RESTORE & RIDE MAGAZINE September-October, 2018 Coffs Harbour and District Motorcycle Restorers Club Inc Safe riding throughout the year The winner of the Club’s annual “Concours d'Elégance” was Graeme’s stand-out Norton Model 50 with alloy head and barrels (8 fin) All Correspondence to :- The Secretary, CH&DMRC, Jetty PO Box 4248, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450. [email protected] Club Office Bearers 2018-2019 PRESIDENT Geoff Newton 6699-2017 VICE-PRESIDENT Shane Barns 0401-769-314 SECRETARY Jenni Balenzano 6655-3690 TREASURER Glen White (TBC) 6653-4532 CLUB CAPTAIN Jeff McKenzie 6650-0331 VICE CAPTAINS Roy Atherton 0428-218-613 Kerry Hendy 6652-6947 Nick Hiller 6655-3690 PUBLICITY OFFICER Wayne Adams (TBC) 0400-002-105 MEMBERSHIP OFFICER Gavin Gill 6653-2646 PUBLIC OFFICER Jenni Balenzano 6655-3690 REGISTRAR Geoff Newton 6699-2017 LIBRARIAN Laura McKenzie 665- 0331 PROPERTY OFFICER Rob Popplewell 6653-4532 EDITOR Nick Hiller 6655-3690 MAG DISTRIBUTION Laura & Jeff McKenzie 6650-0331 FACEBOOK ADMIN. Mick Carpenter 0418-300-171 MACHINE EXAMINERS Kevin Barber 6658-4535 (Coffs Hbr) Roy Atherton 0428-218-613 (Coffs Hbr) Chris Pearson 0429-667-048 (Nambucca) Graham Maddeford 6655-2033 (Bellingen) Nigel Locke 0411-210-616 (Urunga) RALLY CONVENER AND COMMITTEE To be elected. Club Contact Details: Postal: P.O. Box 4248, Coffs Harbour Jetty, 2450 Web: http://www.coffsharbourmotorcyclerestorers.com/index.html Email: [email protected] CLUB MEETINGS: 3rd Thursday of each month 7.00pm at Sawtell Bowling Club, Sawtell. Come early for a meal at the bistro. LIFE MEMBERS: Don Sonter, John Budds*, Pete Richmond, Bill Baker*, Ned O‘Brien, Rob Popplewell *Deceased Congratulations go to all the new executive members as well as the recycled familiar faces. The Tamworth, Triples and Grafton Rallies have all been great successes and our members have been keen participants. While rallies have traditionally been for three days, the four day rally as tried by Taree is becoming more popular. Already the Triples Rally has set a new bench mark with the Rally being followed by a week-long tour leading to the Grafton Rally, but now the Northern Rivers Rally committee has decided that there is no such thing as “too much riding” and when you check the fine print on their entry, it should be noted that “MONDAY TO THURSDAY: Riders are to gather in the Evans Head Bowling Club Car Park for self guided rides leaving at 9:30am and/or 2pm each day” It certainly puts the value in the rally entry fee and keeps your log book days available for even more riding! Also don’t miss one of the last rallies of the year at Hat Head. Even if you don’t wish to do an overnight rally, the Natureland Rally at Hat Head is well worth considering as it is only an hour and a half south of Coffs, so you can nip down for the day. The entry forms and details for these rallies are attached as appendices to the electronic copy of the magazine. A big “thank you” to Roy, John and Ned for keeping the photos and articles coming for the magazine. It is only by members sending in their photos that there is any hope that the magazine can portrait even a small part of the club’s activities. Nick Hiller 6655-3690 Email: [email protected] 2/311 Mastracolas Road, Coffs Harbour. Ph: 02 6650 9922 Vale to Past Members Alan Ruecroft 1940 - 20th August 2018 After a career in motor trimmer in Burwood, Sydney, Al came to Red Rock and joined the Coffs Restorers. He had a beloved Peugot car (quote Al: “If you are going to drive an old car, drive a good one”) and a variety of motorbikes. He had dabbled in dirt racing in his younger days and this was to stand him in good stead on his outback tours with members of the Club. Al was a quiet gentleman rider, who loved outback travel and was keen organiser and participant in a number of extended desert and hard riding trips out west. On one memorable trip, he led members to Chambers Pillar close by the famous Finke River ride and lasted for 3 weeks. The tour included Julia (North Qld), down the Plenty Highway to Trephina Gorge, then on to Alice to clean up before heading around the Mareenie Loop and on to Coober Pedy where the tour got stuck for several days due to wet weather. It was then across to WiIliam Creek on the Oodnadatta track and then to Maree through mud and slush, where Al starred by being the only rider who failed to fall off, though once he nearly came to grief in a barbed wire fence much to the amusement of those who had heard him boasting of the quality of his eyesight! In recent years Al has attended a number of club functions including overnighters at Point Lookout (He was a keen Bushwalker and ornithologist) and morning teas, and despite a regime of dialysis, it seems he never missed a Red Rock morning tea. Alan is survived by his son Robert and his wife, Kirsty and his grandsons, Lincoln and Elliot. Bill Baker (Life Member) 1927-13th July, 2018 Bill was a keen and enthusiastic motorcyclist and his riding career never seemed to be hampered by the loss of a leg and his other leg requiring 2 knee reconstructions. However Bill’s riding days finished at age 80 due to other health issues, but he continued to commune with his beloved AJS single throughout the remainder of his life Reg Henwood, John Baker, Bill Baker, Judith and Paul Van Bladel, Rob and Roy Previously Bill also owned a late model Yamaha, which served as a daily rider and took him on many club runs. Despite his retirement from riding, Bill continued to drive his restored Hillman Gazelle for many years. Bill was a keen attendee at rallies and he and best mate in the Club, Reg Henwood, had a reputation for fun and mischief. There were also some notable excursions in search of old bikes to purchase. Bill Baker, Rob, Al and Lance Bill is survived by his lovely wife, Val and their son(John) and his daughters and will be sorely missed by his old riding buddies. Out and About Sunday Ride to Dorrigo, 8th July, 2018. A big ride day with 18 bikes attending and most being historically registered. The main attractions was a visit to “the hosts with the most”, John and Louise, who provided the always hungry crowd with a sumptious morning tea and a tour of their bike and timber workshops. The riders then dispersed with some heading home directly, others to Dorrigo for lunch and some down to the Federal in Bellingen to sate their thirsts. (Thanks to Ned and Roy for the photos.) Riders partake of Louise’s excellent morning tea in the bright Dorrigo sunlight. Nigel and Sandy hear John’s wise remarks about workshop safety, while Riley watches in disbelief as his Dad and Phil continue to fiddle with machinery. Wednesday Morning Tea at the Swiss Patisserie, Bellingen, 11th July, 2018. Another big turn out with predominately club registered bikes and with fine weather, a most enjoyable time was had basking in the sun and partaking in fine food and drink. (Thanks to John for the photographic evidence of the happy crowd.) Wednesday Morning Tea at the Boardwalk Cafe, Urunga, 18th July, 2018. Bikes fill both sides of the street, and the “table of knowledge” is overflowing with good ideas and company. Tamworth Rally, 20th- nd 22 July, 2018 As always the ride up is well worth the effort as the scenery on the crisp Winter’s days was fantastic. A beautiful day in the Cooplacurripa area of the Nowendoc Valley on the way to meet up with Bob and Marg at Walcha’s Aspley Arms Inn for dinner on Thursday night. The Friday ride of about 40 bikes was a good opportunity to catch up with some of the rally regulars with a short run up through Moore Creek to the Moombi area for a cuppa and back to Tamworth. The Saturday ride was a bit more serious with some 200kms. It was out to the Dungowan area, Leaving the back of the “Coffs’” house for the ride then to Chaffey Dam for a catch up before out towards Nundle and Wallabadah for morning tea. With a cut off point for entrants of 1980, it was great to see the number of 50’s, 60’s and 70’s bikes which all seemed to travel at about the same pace, making for a good steady ride with one extended group of about 70 riders, basically travelling together.Then across via Quirindi and Quipolly to Currabubula for a sumptious lunch. Then back to Tamworth to prepare for the presentation dinner. A most enjoyable evening and Justin (left) with his Norton Dominator was the sole Coffs member to hunt out a well deserved trophy. Getting ready to leave on Saturday morning for the 200km ride. A 1931 Rudge that won it’s class, in company with a Norton and an Ariel Steve’s white Norton next to the category winner for the 70’s. with a very neat pair of BMW R90S in the background The Coffs Harbour entrants were few in number, being, Steve, Ned, Rob, Nick, Margaret, Justin and Ward, but we all managed to have a great time. The distance home unfortunately meant that we skipped the Sunday ride. It was a most enjoyable rally with great organisation and friendly atmosphere and more members should consider putting it in their touring diary.