ride carried “onwards around the back of Gatton, Helidon, Postman’s Ridge, Highfields, Meringandan, Goombungee, Haden, and then to the Grand Old Crow Pub in Crow’s Nest.” The reason I write it this way is because it was just a really enjoyable ride through great countryside. Rather than recalling the route, I will share some recollections of things that happened along the way. At one point we passed a ute, with a Harley Davidson Sportster in the back. I saluted the driver as we went by. After all, we are all motorcyclists regardless of the marque we favour or the number of cylinders (though I favour 2). The other observation is on the level of riding skill demonstrated by our members. I

guess that we have (generally) been riding for a long time, and the fun goes on. We made it to Crow’s Nest without any event, and had an excellent lunch on the veranda. It is always good to be sitting with fellow riders and reflecting on the events of the day. I went and had a look in Salt’s Antiques, and took a nap in the park before setting off on my way home. An excellent day, Richard, and another mystery solved. As to the eagles, I am sure that in my digression... I amAlone

tony malone - the last ride 2017

The Last Ride (for 2017)

he contingencies of (my) life mean not being able to take part in Club events as often as I would like. In truth this is simply due to a lack of effective organisation: when I should be just getting out there (which is not coming out) and just doing it. So when I saw that Anita Wyndham had organised the Last Ride for 2017 (prefaced as “(a) ride for those who are at a loose end over the break”), there were no valid excuses for not getting along; and I needed to end the year with some defiance. The day dawned bright and sunny, with a prediction of some rain (so what, it is a long time since I rode a Triumph – with points ignition, and a can of CRC in my back pocket! Further, a slippery surface enhances your abilities). Quite a few had gathered for the 08:15 start, and although I did not count I think that there were about 20 present, with a few to be gathered along the way. Anita delegated leadership duties to Paul Hughes, and his rider briefing followed. The corner marker system requires a tail-end Charlie; and even though he is not named Charles, Frank was nominated to fill the role. However Paul realised that as we were heading to the Border Ranges, we needed to have the Hills in front of us and not behind, and someone else was appointed to the task. The evolution of roads and the disappearance of farmland over the years is astounding. Who would have thought that there would be a direct sealed route from Progress Road to Yamanto to the East of Ipswich? I saw a lot of cyclists out pushing along the flatter roads. The first break was nominated for Boonah in the park next to the Iron Clydesdale, with Anita’s ginger cake being served. Continued on page35

The AMAZING 1.2 MILLION kl K75RT

FEBRUARY 2018

A million k’s and looking a million Dollars. Rod’s refurbishment has the K75 heading towards the Double Million

NICK HESE - January 2018 Nick Hese provides regular blogs on Facebook which in their own right are a great read and very informative….For club members; Nick also provides a travelogue for the BMWMCQ Magazine …enjoy..Ed.

THE 1.2 million KM K75RT

The K75 RT is a low seat version first registered 28th Jan 1994 by BMW Australia as a press bike for media evaluation. In early 1995 with 3000km on the clock it was sold to a guy south of Sydney who was a manager for a transport company: for the next 15 years, he used it as daily transport, doing a round trip of 250km a day, plus other work related commuting and touring throughout NSW and Vic. By 2009 the bike had clocked up 1.212 million kilometres and was looking a bit worse for wear. He was thinking about upgrading it and getting a K1200. This decision was taking out of his hands, when he hit a diesel spill that had caused an accident he was passing through. He managed to catch the rear but dropped it when the front let go. Fairings screen and panniers were heavily damaged. He bought the K1200 and eventually passed on the bike to a mate as a project. The mate couldn’t cope with the weight and passed it on also. The current owner received it in a partially dismantled state, with broken bits of fairing and pannier. His first task was to clean the wheels which he thought were black but when hit with a pressure washer they were revealed as pristine condition silver. The fairing and panniers were pieced together by plastic welding and fibre glassing, steering head bearing rollers had embedded themselves into the races due to the high mileage of freeway work, and were replaced. The bike was repainted in black twopac: a new windscreen replaced the badly weathered original, the worn out seat was redone, as well as the rear shock being rebuilt. The bike is currently being used on a semi regular basis. This information was taken from a 2014 issue of “Old Bike Australasia” magazine. There is no mention of the engine or transmission history. Gary Bennett

hristmas in Ushuaia turned into a bit of an anticlimax, plenty of bikers about but no organised event, perhaps the snow and wind put them off. I did manage to do a boat trip out to the Beagle Chanel and also marvel at people who could afford Antarctic cruises, with last minute deals starting at $8500 US!

Heading north again I made brief stops in Rio Grande and Cerro Sombrero, where I was welcomed back into the hostel like family!

Continued on page29

FEBRUARY 2018

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f you have enjoyed reading the stories in this and previous editions, you may be surprised to know that they were written by members just like you. Therefore you can be assured others would like to hear your story. Send your stories and pictures or requests for help to editor@bmwmcq.org.au

NICK HESE - ARGENTINA JANUARY 2018 - cont

FEBRUARY 2018

The winds had returned so I made a dash for the ferry and the mainland, alas a two hour wait for the ferry ensued, enabling the winds to increase and make for an enjoyable ride. Next stop was a couple of days in Rio Gallegos to ring in the New Year. A somewhat uninspiring town but I shared New Year with some Brazilian bikers on their way South to Ushuaia. The next few days North through , Puerto San Julian, Fitz Roy and Commodoro Riviadavia were a test of endurance, with wind , rain and monotonous flat scenery, to finally arrive in Trelew, and old Welsh town. I discovered a fantastic Municipal campground by the Rio Negro at General Conesa. Argentina has many Municipal campgrounds and the quality can vary widely but on a 35 degree day this hit the spot! I was fortunate to share the evening and a few drinks with an Argentinian biker couple and we shared stories into the night. One great thing is the camaraderie shared by bikers on the road, despite language barriers: always a few tips to be had on, what to see and avoid or a good campground. One major change has been the landscape; where the South was Hilly, barren and windswept, suitable for cattle and sheep: the area North of Bahia Blanca is flat with fields of corn, sunflower and wheat. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be forgiven for thinking you were on the Western Darling Downs. The weather has also changed with the temps jumping 10 to 15 degrees and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only going to get warmer further North.

This town and the small village of Gaiman, about 15 km away were founded by Welsh settlers in 1885, brought out to establish a railway. Well the railway is long gone but the Welsh connection is still very strong, with street names, flags and tea houses! The sun finally made an appearance so it was off to Puerto Madryn, a small version of Surfers Paradise, catering for the summer tourist trade. It is also UNESCO listed due to the variety of marine life from Whales to Dolphins, Orcas, Seals and Penguins, a spot of camping was landed on the Valdez peninsula but one night of Scorching sun, holiday crowds and filthy campground convinced me to move to on.

I kept pushing North towards Buenos Aires, where I have a week R and R planned, but stopped for a night a Moto Refugio Ruta 22 at Argien. Argentina has a moto travel group called Moto Viajeros, who share support and accommodation with other bikers, based on the internet, which I have been joined up too.

Continued on page 31

FEBRUARY 2018

BMWMCQ 2018 Events Calendar

BMWMCQ EVENTS FOR 2018 MONTH

START

EVENT

LOCATION

CONTACT

JANUARY Monday 1 Thursday 11

All Day 7:30 pm

Monday 15 Wednesday 17 Saturday 20 Friday 26 - 28 Friday 26 Sunday 28 Tuesday 30

7:30 pm

Sunday 14

FEBRUARY Thursday 1 Sunday 4 Monday 5

Friday 9 - 11

Wednesday 14 Wednesday 21 Saturday 24 Sunday 25 Tuesday 27

MARCH

6:30 am

9:30 am 8.00 All Day 11.00 am 6:30 pm 7.30 pm

7:30 pm Various

All Day 6:30 pm 9:30 am 11.00 am 6:30 pm

Thursday 1

7:30 pm

Monday 5

7:30 pm

Wednesday 21 Saturday 24 Sunday 25 Tuesday 27

6:30 pm 9:00 am 11.00 am 6.30 pm

Sunday 4

Saturday 17-18

Friday 30

APRIL

TBA

Various

NEW YEAR’S DAY Moreton Bay Sports Club

Club Meeting Richard Maher Club Ride - Jolly’s Lookout Mt Nebo for Ride to Farmers Arms after breakfast – Breakfast (bring your own New England Highway food tea etc.) Committee Meeting Yeronga Services Club Fairfield Road Hamilton Hotel Dinner Meet Kingsford Smith Drive Ascot Saturday Coffee Run Cafe 63 Sinnamon Park Crow’s Nest and Bunya Mountains Getaway more details to follow AUSTRALIA DAY Maleny Pub 6 Bunya St Maleny Paul Hughes Sunday Brunch Run German Club Woolloongabba Dave Hepburn Club Meeting Club Ride Committee Meeting

Moreton Bay Sports Club Richard Maher TBA Yeronga Services Club Fairfield Road 30km North of Dungog NSW 41st Karuah River Rally Contact BMW Touring Club NSW VALENTINE’S DAY Hamilton Hotel Dinner Meet Kingsford Smith Drive Ascot Saturday Coffee Run Flying Nun Cafe Samford Village Sunday Brunch Run TBA German Club Woolloongabba Dave Hepburn Club Meeting and ANNUAL General Meeting Club Ride - Sunday Ride To Yangan Hotel Committee Meeting

Moreton Bay Sports Club

Richard Maher

13 King St Yangan Richard Maher 4664 8190 Yeronga Services Club Fairfield Road Pomona – Accommodation in Kin Kin Movie Weekender Saturday Night Hamilton Hotel Dinner Meet Kingsford Smith Drive Ascot Saturday Coffee Run TBA Sunday Brunch Ride TBA German Club Woolloongabba Dave Hepburn ST GOOD FRIDAY – EASTER SATURDAY – APRIL 1 EASTER SUNDAY – APRIL 2ND EASTER MONDAY

NICK HESE - ARGENTINA JANUARY 2018 - cont Language issues aside it is quite helpful. This Refugio is run by one of their members and has beds, kitchen, bathrooms and breakfast all for $11, a steal. You also have the company of other riders from around the world! I was passed on to another member 400 km up the road at Azul, getting so close to BA. A Similar deal and even cheaper, with a biker Asado (BBQ) on the Friday night. Looking at the wall I note Ken and Carol Duval have stayed here and Peter and Kay Forwood! You could spend a day reading the graffiti!

To top it off I have been trying to photograph Flamingos, but always at a distance, Jorge has 3 in his garden! On the subject of birds I had a bird hit me at 110kmh right in the middle of my visor, not sure who was more shocked, I did not stop to ask the bird! So after a safe arrival in Buenos Aires I set of to explore all those tourist sites we all know and a few I didn’t! Of course arrival in BsAs was never going to be easy: I picked a Sunday for less traffic but had to negotiate 3 blocks of cobble road, with disused tram tracks, in the rain! Just to remind me this is an adventure! The first thing I encountered in my explorations was Ave 9 July. A mere 22 lanes of manic traffic: divided by a few bus lanes. Widest street in the world!

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I guess you need this in a megatropolis of 14 million! Whilst no Tango dances were conducted, I did the La Recoleta cemetery (very impressive), La Casa Rosada (think Evita) and many other sites by foot!

Time for a Rest! but before that, 2 new tyres are required the Mitas E07 have been on just over 10,000 km , but I don’t think they will last to Rio, so new Heidenaus’ are fitted. With 25% inflation rate here they are not cheap, but at least I have them.

Nick Hese

FEBRUARY 2018

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From business card to full page, all sizes are available. The BMWMCQ journal is distributed to members throughout Queensland and is also displayed in QLD dealerships. In addition, copies are sent interstate to other BMW affiliated Clubs. Get your message out to people who own, ride and restore BMW motorcycles. Rates are below. Phone your requests to Don Grimes - Ph: 0411 601 372 Colour - Back Cover

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B & W - Business Card $100.00 All advertising should be related to motorcycling in general. The committee reserves the right to reject any advertising that is deemed inappropriate, in any way. Advertising content can be changed at any time (monthly in the journal and any time on the web site) provided the advertisements reside on the advertiser’s server. All journal ad changes must be submitted by the cut-off date specified on the Events page. All journal ads are to be supplied by the advertisers in PDF format.

around the workshops - MMM Boxerworks The modern amenities that visitors enjoy today at the woolshed are credit to Mark’s stewardship. He still plays an active role heading up the Friends of the Woolshed Group and organises the annual Woolshed Classic Motorcycle Rally.

Mark’s love of the BMW brand and airheads in particular goes back many years indicated by his club membership number 1123. Friends from the club helped out during and after the 2011 Brisbane Floods to get gear shifted and the shed premises cleaned.

Many of those friends are also current club members and it is those relationships and associations with the BMW brand that Mark treasures. He started the Boxerworks business at the shed in July 2016 envisaging that he would undertake basic servicing for any bikes in the airhead range built between 1971 and 1996. Very quickly he realised that there was a greater demand for more extensive work to keep these ageing warriors of the road in tip top condition. Specialist practitioners in such things as bottom end rebuilds, machining and tooling were sourced as well as parts suppliers both local and international. Bikes in the shed at the time of my visit included an R60/6 that required an extensive rebuild following a road accident. It looked a treat and purred like a kitten at a stroke of the electric leg.

FEBRUARY 2018

Mark rated a complete rebuild of an R90/6 that had sat idle for almost 20 years as his biggest project to date. He had the bike for some 9 months before the Sydney based owner collected and rode it home. You can read the owners praise for Mark’s work on MMM’s Facebook page.

Like all wise men (no not those three) Mark realises that he has his limitations and knows when he needs to seek advice. Fortunately he has a mentor, wise and experienced, who is only too happy to share his knowledge and experience. Michael Schnerring has been a friend for many years and is still Mark’s ‘turn to’ guy when the occasion demands. Following in Michael’s mentoring footsteps, Mark welcomes customers who want to help to work on and learn more about their bikes. Certainly this is unusual but refreshing workshop practice in these days of rampant liability claims.

This mantra of shared knowledge led Mark in company with another local BMW identity, John Olive, to start the Airheads BMW Motorcycle Riders Facebook Group in 2006/07. Today this truly international group boasts 11,184 members.

Continued on page 35

FEBRUARY 2018

• BMW trained technicians; • BMW national service technician of 2006 (metro winner), Adrian Cash; • Log Book Service followed by BMW Motorrad Maintenance Schedule; • BMW software used for diagnosis; • Re-set service light, time & distance; • Great deals on the leading brands of motorcycle tyres.

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around workshops-MMM BOXERWORKS His own MMM’s Boxerworks Facebook site has over 1,000 followers and carries many self-made videos describing service and repair techniques for different models in the airhead range. The videos are delivered in a simple uncomplicated manner and are a great learning resource.

FEBRUARY 2018

During this time Mark fielded a phone call chasing timing advice from a club member and had a look at another club member’s bike that had an unidentified oil leak. Another regular visitor was a local magpie who drops in for his daily mince ball. During this time music played softly in the background and Mark’s wife Narelle dropped by with his lunch. It’s hard to think of a more relaxed or enjoyable way to spend your time. No wonder he smiles so much.

Tony Gray

tony malone - the last ride - cont

After swapping a few yarns, and being reminded how police motorcycles now seem to carry radars along with officers doing their duty, we headed off to the Lions Road through Rathdowney. The plan was to stop at the Border Loop lookout. Quite a few people have the same idea, and the crowd waxes and wanes. I heard a machine coming from the South making a lot of 4-Cylinder noise, and the rider pulled into the parking area wearing a resplendent set of full leathers. One never knows what lies under the helmet, and this rider was of somewhat advanced years. Motorcycling makes us young! We then gathered to carry onto Kyogle, for the nominated lunch stop at the Commercial Hotel. It was wonderfully air-conditioned, with an appealing menu. We gathered around a few tables joined together, and continued the conversations. After an hour or so, it was time to leave. Participants left in different directions, some alone and others in company. My return took me along the Summerland Way back to Mt Lindsay Highway (the most fantastic cambered corners, all taken at or under the speed limit), then left before Rathdowney to (generally, but not exactly) retrace the morning’s route. Thanks to Anita for organising this ride, to Paul for leading, and to all for being there; as while it may have been the last for 2017, there are surely many more (and years) to come! As to my return, when it comes to deciding on the best route to take, I prefer it when.....

I amAlone

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