PAST EVENTS

Thursday 3rd April - Dinner at DeNiros's.. with the Police!

From Chris:

Hey what a great night! We had around 60 members last night and NEVER has the group been so attentive!

So nice to have a chat over dinner with the police instead of by the roadside... ;-) (not that that has ever happened to me :P)

Many Thanks must go to The NSW Police Bike Riders from Traffic Support Group and in particular Alex and Julian for keeping us informed and entertained (I want a LIDAR for Christmas!). Special thanks also to Sgt Priest and Vince for making it all happen!

ChrisT

Friday 4th to Sunday 6th April - Weekend away to Wakefield

From Sean:

Highlights of the trip down were a dry road through the Nasho despite rain everywhere else, Toms shoe changes at the lights and overtaking on the gravelly highway shoulder at about 130k, and Ruth maintaining a good pace up Macquarie Pass despite a number of front wheel drifts on the greasy surface (scary stuff to watch). Accomodation was great with some very pleasant and friendly hosts at the Trappers Inn (A big thanks to ChrisT for his organisation of the whole weekend).

Saturday dawned with a perfect blue cloudless sky. Out to the track. We only just seemed to have payed our money and signed out Wakefield Park licenses than we were out on the track. With a number of trackday newbie (me included) the early laps were fairly slow as we got to know the track and tried to relax. I almost ran off the track on my second lap due to stiff arms in a tight downhill corner.

With each lap and each session everybody got more relaxed and comfortable and the slowly pace increased. Grants was going so fast 200k on the very short straight main straight and over 160 on the shorter back straight, that he got flagged in and bumped up to intermediates with the race guys. By the end of the first session after lunch most were feeling the effects of hard riding and friday nights drinking. While some were starting to lift the pace and get ito a rhythm others were getting ragged and deciding they needed to rest up. I was starting to REALLY enjoy myself, feeling comfortable, getting my lines sorted and lifting my pace. By the final sessions i was keeping pace with some bigger bikes and riders that I never kept up with on the road. Then on my what I decided was my last lap due to lack of fuel, as fatigue was starting to take effect, I just couldn't make it around the corner I almost didnt make in the first session, and ran off the track (at very slow speed). Oh well, no harm done. A few others had an off on the day, and one BA bike came back with some scars. But nobody got hurt and everybody had a great time on the track.

Back at the motel it was a hot shower, into the bar for a drink, analysis of the days events and slideshow of the days photo's. Tom and Phil fully "cranked over" on their giant chook chasers has to be seen to be believed. Then it was dinner and bed ... at 9:00pm!!! ... sad but true. We obviously had just too much fun for one day. The next day dawned fine but foggy and everybody headed home in small groups.

If you want to improve your confidence in corners, do a track day. I had 3/4 inch chicken stripes on my rear tyre on Saturday, but by the second session on Sunday they were gone, replaced by warm little balls of rubber. Riding home on sunday I was so much more comfortable at road speeds. On the track you get to test your limits, without worry about oncoming vehicles, telegraph poles, trees, gravel etc. You can refine your lines and technique in relative safety and if you get it wrong you've got lots of room to run off. I rode six 20 minute sessions, approx 180km, all in second gear. I was hitting the rev limiter 1/2 to 3/4 of the way down the main straight and could have gone quicker through some corners in first, but I was going quick enough for my liking (150 real k's, not speedo lies) and I wanted to concentrate on my cornering (lines and technique) and braking without the distraction of changing gears. You dont have to be fast, riding a sports bike or wear the latest designer gear. Just get out there have some fun (BIG BIG FUN) and work on your riding technique.

Sean

Sunday 13th April - 1yr Anniversary ride to Hartley Vale

From Andrew

Its belated, but guys/gals just wanted to send out a thanks for an awesome day. Sunday was my first ride with you all and of the thirty nine (I think that was the count) today was great.

A few things memorable from the day:

• Charlotte (i think correct me if I am wrong) getting passionate and embracing a Windsor local
• Humming along Bells Line and a 748 fly past me like i was stopped on the side of the Rd
• Hooning back with someone on a GPZ (Sorry I can't remember your name) keeping up a quick pace
• Maintaining a slippery corner (never experienced a two wheel slide before)
• My Romantic Fireplace dinner until the other party left me *sob*
• Meeting a great group of people and the whole day being great

Thanks again for the great day and hope to meet more BA people on the next ride and try to remember more names!

Andrew [1][2] Reynolds

[1] I love strippers
[2] the VTR from "bankstown"

From Paul

The GPX... that would be me, neon boy! Nice work on the way back, I might have to tag you again next time, hopefully a little drier then, eh?

That 748 came out of nowhere, and happened to arrive just as i changed down a gear.... i thought someone had stolen my engine and replaced it with another one, but alas, my mirrors revealed a different story :)

Anyway, I had a ball, thanks as always to everyone... see ya all next time around!

Friday 18th - Saturday 19th April - Canyoning & Camping Weekend, plus ride to Mt White on Sunday 20th April

From ChrisT

1. Canyoning "Starlight" and Climbing in the Wolgan Valley A.K.A. Newnes.

2. A run up to Mt White for a quick photo shoot.

3. Drinkies at Lou's place...

ChrisT

Friday 25th April - Ls & Ps Ride to Mt White

From Soph

The road itself wasn't amazing up there in Friday - wet, a bit on the mossy side, and all those loose stones in places.. good experience for us novices, and even the 'more seasoned riders' (is that another way of saying 'old farts'?) didn't seem to mind keeping to the speed limit under those conditions either!

From Mark

Was a very good day and yes bit sad to see one down. Chin up Tony we'll see you next time and maybe the weather will be kinder.

Congrats to all for a nice ride and thanks for the day.. Well done on putting on such a good day Sunday will look forward to the next ride together..

Pics as soon as I finish the film in my olde worlde camera.. I don't have one of those new fangled digicams!

Sunday 27th April -

From Tracey

Just wanted to say what a great day!!!! To all who organized this day a huge THANKS!!! Even though the rain came down in bucketloads at times the atmosphere was all positive - just makes another great reason to spread the word that motorbike riding has to be one of the best ways to meet some wonderful, positive people!!!!

From Grant

To all those people involved in putting Exhilaration together - well done and congratulations for such a brilliant effort. It's difficult to think of worse weather for an outdoor event and yet there were still heaps of people there. Even though they were dripping wet, everyone I spoke to was having a great time. Imagine if it had been dry and sunny!

From Phil

Sunday was wet again for Exhileration, but every bike enthusiast in town must have been there. Even our favourite motorbike cops showed up! Great event, hot topic. (What could be hotter than a lineup of leather clad biker babes!!!).

From Srool

Great Exhilaration!!! From someone who is a daily and an average motorcyclists, there is nothing better to except then the things that this event has offered. Meeting other motorcyclists with different experience, different knowledge, point of views and motorcycles. Great range of stands with the most hot stuff anyone is looking for: the pro's opinion about engine performance, suspensions, handling the bike, social groups and places to go, and...good deals to keep the pocket a bit fatter...

Above all, having great spirit; although it was pissing with raining - like there is no tomorrow (or if there is tomorrow, then the next day is for Boats and Dingi's only!)

From Steve

I wonder if I can put "Exhilaration Brolly Boy" on my resume?