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For the past few months a few off us have tried to get up to
Collie to watch the historic M/C racing as we have a club member
who races there often. We organized a weekend ride with Phil
Penny, Jack Rowe and I meeting up at 9am on Easter Sat. We
headed off with the first stop being Kojonup for fuel and a cup
of tea and a double coffee for Jack, as he was nodding off, - he
even missed the patrol car (must have been asleep then).
All alert and refreshed we
headed off to Collie via Changerup, left at Boyup Brook then
Arthur River, right at Darken South Rd, left up Bowelling
Duranillin Rd and down this other road. I was picking up burning
rubber smells coming off Jack’s BMW trike. Just as I was going
to pass him to tell him about the smell, a big black thing came
off his bike and slid down the road. At first I thought he had
blown a tyre, but it was his table and tent-cot! (big black
thing)
On close inspection we
found the burning rubber smell - it turned out to be one of his
mudguard supports had broken and was rubbing on the tyre. After
a few make-shift repairs we were on our way again turning left
on to Crossman Rd then left at Collie Motoplex and we just
followed the signs. We set up camp and went looking for Mike
Stephenson, but he was nowhere to be found so we checked with
race officials and were told that he had had an ‘off’ and that
the bike was unrideable so he had left.
At this stage Barry and Ian Grant arrived, they are regulars at
these events and we informed them of the tragedy of Mike’s bike.
Saturday was all practice and tweaking the bikes. We had a most
enjoyable day watching the bikes.
During the day Harley Trent, Barry May, Steve Rowe and Bob
Jackson arrived. Bob was with his wife and ‘camped’ in town at
the motel (still a softy). After cooking tea and a bit of B/S we
all retired to bed to endure a very cold night’s sleep. Up early
to thaw out in the morning sun with a coffee and breakfast, then
off to watch the bikes. Bob and Jan arrived mid-morning and Trev
and Liz Escott turned up around 11.30 for a few of hours then
drove back to Albany via Walpole. All up 12 club members and
wives made it great little turn out.
The sidecars were the most impressive to watch bringing the
wheel up on the corners. There were not so many 1950’s bikes
this year compared to last year, more the 60-70 Japanese solo
bikes, but still a pretty good variety of bikes. All had a great
day in the beautiful sunny weather.
We all packed up but left at different times going to different places, Harley and Barry went to Nannup, Bob and Jan, Ian and Barry stayed, while Jack, me and Phil went on a sightseeing tour led by Jack, until he stoped and informed us that he was lost and so we had to turn back to get on the correct road about 80 kms back.
All in all a lot of fun
and we will do it again next time. Come and join us - the dates
are in your Magazine.
One to get to will be the Historic National WA on the 14-17
November at Barbagallo raceway. Until next time, safe riding.
PS : Mike – ‘Handy hint No 1’ is: - warm them tyres mate, we are
all very glad you are OK!