Ride Reports

Ride to Colo Heights

Sunday the 29th of July 2007, thirteen people turned up at McDonalds at Seven Hills including our national secretary Vic Leslie and his adoring wife Lyn But only 11 riders were to be heading off for the trip, Pauline & Bob bought the quad as Bob thought it was a bit cool, So off they went in the car after exchanging envelopes with the Secretary (I wonder if this is why Bob has a new ride).
We left McDonalds just after 9am and now we were down to 10 as our Vice President turned right and we turned left onto Windsor rd, just a leisurely ride out Windsor rd and we stopped at the park on the other side of the river as we were informed that there was apparently a motorbike show on there, as it turned out the viewing was at the speed boat ramp on the other side (so then there were 9) as Graham Rattledge wanted to visit before going home to do the shopping.
I informed the group that under there own steam after Wilberforce they could get in front and meet the rest at the Colo Heights garage (so off they went).
After a half hour break, coffee and a chat we returned along the putty rd 21kms and turned right into Blaxland ridge rd and proceeded along till the end where we said our goodbyes before heading onto the Bells Line Of Road.
All in all it was a quick trip and we were finished in time for lunch at any destination we chose.

Kevin Waterston

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Ride Report. Camp Quality, 17/02/07

First of all, thankyou to all who attended and made the day a great success.

17 Riders and 1 pillion set of from Maccas Seven Hills to meet up with the Hills Branch at Pirate Petes at Dural. Hills group had already decided on a 11.30 departure, which I thought was a little late, so we agreed Eastern Creek riders would leave at 10.30 with whoever wished to join us from Hills. We had a rider’s briefing at 10.20 and set off on time with 23 riders heading south for Helensburg.
We stopped at the Caltex servo at Heathcote to regroup and refreshments before the last little trip down the Old Princess Hwy to meet the main body of riders at the golf range at Helensburg.
The Previous Camp Quality ride held in September last year, had 88 riders and the organisers were hoping for at least 100 riders this time as there were to be more children and families to cater for. The Hills Group arrived on time at 1.00pm and the number of bikes had swelled to over 200. We were briefed by Guy Stanford, Chairman of The Motorcycle Council, and shortly after rode to Stanwell Tops to the Convention Centre to meet the Families and children we’d be taking for a ride.
The bikes were grouped into different types and the children and parents wander through to choose what they want to ride on. Sidecars and trikes are much sort after for the very small or those not capable of riding pillion. Harleys and cruisers are very popular with people who don’t know what real bikes are supposed to look like and with so many to choose from I was beginning to think I wouldn’t have a passenger. However I got talking to one of the parents, “Jason” who was still looking for a ride and he was happy to jump on the back of the Suzuki. I went through the preliminaries, Have you ridden pillion before? No, not really. Briefed him on what to expect, Where to hold onto, what not to do. Got him kitted out. Jacket , helmet, gloves and we’re ready to go.

Ride Marshals were sent ahead, looking very official with their safety vests on, to supervise traffic management. In other words block the intersections where we need to commandeer right of way. At the point of departure there were about 250 motorcycles and those that didn’t have a pillion came along for the ride anyway. Getting that many bikes away takes some time and certainly spread out along the road for some distance. I did feel a bit sorry for those who were held at intersections waiting for what must seem like a never ending procession of bikes but I don’t think any of the marshals had any problems with drivers. The ride took us down the old Princess hwy. Down Bulli Pass. Left into Thiroul and back along the coast road over the Seaview Bridge and back up to Stanwell Tops again.
The atmosphere when we got back was most pleasing with helmets coming of revealing huge smiles and grins and what we readily take for granted, A short spin on a motorbike, had been a great thrill for our passengers. My pillion, Jason said,” I’ve got to get one of these. His wife Tina was equally pleased with her ride and she said she now understands what her mother sees in riding motorbikes. Their 6 year daughter was happily wandering through the bikes talking to all those tough bikies. Their little boy had fallen asleep in a sidecar on the ride. What Jason and Tina couldn’t believe was that so many riders had come along on the day just so they could give a little bit of joy to the families. I think we had just as much fun spreading a little bit of our motorcycling magic around and realising what we have is special and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
After the ride there was a sausage sizzle and a bit more fun auctioning of various items at very generous prises for fund raising. The weather had been excellent all day and we could not have asked for better. Not sure when the next one will be but I’ll certainly try to be on it.

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