Strapzagram 3

Welcome to Strapzagram #3
Andy Strapz launches in the US.
Recently Chris of Eurotech Motorsports, asked
me to travel to the Indianapolis Powersports
Dealer Expo in late February, to help him
launch Andy Strapz in the US. I’m pretty
happy with the results and I’m sure good
things will come from it as the Yanks drag
themselves out of the economic shit.
Arriving late on a Wednesday night, to zero
degree temperatures, speedway city was
clothed in thick blanket of snow. At the hotel
I was helped by a very attentive and err..
stereotypical African American bell bloke and
finally, gratefully settled into my hotel room. Being my first trip to the US, I had to sample the delights of a diner, so
next day I wandered the streets away from the main block, found just the right place and joined the queue, tray in
hand. Having paid something like $17 for a meal that needed a fork lift to get to my table, I waded through as much as
I could while simultaneously wondering how the Marines at the adjacent table felt about life.
Later that night I found the Slippery Noodle, which anyone who has an interest in the Blues might know of. It was
open mic night and ticked along nicely, lubricated of course by local craft beers, an obligatory burger with potato
crisps and the ubiquitous pickle. The last act was an absolute blow out. Some unassuming Afric...black guy got up
and just slew the crowd. What a find! That and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - mmmm.
After work on Saturday night I was taken as a guest to the St Elmo Steak House which was founded in 1902 and has
been a landmark ever since. Without ordering, a huge prawn cocktail arrived topped with hell fire horseradish sauce,
nice but a bit odd. Anyway, was it ever a feast! Steaks so huge I needed a periscope simply to hold a conversation
with someone on the other side of the table.
One evening I walked the streets while it snowed just to experience a city and its beauty. From the steam rising
from the vents in the road to the twinkling lights in the bare street trees - it was terrific and gave me an idea, Marilyn
Strapz! Thanks to the daring and iPhone skills of Grant from Draggin’ Jeans here it is (see picture above).
At the close of the show I was able to simply swan out of the venue with a glib “I have a plane to catch” avoiding
the dramas of the dreaded bump out, which is usually a tedious dismantling of everything you spent hours putting
together just a few short days previously. Before I left one of the silliest moments of the trip occurred. I rang the
airline’s help line to inquire whether the planes were still operating. It had snowed all night and numerous airports
had been closed throughout the US during the week I’d been there. The bloody thing was automated as you’d
expect and didn’t understand the boy from down under until I put on my worst Seppo accent. I then worked my
way through the voice menu to extract the information I needed in a series of American accents from deep south to
New Yorker (the best I could come up
with anyhoo). More dramas came as I
approached Indianapolis International
in a cab. The snow fell faster, coating
all the planes, the runway and tender
vehicles and just to add spice to the
mix, the emergency sirens sounded
to evacuate the terminal.. terrific!
Later while watching the plane being
sprayed with de-icing fluid I really just
wanted to get off and have Scotty
beam me home.
Looking back, it was a whirlwind trip
that we’re hoping will lead to great
things as a first step in Strapz world
domination. Sure there’s plenty of
competition in the shape of some
big name good ol’boys, but we’re
confident that Aussie ingenuity and
quality will win the hearts, minds and
hopefully wallets of our Yank mates.
All we have to do is keep doing what
we do best.
Cheers, Andy
Sit up straight and pay attention class!
This time I want to talk at you about speeding.
We all know that hitting hard things at any speed is a bad thing to do.
Unfortunately, the Wasters of Public Funds have become addicted to the growing
pile of cash from speed fines at their disposal. Like all addicts they will rationalise,
manipulate and lie to maintain an aura of comfort that comes from a secure and
continuing supply. Speed, like the dingo a few years back, gets a bad rap.
Yes, Johnny I have just been booked, go to the top of the class.
No Johnny I wasn’t on my bike.
I was on my way to the Ulysses AGM in the south west of WA fer cry sakes! I was towing a trailer behind the mighty
Vito after driving 3000 uneventful kilometres. I was pulled over by Sgt Revenue and informed that I was not allowed
to tow a trailer at 112 kph in WA, despite the state limit being 110. He duly booked me and snaffled two points into the
bargain. Didn’t you see the “big blue sign at the border?”
My argument was what “big blue sign”. As ya do, I stopped at the border
on my way home and took a photo of the sign. I did see it but dismissed
its message. I’m not a truck towing and over 12 ton was my thoughts as I
passed it the first time. Bbzzzzzzzzzz, wrong answer Strapz.
A number of trailer towing Ulysseans got done in a similar way. Many
doing the usual and pushing that extra 10kph above the limit thereby
pushing them into big tax and more points lost.
The cynical part of me is convinced that the WPF bastards have set this up
as a “Welcome to WA” tax for the grey gypsies. They have plenty of spare
cash ‘cause they are on holidays. There are more friggin’ signs on the Nullarbor that inform us that WPF are such
wonderful bods because they spent a few million on this or that road upgrade.
.
Come the revolution...
From our Trip
Here are some of our own photos from Vietnam, can you believe
how much stuff they can fit on a scooter?
And of course...
The weather isn’t always perfect when you’re on holiday, thank
goodness for Thermalz and under gloves and Rain-off over
gloves to keep the cold at bay!
For those that are interested there are 4 short
videos of our trip at youtube.com/allmoto
Suspect Suspension
Rob Smith
Getting ready for a big trip is without doubt one of the best
parts of the entire gig. All the dreaming, planning and map
examining, all the researching, reading and bureaucracy;
not to mention all the talking, is now translating into
choosing, buying, fitting and doing. Personally I love it; it’s
a kind of traveller’s foreplay to the romance of the road.
Some people spend a fortune on big ticket touring rigs
like BMW’s ubiquitous (common) GS and fair play to them
too. If we had a dollar for every GS we’ve seen, we’d be
somewhere a long way away, where English is a second,
third or 90th language and the menu is unrecognisable.
The truth is of course, you can tour on anything and lots
of people deliberately choose the most unlikely machines
simply to add to the challenge. However, it doesn’t matter
what you choose, if you don’t prepare properly, you’ll end
up by the side of the road or worse, wondering why the
world hates you, or lying in a bed somewhere wondering
why your motorcycle hates you. Any and every motorcycle
relies on its suspension to stay glued to the planet and to
give you an easy time in the saddle. The amount of weight you add to the machine and where you put it will have
an effect, especially if you’re packing a pillion. Consider this, when you sit on an unladen motorcycle the weight
distribution is about 50/50 between the wheels and that’s how it handles best. Obviously things change when you
add some weight - like a pillion. Throw in some luggage and now here’s the scary part; any weight you add rear of the
axle will effectively multiply by about
3 to 5. (Which is why we design our
luggage to sit over the axle or low and
near the axle.) The way this translates
when you ride is that apart from the
reduction in suspension travel and
the loss of comfort and ride quality,
you’ll get excessive weight transfer to
the back under acceleration, reduced
contact and steering grip at the front
and massive amounts of load on the
front under braking.
Most standard suspension has done
its best work by about 10,000 kays,
simply because the polymer based
oil in the shock loses its viscosity and
therefore it’s damping characteristics. The nature of touring is hard on machines, and for less than $200 you can get
your standard suspension serviced with new and better quality oil. For less than the price of a big name aftermarket
shock you can get a spring and damping tuned to your needs.
A suspension upgrade tends to get overlooked by many a
lot of the time. Sure you can get away with it most of the
time but you’ll have enough to think about on the road,
without the nagging feeling that your bike handles badly,
your back is killing you or your pillion is waiting for you
to stop long enough to beat you to death with a shock
absorber.
More next time...
An extreme little scooter we snapped in Malaysia recently.
Inna Pak
A place
z
for the fi
ner thing
Feature
Product
s...
A reall
y usefu
l thing
About 5
! A two
litre c
sided,
apacity
hinged
.
pack.
Janette
loves t
his lit
fits nea
tle bab
tly ins
y, she
i
d
e
takes i
our Exp
toiletr
t every
edition
ies in
where.
P
o
a
n
n
e
n
i
It
bag. Li
ers and
space s
t
tle thi
keeps a
o its n
ngs get
ll your
ice to
place.
h
l
a
o
v
s
e
t
a littl
easily
Which i
e bag w
in a la
s extre
or bath
i
rge
m
t
e
h
l
y
e
v
conveni
erythin
room. W
e
g
ith a w
nt when
in one
shampoo
et and
you go
and too
a dry s
o
ff to th
thpaste
ide you
e showe
any oth
s
c
e
a
r
p
n
a
er deli
rately
store l
cates –
from yo
iquids
ur jock
like
J).
s and s
• Keep
ocks (o
your cl
r
othing
organis
a
n
d
t
oiletri
ed.
es
• Insid
e one s
ide is
is bond
clear p
ed mesh
vc, the
.
other
• Use one
side fo
r clean
damp an
, the o
d dirty
ther fo
gear.
r
• PVC bac
ked nyl
on fabr
in and
ic slip
out of
s easil
luggage
y
.
• Hangs f
rom clo
thes ho
bathroo
oks in
ms and
hotels.
• Made
from Bl
ack PVC
Backed
Our pri
Nylon
ce $40
http:/
/www.a
ndystr
php?pa
apz.co
ge=3&P
m/prod
CID=55
ucts.
Damien Kingsbury
A few people have said ‘That’s a pretty
big claim.’ And it is. In the middle of last
year when Rae and I were in Cambodia
on our honeymoon (amazing how these
things can turn out, eh?), our mate
Groff was group e-mailing our gang,
the Lemmings Motorcycle Club (motto:
‘Death Before Courtesy’), about what a
fabulous time he and Julia were having
riding motorbikes in northern Vietnam.
It was hot, then, being the middle of
the northern summer, and we were all
baking.
I e-mailed something like ‘Why don’t
we all go?’ and there was a flurry of
enthusiasm about creating a major
diplomatic incident, starting a small war,
gun-running, smuggling highly illegal
contraband across borders and all of
the really good fun stuff that is so often
missing from international travel these
days.
Over a period of weeks, or possible
months, this banter coalesced into an
actual travel plan, and in early January,
nine of us headed off for Hanoi. We had
arranged to rent a bunch of motorbikes
from Offroad Vietnam, a guide for whom
would take us on a tour through the
relatively remote mountains of that
they were going. There were no petrol stations, or petrol,
country’s north-west.
for a very long way.
The bikes in question included a brace of older Honda
Our trip took us out into the area of some of the famous
XL125s, a few GL160s and one XR250 for me, on account
battles around Dien Bien Phu, which was where the
of me having Rae on the back and being desirous of a few Vietnamese defeated the French in 1954 and ended that
extra horsepower. Vietnam places enormous taxes on
unfortunate period of colonial mismanagement. Apart
bikes over 200cc, so it cost a bit more, but it was worth it. from some colonial architecture and a penchant for
By the way, Vietnam is perhaps the most motorcycle
baking bread, not much good came of that particular
friendly country in the world, with about 95 per cent of
historical episode.
all travel by motorbike, and about 90 per cent of all heavy Our next overnight stop was at a nice hotel at Lai Chau,
transport also by motorbike. We saw everything carried
having traversed more cloudy mountains, dining at
on the back of motorbikes including, at one point, even
restaurants that specialised in dog (satay mutt, sweet
another motorbike!
and sour pooch, stir-fried hound) and somewhat rarer
animals, one of which tried to bite me on account of it
still being alive. The villagers were saw along the road
must have been placed there by the Vietnam Tourism
Commission, so colourful and authentic-looking were
their traditional costumes.
After cresting the aptly named ‘Heaven’s Gate’, at around
In the gang was Rae and myself, Groff and Julia, Guido
and Margaret, Andy Strapz and Janette, and Groff’s
younger brother Stewart, who nobody except Groff
actually knew, but who turned out to be a funnier,
slightly less bearded version of Groff. Julia found their
likeness very confusing, possibly on purpose.
We started by heading west out of Hanoi, which is a
major industrial city, through some lovely valleys and
into the lower reaches of the mountains. It was here that
we encountered out first fog, or cloud, for it was winter
Note the big diesel slick, the only way to stop
the locals “Scooter Skating” was to impede
their path with solid objects.
and we were heading up high. Having sweltered in 40
C, Groff has earlier argued that all we would need was
light clothing. Having been in Hanoi in winter before, I
suggested a bit more. I was right. It was cold.
As we climbed into the mountains the fog, which
happens to be quite wet, also got quite thick, and already
modest speeds were reduced to about 20-30 kmh.
Coming into our first stop, I noticed a diesel slick on the
road and pulled to one side. The others in our group
followed, but a bunch of Vietnamese ignored my frantic
gestures and four crashed in quick succession.
We pulled in that night at a home-stay in Mai Chau, which
is a popular point for overnighters from Hanoi given its
relatively close proximity yet remarkable mountainous
scenery and paddy fields combined with Tai ethnic group
local colour. As with all of the trip, after a day of riding
on a mix of rods and tracks, dodging pigs and water
buffalo and getting glimpses of stunning mountains
and valleys through the clouds, each ride ended with an
excellent meal and several thousand beers with good
2,500 metres (300 metres higher than Mount Kosciuszko
– and this is the pass between the mountains) we rode
down to the touristy but beautiful European Alp-like town
of Sapa. Here we encountered all sorts of ‘adventurers’,
including more on Minsks and an American woman who
looked like a victim of domestic violence. We were about
to have her boyfriend until we learned that she fell off her
bike every time she saw an unmade road, of which there
was a plentiful supply.
From there we rode up to the Chinese border, had a few
drinks and contemplated the diplomatic incident we were
all so keen to perpetrate. A high speed run en masse
across the bridge dividing the two countries should have
done it, but someone had handed out the sensible pills
and instead we turned south, with three more days riding
ahead of us to Hanoi.
friends. Oh, and we also discovered the delights of Hanoi
The next morning, Rae and I stopped at a little road-
Vodka (cheap) and the horrors of Da Lat mulberry ‘wine’
side stall where the men were smoking water pipes and
(expensive).
drinking very bitter ‘tea’. We also had a pot of ‘tea’, after
which I grinned like a maniac and Rae giggled for the next
several hours. I think the emphasis might have been on
the ‘pot’.
Beyond that it was more of the same; mountains, rough
roads, livestock, colourful locals, too much to eat and
drink and the usual banter that accompanies the end
of any ride with a bunch of professional liars and a few
million drinks.
It was, in all, a brilliant ride through fascinating,
spectacular country, visiting or passing through the
villages of no fewer than about eight or nine distinct
ethnic groups, a few fast downhill runs sliding on knobby
tyres and just generally traversing some of the most
stunning countryside I have ever seen. And all with a
From Mai Chau we skirted near the edge of the Laos
group of mates who were there to share it at each day’s
border to Son La, crawling up and then racing down
end.
impossible mountain ranges. At Son La we came across
a trip of young Englishmen riding horrid, unreliable little
Russian-made Minsk 125 two-strokes. They had shipped
their bikes from Hanoi up to Sapa near the Chinese
border and then ridden down, without proper riding
No mobile phone reception, no lap-tops (okay, Guido had
one but it was well hidden) and nothing to do but enjoy.
So yes, it is a big call, but it was the best holiday I have
ever had. I loved it.
gear. Two had never even ridden bikes before; they were
For anyone interested, Offroad Vietnam offers an
soaked, cold, broke and squabbling.
exceptional service for a reasonable fee – look them up
As we saddled up the following morning, I shook hands
and offered them sincere wishes of good luck. Grant sidled
up to me. ‘Let’s get out of here,’ he said sympathetically.
on the web. And if anyone wants a few minutes sampling
of the trip, please feel free to visit the short Youtube
video sites at:
‘They’ve got the smell of death about them.’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgwqJT9Yq-g
Last we saw of the English chaps was when one pulled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVNkTXbu7iU
into the petrol station we were topping up at, with one of
the others arguing that it wasn’t necessary as they could
get petrol at the next town. We had just come the way
From
Baja
to Rio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8U6qWAXByU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI1EAEONMAU
Friends Tiernan Turner and Matt Kendall took a three month
tour of Latin America on motorcycles, starting in Baja California
and finishing in Rio de Janeiro for Carnival. They shot the trip
in 1080p video and were supported in part by Andy Strapz.
Follow the link for a glimpse of the trip of a lifetime and to find
out more about their full length feature film.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=534686
Calendar of Events
Motorcycle rallys, racing, swap meet, shows, social and fund raising events only will be
listed here on a quarterly basis. If you have a genuine motorcycle event that contributes to
motorcycling in a positive way and you wish to promote your event send a brief description
to us at [email protected] including date, cost, contact details and location. We of course
reserve the right to edit or omit content.
April 24 2010. 11th annual Morriset swap meet.
From 6am at the Morriset Showground,
located 1 hour north of Sydney on the F3 (30
mintes south of Hexham). Sites $15, lookers
admission $3. Friday setup from 3pm. Camping
$10. No bookings. All welcome. No glass. No
dogs. for more info phone Darren 0249712404
ah. 0408232376 bh.
7th-9th May 2010. Loaded Dog, NSW. Tarago
Showground on the Tarago-Braidwood road,
Tarago. Jim or Lynne 0432 215 072
17th-18th April 2010. 25th Anzac Rally Griffith,
NSW. Griffith Classic Motorcycle Club PO Box
1918 Griffith NSW 2680 Check the website for
details. http://griffithcmcc.org/anzac%20rally.
htm
17th-18th April 2010. Booborowie Pub Run.
Booborowie Hotel, Booborowie, SA.
Entries to The Secretary SA Tourers MCC PO
Box 186 North Adelaide SA 5006 Aidan 0419
867 947 or 08 8346 4071
http://www.mrasa.asn.au/pdf/boobpub.pdf
$10 limited number of badges. Prepaid entries
close 14th April. Free camping, free breakfast,
historic towns nearby. Good country counter
meals. Info and entry form at the link.
18th April 2010. Auto Italia, ACT
10.00am to 2pm Auto Italia ACT. On the Patrick
White Lawns in Parkes, between the National
Library and Lake Burley Griffin. Italian Cars
Association ACT Inc. PO Box 1119 Canberra City
2600
Bike Contact Michael Fuller
email [email protected]
Scooter Contact Nico Wright
email [email protected]
$5.00 motorcycles and scooters/$10 cars. Preregistration not required; simply bring your
vehicle and be directed where to park, then
register your vehicle, and enjoy the event.
Registration makes you eligible to enter a wine
raffle which is drawn prior to the presentation
of awards. Entrants are requested to position
their vehicles between 8.30 am and 9.30 am.
There is no movement during the display. The
featured marque this year is Alfa Romeo, to
coincide with the centenary of Alfa.
23rd-25th April 2010. Monarchs Motorcycle
Club Sidecar Rally, VIC. Carters Beach, approx
9kms from Strathmerton. Signposted. Pre-paid
entries: make cheques/money orders payable
to Monarchs Motorcycle Club Inc. PO Box 220
Chelsea VIC 3196 $25. Limited badges, pre-paid
entries only guaranteed a badge. Pre-paid
entries close 16th April. Entry includes one
full colour badge and ten raffle tickets. Usual
awards and naturally, raffle. Additional badges
only $7.50 for pre-paid entries.
23rd-25th April 2010. Tumut Valley Riders MC
23rd Autumn Leaf Rally, NSW. Camp grounds
and hall at Tumorrama, approx 35kms east of
Tumut on the Wee Jasper road. Tumut Valley
Riders MC Inc
PO Box 583 Tumut NSW 2720
Enquiries 0424 042 275 (between 7pm-8pm) or
email
[email protected] or web
http://www.angelfire.com/in/tvrmc
$20. Live band in hall Saturday night and
huge bonfire. Water and firewood available,
gymkhana Saturday afternoon. Fully catered by
APEX (carnivore food, beer, premixed drinks),
from noon Saturday until Sunday breakfast.
Trophy presentation on Saturday night. No bad
attitudes, cars or glass on site.
23rd-25th April 2010. 34th All British Rally VIC.
Campbells Creek Sports Reserve approx 5kms
from Castlemaine. The BSA Motorcycle Owners
Association
http://www.bsa.asn.au/pdf/events/abr/
ABREntry.pdf
All you need to know at the link provided.
Onsite camping, firewood provided. Semiorganised run to Maldon on Saturday;
pre-pay your entry and lunch is included.
Casual concours Sunday morning an award
presentation; awards in twenty classes
including Hard Luck. Fully catered; bar on
site, tea, coffee, soft drink, burgers etc and
meals provided by local service clubs. Band on
Saturday night.
23rd-26th April 2010. Laurel Hill Forest Lodge
Anzac Weekend Ride, NSW. Laurel Hill Forest
Lodge, 6kms south of Laurel Hill, 14kms north
of Tumbarumba and 23kms south of Batlow.
Margaret Barlow 02) 6362 8023 or 0428 835
866 or email [email protected]
$60 per person per day includes dinner, bed
and breakfast as long as there is a minimum
of twenty people. Stay 1-3 nights; your choice.
BYOG. Each block of about 4 to 6 rooms has
a bathroom and common room, with tea and
coffee.
30th April-2nd May 2010. Roaming Swagman
Rally,SA. Melrose Showground.
Lefty 0412 767 975 or 08 8633 1516 a/h
Mark 08 8634 4377 or Chesty 0418 845 148
http://www.mrasa.asn.au/pdf/swagman_2010.
pdf
$20. Back to basics. Onsite toilets, firewood
and water supplied. $20 Swagman T-shirts/$35
Swagman windcheaters. Please order
beforehand so they will be ready for you at the
rally.
1st-8th May 2010. Long Ride for Prostate
Cancer Foundation of Australia. Begins in
Sydney and finishes in Darwin, with riders
coming from every state in Australia. Prostate Cancer Foundation
‘Phone 02 9438 7000
email [email protected] or web
http://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/
LongRide2010
Choose from five different routes to Darwin.
VIC, NSW and QLD riders meet in Charleville,
SA, VIC, NSW and QLD riders meet at Tennant
Creek and Katherine when the WA riders arrive
and to complete a memorable ride. You can
make a donation online too.
or email [email protected]
Pre-paid entries cheque/money order to
JW Wadsworth PO Box 311 Fyshwick ACT
2609 or email for account details and pay by
direct deposit $15/$20 inc badge, camping
and lucky gate prize. Day trippers $5 badge
only. Free coffee and tea. Usual trophies,
raffle. Catering by the Tarago Show Society
(highly recommended; the grub was the best
last year), from Saturday lunch to Sunday
breakfast. Cars for downed riders only by prior
arrangement. Toilets and showers onsite, no
glass, no attitudes, no dogs.
Historical Motorcycling Club of Queensland,
Tambourine Mountain Area. Enquiries: email
[email protected], or phone (07)
5545 2081.
Gates open 6.00am. Judging 6.30am10.00am. Presentation 12.30pm. The Historical
Motorcycle Club of Queensland Inc
Fid Michalik, Coordinator Ray Owen Classic
Motorcycle Show. 20-22 Chalmette Drive, North
Tambourine QLD 4272. 07 5545 2081 or 0428
815 785 or email [email protected]
$5.00 motorcycle swap/$2.00 public
admission/$1 pensioners/$0 children under
12. The event is open to all motorcycles
manufactured until 1980 Concours and 1982
Classic. If you have a pre 1982 motorcycle in
the back of your shed, that other motorcyclists
would be interested in, why not dust it off and
enter it in the concours or show? It doesn’t
have to be in fully restored condition, as we
have an award for the “most interesting”
motorcycle in each class. There will also be a
swap meet at the event and we are inviting
members of the motorcycle trade to set up
trade displays.
Sat 29 & Sun 30 May 2010. Vic. Historic Winton
34th Historic Winton, Benalla
A weekend of non-stop racing featuring over
400 historic racing cars and motorbikes from
the 1920s to the 1980s. Celebrations include
100 years of Alfa Romeo and the 60th year
of the local A7 Club. Highlights are the everexpanding Special Interest Car Park and
Classic Car & Bike Club displays, and a group
of ‘Depression Era Aussie Ferals’, non-restored
but still running and registered. Historic
Winton is conducted by the Austin 7 Club with
assistance from the Historic Motorcycle Racing
Association Vic. www.historicwinton.org
5-6 June, 2010. The Ararat Motorcycle Club
39th Emu Rally, Victoria. Held at Chinaman’s
Track Picnic Ground, Mt. Cole via Warrak, near
Ararat. BYO everything. Plenty of camping area
8th-9th May 2010. Not The Great Escape Rally
and on site toilet. Gas BBQ available. $15 entry
II, SA. Marrabel, not far from the Marrabel pub. per person. Limit of 75 badges. Post entries to
Signposted. MRA SA Inc
Ararat Motorcycle Club Emu Rally, PO Box 35,
Harald 0421 289 741
Ararat VIC 3377. Phone Greg 03 5352 4957 or
http://www.mrasa.asn.au/pdf/NTGER2.pdf
Wally 03 5352 2850.
$0 entry, 0 badge. Just a back to basics
gathering of old and new friends. Counter
12th-14th June 2010. 41st Annual Alpine Rally meals available at the pub.
ACT. The site is on private property approx.
8 kms up the Brindabella Valley Road on the
14th-16th May 2010. Ruptured Budgie Rally eastern side of the Goodradigbee River, just
QLD. Just over the border on private property
follow the signs. Henning Jorgensen
near Mingoola, (turn right before you get
PO Box 1477 Geelong VIC 3220
there), approx 60kms
For more details ‘phone (03) 5222 8070
west of Tenterfield on
or 0457 034 488 or email [email protected]
the Bruxner Highway.
$16/$20. Pre-paid entries close Monday 31st
For the GPS enabled
May. All motorcyclists are invited to be part
the coordinates are:
of this rally. Don’t forget to bring some Alpine
S28 59.286 E151 31.390 memorabilia to share; photos etc, and don’t
Moto Guzzi Club QLD
forget the towel for the hot bath in the bush.
email info@
Usual rally activities, and presentation 9am
motoguzziclubqld.org
Sunday. As an encouragement for younger
web http://www.
riders to attend this and other rallies, the three
motoguzziclubqld.org/
youngest riders under 22 years of age will
Our%20Rally.htm
either have their pre-paid entry fees refunded
$20 inc badge/$0 under or given free entry on the day. Excellent idea
15yo; 0 badge. Plenty of H! For alternative (and more challenging)
camping space, most
routes, one could consider travelling via Wee
of it rocky, dirt track
Jasper, Long Plain, Rules Point, Brindabella,
and creek crossing to
Broken Cart, Tantangara Dam or Sue City,
get in, fully catered
etc. Please obtain detailed maps. Please
from lunchtime Friday
note; responsibility for any loss or damage to
to Sunday breakfast.
persons or equipment will not be accepted
Usual and unusual rally
by the organisers or land owners. This is a
awards. Always a good
motorcycle rally; cars not admitted.
rally!
11th-14th June 2010. 14th Annual Wintersun Run
14th-16th May 2010.
VIC. Olympic Park Motorcycle Complex, 11th
Stinger Rally, QLD.
Street, Mildura. Ulysses Mildura Branch Phone
Mt Fox (south west
Shane 0408 214 642 or Darryl 0417 621 021
of Ingham) at the
Rig 0427 274 998 or email wintersunrun@
Lions Club camping
gmail.com
ground opposite the
$15/$18 inc badge/$5 day pass. Free coffee,
school. MRA
tea or soup in the club rooms on arrival. Fully
Townsville. Richard
catered, toilets, showers, firewood provided.
Ewer 0429 498 752
Trade stalls. Friday night social in the club
or email mra_tsv@
rooms with live music. Saturday afternoon
hotmail.com or web
gymkhana with prizes, bonfire, rally awards,
http://www.
raffle draw and band. Sunday morning guided
mratownsville.
district tours culminating in lunch. Junior
org.au/index.
Speedway Winter Series starts at 11am.
php?page=stinger-rally
$10 inc badge and
25th-27th June 2010.5th Annual Casper Rally camping for the
NSW. Bummaroo Ford camping area, beside
weekend. Toilets and
the Abercrombie River, between Taralga and
hot showers. Fully
Black Springs. SCUM Tourers
catered. BYO mug. Tickets Andy 02 4422 3096 or Dieter 0402 396 838 or
for meals can be purchased at the bar. Meals
email [email protected]
available from Friday night through to the
$15 inc badge and raffle ticket. Back to basics;
hung over Sunday morning brekky. No BYO as
BYO drinks, food and cooking gear. Onsite
there will be beer and cans of spirits available.
toilet, drinking water and firewood provided.
All money goes to the great locals and their
Supplies available at Oberon or Taralga. Usual
town to keep the place running. No attitudes,
rally awards, but something new for the 25th;
no cars. Please complete and return the entry
a competition for Best Club Banner, so make
form here http://www.mratownsville.org.au/
sure you bring yours! Good raffle with great
uploads/Rally_Entry_Form_Version_2010.doc
prizes held Saturday afternoon. Friendly rally in
great country. Bring the warm clobber; it does
Saturday 15th May 2010. Sidecar Club
get nippy.
Promotion and Picnic Day, NSW. Prospect
Reservoir, from 10.00am. 2nd to 3 rd July 2010, 2010. Up the Creek Rally
Email Dave Mead [sidecarclubsydney@hotmail. Held by MOTA
com] or contact Ruben 9547 2885 or Rick
Held at the Jung Recreational Reserve,
048823963 $0 entry. It is a free entry event
Great Site, under the Gums, Fully Catered,
with sausage sandwiches and drinks for sale.
Gymkhana Sat arvo, Band Saturday Night,
If you have a passion for motorcycles and an
Raffles. Usual rally awards, Limited badges,
interest in sidecars join the club for a family
Entry Fee $15 pre paid $20 on the day.
club ride and picnic day. Ride to Prospect
Cheques payable to M.O.T.A Post entries to
Reservoir and enjoy some good company and
MOTA, PO Box 561, Ballarat, 3353 Enquires to
meet fellow motorcycle enthusiasts. Bring a
Marie 0417113675, Greg 0353852846, Kevin
picnic lunch and share stories. There will be
0417231143
plenty to see both new and well loved so come
and have some fun.
Fri Jul 2nd, 2010
[QLD] W.O.G.S. in the Bush Rally
Sat May 22nd, 2010. Vic. Motorcycle & Hotrod
The biggest and best rally in Nth Qld.
Show
45km NW of Mackay First weekend in July 2-4
Flanagans & 81 Nomads Support Crew 1st
Fully catered, Great camping sites by the river
Annual Motorcycle & Hotrod Show
Gymkhana, Usual rally awards. Entry (includes
Flanagans Hotel, 139 Main st, Bacchus Marsh,
Badge). Prepaid $20 At the gate $25
Victoria. 12:00 noon. Over 20 Catagories,
Come to W.O.G.S in the bush & head to
Trophies, Live Bands, Food & Drink
Townsville the following weekend for the V8
supercars.
22nd-23rd May 2010. Wanbi Pub Run, SA.
Wanbi approx 120kms
from Murray Bridge on
the Loxton-Karoonda
Raod. Meeting points
Eagle on the Hill for
10am departure and
Murray Bridge servo
for 10.40am departure. Prepaid entries to Z
Owners SA PO Box 74
Park Holme SA 5043.
Phone Tony 08 8298
7762 or Mick 0432
260 001 or web www.
zownerssa.com
flyer here http://www.
mrasa.asn.au/pdf/
Wanbi.pdf
$25. Prepay and
reserve a badge as
there will only be 200.
Camping sites close
by. Fully catered by
the pub. Saturday
$2 sausage sizzle
lunch. Roast dinner
and cooked Sunday
breakfast. Live band
“Junk Male’ playing
rock and roll from 8
until late. Raffle with
great prizes, rally
trophies, bonfire.
May 23, 2010.
Ray Owen Classic
Motorcycle Show,
Concours and
Motorcycle Swap,
At Teese Pavilion,
Beaudesert
Showgrounds. Qld.
Organised by the
Juice’s commuter week
G’day, How’s your driving week been? Better than mine I hope. Things have changed on the road in
the last 5 years or so.
I have just begun commuting to the city again after a longish break.
This week I have followed about 60 people (not for long, mind you)
doing more than 10km UNDER the speed limit, in the right hand lane.
What? I have had one person STOP in the middle of a main carriageway
to give me road safety advice. Of course I gave her some advice of my
own. And I have had two people SLOW DOWN to 10km in the main
right hand lane while they decided whether to pull into the right hand
turn lane or not. And if I flash you don’t get mad at me, it means GET
OUT OF MY WAY, YOU IDIOTS!
Why is it that motorcyclists are targeted as the weak link in the road
safety campaigns when we have to undergo training, while car drivers
can get into a car and learn with no minimum hours, no proof of
competency, with anyone who holds a licence, and probably will learn
all their bad habits as well. (Actually, one of those 60 people this week
was an L plater.)
A motorcyclist has to (and I think this is a good thing) undergo rider
training for a set amount of hours before a licence is issued and prove
their competency. A car driver can simply turn up to do the test with no
qualified instructor hours. Shouldn’t this be mandatory for all drivers to
have a minimum amount of qualified instructor hours?
What started me thinking about this? I just got my bike rego papers and
in it were two brochures. One about how the motorcycle levy is being
spent and one about having your say on motorcycle safety in Victoria.
The Victorian Motorcycling Survey is being conducted for VicRoads
by the Centre for Automotive Safety Research at the University of
Adelaide. I am going to take the survey and make sure they know what
I think needs to be done, I urge you to do the same.
http://mc-survey.com/
Ahhhh! For the tranquility of countryside Vietnam.
#@*$&*@!
I knew it! Swearing is a good thing.
In an article recently published in the Melbourne Age, a bunch of Pommy University geeks conducted a study to look
at the role of swearing and pain perception. The World changing research saw 64 volunteers plunge their mits into
a bath of iced water while uttering obscenities or non offensive words. The profanity wielding cohort withstood 40
seconds longer in the beer cooling slush than the nice guys.
That proves it – swearing is good for you. Isn’t science grand?
So, fuck off, see you next time.
Well, that's about all I could dredge up for now.
I hope you enjoyed it. Please get involved and send me photos or contributions, events, tests or product reviews.
Talk at you in a couple of months.
Strapz