Motorcycle Report

The second month of Spring done and dusted, what will the next bring?

Past Events.

13th October –Motorcycle Noggin Night. After the M/C committee meeting about a dozen or so enjoyed an evening of talking rubbish. 16-17 October – Girder Fork Rally. Great event, about 28 starters. The usual overnight in Akaroa; see elsewhere for a full write-up. Noticeably, only about a dozen bikes there for the ride back Sunday, why did the rest go home early?? 23rd October - Fish & Chip Run – Just had a call from Kurt; he was the only rider to turn up for the Labour Weekend F&C run…

Start of the Girder Rally

Future Events.

6th November – Motorcycle Skills Training. Not proceeding with this; enough going on at the moment so will be rescheduled next year sometime. 10th November – Motorcycle Noggin. Decided we’d meet at the Valley Inn, Heathcote Valley, from 7.30 pm.

20th November – Annual Motorcycle Rally. Note, a CHANGE OF DATE. Entry in September Hub or On Line. Meet at 9.30am for a 10.00 am start, at McLeans Island. Lunch break is at Balcairn; with a very interesting collection of motorcycles to view. In the evening the meal will be at the Motorcycle Corner, BYO meat & salads for a shared meal, from 5.00 pm. The usual prize giving will take place then too.

21st November – Homestead Run. Mentioned here as a lot of motorcyclists do go on this run… 26 – 27 – 28th November – the DELAYED Canterbury Swap Meet. (Now February-Ed) 27th November – Fish & Chip Run – this is CANCELLED. 8th December – Motorcycle Noggin, usually a Christmas Special. Details to be sorted at the next M/C committee meeting, so watch out for an email mail-out, and the next Hub. Girder Rally Overall and Traditionally there is no Fish & Chip run in Publican’s Choice Trophy winner Russell Dale and Indian. December – if there were it would be Saturday 25th – Christmas Day. Instead the Committee is looking at the 11th December as a F&C Run – partially to make up for November being cancelled because of the Swap Meet, and the non-run of October’s at Labour Weekend… As at closing date for The Hub it looks like we have a couple of garage raids organised for somewhere in the Oxford – Darfield area, so keep an eye out for the December Hub for more details. These are great places, you will not be disappointed! 26th December – Boxing Day Picnic Run. Motorcycles are very welcome; see December Hub for destination and other details. 1st January 2022– Picnic Run to Little River. The Banks Peninsular Branch runs this event, is a very popular relaxing day picnicking in the sun or in the shade of the trees, listening to the Ch Ch Big Band playing…. Again, motorcyclists most welcome (even those who drive their cars…) Turn up when you like, go home when you like, from about 10.30 am onwards… 2nd January 2022 – Motorcycle New Year Run. Starts at Cutler Park, 10.00 am meet-up. Riders will decide on the day the destination. This might change if we can come up with a destination; watch the December Hub. That’s it for now, Cheers, CML.

The Girder Rally 2021

Seeing the entry for the 2021 Annual Girder Rally in the Hub was a welcome distraction to my life and I thought perhaps also to other club members with the current ongoing restrictions to their old “normal” life. I was impressed to see the Western Valley Road was included in the long route. In the summer I have been known to leave my property near Lincoln and go to the Little River shop just to get an ice cream via Gebbies Valley and the Western Valley road, there and back in about 1.5 hours. Great bush scenery and avoids much of the Christchurch to Akaroa race track. When you live at your work like I do a change of environment can only be good for you, even more so to wake up to the nice scenery Banks Peninsula has to offer, plus you never know who you will meet, like the experienced spray contractor I could glean some crop spraying advice from that you are not going to get from any instruction book. (Thanks Stuart) So it does not have to be just about motorcycle talk. I like to be organized and so purchased some extra supply of the special non foaming oil I get from Wayne Hill Motors Lincoln

Looking overjoyed at their success are Girder Rally prize winners Joseph McClintock (Time Trial), Alistair Kermode (Vintage Trophy), Russell Dale (Overall Winner), Alan McLeod Dick of the Run (hard luck trophy) Photos thanks to Chris Leith.

Road. The good news is the oil is still cheaper than the complete rebuild. I also thought I was a head of the game by re lining the main rear brake for the hills. All I can say is it was probably a good thing that we had a lot of rain early in the week as I’m sure the smoking brake could have started a fire if the area was dry, anyway with a bit of adjustment I got there and back safely, fortunately it has an extra emergency brake (Thanks Joseph and George for your contact advice re “Under Car” on Hayton’s Road). I now have one whole year until next year’s rally to give my motorcycle some more TLC. I hope to be there as my motorcycle will be 100 years old in 2022. Good food was had at Duvauchelle Hotel, The Madeira Hotel, Bully Hayes Cafe and the Little River Diner. The Diner at Little River seems to be coming NZ’s version of the famous London ACE café with a wide variety of motorcycle’s parked outside including a ACE motorcycle of all things. Hats off to the Girder rally organizers for including some new scenery along the way. I was told 32 entrants participated with three 4 cylinder motorcycles included. Alastair Kermode

Rally Results

Publican's Choice Russell Dale 1927 Indian Veteran Class George Sloan 1915 Triumph Vintage Class Alastair Kermode 1922 Ace Post Vintage Class Nathan King 1938 Velocette Time Trial Joseph McClintock 1917 Henderson Overall Winner Russell Dale 1927 Indian

Grasskhana Results (See next page)

1st Overall Jason Roberts 1930 Austin 7

2nd

Andre Kraenzlin 1937 Morris 8 3rd Simon Verkerk 1978 Avenger Best Lady Driver Kate Pidgeon 1954 TR2 Triumph Gardening Award Craig Keenan 1985 Jaguar Least time on course Eric Cox 1959 Morris Minor Youngest Driver Kate Pidgeon 1954 TR2 Triumph