WING NOTES

 

 

Newsletter of the

 

 

June 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Australian Wing Riders Association (Qld) Inc

P O Box 719, Ashgrove

Queensland 4060

 

 

 

www.auswingriders.com

 

 

 

June     2005

 

 

 

EDITOR:.............Bevan Bradford

Phone:  07 3822 3512

Mobile 0408 714 000

E-Mail:     mail@auswingriders.com

 

WING NOTES is produced with the object of keeping members informed about matters of interest to AWRA members.  A electronic copy of each issue is available to every financial member of the AWRA.  Copies are also distributed to selected motorcycle dealers in the greater Brisbane area.

 

Submissions for inclusion in WING NOTES should be with the Editor no later than the Friday following the monthly meeting, i.e.: Friday after the 1st Monday of the month.

 

DISCLAIMER:  Although WING NOTES will endeavour to reproduce submissions in their original form it reserves the right to edit submissions as it sees fit.  Views expressed in contributed articles in WING NOTES are not necessarily those of the AWRA or the Editor.  WING NOTES is produced with care, in good faith and from sources believed to be accurate at the time of writing.

____________________________________________________________________

 

Management Committee

 

 

Meetings normally held 1st Monday of every month.

 

Next meeting:

 

4^th July 2005

7:30 pm

at

 

Pineapple Hotel
706 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane

 

 

 

 

The Editor Writes

The Secretary’s Desk

The President Speaks

Ride Report – 2005 AGM Ride

Ride Report – Postcards from Mexico

Social Report – Victorian Dinner

Taromeo Camp Oven Ride

Ride/Social Calendar

Meeting Minutes (Members Only)

 

 Click on a title above to go to that item
Click on any AWRA Logo bike to return here

The Editor Writes…..

 

Well, here I go my first official Wing Notes.  Not only that but I have to work out how to update the web site information as well.  That is going to be an interesting challenge.

 

I apologise for my inability to attend the AGM but family circumstances made that impossible.  Personal circumstances then made the monthly meeting attendance a bit difficult as I have a plaster over my nose, another over the forehead and another behind the ear. Ah, the punishment for a misspent childhood.  If nothing else, it’s given me the time to sit here and learn, but I’m getting withdrawal symptoms as I haven’t ridden in over a week

 

This is your magazine, so if you have any suggestions, things you’d like to see etc, let me know, especially if you will be contributing.  I will be making some small changes over the next couple of months as I get the hang of the requirements.

 

So, keep those contributions coming in and I’m sure between us, we will continue to have a great and informative magazine. Same as before, contributions to the magazine can be emailed to mail@auswingriders.com

 

 

Keep the shiny side up é

 

Bevan

 

 

The Secretary’s Desk

 

Wow!  What a great A.G.M.  My only regret was that Bevan and Therese couldn’t be there to not only receive the accolades they justly deserve, but they did miss a fantastic week-end with a great bunch of wing riders.  Our condolences were also expressed on Therese’s Mum passing away after a long illness.  A busily signed card and gift will be presented to them at our Monthly Meeting for a special couple.

Next, thank you to everyone for accepting my nomination as your Secretary for another year – this does give me another 12 months to do the job ‘right’!, and as my assistant pointed out – I am the only female on the panel, so I had better keep us girls in the picture.

 

Meanwhile, the A.G.M. was very well attended, and it really had an international flavour, with our boys from Victoria, three couples from Stanthorpe and our country kids from Emerald.  This recognition also started special calls from members who travel from Rosewood, Caboolture and Ipswich of course – but as our Jacki Mac used to say – that is only just up the road!

 

It has been a rather busy month from this desk, and I have to finish our thank you letters to our sponsors in Victoria who were so generous with our Raffle Prizes which also made this A.G.M. a gala affair.

Raffle Prizes Won as follows:-    

First Prize      Draggin Jeans   Charleen Lovell

Second Prize  Silver Eagle       EricandDeb Majeric

Third Prize      Helmet Bag       BillandMary Carter

Fourth Prize    Stanthorpe Port Mike Lapslie

Fifth Prize       Vest                 Ray Thomas

Sixth Prize     Do Rags           Georgie

                                             John Brak

                                             Rob Harriss

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you everyone for supporting the Raffle.

That is it for me, looking forward to our next ride, and social and safe riding.

 

Valerie                       6/6/05.

 

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The President Speaks……

Speed Kills!  Well that’s the message we are supposed to believe.  We are bombarded by it on TV, radio and by road signs.  Of course we know it isn’t true, it isn’t the speed that kills, it’s the sudden stop that does the damage.  There are dozen smart-alec answers like that to counter what the Government hoped would be a short sharp message that will make us slow down and follow their set speed limits.  More correctly they are saying, “If you exceed the speed limits we set for the roads, you are more likely to get killed if you have a collision.”  Makes more sense doesn’t it?

 

Or does it?

 

Let’s look at a few facts, and there are few real facts to go by when it all comes out.  The main problem is how crashes are reported.  Mostly they are recorded in a report form by General Duties police, who are generally understaffed and overworked, hate paperwork and just want to get it out of the way.  They get to tick boxes as to their opinion of the cause of the crash; one of the boxes is labelled speed.  Easy.  Tick that and get on with the job.  Believe me, I have been there and not too much thought goes into it.

 

This then is the basis for our statistics.

 

In Britain in 1997, the British Transport Research Laboratory investigated a new report form and the results showed that “excess speed” was a factor in 7.3% of all accidents (crashes).  Back in Queensland, a report was put out by the Qld Government in 1994 investigating whether we should be subject to speed cameras.  That study determined that 1.8% of road crashes were caused solely by speed.  Note that they didn’t say “excessive speed” as they just don’t have those figures.  So we can assume that many of the 1.8% happens below the posted limit.  That figure was for the whole state, Metro Brisbane was only .08%.

 

So we have a “Speed Kills” campaign that has been going for quite some time that is targeting less than 2% of the causes for crashes.

Does that make sense to you?  Apparently it did to the Government in 1994 because we now have speed cameras.

 

So should it be OK for us to ride faster than the set speed limits on the road?  Well if we go by statistics, we are less likely to CAUSE a crash that way.  But whatever CAUSES the crash, the faster we are going, the worse that sudden stop is going to be.  And our Government isn’t helping to alleviate all those other causes of crashes; they’re concentrating on what causes under 2%.

 

Be careful out there.

 

Clint

 

 

 

A.G.M. 2005 Sunday Ride

By Clint

The festivities of the previous night went well after 11pm.  That may be a record for us.  However it did not deter everyone being up and ready to go for breakfast at the Kingscliff Bowls Club and on the Sunday Ride.  The direction still hadn’t been sorted out, so I went and got a local map and we set out a plan to go to Byron Bay for lunch via a roundabout route.  Fifteen bikes started out, including our members from faraway places, Stanthorpe, Emerald and even Victoria.

 

 

Leaving Kingscliff, we made our way to Murwillumbah where we found a handy row of servos so we could spread ourselves out over lots of bowsers for a re-fuel.  Then it was through the town and on our way to Kyogle.  Not wanting to get too strung out, I kept it relatively slow.  It had nothing to do with the slow ute and mile after mile of double whites.  We were stopped near Uki by a large group of pedal cyclists out for a Sunday ride.  Larry pointed out that none of them really looked like they were having fun.  Certainly their faces showed no smiles, just a set grimace.

 

Eventually Turbo and I managed to overtake the ute on a rare straight stretch and we were able to travel at a better pace.  However that meant leaving the others too far behind so I slotted in behind a fellow Ulyssian riding a Triumph Tiger at a reasonable clip.  Those who managed to get by the ute soon caught up and the Tiger rider found he was leading a large group of bikes (or more rightly a group of large bikes).  Probably not what he intended when he left home that morning for a leisurely ride in the country.

 

 

On arrival in Kyogle the Tiger stopped for fuel and we all continued into town and parked in the centre parking to disperse for morning tea, drinks and loo visits.  After half an hour or so we re-mounted, did the obligatory U-turn and continued through Kyogle.  About ten kilometres later, we mostly turned left back towards Lismore but the two from Stanthorpe, HansandGeorgina and JohnandGwenda, were at their closest departure point for home and continued on to Casino with the plan of travelling the Bruxner to Tenterfield then north to Home.  John phoned during the week to say they had a great ride home to cap off a wonderful weekend of meeting all of us.

 

Back on the road to Lismore, we had few traffic hassles and were able to travel at a likeable pace, enjoying the scenery, the clear skies and excellent conditions for riding.  In Lismore, we again struck traffic and the group separated a bit but with good CB communications, there were no hiccups, just the back group doing a constant catch-up.  Always the fun part about riding down the back.

 

Eventually we neared Bangalow and were caught up in a slow procession of traffic and went through the town more like a Grand Parade than a serious ride.  Then it was over the hills and gaze at the lovely view of Byron Bay stretching out before us.  We all started planning building our retirement retreats in these hills, but there were plenty before us.

 

Down into town where we caused more than the odd look.  More, because one odd look turned into a stare and forget about driving the car.  Bang.  Hit another car.  Nothing serious and we continued on.  Around to the beachfront and parked in a semi-neat row on the reserve, set aside especially for us.  Or so we thought.

 

 

After a big breakfast and some earlier morning tea, no one was very hungry for lunch and there were long queues in the pub, so we opted for a wander around town and get what snacks we wanted.  This turned out to be mostly ice-cream.  Some people have small scoops in cones and others eat it by the bucketful, but we won’t mention any names.

 

After an hour or so of this entertainment and listening to a few words from the parking inspector about parking on the grass, we were off again to head home up the coast.

Setting off, Phil reversed over a shallow hollow in the park and found his feet wouldn’t make it to the ground any more.  Turbo got to practice his picking up method with a little help from a few others and we were away.

 

 

A casual run up the highway soon saw us back at Kingscliff, where a few who were staying the extra night peeled off.  The rest of us continued on until Phil came up with the great idea to stop at a Macca’s for coffee.  We did that, even catching up with Paul, who had stayed overnight with family and then slept in, missing the day’s entertainment.  Then we all went home our own ways.

 

 

 

Wine

 

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink I feel ashamed.  Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the winery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered.

 

Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let their dreams come true, than be selfish and worry about my liver."

 

Jack Handy

 

 

Postcards from  Mexico (Victoria)

 

Well hello from down here in Victoria, the following is some postcards from over the border and the happenings of the crew in the place to be, “Victoria.”

 

Daylesford Ride

 

Well, we struck the good weather again with fine sunny weather greeting us for the ride.  We gathered at the Irish restaurant with arches (MacDonald’s) on the ring road for a cup of coffee and a chat before heading out. Leaving the city it was a bit foggy but it cleared up as we headed towards Bacchus Marsh with Vanilla Slice Denny leading us into the unknown.  With weather as good as this in Victoria, there was nothing to complain about. As we headed into Bacchus Marsh we turned left and headed towards Geelong on some good rolling roads.  As we topped the rise, we turned right down a road that none of us had been down before.  With assurances from Denny that we would not hit Tasmania, we went along some great roads that led us to a part of Victoria that I had never been to before, and a road that would have you thinking you were in the Snowy Mountains.  From a flat gully it raised us up a mountain to a flat hill top that led us to Daylesford.  The road surface was a bit bumpy but this was taken away by the thought of a pie and hot chocolate at Ballan, and we were not disappointed.

 

From Ballan we headed to Daylesford and headed up to the lookout and water tower.  After a walk to the top of the tower, you soon work out that fitness improvement is something that you should do, but after coming down you convince yourself you don’t I need that when I have a Goldwing to take me every where. Once taking a breath, a little longer for some, (me), we head out of Daylesford and again Denny assures us that he knows a good place for lunch, some pub called the “Pig and Whistle”.  Sure enough, he again did not let us down. The roast pork was delicious and the ladies tell us the apple pie was to die for, (prepared on site and cooked to order, what more good you ask for); well as we left the pub, I was looking for bed.  With a full stomach, all I wanted to do was to take a afternoon siesta, (after all we are in Victoria)

 

With all aboard and the suspension adjusted we headed home.  With the afternoons in Victoria getting cold about three, we made a refuelling stop close to Melbourne and went our separate ways and headed to our home location.

Denny, great ride, good company, good food, another great ride completed.

 

 

 

 

 

Victorian Dinner 3 June 05

 

 

 

 

A boy and his father visiting from a third world country were at a shopping mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and back together again.

The boy asked his father, "What is this Father?”

The father responded, "Son I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don’t know what it is!”

While the boy and his father were watching wide-eyed, an old lady in a wheelchair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched small circles of lights with numbers above the walls light up.

They continued to watch the circles light up in the reverse direction. The walls opened up again and a voluptuous 24-year-old woman stepped out.

The father said to his son, "Go get your Mother".

 

 

 

 

Taromeo Camp Ovens Ride - Sunday 15th May 2005.

 

 

What can I say – after a rather cloudy week we wake up to a glorious Sunday morning.    Thommo claims that he spoke to someone special to make it so!

 

The bike is gleaming as well, and we duly set off to meet at the BP Caboolture North and even though we believe we are early, there is a good clan waiting for us already having their coffees.

As planned, Thommo gave the riders the pre-ride details and we get on the road at 9 am sharp.  We headed off onto the highway and due to some backseat chat Thommo completely missed the Caboolture turn-off.  Luckily no U-turn was required as we had our tail-end Charlie (Larry) with local knowledge who duly guided us around the next turn-off, and we were eventually on familiar territory.  Our destination is over Mount Mee – glorious views, continuous sweeping corners which our wings love (and Clint), and then the beautiful descent down through Samford where we had chosen to have our morning tea.  We all pulled into the park safely, and we didn’t hang around too long, luckily for Gizmo (Pamela had her eyes on the Bazaar that was open over the road).  However, we had to delay our take-off, as Turbo lost his gloves – temporarily, and then it was our next leg over Mount Glorious – what a great name for this scenic climb and especially on our wings.

 

 

 

 

This enjoyable section of our trip brought us out on to the Brisbane Valley Highway which is the cruisiest stretch up the Blackbutt Range.  However, during this stretch Majic happened to be the only rider to king-hit a small, wet cow-pat in the middle of the road.  Consequently, we were all giving him wide berth later, until he had completed his clean-up which involved the first attempt at the garage at Harlan, and then at the lunch venue.  Following this rather dirty interlude we only had to look out for the little (and I mean little) sign for the Taromeo Camp Oven lunch destination.  We made the turn-off safely and then it was a very brief ride past an historic park called Jessie’s Well and then we negotiated a 600 metre stretch of unsealed road.  Some riders would call this ‘dirt’ but Thommo would only comment “what dirt?” 

 

All the wings turned into the Taromeo Camp Oven driveway, parked in the front of the homestead, and we were pleasantly greeted by ChrisandJenny and their two sons Nicolas and Joel (Xmas babies?)  We didn’t chit-chat for too long as we were all rather hungry, so we settled down to a very enjoyable meal of Drovers Stew with damper, followed by a trifle and Billie Tea or coffee.  I have to comment that this was all served up to us by Nicolas and Joel and it was all presented on real china and cutlery.  What a pleasant change from plastic.  The cooking process was in 100 year old camp ovens, which we learned about from a very informative demonstration by Chris, after our boisterous lunch.  Chris gave a very interesting talk on his extensive collection of camp/country memorabilia, including a very impressive Bear Trap which had been part of the early settlers’ equipment.  We volunteered a ‘Bear’ of our own as a demonstration; luckily Chris improvised with a very solid piece of wood instead!

 

It was then our turn to give Chris and Jenny a chance to checkout the wings, and they had a couple of photos taken as well, so hopefully we will exchange our photos with them very soon.  It was a very enjoyable venue, and we waved our good-byes at 3.15pm for our ride home.

 

We duly divided into two groups – one group were northbound through Kilcoy and the second group southbound through Esk.  We are the southbound group and we had our usual scenic ride along the Brisbane Valley Highway, and we pulled into a café at BP Blacksoil for our final coffee and reminiscing before finally calling it a day at 4.30 pm.  Another enjoyable wing-day with you all. 

 

Thank you,

 

Thommo &Valerie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.  At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

 

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.  Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.  But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

 

After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.  "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."  The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?  That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them." "For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.  Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

 

Each of us has our own unique flaw.  But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.  You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

 

To all you crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers, on your side of the path.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ride Coordinator  - Bill Carter – Tel:  (07) 5564 8996 ;  Bill’s a/h mobile :  0428 248 160

e-mail: bill_mary@hotkey.net.au

RIDE DATES; Unless otherwise arranged, rides will be on the 3rd Sunday of the month, and Social rides, the following weekend, with other social events as announced through the year.

** Ride Leaders: Please check the details of your ride and let me know of any changes.  Ride leaders are also asked to organise 2 raffle prizes for their ride. Suggested value approximately $10.00 each. Raffle tickets will be made available from Eric Madjeric.

IMPORTANT: Even if you have not finalised the details of your ride, just supply the start timeandlocation, the general direction of the ride, and the meal arrangements.

*** Ride Leaders: Please provide a short pre-ride briefing that outlines the basic safety precautions that we in the AWRA like to observe when riding in groups, and a little about the ride and the rest stop locations.

 

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ON RIDES:

 

Each motorcyclist is responsible for at least the following;

·         The roadworthiness of your vehicle (including trailer)

• That you are in a fit condition to control the vehicle, (including trailer)
• Make sure you have a full tank of fuel before departing on a ride.
• That you obey all the traffic rules and ride in a safe manner.
• That you ride in a considerate manner that does not endanger, or unnecessarily inconvenience other road users.
• To be correctly attired for safe motorcycling.

·         To have fun and enjoy the day, and the company.

Thanks for all those that have offered to organise rides and socials.  That is what makes this club so great. If you are yet to conduct a ride or organise a social, please start to plan something so that when your turn arrives you will be ready. You don’t have to wait to be asked, just let me know.

 

Speeding!  Who, me?

An older lady gets pulled over for speeding...

Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?

Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.

Older Woman: Oh, I see.

Officer: Can I see your license please?

Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.

Officer: Don't have one?

Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.

Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.

Older Woman: I can't do that.

Officer: Why not?

Older Woman: I stole this car.

Officer: Stole it?

Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.

Officer: You what?

Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see.

The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.

Older woman: Is there a problem sir?

Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.

Older Woman:  Murdered the owner?

Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?

Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers. The officer is quite stunned.

Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.

The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.

The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.

Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.

Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.