JUNE 2018
www.bmwmcq.org.au
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF QUEENSLAND INC. Established 1958
The Ultimate Riding Machine
MAKE LIFE A RIDE.
TEAMMOTO BMW SPRINGWOOD 59 Moss Street, Springwood I (07) 3442 1397 teammotobmwspringwood.com.au *National Promotional Ride Away Price with no other optional extras. Offer applies to motorcycles ordered and delivered between 1 April and 30 June 2018, at participating BMW Motorrad dealers. While stocks last, cannot be combined with any other offer. Stock may vary between BMW Motorrad dealers. Excludes fleet, government and rental buyers. Consult your participating BMW Motorrad dealer for further details. BMW Group Australia reserves the right to change or extend the offer. *All models include Stylin’ Package, Spoked Wheels.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF QUEENSLAND INC.
The Committee President- Paul Hughes Ph: 0409 814 633 President@bmwmcq.org.au 1200 GS / 700 GS
Vice President - Richard Maher Ph: 0418 197 709 vpres@bmwmcq.org.au R 1150 R
Secretary - Duncan Bennett Ph: 0458 293 569 secretary@bmwmcq.org.au R 850 R
Treasurer - John Eacott
Ph: 0428 383 826 treasurer@bmwmcq.org.au 2017 K1600GT 2016 R1200GS Tripple Black
Editor - Dave Hepburn
Ph: 0422 080 524 editor@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 RT
Records- Greg Gaffney
Ph: 0411424 219 records@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 RT & R 90 S
Events -Anita Wyndham Ph: 0414 431 751 events@bmwmcq.org.au F 650 GS
Regalia - Cindy Bennett
Ph: 0401 610 671 regalia@bmwmcq.org.au F 700 GS
This Issue - MAY 2018 Contents:-
EDITORIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 COMMITTEE REPORTS . . . . . . . . . . 5 SIGNS OF GERMANY TONY GRAY. . . 7 GENERAL MEETING MINUTES. . . . . 11 BMWMCQ 60th GALA DINNER . . . . . 12 FRIGIT DIGIT 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . 14 CROSSING THE BORDER FOR A FEED. 15 CLUB RIDE - WOODFORD . . . . . . . 16 BMW CA MOTORRAD RALLY. . . . . . 18 BMW SERVICE PACKAGES . . . . . . . 20 SOUTH OF THE BORDER . . . . . . . . 22
BMWMCQ SUPPORTS. . . . . . . . . . . 28 NEW VENUE GENERAL MEETINGS. . 29 BMWMCQ EVENTS CALENDAR 2017. 30 NICK HESE SA TRIP 18 APRIL 2018 . 31 CUPLA ADVERTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 ELLASPEDE’S DUST HUSTLE. . . . . . 33 REFLECTON ON 60 YEARS . . . . . . . 34 CULLENDORE WEEKEND. . . . . . . . 35
Advertisers
TeamMoto FRONT Cover
Coloundra Motorcycles Cafe2U - P.28 Good Wool Store - P.32 Munich Motorcycles - P.32 Northside Motorcycles - P.34 Morgan and Wacker-BACK Cover
O
n The Cover...I am told on good authority that the R80GS BMW Motorcycle on the front cover is a fugitive from the Swiss Embassy, rescued and given a good home by one of our members (Ron). The photo was taken on the Cullendore Road just on the Queensland side of the Border Gate........Ed.
Tools/Spares - Bill Luyten
Ph: 0438 123 747 tools@bmwmcq.org.au R1150 Rockstar - R1200 GS LC Sub Committee
• Dealer Liaison / Advertising - Don Grimes Ph: 0411 601 372 • Forum Moderator - Garry Hilton
Club Details BMW Motorcycle Club of Queensland Inc.
2. Improving the service and availability of spare parts for BMWs in Queensland using the advantage of a united effort.
Address all correspondence to: The Secretary PO Box 3669 South Brisbane QLD 4101
4. Organising day trips, tours and outings.
ABN 30 351 243 651
Monthly meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at the:
Geebung RSL Club
323 Newman Road Geebung 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.
3. Decreasing maintenance and running costs by mutual assistance on mechanical problems. 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
4
JUNE 2018
Dave Hepburn
Editorial Editor’s Report
Today is the 31st of May 2018 and tomorrow is the first day of winter and if the forecasters are accurate it means that tomorrow will be the coldest start to winter in the last 12 years. It is time to dig out the thermals folks. We can’t really complain; the weather for the last three months has been absolutely brilliant. That’s why we live in Queensland. There has been a plethora of club activities over the last month and June will be no exception. We have a GS 101 ride on the 3rd and celebrate the Club’s 60 years of existence on Saturday the 16th then there is the normal monthly club ride, coffee and brunch runs and anything else we may think of. I am pleased to advise members that Nick Hese has returned to Australia after his demise in South America. He is recovering well but has some time to go yet. That is about it for me. I look forward to having a great night at the Gala Diner. Stay shiny side up. At the May General Meeting Gary Bennett presented to the President, Paul Hughes, a certificate and USB drive comemorating all Gary’s very good work and relentless efforts to document, for all posterity, digital records of all the Club’s Journals. I take this opportunity as Editor and for all other Editors, to thank Gary for his efforts and spectacular results.
Committee Reports Paul Hughes
T
JUNE 2018
5
President’s Report
his month marks one of the highlights of our 60th year anniversary celebrations. The Dinner on June 16 will highlight a photographic mosaic history of the club along with discussions on what the club means to individual members over the 60 years. We will also be recognising and celebrating our Life Members. I would encourage you to make your bookings as soon as possible as we have to finalise numbers in the first week of June. It will be a great night with members recognising why clubs exist and why this club is so important and the great diversity of members and their interests. Please join us. The club has had some great opportunities presented to us by member Gary Bennett. Gary has, single handed, digitalised 50 years of our club journals. That right 50 years. Every journal the club has ever produced. That is an amazing feat. We are now investigating ways of making those journals available to all members. Greg Gaffney will have an answer on that very soon. Gary has also produced a list of club Presidents. Amazing the number people who have doubled (and more) up since our inception 60 years ago. We will be presenting this list at the 60th dinner. Top try scorer is Richard Maher at 6 presidencies. He needs a drink…… The Club Christmas Party is always a special event with great frivolity and renewed friendships. This year it will be held on Saturday Dec 01 at Tin Can Bay. The dinner will be at the Marina Restaurant and the town is offering accommodation at all price levels and discounts to boot. Details will be published very soon but please make a date saver for this annual fantastic event. Lots of activities are being rolled out by Anita over the coming months: with club rides, GS rides, lunch rides, Coffee mornings, Rallies (Frigid Digit end of July) and many other events and opportunities yet to be announced. Please get involved and support the members who put a lot of work into these events. I recently attended a “Lights and Tastes of Brisbane” night ride superbly organised by Richard and Wendy de Groot. It was a fabulous ride around the greater city highlights and fantastic Asian food. Richard organised this on behalf of the Sunny Coast Group. There is already talk amongst participants to get another one together. The riding weather lately has been perfect. Quite a few members took advantage of this at the Ruptured Budgie rally near Tenterfield. Richard has some stunning photos of this much treasured event. I hope to see more members becoming involved in the organisation of and participation in, club events and activities. We are a social group of people from many walks of life with a common interest in motorcycles… BMW ones at that. None of us bite so please come along and enjoy yourself. I remind you all of the BMW Motorrad Rally which is on the September/October long weekend near Lithgow. This event provides great riding opportunities to get to the destination and lots of great camaraderie when you get there. Details can be found on BMWMCACT web site and in this journal. Ride safe and enjoy.....Paul
6
JUNE 2018
Richard Maher
FROM THE CAMERA OF RICHARD MAHER
Committee Reports Vice President’s Report
Committee Reports John Eacott 9:52 AM 07/05/18 Cash Basis
7
JUNE 2018
Treasurer’s Report
BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF QUEENSLAND INC.
Profit & Loss
February 2018 through January 2019 Feb 18 - Jan 19 Ordinary Income/Expense Income Advertising Income Interest Received Membership Fees Other Income Regalia Sales Total Income Expense Affiliation Fees Australia Post / Post Box Rent Badges Anniversary Badges Total Badges Computer maintenance Depreciation Expense Gifts and Donations Government Charges Internet Services Office Supplies PayPal commission Printing and Stationery Regalia Cost of Goods Sold Website Domain Expenses Website Maintenance
7,413.96 250.00 191.00 300.00 300.00 397.10 1,270.92 630.60 53.50 276.12 33.46 53.50 242.00 792.00 32.89 1,540.00
Total Expense
6,063.09
Net Ordinary Income
1,350.87
Net Income
I
900.00 0.93 3,423.03 2,520.00 570.00
1,350.87
Inter-State Traffic Infringements
t has become apparent that some members are often spooked by the Double Demerit Points in NSW during holiday periods, despite being Queensland members riding on Queensland licences. As an Inter-State licence holder you will not incur double points on your licence (unless you fall foul of the Queensland double demerit point scheme). An Inter-State licence authority cannot apply demerit points to a licence outside their jurisdiction. Essentially, in the case of Inter-State TINs (Traffic Infringement Notices) the financial or punitive penalty is applied by the State in which the offence occurs, but, the licence penalty is always controlled by the State of issue of that licence in accordance with the penalties applicable in that State. It matters not what the listing of offences says in the manner of demerit points for other States; you will only have the applicable demerit points applied to your licence in accordance with Queensland legislation. The downside of course, is that if you have a TIN for an offence on your Queensland licence and incur another penalty for the same offence within 12 months anywhere in Australia, double demerit points will be applied back in Queensland as if the offence had occurred within Queensland. Upside is that, for instance, a speeding offence in Victoria of >25kph over the posted speed limit, which would incur a three-month suspension there, would only incur the Queensland demerit points for the offence as our suspension is applied for speeds >40kph. But wait, there’s more! The State in which a suspension would have occurred, but was not applied at the time, keep records; if you move to that State in some point in the dim and distant future and apply for a change of licence to that State: Gotcha! They will then apply the suspension to your new licence, even if it occurred following an accumulation of 12 or more demerit points in that State over a period of time. Clear as mud? Sometimes it benefits the Road Safety authorities to maintain a belief (e.g. NSW DD being applicable to all) in the expectation that it will improve safety and decrease accidents. On that, M’Lord, the Defence rests.
8
JUNE 2018
Anita Wyndham The committee has been busy this month finalising arrangements for the 60th Anniversary Dinner. By all accounts it’s going to be a great night so I hope you have all got your tickets. I’m looking forward to seeing all the finery instead of black riding gear. This month Duncan Bennett has volunteered to lead a ride through the Scenic Rim for all the GS riders. Note that although there is nothing very technical in the ride, there is a mix of dirt and tar, it is recommenced that it’s not the first time the participants have been on gravel roads and that you have a GS bike and dual sport tyres. Richard Maher is leading the monthly club ride on 10th June to Tumbulgum Tavern. As he was out enjoying the Ruptured Budgie ride this month he has not yet provided a start time or location so watch the club webpage or the Facebook event for further details. Now for a little culture: I recently went to the Patricia Piccinini exhibition being held at GOMA, Southbank. As part of the exhibition there was a series of fibreglass pieces. The one picture is one of three and is titled The Stags made from fibreglass, automotive paint, leather, steel, plastic, and tyres. If you some time take a wander across the river (assuming you live on the wonderful northside) and see how other motorcycle parts, including protective gear, have been used as art. All the details for this month’s events are up on both the club webpage and Facebook
Greg Gaffney
O
Committee Reports Events Coords Report so make sure you check the details of the ride before heading out. If you would like to arrange a ride, send the details to events@bmwmcq.org.au to have them posted into the Club calendar. Happy riding everyone and remember …. Ride your own ride. Anita Wyndham.... events@bmwmcq.org.au
Records Officers Report
n Saturday I went on the GS 101 recce ride with Duncan and Warwick. This was the first time I had ridden fast on dirt for over 40 years. What a blast! Cindy was extremely nice to loan me her F700GS for the day and what a machine it was. It certainly felt small and light compared to my RT but what a wolf in sheep’s clothing! The engine was powerful and smooth with endless generous torque. The handling was thoroughly enjoyable as is just did everything asked of it with no questions and no complaints. When constantly going from dirt to bitumen and back to dirt again however you had to ensure you were in Enduro mode or you would feel the back wheel braking and bucking if the surface was lose. What great technology. Duncan chose some great back roads to Boonah for morning tea and some more interesting challenges on our way to the Scenic Rim Brewery. Thanks again to Cindy for the loan of her bike and Duncan and Warwick for a great day. Greg Gaffney.... records@bmwmcq.org.au Check out the great photo on Page 10 ....Ed.
Committee Reports Bill Luyten Contact Tools Officer:
Service Day:
Bill Luyten 0438 123 747 (wluyten@bigpond .net .au) or Club email: spares@bmwmcq.org.au
T
he Club is planning to hold a Service Day in July at a date still to be set. If you want to service or do a repair/maintenance on your bike; start getting the spares and info on what’s required. We also have various service manuals for K and R bikes. The club has a bunch of special tools (see below) and a metric tool kit with most of what you’ll need.
Last of the Spares/Tools for sale at Half Price
Filters - Air K Series K1200 (LX628) x2 $8.00ea Brake Pads 520HF - R60, R75, R80, R100 x1 @ $14.00ea Spark Plugs XR5DC (K/R1100) Bosch Super x2 @ $5.00ea Tools Oil filter removing tool - (OCS 1) K/R4V x1 @ $7ea
Tools for Loan: There are special tools available including the GS-911WiFi and 3 pin diagnostic tools. Special Tools: Twinmax electronic carburettor 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)
9
JUNE 2018
Tool’s Report GS-911 3 pin interface Tyre Pressure Monitor Sensor (TPMS) tool Enduralast hall sensor tester Club Tool Loan: There is a $50 deposit (refundable) for the loan of the GS911. Tools and spares can be picked up or brought along to the next meeting or Club ride. Bill Luyten spares@bmwmcq.org.au
From the Pen of Jane Gray FLUTTERBIES RUN JEGMay2018
In April on one of the Club’s Sunday lunch rides We were four lovely ladies & twice as many guys We came from all over not needing any guides We all knew the way to our favourite, Flutterbies Through Canungra & Beechmont, up over the range The weather just perfect – even cool for a change The Numinbah Valley weaves a magic so strange Just a few corners to Tyalgum as arranged Flutterbies Café has evolved over time It’s becoming so popular it’s almost a crime Big hearty lunches and desserts so divine All wholesome goodness, no fast food will you find Relaxed & refreshed with the chatting all done We all headed home in the afternoon sun No time to meander we took the highway run We’re all in agreeance – these ride days are fun!
Submissions for the Next Journal (JULY 2018 Edition) closes on 15 JUNE 2018 - Just so’es y’all know!!!!
10
JUNE 2018
Cindy Bennett
Committee Reports Regalia Officer’s Report
W
e have a limited number of the 60th anniversary cloth badges remaining, get in quick if you haven’t got one as yet. They are a bargain at $10 each and you can catch me at the monthly meeting or send me an email and I can arrange delivery. There will be Frigid Digit long sleeve t-shirts produced this year with the logo on the front and list of Digit locations on the reverse. Cost is $34 each and they are good quality 100% pre-shrunk cotton in charcoal colour. These will be produced to order, so show me your money and let me know your size by mid-June. See separate advert in the Journal for a picture....Cheers Cindy.
FYI NEW APPAREL GUIDELINES
Members please CLICK on the link below to access the new and relaxed international Apparel Guideline now available for use by BMW Clubs world wide.......Ed.
The new and relaxed BMW Apparel Guidelines are now available https://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/content/dam/bmw-group-Websites/bmwgroupclassic_com/bmw_clubs/ downloads/sonstiges/bmw_clubs_guideline_apparel_english_20171212.pdf
Committee Reports Duncan Bennett
JUNE 2018
11
Secretary’s Report
T
his month has seen the newsletters from NSW and NZ as usual, and a build-up in membership applications. In June we have the GS 101 ride, two Triumphs locked in so far so let’s not create a major embarrassment, all GS’s need to book in. Cheers Duncan
BMWMCQ Meeting Agenda/Minutes 3 May 2018 Venue: Geebung RSL Meeting Opened: Apologies: Minutes of Previous Generel Meeting:
7:35pm Tony and Jane Gray. Matt Leitch. Mel Cramer, Bill Luyten. Maggie and George. Ron Durkin. Tony Malone. Murray Brown. Accepted: Geoff Hodge
Seconded: Darryl Number of Attendees: 42 New Members (Name & MC): Nil Visitors: Nil Returning Members: Peter Dee, 30 years ago joined. 1200GS Treasurer Report: Current bank balance $20303.49. Balance sheets and P&L’s available. Editor Report: Deadline 15th month as usual. 50 straight years of journals was reached in March. Tools Report: Service day in mid-July, C.Brown place. Regalia Report: Pins to be distributed at dinner, it has come out well. Cloth badges available $10 each. Frigid Digit shirt being considered. Records Report: 246 members. 4 came through in mail for April, 250 appprox. New members need to fill out a disclaimer. Paul acknowledged Greg’s efforts in sorting out everything. Events Report: Coffee morning for May Arte Gusto in Honour Rd Graceville. May Sunday lunch ride to Ravensbourne. Ruptured Budgie 19/20 May. Peter - Moto Guzzi Club, bar at good prices, camping, food available, gobble the sausage, wet t-shirt, would like to see more members attend. Turn right from Stanthorpe. 16th June 60th anniversary reminder. Strict-ish requirements on dress. Frigid Digit Gary Bennett: 28/29 July. All accommodation booked out but plenty of camping available, heaps of kitchen capacity available, excellent ride. $15 per person for camping, good amenities available. Leave from Mt Coot-tha as usual. Secretary Report: 4 x new membership application forms received. NZ April newsletter received. NSW April newsletter x 2, NSW May newsletter x 2. Dealer Liaison Report: Good news on Morgan & Wacker customer focus, 4.5 year old 1300K, replaced it without problems. Seem to be more customer focused than usual. Springwood may offer some stuff. Vice President Report: Plenty of bikes being offered to Richard. 1997 copy of 2 wheels, picture of Charlie on a zebra bike, Bruce Gaskin in there. Many old blokes when they had hair photos. 17th May. M&W track day at Lakeside, RM photographing. President Report: 60th dinner, don’t leave to last minute to book. BMW bike display will be there, if any classics available please see RM. Nationals - since last report difficulty in organising; Stanthorpe came to the party; then BMW Motorad Clubs Aust dictated must be Oct weekend. ACT doing it on 28/29 September - 1 October this year.
12
12
JUNE 2018
BMWMCQ 60th BIRTHDAY BASH
BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL - VIRGINIA Corner Sandgate and Zillmere Roads Boondall
T
he clubs penultimate activity in our 60th year is a formal dinner to be held at the Brisbane International Hotel Virginia on June 16 2018. This will be a fabulous night amongst members of many years duration. Accommodation is available in limited numbers at the hotel.
To book accommodation please ring 07 32657066 and ensure you mention it is for the BMWMCQ to gain your preferential rate. Dress code is a minimum of jacket and tie, but I am aware of a lot of people that will be wearing full formal attire. To book your place at this prestigious event you need to follow the following process closely: THE COST FOR THE DINNER IS $70 PER HEAD. A COMMEMORATIVE BMW 60TH YEAR METAL PIN IS INCLUDED IN THE COST OF EACH TICKET DRINKS ARE TO YOUR OWN ACCOUNT.
Deposit to the Clubs Bank Account BSB 124001.....Account # 10243020 You must include in the comments section of the deposit, your name and numbers you are paying for. ie. Hughes x2 etc. Once money is deposited you must email the TREASURER: treasurer@bmwmcq.org.au....and confirm your deposit details. Please do not miss any of these steps. Further information on the nights agenda will be released closer to the evening Limited seats at the dinner are available, so book now to ensure you are included. Paul Hughes President
MINUTES General Meeting MAY cont.....
JUNE 2018
13
President Report:...Continued Close to Bathurst, motel accommodation short supply. Offer of $20 tickets for 310GS at event. 660 tickets maximum. Then Frank had a go and talked about something. Biscuit ride. Planned. Glass House Lookout, BYO lunch at Logan Inlet (Wivenhoe Dam). Xmas Party – QLD coastal location, Tin Can Bay. 1 December, some confusion as to which day is Saturday. Gary Bennett has digitised every journal the club has ever produced – fabulous effort. BMW community newsletter – sign up recommended. Facebook – Government response on safety on motorcycles and cycles discussed. Discussion about sending stuff to the minister etc. Jim asked a question about motorcycle only lanes, heard nothing. Back to the Bush – nothing organised yet by anyone – need volunteers. Glue that holds the clubs together is friendships, lots of small issues can damage the club so don’t get petty. Month Ride: Puma Citiswich 7:30 for depart 8:00am. Next to Farmer’s Arms 10:00am morning Leader: Frank Hills tea, Woodford Pub lunch. 315km for ride. Clubs Australia Clubs Australia meeting and related activities summarised in detail by John Eacott. Discussion about electric vehicles. As of Tuesday 1 May, BMW Motorrad fixed price servicing now available for bikes that do 10,000 km and less. Sales figures picked up for BMW by 4-5%, HD dropped by 18%. GS dropped off remarkably. 1600 Bagger doing well, good bike. Have a new BMW car club approved – drivers club Melbourne. Chair of BMW International attended AGM, clubs in Aust have held a strong example for the rest of the world. Well on side with motorcyclists. Clubs have a new guideline for regalia, now on-line, a lot more flexible on logos and clothing. Rally in October already discussed. New President Gary Smee, President of BMW MCc ACT, not dictatorial about how clubs should be run. John had a few trinkets to chuck in the raffle mix. 17/19 May 2019 the SA Pelican rally is on. Kilometers important to record, dealers should know how much value we add with tyres, servicing and consumables. Other Events/Buy/Sell/Swap: Air compressor sold to raffle - $25. Paul: Rukka gloves, and a pair of extra large Hein Gericke gloves. General Business: Last Saturday Eagle Rock café- Blues Brothers movie, good night, do it all again next year. Nick Hess – regular contributor to journal, serious injuries in Sth America. Pudding – on far south coast of NSW at Merimbula, looking for someone to ride it up. Charlie – Red Rock was going to be on same weekend as National Rally, need to pick another date. Closed: 8:48pm
14
JUNE 2018
FRIGIT DIGIT - The Mystery Weekender
MYSTERY WEEKENDER FOLLOWING A PROUD TRADITION OF OVER 22 YEARS, 3 “BEST ORGANISED RIDE AWARDS”, TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED OF MORE THAN 9,500km, MORE THAN 600 PARTICIPANTS AND 13 DESTINATIONS.
BMWMCQ PRESENTS
THE 2018 FRIGID DIGIT The Tradition:
A Mystery Weekender on the last weekend in July, travelling on great motorcycling sealed roads to a within 2.5 hours from Brisbane and guaranteed to be cold: Camping and Cabin Accommodation: BYO Food. Enjoy each others company at social gatherings at morning tea, lunch and in the evening and cap the night off with some warming liquids telling yarns around a campfire. Some previous destinations have included, Queen Mary Falls, Jondaryan, Esk, Goomburra, Binna Burra, Bunya Mountains, Stanthorpe and Kilkivan.
This Year:
It’s on again (28~29th July) and the location, revealed on the morning of departure, has a reputation of being cold. Ride directions are handed out on the morning of departure or a GPS Route is emailed out the night before which will guide us, via morning tea and lunch stops, on our journey to the mystery destination. So get your camping gear ready and fluff up the sleeping bag, because it’s going to be a lot colder than Brisbane.
Camp Details:
Camping costs $15 per person. You will need to bring your own food and camping equipment. Excellent amenities with hot showers and fireplaces to cook your meals or you can use the well equipped Camp Kitchen.
Cabin Details:
$70 for 1 or 2 people and $12 for each extra person. BYO sleeping bag or linen can be supplied at $10 per person. Each cabin has a microwave and fridge. Excellent showers and toilets are close by.
Contact:
Gary Bennett on 0411 784279 or gbennett777@gmail.com FRIGID DIGIT Camping
Motorcyclist made of Steel
FRIGIT DIGIT - The Mystery Weekender
JUNE 2018
15
Frigid Digit Mystery Weekender – long sleeve t-shirts Available to order now, $34 each!
Features: • FD logo on front left chest • List of FD locations and years on the back • Charcoal (dark grey) in colour • 100% cotton preshrunk jersey knit, 205 g/m • Double needle collar and bottom hem • Taped neck and shoulders • Ultra-tight knit surface. • Sizes S to 2XL
In other words a good quality product for the price of $34 per shirt! These will be produced to order, so pre-ordering and payment is essential to secure this shirt. To order please see Cindy Bennett at the June GM, or email regalia@bmwmcq.org.au by 15th June.
J
Tony Gray - Crossing The Border For A Feed
eremy Clarkson, former compere of Top Gear and noted anti-biker, once lamented the lack of passion in car drivers compared to their 2 wheeled counterparts who would take off to nowhere in particular just to enjoy the ride. It is a bit like that with the club lunch days. We will ride well over a hundred kilometres past many fine dining establishments to eat at some remote location just to enjoy the ride. Such was the case on Sunday 29 April where Anita’s chosen place to eat was across the NSW border in the heart of magnificent hinterland riding land. Flutterbies has been a popular venue for the club and they always deliver a fine feed. The weather looked pretty good with any rain likely to be in the Gold Coast hinterland – where we were heading! The ‘rules’ around the club lunch rides is that you can make your own way there or hook up with a few like-minded souls to make a group ride to the venue. On this occasion Jane and I teamed up with Editor Dave and his charming wife Tracy on their R1200RT and Mario and his equally charming wife Fiona on theirR1200RT. We were mounted on Rex our trusty Kwaka as the Gray Ghost sailed her way towards Southampton. Our chosen route took us out along the Mt Lindsay Hwy, across to Canungra where we avoided the teams of Gold Coast Harleys then off across the Beechmont Road where we tried out the new eatery opposite Rosin’s Lookout, the Flying Bean Café. The place was packed solid with bikes but we managed to score an inside table and were served promptly despite the crowd. This place has the potential to rival Mt Glorious Café (Westside) and Pit Stop Café (Northside) as the preferred mountaintop motorcycle stop for Southside rides out of Brisbane. The views from Rosin’s Lookout are well worth a stop.
My pick of the bikes on display that morning was a Honda Grom – yes one of those mini bike looking Honda 125cc beasties – but this one was fitted with Ohlins suspension front & rear, electronic instruments, Yoshimura pipe and most likely some engine pep. It looked and sounded a treat but must have cost the owner a fortune: To each their own I suppose. Suitably satiated we headed down the Beechmont Road to the T junction then south along the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road past the Hinze Dam and View Café (another top coffee stop in these parts) through the Numinbah Valley and up to the border crossing where the old Tick Gates once stood. Nowadays the border is open but ‘patrolled’ by CCTV cameras more interested in drugs than cattle ticks. How the times have changed. We had been very lucky in avoiding any wet weather and it was obvious we had just avoided another downpour as we descended the range to Chillingham on very wet roads then across the creek onto the Zara Road and into Tyalgum and Flutterbies café. The Tyalgum Pub was obviously doing a roaring trade from the motorcycle fraternity who are always welcomed throughout the hinterland. We were the first group from the club to arrive but were soon joined by many others bringing the total to 16 on my count. A great time and fine food was had by all. Members made their own way home alone or in small groups. For us fuel was needed by Rex so we took the beaut road from Tyalgum along the Oxley River into Murwillumbah and from there a pretty quick trip home as the day was quickly drawing to an end. This was another great day out on the bike with good people over great roads. Thanks to Anita for organising.
16
JUNE 2018
CLUB RIDE - Woodford the Long Way
CLUB RIDE - Woodford the Long Way
B
JUNE 2018
17
ig thank you to Frank for organising, what everyone said was a great ride. I know he put a lot of work into it. Thanks also to Duncan for being TC again. And thanks to everyone who took part...Paul H. Thanks Frank for a great ride today, just shows there is more than one way from A to B…Mark G Meeting point was the Puma petrol station, Bundamba… then Brisbane Valley to Esk…next, up the Hampton Esk Road to morning tea at the Colours of San Cris then along some back roads of the Darling Downs courtesy of Toowoomba member Reg Thompson then back at Esk we proceeded to Toogoolawah and Kilcoy (mostly avoiding the Brisbane Valley Highway, again), and then on to lunch, at the Woodford Pub. Post Lunch riders could choose form a variety of routes to go back home some being: Out to the Bruce Highway ...Over Mt Mee to Dayboro, then Samford ... Back to Kilcoy, through Somerset and over Mt Glorious and Mt Nebo ... the riding was about 315 kilometres….Ed.
18
JUNE 2018
BMW CA National Motorrad Rally 2018
BMW Clubs Australia National Motorrad Rally 2018 The BMW Motorcycle Club ACT invites all BMW Clubs Australia affiliated BMW Motorcycle Club members and their partners to the National Motorrad Rally 2018 to be held in the historic village of Wallerawang 15km northwest of Lithgow NSW over the October long weekend Saturday 29 - Sunday 30 September and Monday 1 October 2018. The rally will be based at the Black Gold Motel, 121 Main Street Wallerawang with a mix of rides and social opportunities to be had around the main rally dinner at 1800 on Sunday night. The rally and dinner is a ticketed event, requiring you and your guest(s) to pre-register and pay online before the rally. Wallerawang is located 2 hours ride west of Sydney on a good day ď Š in the scenic Blue Mountains with many and varied riding routes from the ACT, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. If you are riding from the south look at the Goulburn – Taralga - Lithgow/Bathurst routes and if coming from the north consider Bylong Valley Way or Thunderbolt Way as route options. Coming from the west? Then it is flat until Bathurst the home of Mount Panorama racing circuit and worth a tourist lap on your way to Wallerawang.
Rally Raffle (TBC) You can help make the rally an even greater success by buying a $20 raffle ticket and chance to win a brand new G310GS motorcycle (delivered in the ACT) valued at A$8090* or other great prizes. A minimum 350 to maximum 600 tickets will be sold with the raffle drawn at the Black Gold Motel after the dinner. Money raised from the raffle will be donated to BMW Group Australia and Dealer network corporate charity Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Contact your Club Delegate to BMW Clubs Australia to purchase your tickets or email Raffle@bmwmccact.org.au to order and pay for your ticket(s).
*Full raffle T&C available at https://www.bmwmccact.org.au/National-Motorrad-Rally.
Disclaimer & Liability The BMW Motorcycle Club ACT Incorporated (BMWMCCACT, The Club), Committee or Members are not responsible for any loss or damage to, by or from riders, pillions or participants attending the BMW Clubs Australia National Motorrad Rally 2018. BMW Clubs Australia is not the organiser of this rally
BMW CA National Motorrad Rally 2018
JUNE 2018
19
Rally Registration Your self-registration to attend the rally has two (2) parts: Part 1 Rally Registration: Go to the BMWMCCACT event page https://www.bmwmccact.org. au/National-Motorrad-Rally and register for the Rally $20pp, Sunday dinner $40pp and (optional) Monday breakfast $25pp (public holiday) at the Black Gold Motel, a total of $85 per person. You do not have to be staying at the Black Gold Motel but must be registered and have paid to attend the rally and catered rally dinner and (optional) buffet breakfast. Part 2 Accommodation: You are responsible for booking and paying for your own accommodation, including any cancellation policy. The BMWMCCACT is not involved with any accommodation provider, however rooms are temporarily reserved so mention BMW National Motorrad Rally when making your booking. Your local accommodation options include: Name: Address: Phone: Email: Web: Name: Address: Phone: Email: Web:
Black Gold Motel 121 Main St, Wallerawang NSW 2845 +61 2 6355 7305 info@blackgoldmotel.com.au http://www.blackgoldmotel.com.au/ Commercial Hotel 66 Main Street Wallerawang NSW 2845 (020 6355 1089
info@commercialhotelwallerawang.com.au https://www.commercialhotelwallerawang.com.au/ Name: Bushman’s Motor Inn Address: 526 Great Western Highway, Marrangaroo/Lithgow NSW Phone: (02) 6352 1655 Email: bushmanslithgow@gmail.com Web: http://bushmanslithgow.com.au/ Name: Free Camping at Lake Wallace Camping Address: Barton Avenue, Wallerawang Phone: N/A. Grassed area, limited number of toilets and showers. Email: Nil. Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/rnrH9ozmYA32 Lithgow City Radio Cabs, 131 008, outside area (02) 6351 3305
20
JUNE 2018
BMW Motorrad - SERVICE PACKAGES
To John Eacott
Attached is the brochure, as provided by Manny Nenos of BMW Australia; on the new BMW Motorrad BSI – Service inclusive packages from BMW, for the journal. Manny assures me that they are available even if you exceed 10,000km a year: you would just run through the package sooner than the 3 or 5 years that you pay for and run out on kilometres.
Hi John, As discussed, I have attached the e-flyer brochure that highlights the advantages and what is involved in the maintenance schedule. This is available at all dealers and I believe it would be ideal for the club magazine.
BMW Motorrad
SERVI
ALL-ROU
Have you ever wanted to just ride and not worry about when & where to Service your Motorcycle? BMW Motorcycle Dealers can now take care of this for you when you purchase a Service Inclusive* or Service Inclusive Plus** package.
SERVICE INCLUSIVE* Engine oil service Oil filter change
Benefits at a Glance: • • • • • • •
For new and used BMW Motorcycles up to 10 years old^ Original BMW Motorrad parts Total cost transparency and protection against unexpected price rises Tailored packages of three or five years Great value for money and increase in resale value Valid in all participating countries worldwide Transferable to new owner
For more information, speak to your BMW Motorrad Sales Consultant or Service Advisor or call the BMW Customer Interaction Centre on 1800 813 299
BMW MOTORRAD
SERVICE INCLUSIVE
First-check (1,000km) Valve clearance check MAINTENANCE⁺
Fork oil change Gearbox oil change Spark plug replacement Air filter change CVT belt replacement Fuel filter change
• • • • • • • • • •
SERVICE INCLUSIVE PLUS**
• • • • • • • • • •
⁺All maintenance work includes BMW Motorrad original replacement parts. *Some services do not apply to all motorcycles.
WEAR & TEAR⁺⁺
• •
Front/rear brake pad change Front/rear brake disc change
⁺⁺Applies to 1st set of brake rotors & pads over the life of the term
DURATION & MILEAGE
3 years / 30,000 km
3 years / 30,000 km
5 years / 50,000 km
5 years / 50,000 km
BMW Service Inclusive Terms and Conditions apply and can be viewed at bmwmotorrad.com.au/service/service-inclusive. Package term expiry is based on the time from date of first registration or mileage travelled, whichever occurs first. Packages applicable to motorcycles under 12 months from date of first registration and prior to first service. Scheduled servicing based on the motorcycles condition based service monitoring system and normal wear and tear and other exclusions apply. Scheduled servicing must be conducted by an authorised BMW Motorrad Dealer. Wear and tear items only eligible for Service Inclusive Plus packages if worn by normal use. Pricing applicable to all current BMW Motorcycle models.
BMW Motorrad - SERVICE PACKAGES
FROM THE CAMERA OF RICHARD MAHER
Kind Regards Manny BMW Group Australia Manny Nenos Sales Channel Development Manager BMW Motorrad (UX-V3-AU) 783 Springvale Road Mulgrave, VIC 3170
DUST HUSTLE 2018
ICE INCLUSIVE.
UND PEACE OF MIND. SERVICE INCLUSIVE* PRICING
SERVICE INCLUSIVE PLUS** PRICING
3 years / 30,000 km
5 years / 50,000 km
3 years / 30,000 km
5 years / 50,000 km
1 Cylinder
$983.00
$1,460.00
$1,333.00
$2,253.00
2 Cylinder
$1,348.00
$1,904.00
$1,968.00
$3,047.00
Twin Cam Boxer
$1,317.00
$1,904.00
$1,968.00
$3,127.00
Scooter
$1,571.00
$2,889.00
$2,333.00
$4,238.00
4 Cylinder
$1,523.00
$2,095.00
$2,333.00
$3,603.00
6 Cylinder
$1,698.00
$2,492.00
$2,650.00
$4,000.00
BMW Service Inclusive packages are not available for the HP4 RACE Service Inclusive packages can be purchased with a new or used BMW motorcycle ^or at any time afterwards up until the motorcycle is 10 years old. BMW Motorrad Service Inclusive packages are ‘attached’ to the motorcycle so any remaining service benefits can be transferred to a new owner. The BMW Motorrad Service Inclusive programme also allows for repeat packages to be purchased (when an existing Service Inclusive package has expired or all services completed). Service Inclusive Plus packages can only be purchased within the first 3 months after the start of the warranty period. Service Inclusive Plus packages is not available to be purchased on Used Motorcycles.
JUNE 2018
21
22
T
JUNE 2018
DUNCAN BENNETT - South of the Border
South of the Border Down Merimbula Way
he 2018 Compass Expeditions reunion had been in our “must do” list since mid-2017, even though this time Compass decided to host the annual event at a location absolutely nowhere near anything – Merimbula in southern NSW. Key features of Merimbula are; cheap oysters, oysters that don’t cost very much, and intertidal salt water bivalve molluscs of low pecuniary value. Merimbula is about 1,500km from Brisbane as the crow rides, so we decided that a highway only option was most suitable to get us there in the least time. For the first time ever on a major trip no Garmin Basecamp route planning was attempted, the Pelican Motor Inn was put into Google Maps and with the “avoid Gold Coast during the Commonwealth Games at any cost” box ticked, the fastest option was out to Goondiwindi and onto the Newell Highway. On Wednesday 11th April 2018 at 0926hrs we headed off via Warwick where luncheon was taken at the Coffee Club, through Goondiwindi, and onto the unplanned overnight stop at Moree. Facebook had revealed that two Gomad (Grey Nomad) friends had passed through Goondiwindi two hours before us and had set up camp in Narrabri. So we bravely pushed on into the late afternoon, clenching and unclenching the glutes in descending order of maximus, medius, and minimus to restore seating comfort for the last 100km.
In the correct State at least Some rare skilled navigation saw us at the camp ground for a cup of tea and a happy catch-up with John and Denise, before heading back into town to find suitable lodgings. Narrabri has numerous motels and as it was a Wednesday night, we were somewhat surprised that all displayed the dreaded No Vacancy sign. As always the fall-back is pubs, and there were two on offer. Choosing the wrong one because it is called the Tourist Hotel and we were travellers, our error was rammed home by the room being tiny, very hot, having no ensuite facilities, and a window that refused to stay open and let in the cooling breezes from the Namoi River.
Deciding that they who live by the pub accommodation will probably die by the pub accommodation, but not motivated enough to try to extract ourselves, we headed off to an Indian buffet restaurant for dinner. Butter chickened, we took a final fortifying ale followed by another final fortifying ale because it was offered as a freebie promotion, we headed reluctantly to bed. The window propped open with a drawer seemed to solve the ventilation issues, but also allowed swarms of mozzies from the Narrabri Creek to join the idling warm jet stream from the Namoi River. Until midnight, a Circle of Hell circuit of hiding under the covers then deciding that heat exhaustion was worse than a few mozzie bites, then throwing off the covers until deciding that heat exhaustion was better after many mozzie bites was undertaken. Memories of sleeping in a freezing gale in Sudan on a mangy dog’s blanket because the air mattress wouldn’t stay up rolled through the mind, mainly because it had been way better than the Tourist Hotel in Narrabri. Exhaustion and liberal doses of Aerogard solved most of the problems, and eventually the long-awaited sun appeared. Day 2 was a push onto somewhere with quality lodgings, it didn’t really matter where, but the distance constraints put it at somewhere after Dubbo. Canberra was too far, especially as the route now included some sight-seeing through the spectacular Warrumbungle National Park. How this place had escaped our notice in previous tour planning is down to simple gross ignorance, it seemed more like a landscape in southern Utah than NSW. Pleased that the trip now wasn’t just a commute, we celebrated in Dubbo with lunch before charging south to Yeoval. The day’s destination became a topic of conversation on the intercom, with Orange winning out even though it is a dead end when heading to Canberra. Quality accommodation was located in central Orange, no need to open windows with the air conditioning, and large floor space was available to strew soiled riding wear with gay abandon. A boutique brewery dinner, and the post-traumatic Narrabri pub disorder was forgotten.
Warrumbungle’s a rare sight in central NSW; something obstructing the view of the horizon
DUNCAN BENNETT - South of the Border The Day 3 or Friday - as it was known to the rest of the world - destination was Canberra, with the morning tea stop at Cowra. The break-out of Japanese prisoners of war on 5 August 1944 is a well-known event, however we had never really got across the details of the lead-up or what had occurred. The site has been well preserved and has a lot of information on sign boards and a narrative booming from a speaker on a replica guard tower.
JUNE 2018
23
The GPS sort of got confused coming in and it seemed as though I’d changed the ‘Detour to Quirky Towns with Antique Shops’ setting to “Mandatory”, but we eventually reached the accommodation. A stroll up City Hill in a city that could not be less space efficient, and it was time for a trip to the BentSpoke Brewing Company. We’d assumed they sold motorcycle spokes which was the reason for the visit, unfortunately it was just a spectacular craft beer bar. We accidentally got mixed up in a queue, so before we knew it several excellent IPA’s and wines had been purchased.
Cowra POW Camp in the wide-open spaces
The summary, without committing anyone to not delve into Google, was that the camp had been set up as fairly low security for Italian POW’s who were unlikely to cause much grief. The design of the camp was like a ‘quattro gusto’ pizza, with a big wide central straight no-man’s land separating the two main halves and a smaller track across the centre dividing the circle into quarters. By 1944, the camp was way beyond chokkas, and the Japanese were dishonoured by being captured so were very problematic. The break-out occurred after the Japanese were told they would be transferred out to Hay in western NSW, which admittedly is enough to make anyone go nuts. So, 1,100 Japanese prisoners broke out bearing makeshift weapons, with hundreds dead by machine gun fire, their own people, or suicide. Four guards were killed. Obviously, a Japanese person wandering about in central NSW in 1944 was about as un-noticeable as a school of piranha in your briefs, so within 10 days all had been rounded up. Pushing on, we wanted to get to McDonalds at Yass for lunch, for the noble purpose of getting a MYass photo, but missed the exit so had to back track and settle for a nice café lunch instead. By early afternoon, we had reached the destination city of Canberra.
Hopefully this Duncan knows that water flows downhill
Day 4 aka Saturday commenced with a meeting at the front of the Australian War Memorial. Our good mate Bruce from the 2015 Tasmanian Off-Road Skills and ride-out, the 2016 Compass Reunion, and a 2017 dinner turned up with his wife Barb, who he had spoken about so often and so lovingly that she had long ago crossed into the realm of imaginary wife. We were pleasantly surprised and relieved to find that Barb not only existed in actual human form but matched the hopeful perceptions of being a fabulous person developed from listening to Bruce’s stories.
The mythical Barb, with Bruce the Now Validated and Cindy at Pipers Lookout
24
JUNE 2018
DUNCAN BENNETT - South of the Border
Layering up, we headed south into the cold southern regions, with Cooma the planned coffee stop and a convenient location to stock up on more clothing to prevent early onset hypothermia. Planning matched achievement at Cooma with coffee and a long sleeve tee-shirt procurement so we comfortably rolled onto the 2018 Reunion in Pambula in the slightly warmer coastal region. It was a relief to finally park our mid-capacity adventure motorcycles amongst lots of other mid and large capacity adventure motorcycles, a bit like a Labrador being dropped off at the kennels and seeing a Golden Retriever and a Spaniel in the pens on either side. Old and new people/friends were the theme of the Reunion luncheon, before a proper connection on some dirt roads west of Pambula and a final blast up the highway to our home for the next week; Merimbula’s Pelican Motor Inn. Dinner that night at the Merimbula Lakeview Hotel included the photo competition entries and a presentation by legend BMW GS Trophy rider Amy Harburg. Having collected my fabulous prizes for being the monthly Compass best photo winner for March against the very stiff competition of myself, we listened to Amy’s frankly disturbing talk on the GS Trophy and carting 250kg 1200GS’ about like they were carry-on luggage before getting into the reunion proper, i.e drinking. A trend was set for the week on this first night, with a new restaurant every night and the conversations starting off loud and smoothly progressing to shouting and bellowing interspersed with hysterical guffawing as the drinks flowed and truthy stories were told. The trend included every other patron beside the profoundly deaf scoffing their seafood platters and leaving hurriedly by 7:30pm.
Amy Harburg checking the perimeter ditches for trapped Harley riders
Days 5 to 10 followed a standard routine; up at 6:30-ish, to breakfast at 7:15 assuming that the advertised 7:30 start was a loose guideline, dirt people geared up and ready to go for Compass Ride Leader Craig Jackson by precisely 08:45:00.
The road riders (Team Latte) were seemingly too hipsterised (It’s actually a word…trust me...Ed) to commit to precise and therefore uncool schedules set by Compass co-founder and Ride Leader Jerry Cook, but usually got away at about 9. Merimbula is on the wrong side of the highway so there was always a bit of a bitumen commute to kick off, but the compensation was lots of dirt roads and morning teas in scenic country. Weather was close to perfect most days for Queensland riders, no profuse sweating and the hand-warmers even got a good run to confirm that they still worked.
The Compass Reunion dirt route not suitable for vertigo sufferers The dirt riding was probably most challenging on the afternoon of Day 6 or Monday as it is known to adherents to the Gregorian calendar, after a pleasant lunch in the remote Victorian seaside town of Mallacoota.
DUNCAN BENNETT - South of the Border The first part of the route was very smooth and hard but with a fine layer of granite dust, consistent but probably one of the easiest surfaces to do power slides and least easy to brake on imaginable. Once out of that it was some rough riding up a single vehicle track to just over the border back into NSW, where Amy Harburg acting as Ride Leader decided to regroup. We waited, and waited, and loitered, and waited, but no more riders joined us. Eventually we got word that a rider had come off on the smooth part and managed to bust herself up enough to require a trip to the outpatients in Eden, so Amy rode back to collect corner markers while we democratically forced some experienced riders to take on Ride Leader and Tail End Charlie roles and lead us out of the wilderness.
The scenery was spectacular, although as I was following Leader Craig as next in line for corner marking, only glimpses could be taken of the Rocky River valley and steep terrain to avoid a full body and head tactile experience. Cindy and I repeated the journey in reverse the next day it was so good.
Cindy checking out the best and only house in Timbillica NSW
Day 7 highlight was the Big Mountain Jack Road through Burragate and the oddly named villages of New Buildings (obviously gazetted in the 1940’s if the actual age of the buildings was an indicator) and Rocky Hall which follows the Towamba River before winding tortuously up the side of the range to Cathcart.
We waited in suspense at the New Buildings Bridge, but it didn’t happen
25
JUNE 2018
The Rocky Hall Hall They didn’t think that through
Lunches were usually taken in a convenient town, with Nimmitabel, Cooma, Mallacoota (twice), and Delegate all sampled. Cindy and I had taken a half day off for administrative duties (i.e. coffee) due to over a week’s riding by Day 8, so decided to meet the dirt riders for lunch in Delegate, the closest town to the Black – Allan Line which is the straight part of the NSW and Victorian border that runs from Cape Howe to the nearest source of the Murray River. The lunch time was approximately 1pm, so we arrived at 12:30pm just in case the group was early. Which they weren’t, a slight navigational snafu had led the group up roads described as marbles mixed with bull-dust, according to one rider traumatised by the thought of having to wash his riding suit both inside and out.
Compass co-founder Mick McDonald is in Delegate, thinking he’s pointing to “The Legend” but embarrassingly pointing to ‘Small Job Specialist’
26
JUNE 2018
DUNCAN BENNETT - South of the Border
Day 9 was more riding around on some great dirt roads, this time further north with the plan to end up at Mimosa Rocks National Park at Bunga Head, which looks like a geologist’s nightmare of highly faulted and folded sedimentary rocks with lots of extrusions and intrusions. That meant only those wearing motorcycle adventure boots could pass, while a hardened black soil known as “coffee rock” lured hipsters and café racer riders to their deaths, or just onto sharp rocks in their trendy shoes, but either way it was something unpleasant for them.
loose sand, witnessing a master class in riding skill as they challenged me to keep up. A few moments of judicious throttle application kept The Precious out of the sand, so I made it through to the end and blasted up the highway back to Merimbula. We arrived back just in time for the post-Reunion drinks and final BBQ dinner at the Pelican, where there were no other patrons to scare off with our shouting.
Craig Jackson of Compass, who led from the front on his 800GS all week and therefore didn’t trouble his dry cleaner
The final Compass ride-out day was Day 10, which had been built up from early on as the most technically challenging of the event. We headed south and went off into the bush somewhere before Imlay Road, a glorious high-speed sweeper servicing the logging areas. The ride went flawlessly along the fast logging area dirt roads, apart from the total scattering of ride members randomly across southern NSW. Those up the front who had committed to being blasted by Craig’s dust ended up hanging about the morning tea stop, wondering where on earth everyone else was, because they were holding up the support vehicle with the biscuits and that was simply not on. Eventually the support vehicle arrived, but it was very late, so we showed our displeasure by only eating four biscuits each and having a cup of tea. Those lost had pushed onto Mallacoota via the main roads, while we took a shortcut over some rough dirt roads and arrived well before them with a self-satisfied air. A lunch of abalone with noodles at the Mallacoota restaurant, a refuel, and we were off up the challenging track which was out past the airport. I followed Peter with partner Michele on the back as pillion on their F800GS, on a road that was a seriously disturbing and twisting blend of rim destroying pot-holes and
A hard-earned riding thirst deserves a small cold Rosé
The Reunion finished off with a presentation by a very modest Compass paramedic Sarah Taylor who had the most amazing story to tell about single-handedly conquering the Simpson Desert, with rain and mud more of a common theme during the training runs in Victoria’s Big Desert and in the leadup to the crossing than blistering heat and bottomless sand. Having accepted that we were unlikely to ever break out of the “moments of adequacy but generally sub-par” riding capability category, we finished up our remnant reds and snuck off to bed to dream of crashing on every one of 1,136 sand dunes. Up early as usual the next morning for Day 11, we said our good-byes to new friends and old, and plugged Sydney into the GPS. Luckily the fastest route was via Canberra, the thoughts of riding the nightmare of the Cronulla route through the ‘burbs were cauterised by the hot iron of Garmin.
DUNCAN BENNETT - South of the Border
JUNE 2018
27
Back in the Tal Territory according to Cindy’s helmet cam picture
A McLunch in Goulburn, it was as though we could have been riding Harleys the route was so unchallenging. At least until we hit the M5, when not losing Cindy and trying to figure out exactly which lane the fat magenta line sitting over the spaghetti of thin blue roads represented became the challenge of the moment. After one slight deviation, we were on the bridge and waving wildly to my sister Liz and brother-in-law Mathew in their apartment in Milson’s Point.
Buckets Gap hidden behind the trees, making the Gloucester Mountains look far more challenging
At Nowendoc, the GPS decided that we couldn’t ride on bitumen all the way home, so it put us on the Brackendale Road, a glorious 50km gravel road which allowed speeds over 100kmh, until two wallabies signalled that I shouldn’t exceed about 60kmh. Into Walcha, then the “how far can we get?” challenge. Armidale had been the plan, but Glen Innes looked a possibility until a storm passed over, making it impossible to stop until Tenterfield, welcomed into the warm bosom of the Peter Allen Motel and the Commercial Boutique Pub for dinner. Day 13 was mainly a wardrobe challenge; Tenterfield was cold, Warwick was warm, Cunningham’s Gap was cold, and the eastern side of the main range was definitely warm. So, one last stop to disrobe, and official completion of the 5,025km journey at 12:19pm. Thanks to Mick, Jerry, Craig, and the rest of the crew and whoever did the actual organising and had Monument in Goulburn celebrating Australia’s the idea for having the event on the Sapphire Coast. Once again: a fabulous adventure for us with bikes, rise by riding on the sheep’s bum performing well and riders staying on. It was a contin With work beckoning, there was no opporuation of very pleasurable experiences with Compass tunity to sponge for weeks from family even though Expeditions with lots of great people, everything was we could tell they wanted us to but were too shy to easy accept for some of the riding, and even the hard mention it. So, Day 12 was yet another early start, with bits were a lot of fun. We look forward to next year’s Mathew providing a fabulous option via Bobbin Head event which surely must be behind the Gold Coast or in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The narrow, Sunshine Coast just to keep the successful theme runwinding, and steep road complete with hilariously ning. suicidal Mamils was fabulous on a crisp Sunday mornDuncan Bennett, Member No.4174 ing, before the long haul up the Pacific Highway and the turn off onto The Bucketts Way and into Gloucester for lunch. After a sandwich, the famous Thunderbolt’s Way was tackled, which has signs before each corner telling motorcyclists it is a miracle they have got this far, and they are almost certain to die on this next one. From the Manning River the road gets very rough, with the budget to fix it apparently more wisely spent on motorcyclist terrorising signage.
28
JUNE 2018
ADVERTISING & BMW SUPPORTS
Want to serve award winning coffee at your next event ? Book a Cafe2U mobile cafe today by calling Kieran Doyle. #1093
Cafe2U Australia Redlands 0409 815 984
NEW VENUE FOR GENERAL MEETINGS
JUNE 2018
29
NEW VENUE FOR BMWMCQ GENERAL MEETINGS GEEBUNG RSL CLUB 323 NEWMAN ROAD GEEBUNG MEALS OPEN AT 6.00 PM MEETIN STARTS 7.30 PM
NEXT MEETING : 7.30PM 7 JUNE 2018
H
i Guys It was a tough job but somebody had to do it. As you may or may not be aware we have lost our usual venue which actually folded late last year but we weren’t advised till late February which resulted in our March meeting being held in the Wynnum Community Centre…very nice but sterile ..No food or alcohol. The members of the committee made a concerted effort to find another venue which involved visits to many establishments that may be suitable but most demanded that we pay a $200.00 a night set up cost….notwithstanding that we would be probably become members and purchase a significant amount of food and drink. I was one of 6 club members who checked out the Geebung RSL club and we found it to be exactly what we wanted and NO set up costs…they were happy that we would attend (30-40 members most of who might eat and drink). IT TICKED ALL THE BOXES... • No set up costs, • Close to the bar, • Food good, reasonably priced. • All Staff are very friendly and helpful. • Club fees are $7 per year or $20 for five years.... • Well-appointed with casual cooking i.e. wood fired pizza oven with well stocked bar and • Another bar in the more formal dining area with Guinness ON TAP.... • Plenty of parking, line dancing, • Live entertainment but not too loud. • In fact with twice the number of patrons as the MBSC it is considerably quieter....lift and wheel chair access....... I really like the area even if does take me two days to get there.....Editor.
COME AND CHECK IT OUT
30
JUNE 2018
BMWMCQ 2018 Events Calendar
BMWMCQ Club Events Schedule June 2018
Date
Time
Event
Sun 3 8:30 am GS 101 Dirt Ride Thur 7.30 pm Club General 7 Meeting Sun 10
Mon 11 Sat 16
Wed 20 Sat 23
Sun 24
Tue 26
7:30 am
Brisbane Club Ride
7.00 pm Committee Meeting 6:30 60th PM Anniversary Gala Dinner 6.00 pm Hamilton Hotel Social Dinner 9:30 AM
12:00 noon
Saturday Coffee Run
Sunday Lunch Ride
6.00 pm German Club
Details
Coordinator
Dirt Ride through the Scenic Rim Duncan Bennett Meeting at the Caltex Service Station, 332 Ripley 0458 293 569 Road Ripley…Duncan will lead the ride taking you off the beaten track, providing the opportunity for you to lift the bum off the seat. Geebung RSL Club. Meals from 6:00pm with meeting commencing at 7.30pm. ALL WELCOME! Come and meet people who share a common interest. Geebung RSL Club, 323 Newman Road, Geebung Qld
Paul Hughes president@bmwmcq.org.au
Tumbulgum Tavern 136 Riverside Drive, Tumbulgum NSW: 02 6676 6202....This month we are heading over the boarder to Tumbulgum. We will depart from the Richlands Caltex Services Station, corner of Progress and Garden Roads, Richlands. Meet at 7:30am for a 8:00 departure. The ride is being led by Paul Hughes with Richard Maher as Tail
Paul Hughes president@bmwmcq.org.au
Coorparoo RSL 45 Holdsworth St
Paul Hughes president@bmwmcq.org.au
Gala Dinner Brisbane International: Corner Sandgate and Zillmere Roads Boondall Virginia
Hamilton Hotel, 442 Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton Come and enjoy a social night in the company of fellow club members and share a tale or two. There is plenty of parking available. Don’t forget to use your senior’s card for a great value meal. Café 63...Homemaker Centre, 1058-1062 Anne Street, Fortitude Valley…Come and join us for great coffee and great food. There is plenty of undercover parking.
Whilst all details are correct at the time of printing, last minute changes may be required for reasons beyond our control. Please monitor the event details on the club webpage or Facebook for published changes. You would like to organise a ride? Send the details to events@ bmwmcq.org.au to have the details posted into the Club calendar.
Paul Hughes president@bmwmcq.org.au Anita Wyndham events@bmwmcq.org.au
Anita Wyndham events@bmwmcq.org.au
The Barn and Scotty’s Garage Anita Wyndham 1709 Flagstone Creek Road, Upper Flagstone Qld events@bmwmcq.org.au 4344…This automotive based museum will take you back to the 50s or 60s. A guided tour can be taken with Scotty for $10. Make your own way out or watch the Facebook event notice to see if there will be a group heading out. Brisbane German Club, 416 Vulture Street, East Dave Hepburn Brisbane…Come along and enjoy the company of editor@bmwmcq.org.au your fellow Club members. A limited amount of parking is available in the club carpark however, if this is full, parking is available on Duke and Linton Streets. Arrive any time after 6:00pm.
Nick Hese - South America 18 April 2018
I
managed to get out of La Paz and it took only 2 hours to clear the city! A little further down the road I stopped for a couple of hours at Tiwanaku, an old pre Inca settlement to check out the museums and ruins. Not as spectacular as I hoped and at 3800 m a hard walk! Moving on to the Peru/ Bolivia Border a 3 hour crossing in hot conditions awaited me. This border does not get much vehicle traffic but plenty of pedestrians! The first time anyone has actually looked at the bike let alone checked the chassis and rego numbers! Puno, the gateway to lake Titicaca, Some exploring of the local markets was a good introduction to Peru and I even purchased from the stalls to make a few meals. I was later to find out those red peppers were actually VERY HOT chilies. I suffered for my mistake! A day trip on Lake Titicaca, visiting Uros, the floating reed island communities and another proper island called Taquile was a rewarding trip. The reed island communities are now very tourist focused but demonstrate traditional building methods and handicrafts. You even go on a reed boat for a short tour. It does seem out of place to see solar panels everywhere , but the rest of the accommodation is very basic! Taquile is a very steep island near the middle of the lake, of course the community sits at the highest point! Beside sheep and cropping tourism is the main come source. Locals all seem to wear traditional dress and weave hats, wrist bands and other souvenir for the visitor. Everything is very colourful including the wearing of traditional costume. My last day besides walking around town included a private tour (I was too late to book a group tour) to Chuchito, to see the Inca fertility temple. As luck would have it the town was celebrating about its 400th Birthday, with a huge parade, bands and traditional costume everywhere. Well worth the visit. I eventually arrived in Cusco, a city of 1.3 million and I was so pleased to see they were all about on the roads to greet me. Never before have I heard so much whistle blowing and horn tooting. The traffic Police blow till they are red in the face but no one seems to pay any attention. The horn is for; get out of my way or go faster! So Cusco like any Andean town hangs from the hillside with a small valley for the centre, lucky I am about 400m from the centre so the bike is secured and I walk everywhere, besides you see so much more! So after some local sightseeing I did a day tour with a suicidal bus driver to a number of Inca sites in the Sacred Valley. These guys may have been great architects and builders but’s their obsession with building on top of the tallest mountain almost wore me out! Steep terraces cut into the hillside to grow crops and major salt evaporation pans are some of their legacies.
JUNE 2018
31
Amazing stuff, but how did they do it with the technology available at the time? On to Machu Picchu, only discovered in 1911(why did he even go up there?) A 2 hour bus trip then 2 hours on the train then another bus taking you 500 vertical metres on a steep winding DIRT road to the site! Yes my eyes were closed! It’s an expensive visit with all transport and food prices inflated considerably (just over $100US for the train alone) BUT it was worth it. A steep walk to the top viewpoint revealed the most iconic view of Machu Picchu; I just sat there for 30 mins trying to take it all in. You are able to explore the ruins quite well. I am told 80% is uncovered and about 60% is original (unrestored). Surprisingly this area being so low is surrounded by rainforest and when the Inca saw the Spanish coming they disguised the entrance trails and the jungle did the rest! We are nearly 2000 m lower than Cusco. The plan now is to head to Pisco, on the coast, then Lima for some R and R
Nick Hese
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
32
JUNE 2018
A Couple of Adverts................
Call now for our frEE parts CataloguE
Genuine & Aftermarket parts (from 1955 onwards) • Accessories • Australian Agent for Hepco & Becker Luggage Systems and Crash Bars Electronic Ignition Systems Unit 5&6 / 9 Hayden Crt Myaree, Perth, 6154 Western Australia
www.munichmotorcycles.com.au TrAde enqUiries WelCoMe (open till 7pm est.)
??? SMOOTH OUT YOUR RIDE ???
We’ve got you covered. GENUINE AUSTRALIAN
SHEEPSKIN SEAT COVERS
Phone: 08 9317 3317 Fax: 08 9317 3359 email: munich@iinet.net.au
ADVERTISING SPACE AVAILABLE
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
Good Wool Store Pty Ltd 49 Queen St BERRY 2535 P 02 4464 2081. F 02 4464 3344
www.goodwool.com.au
DUST HUSTLE ELLASPEDE’S DIRT DAYS
JUNE 2018
33
34
H
JUNE 2018
1958 - 2018 -
HAROLD TAPSCOTT
arold was an active member of the BMWMCC Q in the late ‘70s and ‘80s Born in Melbourne in 1921, Harold started his racing career in 1939 only to be interrupted by WW2 where he was a motorcycle dispatch rider. His successes as a racer included; He held the track record on 8 circuits in Australia at various times in his career. He was Jubilee grass track champion in 1952. 1st place in the Victorian Grand Prix meeting, placed twice at Bathurst, first in the Queensland 1952 Grand Prix. He also won the Victorian Sports Award in 1946. In 1948, he took up speedway racing after racing dirt bikes for 10 years and went to England and Europe.
A REFLECTION 0N 60 YEARS
After recovering from this accident, he concentrated on road racing, scrambles and miniature TT’s in Victoria and Queensland. Harold and his family moved to Brisbane in 1952 and he retired in 1953. He suffered 35 fractures throughout his career.
Harold with his 1973 BMW R100RS
At the Cane Toad Rally with Noel Sopeer and his 1975 Honda CX500
Harold spent many years attending motorcycle rallies and camping weekends with the BMWMCCQ.
Harold in his racing years. He obtained a contract from Wimbledon speedway who loaned him out to Hastings speedway in Sussex where he raced in the 1949 season.His fare was paid from Australia plus starting money, point money, travelling expenses and accommodation whilst in England. He rode on 15 speedway circuits in Europe, including up to 26 starts a week from Plymouth in the south to Great Yarmouth in the North and most tracks in between. On returning for the Australian speedway season, rode speedway for several meetings before going to the Victorian Grand Prix in Ballarat where he had his serious accident on New Years day 1950. Harold’s injuries that day included fractured ribs on his left side, he tore his spleen to pieces. The post he hit also slid down the left hand side of his spine and severed the transverse process from 1 to 6. His spleen was removed and he suffered a thrombosis on the lung, then he was paralysed down the left side for 10 months.
Harold at the Cane Toad Rally. Harold is now 94 and lives in an aged care facility on the Sunshine Coast. He suffered a couple of strokes about two years ago and is not able to communicate very well since. Harold is just one of our past members with a colourful history of riding motorcycles.
CULLENDORE WEEKEND WITH GARY BENNETT Words by Gary Bennett #509 Source: His son, Rocky Tapscott, www.haroldtapscott.com And various club Journals
I am not sure if someone has done a story on the Cullendore Camping Weekend, I have attached some photos that were taken at that weekend that you may want to put in the Journal. Gary Bennett
JUNE 2018
35
BOXER BENEFITS SAVE SAVE $3,,500 ON ALL BMW
BOXER BOXER ENGINED ENGINED MOTORCYCLES
The Ultimate Riding Machine
BOXER BENEFITS
BMW Benefits offer offer across across BMWMotorrad Motorrad Australia Australia is is pleased pleased to announce the Boxer Benefits selected experience Ride Ride selectedBMW BMWBoxer Boxer Engine Engine Motorcycles. Motorcycles. For a limited time only, experience Away These offers offers are are strictly strictly Awayoffer offersavings savings of of up up to to $3,500 $3,500 across the R 1200 range. These whilst your next next adventure. adventure. whilststocks stockslast last at at participating participating BMW BMW Motorrad Dealers. Discover your bmwmotorrad.com.au bmwmotorrad.com.au
@bmwmotorradaus @bmwmotorradaus
@bmwmotorradaus @bmwmotorradaus
R1200 1200 GS $3 R GS SAVE $3,,500 ON ON ALL BMW SAVE
BOXER ENGINED MOTORCYCLES $$27,696 BOXER ENGINED MOTORCYCLES
NOW NOW
RIDE RIDE AWAY AWAY
SAVE $3,500
R1200 1200GS GS ADV ADV R
$$29 29,,806
NOW NOW
RIDE RIDE AWAY AWAY
SAVE SAVE $3,500 $
3,500
1200RS RS RR1200
$$24 24,,083 083
NOW NOW
RIDE RIDE AWAY AWAY
SAVE SAVE $3,500 $ 3,500
1200R R RR1200
23,,086 086 $$23
NOW NOW
R 1200 RT R 1200NOW RT
RIDE RIDE AWAY AWAY
SAVE SAVE 3,,500 500 $$3
30,,758 758 $$30
NOW
RIDE AWAY RIDE AWAY
SAVE SAVE $3,500 $3 ,500
Morgan & Wacker BMW Brisbane 51 Ross St, Newstead | (07) 3259 5787 BMW Motorrad BMW Motorrad morganandwacker.com.au
*National Promotional Ride Away Price with no other optional extras. Offer applies to motorcycles ordered and delivered between 1 April and 30 June 2018, at *National Promotional Ride Away PricePrice with no other optional extras. extras. Offer applies motorcycles ordered and delivered 1 April and 30 2018, atExcludes participating BMW *National Promotional Ride Away with no other Offer to applies motorcycles ordered andbetween delivered between 1 June Aprildealers. and 30 June 2018, at participating BMW Motorrad dealers. While stocks last,optional cannot be combined with anytoother offer. Stock may vary between BMW Motorrad fleet, participating BMW Motorrad dealers. While stocks last, cannot be combined with other offer. Stock may vary between BMW Motorrad fleet, Motorrad dealers. stocks last, cannot be combined with any other offer. Stock may vary between BMW Motorrad dealers. Excludes fleet, government andExcludes rental buyers. government andWhile rental buyers. Consult your participating BMW Motorrad dealer forany further details. BMW Group Australia reserves the right todealers. change or extend the offer. *R 1200 - Spoke wheels, Connectivity TFT, Touring Package, Dynamic Package, *Rright 1200 GS ADVorAustralia - extend Connectivity with TFT, Touring Package, Dynamic government andGS rental buyers. Consult your participating BMW Motorrad for further details. BMW Group reserves the right toinclude change or extend the Consult your participating BMW Motorrad dealer forwith further details. BMW Groupdealer Australia reserves the to change the offer. *All models Stylin’ Package, Package *R 1200 - Keyless Ride, Gear Shiftwith Assist Pro, Touring PackageDynamic *R 1200Package, R - Keyless Ride, GS Gear Shift Assist Pro, Touring Package * Package, R 1200 RT - STD offer. *RWheels. 1200 GS -RS Spoke wheels, Connectivity TFT, Touring Package, *R 1200 ADV - Connectivity with TFT, Touring Dynamic Spoked Package *R 1200 RS - Keyless Ride, Gear Shift Assist Pro, Touring Package *R 1200 R - Keyless Ride, Gear Shift Assist Pro, Touring Package * R 1200 RT - STD