WING NOTES

 

 

 

 

Newsletter of the

 

 

 

March 2003

 

 

 

 

 

Australian Wing Riders Association (Qld) Inc.

P O Box 652, Ipswich

Queensland  4305


 

 

Management Committee

 

President

 

Bevan Bradford  (07) 3822 3512

E-mail: Bevan.L.Bradford@mainroads.qld.gov.au

 

 

Vice President

 

Larry Fisher  (07) 5499 0348

E-mail: doumay@bigpond.com

 

 

Secretary/Treasurer

 

Brent Storey  (07) 3812 0523

E-mail: awraqld@myaccess.com.au

 

 

 

 

Meetings normally held 1st Monday of every month.

 

Next meeting:

 

7th April 2003

at

Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club

Main Avenue, Coorparoo

Wing Notes

March   2003

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN WING RIDERS ASSOCIATION (QLD) INC.

 

EDITOR:.............Clint Lovell

Phone:  07 3398 3437

Mobile 04 1819 2040

E-Mail:     clint@lovell.com.au

 

WING NOTES is produced with the object of keeping members informed about matters of interest to AWRA

members.  A copy of each issue is posted 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.

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Inside

 

 

Ø The Editor’s View & Secretary’s Desk
Ø President’s Report
Ø Ride Report - Bundaberg Rendezvous
Ø Test your Knowledge
Ø Ride Report – Tewantin
Ø Riding Thoughts
Ø Winging It - Rob and Jayne
Ø Ride/Social Calendar
Ø Meeting Minutes (Members Only)

Clicking on any of the Logowings will return you to this menu

 

The Editor’s View

Hi all.

Thanks to everyone for getting reports and stories in nice and early.  I can have a free weekend.  To mow.  Thanks also for all the submitted jokes,  I’ll keep them for later issues, but naturally it is better to fill this magazine with Association-relevant articles.  There’s still a couple of jokes to keep us amused.

We appear to be getting quite a few “smaller” bike owners in the club.  It might be fun to one day soon have a run specially for them.  Goldwings would be welcome of course, but would have to sit at the rear of the pack and adjust riding style to the leaders.  Might do us good……

 

Contributions for this magazine can be emailed to info@auswingriders.com or posted to 47 Breslin St, Carina, Qld 4152.  Photos and slides can be scanned and returned.

Clint

    From the Secretary’s Desk

As like the President, I also have had a reasonably quiet month in regards to club activities.    Regrettably our weekend work commitments have prevented Rae and I from joining in on the month’s activities, but hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel and the situation could change in the near future.

On a brighter note, more new members have signed up with the club, and if attendances at our monthly meetings at the Easts RLFC are any indication, we may have to look for a bigger venue.   Last Monday saw us move from the packed dining room out into the general bar area just so that we could hear ourselves talk.  Almost a full compliment of members attended, great stuff gang, keep it up!!

The Treasurer Adds…..

A reminder to all members that Membership fees are now due as of the end of the month, ie:28 Feb 03.   Fees can be paid at the monthly meeting or mailed to me at P O Box. 652,  Ipswich,  4305.  Prompt payment is appreciated, as apart from our ride raffles, this is our only other source of income with which to fund the club..

Brent

 

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The President Speaks......                                          

 

First up, let me congratulate Charleen on her purchase of the Seca.  Great to see her riding daily and in the rain.  It's not a Goldwing but we all had to start somewhere.  Judging by the traffic today, we need to encourage riding more.  Not with tunnels.  Let's make some motorcycle and public transport only lanes and encourage scooter ownership from about 16 years.

Last month was not a good one for motorcyclists.  Firstly, wet weather; I reckon I wore my wets more  last month than in the last two years.  Certainly from a work point of view, I have hardly used the wet weather gear since this time last year.  I don't mind the rain apart from getting the wets on and off.  Hate putting them on and it doesn't rain 'cause I end up wetter than ever from the inside, at least rain keeps things cool.

Motorcycles are news targets again with the deaths of riders involved in a collision on what was obviously a blind corner.  Yes, they may have been speeding, the papers made great news of the fact that the speedo was "stuck" on 190kph.  Nobody wanted to discuss the fact that the intersection was on a blind crest, nor the fact that for many reasons a speedo could show a number after an accident.  No; automatically the riders were at fault.  Unfortunately, they may have been at fault.  Not necessarily legally but maybe from a self-preservation perspective.  Never assume that the other vehicle will always do the expected or that the road will be clear where it's currently blind.

I've stressed many times through these pages, for everyone to be responsible and take control of their surroundings.  Recently, a group of us from work planned a ride over Mt Glorious.  At pre-departure time, it was raining so the ride was postponed.  One rider I had never met before said he didn't want to go because he wanted the opportunity "to give it some stick".  OK I thought, do I want to even go on the same ride as you, I don't want to have to pick you up.  Turns out, he went with his mates over the weekend.  The story came back how mossy and slippery it was, and how two riders went down.  His comment, "….. and we were riding at legal speeds too".  I fail to understand what "legal speeds" had to do with it.  When we approach a corner with a 25kph advisory sign, do we tip in at 100kph just because that's the legal limit?  I doubt it, even if it is dry.  Just because it's legal, it doesn't mean it's safe.  We must take full responsibility for our actions and "prepare for the unexpected".

Statistics say that most accidents occur because of speed.  What they don't say is that it is not necessarily speed in excess of the legal limit, but speed excessive for the conditions.  There may have been other factors, a wet road, gravel, bad road camber and so on; it doesn't matter.  The end result is that the "excessive speed" statistic, which, without explanation, becomes the focus and the solution is to use more speed cameras and therefore collect more revenue.

Keep the shiny side up,

 

Bevan

 

They're Blondes, regardless of sex

There were two blonde fellas working for the city council, one would dig a hole, the other would follow behind him and fill the hole in.  They worked furiously all day without rest, one guy digging a hole, the other guy filling it in again.

 

An onlooker was amazed at their hard work, but couldn't understand what they were doing.  So he asked the hole digger, "I appreciate the effort you are putting into your work, but what's the story?  You dig a hole and your partner follows behind and fills it up again."

 

The hole digger wiped his brow and sighed, "Well, normally we're a three-man team, but the bloke who plants the trees is sick today......"

 

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RIDE REPORT

Bundaberg Rendezvous

Not all of us can attend weekend trips.  Family and work conspire to keep us from our chosen pastime.  So we had a pretty good roll-up, with fourteen people turning up on eight bikes to scowl at the rain tumbling from a big black cloud over the Caboolture BP.  I had earlier checked the weather bureau and they promised two fine days.  Hah!  At least we felt we were better off than a nearby group of Ulyssians on their open cruisers, also looking forlornly at the skies.

We passed the time trying out the saddle of the bright yellow GL1800 on loan to Lionel and Mary from Brisbane Motorcycles.  Lionel was quite happy he had the demo bike and we weren’t all jumping all over his new bike.

We bit the bullet, climbed aboard and headed out onto a wet highway only ten minutes late.  We had only gone about one kilometre when we were out from under the cloud, the rain stopped, the road dried and our smiles brightened considerably.  The rest of the weekend was to remain fine and warm.  Just right.

New members, Rob and Jayne were a bit apprehensive and unsure of what was happening, having no CB on their beautiful Teal ’92, so they tended to hang back in the traffic making two groups.

First stop along the road was Gympie and the new Maccas for coffee and cheesecake.  Lots of stares from the locals and groans from the riders when they saw just how ‘filthy’ their bikes were from the light rain.  (Sigh!)


Lattes for 14 please

Aah - A coffee and a good sit down

It's not a car park meeting Bevan - Honest!  We were checking out Rob and Jayne's ride

Larry's new trim

A few words of encouragement to Rob and Jayne about our group riding and we were away again.

This time they stuck like glue to the rear of Thommo and we all stayed pretty well together.

Traffic was busy on the highway and the passing lanes were being well used.  One truckie tried to use his might to monster Wendy on the Zephyr, but hadn’t taken into account the fact she wasn’t alone.  Thanks to modern technology, we all heard the tirade Turbo launched at the driver, causing Annette to threaten him with a bar of soap.  She was carrying one too!

We all stopped for fuel at Torbanlea, with Turbo hoping the driver would stop as well so he could further educate him on the virtue of road courtesy.  He didn’t, of course.

Back on the road, we were followed for a while by the yellow 1800, by now dubbed “Big Bird”.  That thing sure stands out on the road.

Shortly after, we pulled in to Childers and SoJos café for a great lunch, only ten minutes late, same as we started.  After lunch a few of us went to inspect the touching memorial in the partially rebuilt Palace Hotel.

Mary was a little late returning and we all gave a few beeps on the horns.  The horn on the 1800 would do a Mack truck proud, but was right at home on the big Honda.


Childers Main Street


Sojo's Childers - good food


Hurry up Mary!!


In Bundaberg

Another half hour and we were rolling down the main street of Bundaberg, showing off as usual.  We pulled up at the Bundaberg Distillery just in time for our appointment and did the rum tour with about thirty other tourists.  It was a good tour and very informative, capped by a great highlight, a couple of free drinks at the bar – Bundy of course.


Notice any similarities


Wings at rest - Cane Village

Then it was back through town to our accommodation, the excellent Cane Village caravan park where, courtesy of Eric and Deb, we got a good discount on our cabins.  Madjeric Prices.  We settled in quickly and most of us ended up in the pool.  Eric and Deb hadn’t brought togs but didn’t let that stop them.  Did anybody get photos of that?

A gathering was held at Lionel and Mary’s place, where the 1800 entertained us with music, once the CD player was sorted out.  We were also joined by the sole rep of the Capricornians, Peter Goodsir.  Great to catch up.

It was soon eat time and we all traipsed across to Brothers Sports Club for their excellent Bistro and a great time was had by all.


Big Bird and Peter's 'wing


Clint and Charleen


Wendy and Turbo (Trying to hide)


Champagne Brekky - Oh Yeah


Jayne and Rob


Deb and Eric through Turbo's eyes

Due to the lateness of breakfast and the time necessary, we decided against golf for Sunday morning and after the leisurely repast at Brothers, we packed up and set off.  Our first tourism destination was closed.  Damn!  So we opted for a ride to Elliot Heads for an ice cream, with a scenic and concentrated tour of The Hummock on the way.

Time was getting away, so we headed south again, saying our goodbyes to Peter over the CB when our paths parted.

We took a different route back to Childers, via the Woodgate road, then down the highway again to Maryborough for lunch.  This was an unplanned part of the trip, so my first choice for lunch was not good – they didn’t serve food.  So after another mix-up with a service station that was closed but still served fuel, we got split up and decided the easiest thing was Maccas for lunch.  Two Maccas on one trip!

Back on the road and we headed for the Cooloola road to Gympie, a great and relatively unused strip of bitumen with only one corner that caused bother.  It was a right turn off the main road that we had to take.  I was dreaming a bit and realised a little late that we had to turn.  Indicator on, I slowed and leaned hard to get around.  Larry, close behind and in the left side of our staggered formation, saw me turn and didn’t have time to indicate, but turned in.  A last-second instinctive check of his mirror showed that Thommo hadn’t made the turn, was braking hard and heading straight for Larry.  Larry straightened up and Thommo swerved around him, missing by a gnat’s breadth.  Thommo continued down the road, busily trying to swallow his heart..  After he settled down, he came back and rejoined us.  All I can say is it was great driving on the part of both riders, an accident avoided by an instinct born from experience.

All calmed down again, we continued along the road enjoying its long sweepers and rolling hills.

Back on the highway at Gympie, we joined the throng once more and made our way back to Larry and Annette’s for another swim.  We had to work hard to convince Eric to make coffee for us all.

To all those who attended, Charleen and I thank you for your great company and I appreciate your forgiveness for my mistakes.                                    Clint.

Click here for more photos

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TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1.                  Who founded the early US detective agency?.

2.                  Who designed the “Rocket” locomotive?

3.                  What are the Cocos Islands also known as?

4.                  What is an object shaped by human workmanship?

5.                  What is one, that is strikingly representative of an entire class ?

6.                  Michael Jordan plays basketball for which team?

7.                  What is a specified portion of a cinematic film?

8.                  What infectious disease is also called “marsh fever”?

9.                  What is the highest point in South Australia?

10.                What term is Maori for “Good luck”?

 

Answers

 

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RIDE REPORT

Tewantin Ride?

At the last meeting there was talk about who should write the report on our rides.  Someone commented that they could write the report on the Tewantin ride on the night.  It only takes a little twist or turn or shower of rain to change everything.  So I myself would like to read these reports.

Because of the weather Annette did a ring around to get an idea of other peoples thoughts.  Mostly it was a case of we only had a few light showers today we may as well ride.  So decided not to cancel the booking for dinner.

Come 4.30pm Annette and another pillion decided they wouldn't go on the bikes but would follow by car.  Another couple also decided they would follow in their car instead of riding.


Something to do with wet weather gear...


Ready to brave the weather

I rode to the BP at Caboolture to meet the other hardy (maybe foolhardy) riders for a 5.30pm departure.  As I rode into the BP the skies opened up.  Two other bikes turned up followed by a couple on a brand new 1800.  A very wet pillion said she's not going any further in this weather.

Over a cup of coffee, it was decided to ride to our place and leave the bikes there, take our cars seeing as we were already there. (this was decided in 10 seconds)  This is where the ride ended.

From Caboolture it was a very uneventful drive to the Tewantin Royal Mail Hotel where we had a meal and chat.  We skipped the proposed ice cream stop at Coloundra as we couldn't fit any more in.  Drove back to our place for a coffee and more chatting.  After which the hardy mounted their steeds and rode home.

I will leave it to feedback as to whether it was a good night or not.

 

Larry


Lionel on his and Mary's new GL1800

 

Answers to this month’s Quiz :

1.            Allan Pinker                                   2.           George Stephenson

3.            Keeling Islands                              4.           An artifact

5.            Epitome                                        6.           Chicago Bulls

7.            Footage                                        8.           Malaria

9.            Mount Woodroffe (1439m)               10.          Kia-Ora

 Return to Questions


 

 

 

New location - 65 Jalomy St.  Boondall   Qld  4034

 

 

Please ring for an appointment

As this is a private residence - NO cold calls at premises please.

 

 

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Some riding thoughts that did not fit on the "From the President" page.

 

The following opinions are mine and not necessarily those of the club or its members.

 

Recently a few people have expressed their feelings and their interpretation of other's feelings on the subject of non-Goldwing riders either not keeping up or not being able to keep up on rides.

 

As I see it, we are a motorcycling group and willingly accept any motorcycles along on our rides.  Not everyone necessarily agrees with that, but it's how our constitution goes.  Therefore every effort must be made to make the participation of others as enjoyable as possible.  We want to encourage them to desire ownership of a Goldwing.

 

By the same token, we are primarily a Goldwing club.  We welcome others along but the riding style of a Goldwing will often not suit the style of others.  For example, the big sports bikes might leave us through the twisties, not necessarily because they are faster, but because if we wanted to ride that way then we would own sports bikes too.  On the other side of the coin are the smaller bikes.  Now I ride one every day and love it for its size and maneuverability.  While it feels to go well, when I get back on the Wing, the shear grunt would just leave the Revere for dead unless I really worked at it.  And so it is on rides.  Goldwings are different.  They suit a different riding style and the torque of that motor and the cruise control means that hills and so on just roll under the wheels as if it is flat ground.  Almost no conscious effort or excess speed is needed to maintain high but legal average speeds. 

 

There lies the problem.  To keep up, less powerful bikes often have to work harder and play catch-up.  Surely no one expects that if they come along on a postie bike, then everyone else will be content to cruise along at 50kph.  The answer?  To me it's like everything else in this world.  There has to be a bit of give and take on both sides.

 

The Goldwingers have to participate in educating the non-Goldwing riders:

  1. During the rider briefing maybe any non-Goldwingers should be educated that Goldwings are not like normal motorcycles and therefore a different riding style may have to be employed.  While every effort will be made to cater for other bikes, there is an onus on participants to keep up or meet at the destination; and,
  2. Goldwingers have to understand that smaller bikes do have a problem keeping up and that we need to look out for our smaller siblings to maximise their enjoyment and future participation and maintain our reputation as an enjoyable group to ride with.

Non-Goldwingers have to

  1. Explain to the ride leader what their problem is and ask for some sort of consideration during the ride; and,
  2. Not expect that the entire ride group will alter their riding style to suit one person without good reason.

 

The end result is that we are all out there for the ride.  No one has the right to spoil someone else's enjoyment.  Neither the ride leader by setting a pace that consistently exceeds the speed limit or makes it difficult to keep up, nor another rider by not keeping up and expecting everyone else to slow down to their pace.

 

At any time on a ride, the choice whether or not to participate is with each rider., if you're unhappy on a ride, make a decision and let someone know, preferably the ride leader or Ride Coordinator.  The choice is yours, if the ride is too slow, go your own way and wait at the next point.  If the pace is too fast, travel at your own pace and catch up to everyone else at the next point.  Alternatively, drop out of the ride and go your own way.  While this could spoil a ride, "parking lot meetings" spoil the club.  There is no room for "parking lot meetings", only open discussion at meetings.

 

In any case, just enjoy the ride, that's why we do it.

 

Bevan

 

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“Winging It”

First there is the big decision - let’s get that nice bike we’ve always wanted?  Off to the shop for the ‘Just Bikes’ to ‘see what’s around’.

None  this month, one in Vic . the next & next - decision - bit too far to go.  Let’s have a look at a `newey’ see if we  really like it (?) or at least we’ll know what we’re looking for.

Many phone calls around Brissy “have you got any’? Only one to look at.  Off we go ,in-laws too with camera.

WOW! isn’t it big? it’s very nice though, comfy, the mind races/dreams. Yes... we like it.  Check out the gear.  Yes...still dreaming.  Only need to test ride - not today.  Think about it some more, a bit heavier & bigger than first thought.  But, still dreaming.

Three days later, phone call from a friend, found an Aspencade for you here’s the number.

Ring! Ring! When  can we look? Tonight! Just before we get there `what if it’s Red’? turn the corner WOW beautiful  teal green!! WOW We love it before we are even turning in the driveway. WOW trailer too. After a while it’s test ride time - only a little one  - have mostly only ridden  dirt bikes for 16 yrs (a bit smaller & the ’nice’ bits don’t really matter). WOW...yes.

Back the next night (2 1/2 hrs again) to collect. Home to Rosewood from Collingwood Park in the dark. No worry plenty of lights, looks like a decorated tree heading along the highway, didn’t lose sight once.  WOW! 

Got home late...let’s take Jayne for a test ride now, into Booval (KFC) and home it’s now 10.30p.m. WOW! Two more days ‘till the weekend to really try it out...hurrrryyy uupp! Weekend! WOW!

Saturday  ride took us out Wivenhoe/Esk way, Sunday Karana Downs/Karalee way one little ride the next weekend. Then get it ready (polish etc) for our three weeks off.  Day trips to  Toowoomba for lunch at Coffee Club headed back down the range and decided to try Postman’s track road - guess what? this leads back to Toowoomba, so keep going to Baskin & Robbins (as you do). New Years Eve we set out around 11.am for  Deception Bay, Redcliffe, Nudgee Beach, Victoria Point  got a coffee from a friend hadn’t seen for a while and home to Rosewood. We were really pleased with this one only got stopped at two traffic lights all the way home and not for long. The next trip was two nights away south wards, Byron Bay (yes a pic in front of Lighthouse) Ballina, Evans Head, here a fella actually tracked us down in the street by our boots!  Seen the ‘Wing parked and wondered who was in his territory, friendly chap though has in-laws  in our neck of the woods. Yamba for lunch (prawns by the river under the trees - luxury) back up again  over the river at Ballina , this time on the ferry, stayed at Kingscliffe , would’ve  stayed further down the coast but there was nowhere suitable to park the ‘Wing, found beautiful cafe’ for brekky and home early afternoon. WOW! 

We often wondered if other people feel the same way about their `Wings, and we have found ‘Yes they do’ how can you not? 

So, another time over the hols we saw this group of `Wings at the BP Yatala - wouldn’t you know it we didn’t have ours that day, so we wandered over and had a look  - WOW they all look so beautiful together.  There must be a club?  Anyway phoned the Honda shop and got all the details and....Here we are!  We were really excited about the Bundy Run ‘cos we had planned to do that on the hols but time got away - just like an extension of them though. Thank you everyone for making us feel so welcome .  We know we are all here to have a fun and  safe  time , enjoying great company along the way.  Thanks again.

Rob (Bear) & Jayne


 

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Australian Wing Riders Association (Qld) Incorporated

Ride / Social Calendar

Date

Destination

Ride / Social Event Details

Coordinator/s

MARCH RIDE

16th March

EVANS HEAD

NOTE!! START TIME CHANGE

Meet at BP Browns Plains at 8.00 to leave at 8.30am sharp. Travel via Mt Lindsay Highway and Lions Road to Kyogle, Casino, Woodburn, to Evans Head for lunch. Home via Byron Bay. BRING SMOKO, BUY LUNCH

Ray & Val

MARCH SOCIAL

22nd March

PARK ON WATER AT COLMSLIE

Meet 4PM at the park for a short ride to Clint and Charleen’s for a BYO Bar B Q, or meet there at 6.00pm. (47 Breslin St Carina) followed by a short ride for coffee after

PARK DIRECTIONS: U.B.D. – MAP 161, D2 TO E5

CHRIS & SHERYL

APRIL RIDE

20th April

TBA

TBA

Larry & Annette

APRIL SOCIAL

26/4/02

TBA

TBA

BEVAN & THERESE

MAY RIDE

18/5/02

 

NORTH WEST, (works for me, Ride Coordinator)

EDDIE

14th & 15th June

1st Aid course

 

2 day, recognised First Aid Course at Red Cross rooms, Ipswich. The cost is $120.00 per person, which will be subsidised by the Ulysses Club to 50% for members.

There will be a social dinner at Tomato Brothers Italian Restaurant on Saturday night, whether or not you come to the course. Notify Turbo or Wendy for bookings.

Turbo & Wendy

JULY RIDE

20 JULY

TBA

TBA

LIONEL & MARY

SOCIAL COORDINATORS – Chris & Sheryl Pusey - Ph. 38073581

**RIDE ORGANISERS: Please check the details of your ride and let me know of any changes

IMPORTANT: EVEN IF YOU HAVN’T FINALISED THE DETAILS OF YOUR RIDE, JUST SUPPLY THE START LOCATION & TIME, THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE RIDE, AND THE MEAL ARRANGEMENTS.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

It is the personal responsibility of each motorcyclist to be responsible for at least the following:

Ø       The roadworthiness of their vehicle, (including trailer)

Ø       That they are in a fit condition to control the vehicle, (including trailer)

Ø       That they obey the traffic rules and ride in a safe manner

Ø       That they ride in a considerate manner that does not endanger, or unnecessarily inconvenience other road users

Ø       To be correctly attired for safe motorcycling

BILL’S SOAP BOX

CLUB RIDES:

The very thing that we all belong to this club for is the social interaction and the rides. An outsider  having a look at the current ride calendar on our website, would be excused for thinking that the last thing we are interested in is riding our bikes. The only place we go is TBA. I think we are sometimes intimidated when planning our rides by some of the good ones we have been on in the past. We want to make it a memorable ride, and get paralysed in the planning, and only promote TBA. It does not take a lot of time when you are nominated to organise a ride to pull out the map, select north, south, west or a combination. That decision will determine the start place. The next step is to decide if you want to bring or buy food. The rest is irrelevant for the ride calendar. You can plan it to the nth degree after that if you choose. Everyone gets a few months to come up with those few details, and it will certainly enhance the ride calendar, and assist to attract other members. The alternative is not to have a ride calendar.

Safe riding.

Bill Carter,

Ride Coordinator, Tel. 5537 4120

Email: Bill_Mary@auswingriders.com

 

Minutes of AWRA meeting, March 2003