Riding On. Winter 2022

Riding is all about the Journey

NO.155 winter 2022

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The Journal of the Ulysses Club Inc. Issue 155 WINTER 2022 OUR COVER: Historic Bike Guru, Phil Whitton #3437 proves you’re never too old to be a Wally!

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE:

Ph:

1300 134 123 02 4647 7772 Email: administration@ulysses.org.au Post: PO Box 3242 Narellan NSW 2567 NATIONAL WEBSITE www.ulysses.org.au NATIONAL COMMITTEE National President – Allan Pratt Email: president@ulysses.org.au Membership Liaison Email: membership@ulysses.org.au Mobile 0408 807 579 National Vice President – Blue Knowles Email: vicepresident@ulysses.org.au Mobile: 0427 669 903 Sponsorship Liaison Email: sponsorship@ulysses.org.au Motorcycle Liaison Officer Email: mcliaison@ulysses.org.au International Liaison Email: international@ulysses.org.au Mobile: 0408 807 579 National Secretary – Sharryn Nankervis Email: secretary@ulysses.org.au Mobile: 0417 355 326 National Treasurer – John Tout Email: treasurer@ulysses.org.au National Treasurer – John Osborne publicofficer@ulysses.org.au Mobile: 0429 002 411 National Purchasing & Advertising Officer Robert Hunt Email: purchasing@ulysses.org.au Email: advertising@ulysses.org.au MAOTY Liaison Email: MAOTYadmin@ulysses.org.au Mobile: 0400 867 302 Ulysses Club Rally Liaison - Blue Knowles Email: ucrl@ulysses.org.au Mobile: 0427 669 903 Historic Plate Scheme - Ken Eaton Email: committeemember@ulysses.org.au Mobile: 0418 925 081 Webmaster – Jen Woods webmaster@ulysses.org.au Mobile: 0448 336 111 Ulysses Club Arthritis Research Fund Coordinator - Ian Winter Email: ucarf@ulysses.org.au Mobile: 0409 277 087

Contents

National Committee Reports UCARF Report Letters To Editor NEWS Ridden On

6 11 12-13 40-41 42

Features

Harley’s New Eight............................................................15-17 Black Dog Ride..................................................................23-24 The 2021 Triumph Speed Twin.........................................28-29 The MMB Chronicles.........................................................30-31

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EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS TO: Email: editor@ulysses.org.au or mail to PO BOX 3242 Narellan NSW 2567. Please submit articles in Word Documents or email body. We can not accept articles submitted in PDF format.

Please ensure all photos and images submitted to the Riding On are of high resolution. All images must be 2MB or over. Please do not place images in Microsoft Word documents. A one page article is 550 words. Please send images as JPEG files separately to articles. We cannot print low resolution images.

Proof-readers: Bryan Fricker, Colin Hook CLOSING DATES FOR EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS: 31st January for Autumn (March) issue 30th April for Winter (June) issue 31st July for Spring (September) issue 31st October for Summer (December) issue CLOSING DATES FOR ADVERTISING SUBMISSIONS: 16th February for Autumn (March) issue 16th of May for Winter (June) issue 16th of August for Spring (September) issue 16th of November for Summer (December) issue "Ulysses Club Incorporated accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any information contained in Riding On and readers should satisfy themselves independently if acquiring any items advertised or described in Riding On. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth.) no part of Riding On can be reproduced without the written permission of the Ulysses Club Incorporated. The views and opinion expressed by the contributors to the Riding On are not necessarily those of the National Committee of the Ulysses Club, and may not reflect its policy or position.

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e | president@ulysses.org.au m | 0448 336 111

National President’s Report

Hello all, Well it has now been a few weeks since the Warwick Rally and Annual General Meeting and what a rally it was!

Floods, pestilence, prophecies of doom.

Well not quite, but a lot happened!

A huge thank you to the Warwick Rally team and the ever ready team of volunteers who helped this event actually happen!

Without volunteers, no Ulysses Branch, or event would happen. No-one gets paid for these roles and no one expects to get paid. We all do what we do because the Ulysses Club means so much to us all – this also includes your National Committee members.

I for one enjoyed catching up with old friends and meeting new ones at the rallies – the same every year.

For me this year, I didn’t have to travel very far to get to the rally – the trip there and back always playing a big role when I attend a National Rally, meeting everyone made up for this.

Thank you to all those who queued patiently outside the gates on the Monday morning when we could not open and you had to watch as we pulled down, moved and then set up all of tent city, volunteer camper trailers, caravans and RV’s. Also to those

e

| editor@ulysses.org.au

who waited patiently at flooded roadways before finally arriving in Warwick, it was good to finally catch up with you when you arrived.

I am looking forward to working with the new National Committee, all keen to help regrow and sustain the Ulysses Club. We are beginning to settle into our portfolios, with some email addresses taking a little longer than others to be sorted.

Your ideas and recommendations for the issues of declining member numbers is always welcomed and I am pleased that since the AGM, we have already had suggestions come via email that are very worthy of consideration. Thank you.

The AGM dealt with the resolution that was put forward regarding privacy laws, with 80% of those present voting in favour on the amendments to clauses in our constitution.

Please remember to be patient when contacting the National Administration office, Linda is doing a terrific job, but at the moment, she is still working on her own. If you ring the office, please be sure to leave a message and she will get back to you.

Email is your best option.

The Lismore Rally team and council are looking forward to us arriving in their (hopefully not flooded) city in May next year. Book your accommodation; support the city and the team.

If I don’t see you before, I will see you there.

Allan Pratt

#9186 DM #21 National Vice President

Editorial

While at the Warwick Rally/AGM, I was fortunate to be introduced to Valerie Parsons, who is a 35 year SES veteran and 2003 Australia Day Medal recipient.

another member get to work changing the wheel. With the job complete they all proceed to a service station beyond the Gap and share a cool drink together.

Valerie told me of her first meeting with members of the Ulysses Club.

Val learns that these bikers were Ulysses members from Brisbane and back then there couldn’t have been too many Groups in Brisbane. So here we are, 35 years on and Valerie still remembers this unselfish act of kindness vividly.

Back in 1987 she was driving up Cunninghams Gap (Google it) on her way home to Warwick, when her car suffered a flat tyre. She managed to park the car as close to the ‘wall’ as possible and tried to change the wheel, however, the wheel nuts were so tight she couldn’t budge them with the brace. She flagged down a passing Police car but they said they couldn’t help as they were on patrol. She had the same negative response from an RACQ operator due to Val not being a member.

The afternoon was dragging on and she wondered whether she might be there all night. Then, around the corner cruised a group of bikers and they promptly stopped to see what assistance they could offer. The ride leader assigns one of his crew to warn vehicles coming up the pass, while he and

Perhaps someone remembers this event during the ride? Are you the ride leader or part of the crew? Perhaps you can drop me a line and we can organise a reunion with Valerie.

May your lid never skid,

Ian Parks #11735 DM39

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e | vicepresident@ulysses.org.au international@ulysses.org.au m | 0427 669 903

National Vice President’s Report

Welcome to the Winter edition of Riding On, and welcome to the new members of this great Ulysses Club.

I have to say that the National Rally in Warwick was a great success., From adversity to triumph the organising team and volunteers made the rally a success, considering we reportedly had 110 mm of rain on Sunday night before the rally opened. I was woken very early on Monday morning to a potential disaster, the campground was flooding and local knowledge suggested that the whole campground could be inundated later in the day. In places there was up to 4 foot of water in the campground. The decision was made to evacuate those campers who were already on site (organising team and early volunteers), to higher ground within the showground, there were also 44 erected Rent-a-Tents in place with some sitting in water.

More than 20 volunteers took on the challenge to help Kyle from Rent-a-Tent move to higher ground, Kyle could not believe how so many volunteers jumped at the opportunity to help him move. He wishes to thank all who helped him.

I must thank those members who were queuing at the gate on Monday morning to check in and set up camp for their patience whilst the campground was evacuated and relocated on high ground, they were very understanding of the situation.

Volunteers are the backbone of a National Rally. Thank you for donating so much of your time to make the Warwick Rally the success it was, without volunteers an activity like the National Rally could not function. We did not have a Volunteers breakfast at Warwick, due to feedback from members who wanted to begin their journey home on Sunday morning instead of after lunch on Sunday. In place of the lunch a United Fuels Gift Card has been mailed to all volunteers who did 3 or more shifts. If you believe you should have received one but haven’t please send me an email.

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The biggest thanks must go to the Organising Committee for Warwick led by the director Helen Larter, they put on a great rally. Thank You Team.

I would like to confirm that the Lismore National Rally in 2023 is going ahead. I have had discussions with the Director Ron Gaudron and Secretary Colleen Gaudron as well as the Lismore City Council. All parties involved are confident that there will be a great National Rally in Lismore in 2023 and the organising committee are full steam ahead preparing for 2023.

A very important announcement, for some time now I have been looking for a member to take on the role of Assistant Ulysses Club Rally Liaison and ultimately take on the role of Ulysses Club Rally Liaison. I have found an extremely willing assistant, Jenny Meredith #25929. Jenny takes up the role immediately. Welcome Jenny, I look forward to working with you on future National Rallies.

Dates of future Rallies: 2023 Ulysses Club National Rally – Lismore 1st – 7th May 2023 2024 Ulysses Club National Rally – Mandurah, Western Australia “18th March 2024 - 24th March 2024” Along with the rest of the National Committee I am always on the lookout for a fantastic location to hold a National Rally. If you have a suitable location, I will welcome a call on 0427 66 9903 or email ucrl@ulysses.org.au to discuss the possibility of running a National Rally as well as the submission process.

I look forward to receiving your submission for the 2025 Ulysses Club National Rally.

Blue Knowles #33140 Ulysses Club Rally Liaison Ulysses Club Rally Liaison

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e | secretary@ulysses.org.au m | 0417 35 5326

It was not until we were finally camped at Warwick Showgrounds that I really felt that the National Rally was happening. I dare say many others felt the same. With so many cancellations and then the flooding in Queensland it was hard to think too far ahead. But then, suddenly, we were in Warwick and everyone was buzzing around with their volunteer jobs and so many happy, smiling faces. And of course, the heavens opened after dinner on Sunday night (even though the forecast was for minimal rain) then all hands on deck and Monday was spent dropping tents and moving vans before members were even allowed on site. I walked along the cavalcade of campers/RVs/caravans and bikes waiting on entry and everyone was accepting of the delay, and some had even “opened the bar” while waiting. Ulyssians at their best!! The flooding stopped us using the hocker tent, but the Rally team stepped up and found ways around every obstacle. Thank you

National Secretary’s Report to all the Rally team and the volunteers for your efforts and patience. Rallies don’t happen without you.

Well, the National Rally is over; the elections have been held, and the new committee is ensconced in their roles. As Secretary I have been busy answering emails, scheduling meetings and generally catching up after my short trip away. I envy those members who have been able to continue on their trips and then post on Facebook for us all to wish it was us.

With all borders now open, the National Committee will once again be able to travel but we will continue to hold some of our meetings via Zoom. We have all become very adaptable with the limitations imposed on us by COVID. Lismore, we are coming!

I will be relocating to Western Australia for the next few months so hope to catch up with members and Branches while there.

Sharryn Nankervis #36204 National Secretary

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e | treasurer@ulysses.org.au publicofficer@ulysses.org.au m | 0429 002 411

Hello all – I am reporting under a new handle in this edition of Riding On. However much of what I have to say will be much like an old Treasurer’s Report. I have now assumed a different role on the National Committee – Public Officer. I have been the Public Officer for 6 years, but, that was a role included with Treasurer as I was a resident of NSW (a statutory requirement for the PO). The full handover of the role of Treasurer will be delayed somewhat due to my successor (John Tout, #42398) not being fully available to take on the role due to pre-planned travel arrangements which take him far away from his office in Werribee, Vic. So, at the present time I am still fulfilling most of the functions of treasury whilst bank signatories and other formalities are sorted out whilst John is away.

My first task as the Public Officer after the AGM is to submit statutory reports to the Registrar at the Fair Trading Office. I have received approval of our submission for change of our Constitution i.e. our Special Resolution has been accepted and we can now amend and publish our Constitution reflecting our concern for protecting members’ privacy. I await acknowledgement of our financial return.

Following up on Treasurer matters; I am pleased to report that my efforts in a previous life are bearing fruit. As at 30th April 2022 the Club’s trading situation reveals a surplus of $5,122 reflecting the savings achieved in changes to Riding On publishing and the move to new premises. NatCom had decided to review the stock holding in the Gear Shop. Robert Hunt #51563 in his role of Purchasing/Gear Shop controller performed a thorough review of stock with particular attention to outdated and slow moving items. This has resulted in 94

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e | treasurer@ulysses.org.au Public Officer Report m | 0423 379 848

items being de-listed from the Gear Shop; these items were sent to Warwick Rally and offered at special clearance prices.

The result was that 50 items were sold out; we have the balance held for sale at super special prices when we meet at Lismore for the 2023 Rally. The upshot of this review is that embedded in our trading for 2022 is a write off of stock in the order of $3,300. A further write off may be necessary after the Lismore Rally if we do not clear all redundant stock.

Now for the really exciting news. At this stage it appears that the Warwick Rally will generate a surplus in the order of $1015k. This is a significant result considering there were only 820 registrations for the Rally and activities were severely interrupted by COVID hesitancy and floods. Floods caused a one day delay to the start of the Rally. All those members involved in any aspect of the Rally deserve our sincere thanks for their perseverance in making the event happen.

Purchasing/Gear Shop I am also tasked with responsibility for Purchasing and Gear Shop matters. I have not actively pursued this portfolio issues as they are currently being wrapped up by Robert Hunt (the former incumbent) who is in the process of clarifying issues of short supply/re-supply with the suppliers of the commemorative merchandise. Most members who did not receive merchandise at Warwick (due to late supply or member non-attendance) should now have received goods by mail. There is a small group of members who are still waiting on merchandise due to supply issues which Robert has sorted and goods will arrive shortly.

John Osborne #41785 Public Officer

e | committeemember@ulysses.org.au m | 0418 92 5081

National Committee Member

How lucky can a person get?

In the month of April I got to ride just over 10,000 km with friends from Perth to Warwick and back, enjoy a fantastic week in Warwick with 900 fellow Ulysseans as well as a catch up and stay with two very good Ulysses friends in McLaren Vale, South Australia.

Of course the highlight of the trip was the National Rally, my first as a National Committee member and hopefully I did manage to give a bit of help to Rally Committee. What a wonderful job they did along with all their team of hard working volunteers. Being on the Mandurah Rally Committee myself, I fully understand the work and commitment that goes into the organisation of the event.

I did enjoy spending some time helping at the UCARF raffle table and selling the UCARF patches. Thank you for all the support resulting in a $500 donation from the Patch Campaign.

It also enabled me to meet up with friends from over the past 14 years of AGMs. The faces may be looking a bit older but the passion for motor biking still remains. Memories of this latest adventure will remain for some time.

get down to the business of carrying out my duties as one of the National Committee Members. This year I will maintain the duties of minute taker and Club Plate Scheme coordinator as well as a new portfolio of Branch Liaison. This position has been created in the attempt to update the records on each Branch as currently held by the National Administration. Although most Branches maintain their annual contact protocols, we do have Branches with incorrect or missing information. It is also envisaged that Branches will use the position as a contact to discuss Branch queries or problems. In the coming months I will endeavour to contact and speak to each Branch,I am really looking forward to it.

Great to be working back together with the old NatCom team along with new team member John Tout, especially that we can now get together from time to time during this committee year.

For those I did not catch up with in Warwick, I have already started the Lismore planning. If I don’t see you then, then it will have to be Mandurah!

Stay Safe out there,

Ken Eaton

#51189 DM#67 National Committee Member

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e | manufacturers-sponsors@ulysses.org.au m | 0400 867 302

Greetings all, It is hard to believe that the National Rally at Warwick has come and gone. Time is moving so quickly. The Rally Committee deserve a lot of credit for the great job they did (Supported

by Blue Knowles - Rally Liaison) in ensuring we all had a good time and events ran smoothly.

There were many obstacles to be overcome (including flooding on the Monday) but they worked together as a team to overcome all issues. Well done to this team of volunteers that committed many years and hours for the benefit of their fellow members.

I am looking forward to Lismore in 2023 and hope that our presence can only add value to the process of rebuilding of this community.

The new National Committee has been elected and portfolios appointed. This year I take on the responsibility for Manufacturers-Sponsors, MAOTY, International Liaison and Advertising. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any ideas to support these portfolios. Your ideas are always welcomed.

National Committee Member In relation to MAOTY. Mark Paynter (#62789) and his team are starting the process of identifying worthy apprentices in all states and territories. They would appreciate your assistance in finding apprentices that are of a high standard to be part of this process. Please check with your local bike shops and contact Mark at MAOTYAdjudicator@gmail.com with any leads.

I will be contacting manufacturers, sponsors and our International Clubs in the coming weeks to introduce myself and gain their support in moving forward, building on the solid foundation that previous members have worked so hard to establish.

These are challenging economic times and I will do my best to ensure we maintain the support of the wider motorcycle community.

Safe travels Regards

Robert Hunt

#51563 National Committee Member (Manufacturers Sponsors)

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e | treasurer@ulysses.org.au UCARF Report e | mcliaison@ulysses.org.au

Winter 2022

m | 0423 379 848 m | 0428 246 175

Welcome to another committee year as members of this wonderful organisation called the ULYSSES CLUB. We have a new National Committee, and some new and exciting challenges ahead are in store for them and us.

The first exciting news is that I am in contact with our Sydney Researchers headed up by Meilang Xue of the Sutton Laboratory and she has put forward a proposal that continues the focused work of previous projects and has that continued dream of targeting Rheumatoid Arthritis and eradicating it from our society.

For those that made the S.E. Qld Rally, well done and I hope you enjoyed your time in the Greater Warwick region.

Unfortunate that we had a rain burst for 12 hours the night before opening the gates, but we found out how many of us and how long it takes, to relocate an entire TENT City. Thank you to the ones that had come early to volunteer because that Monday morning certainly would not have happened as well as it did without all available hands working as one. An apology to the rally goers about the announcer of the event, it was yours truly. Yep, somewhere along the line I had agreed to do some announcing for the rally event but from Monday morning my focus was changed by circumstances, and I became the travelling microphone. P.S. the showgrounds PA system is designed for the centre arena only and we were using it as an entire ground system. It was cranked up to MAX and was in danger of overload, so we did what we did with what we had.

From my roaming around the grounds for 5 days I got to chat to many, many people from all over Australia. Without exception, they all were ULYSSIANS through and through.

Happy to be there and wanting nothing more than that. The most important thing for me is that the majority knew about UCARF and what its aim is. For the others, by the time the rally was over, the UCARF flag had been flown high by a lot of the volunteer team and people reminded of its importance to the CLUB.

Each donation is gathered by Branches by various means and some take a while by holding many BBQ’s or the like and then others by regular things like TOY RUN’s, charity events each year. Whatever way it is decided to gather funds for UCARF, it’s appreciated and respected.

Now, have you a copy of and read the Ulysses Story? The story of the events leading up to the creation of our Club and events that formed it in such a way that only minor changes to its constitution and structure have been needed in the following years. It’s a fantastic read about Stephen and his mates as they came together to create the Ulysses Club Inc. From each sale of the book, the profit made comes to UCARF and for a few years, I used to rent out my copy for a gold coin (or greater) to my local members with that money going to ‘you know where’…..

Please keep safe and healthy, Ian ‘Foggy’ Winter UC#53026 TM#59

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Now to the donations since last report by Member and then Branch (which are many): Mike Abberfield $90, David & Christine Smith $250, Kristi-Anne Hill $15 and a Bequeath from Keith Greenland $300.

Branches: $500 Port Macquarie Mid North Coast, $115 Tweed Border Branch, $45.50 SEQ Branches, $500 North West Tasmania Coast, $300 Torrens Valley, $800 Newcastle Lower Hunter, $335 Redlands, $80 Canberra, $300 Hills, $283 South Coast, $200 Central Victoria, $500 PMMNC, $3680 2022 Rally Warwick, $75 Hills, $250 Echuca, $200 Mandurah, $453 Blue Mountains, $750 Ballarat Central, $1,000 Alice Springs Central Deserts, $500 UCARF Patch Campaign, $121 Southern Cross Tourers, $131 Macedon Ranges, $1,048 Melbourne.

On the note of contributions, the members that are using UNITED PETROLEUM have, by 2c each litre, donated $2523.00.

Not a bad effort and that shows how many litres we can burn through in a year. Remember some important sayings,

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Or “It is not the brand you ride, but the fact that you ride” Also, heartfelt congratulations to the Northern Beaches Branch (Jo DEARNLEY Award) and the Lockyer Branch (Good Joint Award) for their valuable donations and subsequent awards.

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Letters To The Editor

Editor, It was really great to see the Ulysses Club finally being able to hold a full National Rally at Warwick after several years of cancellations due to the Covid 19 virus. Many thanks to the organising committee, for their hard work and perseverance over years in the planning stage, well done Helen and your team.

The highlight for me was to see so many bikes in the grand parade and the warm welcome extended by the Warwick locals to our members. Congratulations Warwick. The Saturday evening dinner was also a great achievement with all of the obstacles that had to be overcome with the wash out of the circus tent due to the wet grounds.

However, I was disappointed in parts of the Annual General Meeting where the special resolution was presented and after two speakers for the resolution and one against, a motion was moved to have the motion put. This stifled a process where

Dear Editor As members will know at the 2022 AGM in Warwick Qld, a resolution was put to the meeting altering clauses 19d and 19e of the Clubs Constitution. The reasons for the changes were explained by members of NatCom before the resolution was opened to the floor for discussion.

One member with a legal background spoke for the resolution and clearly explained that the current provisions of our Constitution were contrary to the NSW privacy legislation and allowed for a situation where the privacy of a member’s personal information could be compromised leading to possible serious consequences for the club and its officers. A second member then spoke eloquently as to the reasons he believed the resolution should fail and the current clauses remain.

I listened to both speakers and then raised my hand to speak.

I explained that in 2015 I was privileged to be asked to chair a subcommittee of NatCom to review and suggest changes to the Constitution. I was joined on that Committee by Kim Kennerson, former President and Life Member, and Peter Baulch plus John Osbourne from NatCom. Our deliberations took several weeks

many members had questions and issues that would have been important in understanding the changes to the constitution and how it was to impact on information available to Branches and perhaps ideas offered that may have helped with issues around the privacy of personal information. When this was raised in general business at the Extended NATCOM meeting on Friday, the meeting was told that there would be plenty of opportunities to raise these matters when the resolution was put at the AGM and the meeting would be given time to discuss these. This reminded me of tactics that we had recently witnessed in the Federal Parliament where debate and questions were shut down when difficult issues were being heard.

Time to now plan for another trip into Northern New South Wales for the Lismore AGM Rally in May 2023.

Mike Abberfield #8158 and Life Member #18.

and included the changes to Clause 19 which were the subject of the Resolution. I went on to explain that whilst our work took much consideration, we were unaware of the potential problem with Clause 19, and, should we have been aware we would have drafted differently.

As I agreed completely with the first speaker I then moved that the principal resolution be “put”. If passed, it would effectively stop further discussion of that resolution. The motion was seconded and passed and the principal resolution was then also passed with the required 75% plus majority.

Following the meeting, I was approached by many members to thank me for my actions but also by a few (including one whom I hold in great respect) to criticise my actions in stopping further discussion.

I wish to make it clear, I did not stop that further discussion, I simply created the opportunity for the assembled members to do so.

Gary Vandersluis Member #186 LIFE

Editor Editor To Helen Larter, thanks to you and the organisers for hosting such a magnificent Rally under such difficult circumstance, I loved the whole week.

John Harkin

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For Helen Larter #59518, Director, 2022 Ulysses Club National RallyWe Just watched the interview you did on the 7 Network.

What a wonderful five minutes of promotion for both Warwick and the Ulysses Club explaining what we do and who we are.

We are sorry that we cannot be there with you and the members.

Cheers, Leanne Hegedus #35217 & Stephen Hegedus #35218

Letters To The Editor

Dear Ulyssians, Members and Friends.

Don’t let Mad Cow make you miss out any more.

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has given the ‘greenlight’ to Red Cross Lifeblood to start accepting donations from people who resided in the UK from the 80s to 90s. Mad Cow Disease was rampant during that time period with experts saying in some particular cases, transmission occurred through blood transfusions.

Letter to the Editor, Dear members, I was delighted and humbled to receive a Life Membership of the Ulysses Club while attending the AGM in Warwick. This is a wonderful honour but the accolade really belongs to the members of this amazing club. I was rather speechless (yes, not like me) when I was invited to speak so thought I would write this letter.

It’s been said many times, both by myself and by others that it is an honour to serve the members of the Ulysses Club. No-one should ever take a role on the National (or Branch) Committee because they feel it provides power or some sort of enhanced relevance. The roles are about servitude.

Spend time lying down, looked after by some gorgeous, friendly young attendants, get some free (no guilt) snacks and drinks, and help save lives. You can give blood or plasma.

When you finish, add your donation to the Ulysses Team on the scoreboard. Too easy.

Margaret Hogge (MTC) #9797

It is also important to understand that many members deliberately choose not belong to a Branch, and so it is crucial that communications include them.

I have heard the comment so many times, that a member “doesn’t know where they’d be if it wasn’t for the Ulysses Club”. The Club provides connection, friendship and a common interest in a rather disconnected world (despite all the social media). Aren’t we lucky to belong to such a Club?

Listening to members and hearing about their issues or suggestions has provided me with ideas to suggest some changes, and, if accepted and practical, implement them and continue to make improvements. I am in awe of the passion that members have for this Club and their openness to share good ideas.

My passion and enthusiasm to effect changes and improvements to processes has been because I have engaged with and talked to members in all parts of Australia. Our Club is ONE Club and so I have been welcomed at many Branches, and all members should take the opportunity to visit other Branches.

So this letter is by way of saying a very heartfelt thankyou to the Ulysses Club and the members.

Dear Rally Committee and volunteers, I remain in awe of your efforts and have taken every opportunity to express this to every NatCom member and volunteer. This was a Herculean effort which will go down in the annals of Ulyssian History.

In particular, our committee members Jenny and Rex Meredith who quickly assessed the evolving situation and reacted with a plan to organise a new campground area, and move other important functional areas that had been located in the low lying area. No action would have been possible without the willing and energetic volunteers who stepped up to the challenge.

Maria Tzannes. #16498 Thankyou! And the reply....

Jen Woods #21395, Proud Life Member #20

Dear MARIA,

An amazing effort!!! Thankyou all.

We would like to express our appreciation for the amazing effort by all the Volunteers on site on Sunday evening and Monday.

You all did a fantastic job.

Helen Larter and Dennis King - Media & PR for the Ulysses Club National Rally 2022.

Ucnr2022Director@gmail.com

Editor, To Helen Larter, I wish to congratulate you and your team for an amazing week that was the Ulysses Club National Rally and AGM. If anyone had a challenge, it was you. How do we contend with all the interacting issues? Covid, Restrictions, rain, damaged roads, floods, to mention but a few. But, in your true style, you have prevailed despite the flooding downfall on Rally eve,... The response from your team to change nearly every venue, and some events was remarkable. I think 2022 National Rally will go down in the annals as the year Warwick Committee really managed great adversity with calm purpose, and the admiration of all who attended. Please pass on my personal congratulations to all concerned.

Peter Baulch #27672 DM#71

ULYSSES CLUB MEMBERS RV GROUP REPORT This report comes to you all the way from the awesome state of Tasmania, where Marilyn and I have been hiding out since March. We’ve been getting a few negative temperatures, and some snow lately, so time to head back to warmer climes, me thinks.

Ulysses Members RV Group rallies have been enjoying record attendances in all states in recent times! As a direct result of “time”, group numbers are growing, while other groups/clubs struggle to stay afloat … an indication that “most” of us are getting older and seeking different modes of transport to keep up with the camaraderie we established during our earlier biking days (and some of us, including yours truly, are still doing both). The RV Group is certainly the place to do that!

Our immediate past National Coordinator, Ken Tacon, is still “giving it his best” and hanging in there despite lots of ups and downs with his health. I’ve been trying to get to QLD to see him since his diagnosis, but between Covid border closures, festive season family obligations, Birthday Bash responsibilities, and our re-booked Tassie trip, the occasion has not yet been realised … but soon ….

You may be aware that our AGM rally is at Mudgee (NSW) this year from 17-24 October, and registrations have been rolling in. If you are interested in joining us, go to our website at Ulysses RV Group to register.

Wherever you are, travel safely, stay well, and stay upright!

Bob Lucas #32874 National Coordinator Ulysses Members RV Group

Howdy Members, well things have been happening out here on the farm. I’m still waitin on me Ulysses membership to come thru, then again, maybe it’s already here? I haven’t been able to get near the house as Shazza kicked me out a week ago! I didn’t do nuthin either, wasn’t drinkin beer on her best lounge or slopping tomato sauce on the kitchen lino, nuthin I tell ya...I started sneezing and barkin bad and she kicks me out sayin I gots some Corona Virus thing! How I ask you? I never drink that beer, I only drink Tooheys Old! Anyway, it’s been 5 days and I’ve been bunkin in the big shed with all the cows and them damned mice! I’m getting pretty good with the old slug gun too, pickin the little rodents off if they try and sneek onto the DR650 and chew on anything.

Speaking of which, I got it registered before I was imprisoned in the shed. Like the old Sarge said, I was able to get it registered on Historic plates using my membership with the Outbaccabeyond Classic Tractor Club.

I got me motorbicycle license too. Only took me 12 tries. Had to go to see Sarge at the cop shop and he sat me in front of a TV and told me to answer all the questions online.

“On the line of what?”, I asks.

“On the bloody computer ya nong” he says, pointin to the TV. “What channel do I have to switch it to for that station?”, I asks.

Well at that point he smacks me up the back of the head and tunes it into the right station for me and shows me how to use the mouse, which I then got another smack up the back of the

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head for tryin to stab it with me knife!

Anyway, he kicks me off the chair and sits me on the stool and sits at the TV himself and asks me all the questions over and over till I gets them right... oh, and smacks me in the head if I gets them wrong!

After 6 hours I’m out of the cop shop with me license in hand going down to the Chemist to buy Sarge a box of Panadol on account of his headache and sore hand.

So, here I sit in the big shed, waitin to be able to get back into the house. I weren’t too sick. Been dosing myself with bourbon from me still. It’s a bit lite on only bein 75 proof, but it seems to help with the aches and chills. I been getting pretty sick of livin on flathead, pancakes and pizza but Shazza says they’re the only things she can slip under the door.

Till next time, keep ya nuts tight eh, Axle.

Roadglide

Worth th e Wait: Harleys n ew e ight Milwaukee keeps the dream alive - and the competition at bay with eight new models in the ‘22 lineup.

Milwaukee-Eight. Each bike has also been lifted slightly for greater cornering clearance.

For the last couple of months, we’ve been busy testing most of the ‘new for ‘22’ Harley-Davidson models. You’ve already seen our firsthand impressions of the Pan America and Sportster S and we’ve been back aboard the Softails and Tourers too. This year sees eight new and revitalised models hit the showroom.

This 117ci enhancement is also applied to the Low Rider S (FXLRS) and FXLRST, while the humble Street Bob (FXBBS) also benefits from a 114ci upgrade, up from the previous standard 107.

“As part of our focus on stronghold segments, including Grand American Touring and Cruiser, the 2022 product line is designed for power and performance. Each of these new models feature the unrivalled power of the Milwaukee-Eight 117, for those riders who want nothing but the biggest and the best, building on our position as the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, HarleyDavidson in The Motor Company’s predicably optimistic media announcement.

The year was off to a good start and spurred on by their followup win in the ‘Battle of the Baggers’ series, Harley is celebrating by adding performance credentials to the two touring ‘baggers’ in the Great American Touring segment, the Road Glide and Street Glide. Dubbed ‘ST’, these hot rod baggers offer CVOlevel powertrains in a non-CVO bike, namely the installation of the biggest factory-installed displacement available, the 117ci

This year also sees the Street Bob lose the solo seat and gain some stunning new paint schemes. For mine, the stock orange and black ensemble takes the cake and is nicely set off with the black steel laced wheels replacing the spokes. Colour options (metallic at extra cost) are Vivid Black; Gauntlet Gray, Redline Red and Fastback Blue.

You’ve already read our test ride report on the all-new Sportster S with the Revolution Max liquid-cooled 1250cc engine. So we were intrigued with the announcement of the Nightster which shared the engine, albeit in 975cc and ‘T’ format. The mechanical specifications are more-or-less identical to the 1250 seen in both Sportster S and Pan America except that, apart from the obvious lesser displacement, it’s tuned to produce a more modest 90hp (67kW) at 7500rpm and 95Nm at 5000rpm.

H-D says the new RevMax iteration is tweeked to produce an exceptionally flat torque curve and “strong acceleration and robust power through the mid-range”.

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Th e N ightste r is an i nstrum e nt of expression an d exploration, un de rpi n n e d by pe rformance.

For those with a soft spot for the venerable Sportsters of old, including myself, we have to face the inevitable fact that everything must come to an end. As much as we tolerated the noisy engine, harsh ride and short range, the XL’s amazing near 70-year lifespan will forever cement it as a true classic. The two new ‘Sporties’ draw on that heritage, for sure, but these are completely new bikes chock full of 21st century wizardry with very little to remind us of that stalwart lineage. It will be interesting to see how the new Nightster rides when it arrives here any day now.

“The Nightster is an instrument of expression and exploration, underpinned by performance,” said Jochen Zeitz, in a carefully crafted media announcement. “By building on the 65-year Sportster legacy, the Nightster provides a canvas for creativity and personalisation, offering the ultimate platform for customisation and expression for new and existing riders.”

The super premium CVO Touring models are enhanced with new paint options and add a hollering Rockford Fosgate sound system. For me, loudspeaker sound systems on motorcycles are a little like ashtrays, so there’s also a Boom! Audio 30K Bluetooth Helmet Headset for those who like to be more discreet.

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Streetglide

And for those of who might not ride like a MotoGP pro, there’s a cool new addition that’s standard on CVO models and an option for all Grand American Touring models, including the Street Glide ST and Road Glide ST models: Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson is a collection of technologies designed to assist the rider in maintaining the rider’s intended path through a curve. i.e. not fall off!

This technology package provides: Cornering Electronically Linked Brakes, Cornering-ABS, Cornering-Traction Control with modes, Drag Torque Slip Control, Vehicle Hold Control and Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPMS).

Nightster

With the deletion of the LAMS Street 500, entry to the HarleyDavidson family now starts with Softail Standard at $22,995 in any colour as long as it’s black. Nightster will open at $23,995 and Street Bob 114 at $26,250. The Low Rider pair, S and ST, are priced at $30,750 and $35,250 respectively, while the ST baggers kick off at $44,995 each. Just for your information, the super-dooper CVO Road Glide Limited now rides away at $61,750 Roderick ‘Rowdy’ Eime #68221 (motorweb.ws)

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The Eyes Have It Sing it with me: “I can see clearly now … “ There is no argument among bikers that eye protection is one of the most important factors when riding. And boy, haven’t we all seen some interesting eyewear!

Once we’ve reached a certain vintage, our eyesight begins to decline. That may well explain some of the questionable choices we make, but we should never let it compromise safety and comfort on the road. Clear, sharp vision in all conditions can be the difference between life and well, … adverse outcomes.

Now, I’m well past the qualification date for Ulysses membership and my study and garage are strewn with $10 Reject Shop reading glasses. There has to be a better way.

Step One: get your eyes tested and obtain a current prescription from a qualified optometrist. It’s not expensive and you’ll likely get a rebate from either Medicare or your private health fund.

Whether you ride with an open face or full-face helmet, the considerations are the same. You need protection from wind, rain, dust, glare and bugs.

Full-face helmet riders will probably find the simplest way around this is to squeeze our prescription spectacles inside your full-face helmet, but therein lies several challenges.

A snug-fitting full-face helmet will make it difficult to get regular glasses on, so the trick is to get super-flexible arms on the frame or, better still, shortened or removable arms such as those in the Ugly Fish Riderz range. Styles ‘Warhead’ and ‘Cannon’ both accept prescription lenses directly into the frame and this must be done by an optometrist. Cannon’s removable arms can even be replaced with a strap for goggle-style fitment.

The alternative to ‘in-frame’ prescription glasses, is

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the RX gasket. This is a clip-in attachment to the inside of your frame that carries the scripted inserts. With the clip-in gasket, you are limited to single vision lenses, whereas with in-frame lenses you can get full multifocals (aka progressive) fitted by your optometrist.

Form or function?

“It’s important that when you go and try on any glasses, that you take your helmet,” says Faraz Darabi, CEO of Piranha Eyewear Pty Ltd, “there’s no point standing in front of the mirror saying ‘I look cool’ when what you need is function. It needs to work exactly how you intend to use it. Find the styles that fit before you decide which looks best.”

Makes sense, yeah? If you’re going to shell out hundreds for decent glasses and scripted lenses, the last thing you want is a frame that doesn’t fit properly on your face or in your helmet.

Keeping the bugs out.

Open face helmet users will know only too well that smack on the cheek when a fat fly or bee whacks you at 100kmh. Or that bit of grit that has found itself behind your lens when you’re stuck between two B-Doubles.

You can fairly easily fit a pair of ski goggles over most spectacles, but you may end up looking like a misplaced Austrian ski instructor. (vee do zer schee plow, ja!). Better still is a dust guard or eye shield fitted around the inner surface of the frame. We tested both Ugly Fish (Ultimate) and Wiley X (Gravity) and found both worked well at excluding dust-laden

"You can fairly easily fit a pair of ski goggles over most spectacles, but you may end up looking like a misplaced Austrian ski instructor."

breeze from behind the lens. These rubberised shields can easily be removed and worn as regular glasses if you choose.

Up-speccing your lenses When ordering prescription lenses, you have the choice of materials and function - and for this part of our exercise, we used the military specification Wiley X Gravity frames.

We fitted the latest “Thin Tec” optical lenses, specifying both photochromatic (transitional) and multifocal (progressive) features directly from Wiley X Australia. These puppies are the bomb! Rugged, razor-sharp and mean, no one is going to argue with you if you push to the front of the coffee queue.

We found these glasses excellent in all conditions: sun, haze, low light and even dark. The Gravity frame also has the optional goggle strap fitment for tricky helmets.

Crunching the numbers Are you sitting down? Okay. This full-house kit will set you back a shade over $750, so don’t go leaving them at the pie shop!

Compare: our Ugly Fish glasses with prescription single vision RX inserts came in at just under $300. Bear in mind, you can also choose a similar specification lens with selected Ugly Fish frames, although the final cost will be similar.

As a budget option, we also trialled a pair of bifocal glasses (part #SM250P) from Rocky Creek Designs. While the glasses themselves were of surprisingly good quality and came with interchangeable lenses and dust guard, we found the bifocal feature limiting for those with long-distance vision issues. If you can get by with these old school reading-type glasses, you can potentially save a bundle. Just be aware of limitations.

Roderick ‘Rowdy’ Eime #68221 (motorweb.ws) { I have 2 complete sets of these glasses and think they are excellent...Ed }

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The long road to Warwick and back Many of my friends talk about my “big trip smile”. This smile is a permanent fixture from ear to ear during my pilgrimages to the Ulysses AGM/National Rally. For a variety of reasons, I have not been on a big road trip for five years. This year, my big trip smile returned.

Like many Ulyssians, there was the wait, fingers and toes crossed, hoping covid and the state restrictions were going to ease enough to allow a National Rally event, in some form.

After so many disappointments, I tried not to get too excited but as the restrictions, one by one eased it seemed likely.

Eventually, I was down to counting how many sleeps until the trip.

Next decision, do I ride by myself or with others? Choosing riding buddies for long trips is always a sensitive one.

Fortunately, I have a few friends I can dangle the travel carrot at. This time it’s Brian Lacey and Greg Rees both from Melbourne Branch. My trip was a 4 week one and I planned to break it up into sections. In the end, I travelled 8070kms across 3 states and 1 territory in 29 days.

Planning routes, packing and strategizing how to continue my immunotherapy infusions was my next dilemma. The routes were easy, Brian got stuck into the route planner and presented a great plan for us to tweak. I requested a drop into Mount Panorama at Bathurst as a bucket list tick of mine. We shared the booking of accommodation.

My infusions include vials of human immune cells that need to be temperature monitored within specifications and not shaken, at a value of $2300, it was a serious consideration in planning.

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I chose to start off packing five doses on the bike, infuse while in Melbourne, Lakes Entrance, leaving a dose in Melbourne to have on return after Warwick, and after the Melbourne Autumn run, dropping off two more doses with a friend who would be driving up to Warwick and infuse twice again while there. Thus, allowing me some adventurous fun on the way up.

My reputation for not packing light remained. I see no advantage of packing light, just regret, and who really cares, there is no prize. There’s been many times I have jump-started, reinflated tyres, produced tyre repair kits, cable ties, electrical tape, the multipurpose Leatherman tool, hung up washing with my side stand puck cord, and performed various levels of first aid. No one I helped has ever complained.

First, I stopped over in Melbourne before meeting up with Greg and continue to Lakes Entrance linking with the Melbourne Branch Autumn Run the next day at Bruthen. This is an annual ride through Gippsland, Heyfield, Bruthen, Omeo, over Mt Hotham finishing at Tawonga for the night. The group returns to Melbourne via Myrtleford, Whitfield, Mansfield and then splits to return home or continue onto another trip such as myself.

This year the weather put on a great show, and the high country never fails to impress with its magnificence in scenery,

colours and roads.

Back in Melbourne, Brian and I prepared our bikes for the trip, fresh oil, new tyres, and buying a fuel bladder for a longer range than my 15-litre tank can manage.

Next was Bruthen via the back north roads of Gippsland including a stop at Toongabbie General Store. Brian while researching for potential fuel stops stumbled on the reviews for this general store which has a reputation for slices etc. It became the focus of the day’s trip and worthy of its claim and the catalyst to the downfall of plans to eat healthy this trip.

Due to wet weather, changes were made on day two with the much-anticipated Barry’s Way put on hold for the safer but enormously tight and winding Bonang Road option into NSW. It still gave us 10km of dirt road and that satisfying muddy bike look. Later that day about 10kms up the back road to Braidwood from Cooma, we had to backtrack due to the poor, slippery, muddy state of the road. We came across Greg who was to due meet us. He didn’t resist backtracking either. What hurt most was the Harley rider, we had seen caked in mud, slipping his way along had indeed successfully navigated the entire length of the road. Later arriving in Braidwood in the rain

There's been many times I have jump-started, reinflated tyres, produced tyre repair kits, cable ties, electrical tape, the multipurpose Leatherman tool, hung up washing with my side stand puck cord, and performed various levels of first aid.

No one I helped has ever complained.

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My bucket list tick was achieved with 2 laps of Mount Panorama.

A challenge set by Brian to ride down the dipper at 51kph was not attained. and dark, I was pleased to see a big old-fashioned bath at the pub.

engine to pass by at every vantage point from rail crossings to side paddocks.

My bucket list tick was achieved with 2 laps of Mount Panorama.

A challenge set by Brian to ride down the dipper at 51kph was not attained. It’s an excuse for the stubborn self to make another trip. I found it a surprisingly emotional experience after growing up watching Bathurst each year with my dad.

An hour or so was spent at the National Transport Museum in Inverell. I became intrigued by a 1922 Essex and its driver Norman “Wizard” Smith who had driven it, the same year, from Melbourne to Sydney in 13hrs despite a plethora of hazards and challenges of the day.

Skirting west of the Blue Mountains and back roads near Hills End we stayed at Rylestone. The next day winding our way along Bylong Valley Way, through Quirindi and dropping into the Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum in Tamworth. It is an impressive private collection laden with older Triumphs, Ducati, Velocette and Laverda bikes, all in mint condition.

We crossed into Queensland via Texas and took the road to Stanthorpe which required a few water crossings. Arriving Warwick as the weather became humid and looming rain on the horizon. It was to rain 66mm that night causing major flooding and a new chapter to my story which is for the next edition.

Through Scone we had to give way to a Stream Train pulling its load of passengers. Along the next few towns, adults and children alike waited excitedly with cameras ready for the old

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Holly Fields #54062

Warnbro Sound Wanderers Branch organised their 7th Black Dog Ride Baldivis 1 Dayer on the 20th March.

There was 137 bikes on the ride which raised over $15,000 to help raise awareness of depression and also raise funds to tackle suicide prevention.

The ride started at Bunnings Baldivis where riders were treated to a free sausage sizzle and drink before a cruisey ride to Dwellingup Primary School where the P&C sold lunches and the raffle was drawn.

Thank you to our major sponsor ‘Just Vapours Australia’ who donated over $6,500 and sold over $1,000 of Black Dog Ride merchandise. Also, the City of Rockingham for sponsoring the drinks and Shannons for sponsoring the sausage sizzle plus Bunnings for sponsoring the coffees.

A HUGE THANK YOU to our team of over 30 Ulysses volunteers who made sure the entire event run smoothly.

Chris Glover #25012 - Baldivis 1 Dayer Coordinator

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BLACK DOG snaps

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The Warwick Adventure, Challenge– Rally APRIL 2022

The first stated aim of the Ulysses Club is – “To provide ways in which older motorcyclists can get together for companionship and mutual support” and I cannot ignore the adage that “Riding is all about the Journey”. After 2 years of pestilence caused cancellations and the summer floods, nothing could possibly go wrong with the first National Rally in three years at relatively high altitude in Warwick, could it?

I had family/personal reasons to be in Queensland a week before the rally, so I travelled alone this year. I rode out of Melbourne a week early and started my journey by doing the 25th Autumn Alpine Run and spent Saturday night in Tawonga after riding over Mt Hotham in a group of 20. From there I caught up with a mate in Wodonga for breakfast and then simply rode North on a ‘tightish’ schedule. On the Olympic Highway I stopped at a rest area beside a grain silo and happened to meet another motorcyclist. We chatted and he dissuaded me from using the Newell Hwy. I rode on, left the Olympic at Cowra, explored some backroads and ended up staying in the pub Dunedoo for the night, even though it hadn’t even been on my radar that morning. The hospitality (my bike stayed under cover beside the pool table), good value meal and accommodation, plus, chatting to a group of cyclists who

also stayed the night, just confirmed how simple travel in rural Australia can be so great.

I had some showers and mists as I set off on Monday morning and then things improved. I was happily rolling along at a good 100kph somewhere near Coolah among flat corn and sorghum fields, when I noticed an unsigned dip in the road ahead. Luckily, I slowed down and was glad I did, as suddenly there was about 15cm of water over the road in front of me. Now I can water ski, but I was glad I didn’t enter that water at high speed. I rode on and after a stop at Tenterfield, I put on my wet weather pants as the cloud ahead looked ominous. When I reached Warwick, it was really bucketing rain and I “passed” on taking an “arrived a week early” photo. The descent down Cunninghams Gap with sheets of water streaming over the road wasn’t the most enjoyable ride I’ve ever done. Darkness arrived earlier than I’d anticipated in Brisbane, and I got quite agitated finding my way North onto the Sunshine Coast Hwy as my sodden gloves and fingers really didn’t help while trying to check maps on my phone. OK, I was geographically challenged for a bit. I then enjoyed a week with my wife and her schoolfriend from back in the 60s North of Brisbane as a milestone birthday was celebrated.

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On Monday, 4 April I rode off for Warwick. Less than 20 km away, I came across a huge queue of trucks and cars stationary on the highway as it was closed due to flooding.

I spoke to a truck driver in the queue (there were no meaningful signs) who said that I might be able to get through via Freestone, so I tried it. Despite several shallow water crossings over floodways, I got through and checked into my hotel. I rode down to the rally site gate and was advised that it probably wouldn’t open until the following morning. No problem for me, but quite agitating for the people who had planned to stay on site and were queuing in the hope that things would change. Some retreated to hotels and hundreds more couldn’t even get to Warwick that day.

to Queen Mary Falls which was great and rode out to Leslie Dam with a Ulyssean staying at the same pub as me. I also spent a few days volunteering on site which also let me meet lots of fellow Ulysseans.

A brief overview of the organisers’ challenges. Things had been set up over the weekend including the big marquee.

Some volunteers had already set up camp on site over the weekend. That all went under water and people in tents woke and had to wade out! The marquee had its “skirts” lifted for drying purposes but couldn’t be used all week!

Tent city went under water and had to be moved to higher (uneven) ground as did the campers and tent sites. On Monday morning, most roads into Warwick were closed due to flooding just to compound the problems. Quite a few “campers” stayed at my hotel that night. I do know some members actually “got in” on Monday afternoon and were able to erect their tents on higher ground. On top of that, the “rally merchandise” was held up as trucks couldn’t get through. I was able to check in on the Tuesday. New venues had to be found for all the meetings and the Saturday night dinner etc. From memory, the merchandise became available late on the Friday afternoon. Even the Grand Parade start point had to be re-evaluated as it was originally to start from a low point near the river. In the end, the “Grand Parade” was quite impressive.

Melbourne

The amount of adaptation and good spirit shown was very impressive. Well done to all involved.

The week disappeared in a blur for me, I was busy meeting and catching with Ulysseans and simply enjoying the camaraderie. I did the recommended “self guided” ride out

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On Sunday morning, I left early and had a good ride down the New England. I avoided the Putty Road in case of flooding and spent the night with friends in Sydney. I then continued south via Cooma and Cann River to Sale to arrive in time for a grandson’s birthday.

Cheers John Cook #5048 DM51

PRODUCT REPORT

ZIPPYLOK

A lot of you have got a ‘HELMETLOK’ from Rocky Creek Designs, or, you’ve probably seen the combination lockable carabiner used by another biker to secure their helmet to a bike.

Well, the same people who designed that item, have a new gadget for doing a similar job.

Enter the ‘ZIPPYLOK’, which, for all intents and purposes, looks like a fancy Zip Tie. That said, you could probably use it for many similar functions.

It consists of an adjustable (stainless?) steel strap, 450mm long and 10mm wide, contained in a tough flexible rubber/plastic scratch resistant covering. This allows you to lock your helmet or other motorbike related item securely to your bike without scratching you steed’s paintwork. It can loop as small as 40mm x 70mm or as large as 140mm diameter. The strap can easily thread through a helmet strap ‘D’ shackle.

There is no doubt a multitude of uses for this lightweight, durable and lockable device. I’m informed that it is water resistant and won’t corrode, and can be left in place on your bike rack or grab rail when not actually employed in locking a valuable. The 3 digit combination is resettable to any 3 numbers you find easy to remember.

The good thing about it is the price, because at $39.95 you can get a few of them and the security possibilities are endless.

I’m carrying mine around on a belt loop or in my jacket pocket, it’s brilliant!

May your lid never skid......Ian Parks #11735

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Triumph Speed Twin 1200

I’ve previously submitted a story referring to my ownership of 3 Triumph Tiger 800s. The last one was a 2018 Tiger 800 XRx, which, in my opinion, was the best 800 by far.

In 2021 I decided it was time to test the new Tiger 900 GT Pro. Looking at a few comments about the ‘T plane crank’ and the reasoning why they’d do it. The main complaint (900) was vibration at 5000rpm which I did notice, but, it wouldn’t be reason not to purchase one. In my opinion, the 800 is just as good, so I couldn’t find a reason to change. Another reason was availability, or lack thereof, the GT Pro being nearly $3000 dearer than my own choice, the GT. It appears that GTs are very ‘thin on the ground’ or dealers aren’t that keen on getting them.

I decided to sell my Tiger, a month went by and no luck. During that time, and after much research, I had decided on a choice of 3 bikes: BMW R9t, BMW R1250r and Triumph Speed Twin 1200.

I tested the R9t plus a Triumph Thruxton 1200 and liked both.

I think the R1250r was just too expensive, as it’s virtually impossible to buy one without options and you’d be looking at around $32,000 on road.

The 2021 Triumph Speed Twin had just been released with quite a few improvements including upside down forks and a little more power. This was probably irrelevant because there weren’t any available for the foreseeable future!

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I thought I’d be keeping my Tiger 800 for a while!

Then, I received a call offering the price I wanted and 1 hour later my bike was gone.

I’d decided on a red Speed Twin 1200, I put a deposit on it and waited the 4 weeks for arrival.

Just a word of advice for those using OSKO to transfer money.

I believe the Commonwealth Bank using OSKO is the only bank who won’t transfer the money instantly, which turned out to be quite a problem. I transferred the money to the dealer the night before and was just about to depart for bike collection, when the dealer informed me that he hadn’t received the money! Apparently, the Commonwealth Bank won’t transfer the money for 24hrs unless you have dealt with the recipient before! How ridiculous!

I picked the bike up the next day, and rode the 70 ks home in pretty busy traffic. It was interesting on a new bike which I’d just jumped on without taking too much notice of the displays.

I thought that the bike was a bit of an under performer and was hoping that it was due to a new tight engine, however, I discovered I’d ridden all the way in ‘Rain Mode’.

Changing to ‘Road Mode’ fixed that. I found ‘Sport Mode’ too jerky at low speed.

It is very different from the Tiger I have ridden for the last 9 years. Once you get used to the Twin, it certainly has some grunt and this bike handles ‘like it is on rails’. The gearbox and brakes are wonderful.

You could ride this bike as delivered and be perfectly happy

with it but I think tall riders would have their knees around their chin.

springs he had on his Thruxton. They’re perfect and for less than $200 a very good solution.

Me being the compulsive fiddler, have changed quite a few things. First to go was the exhaust system which is very restrictive. I installed a TEC stainless 2 into 1 system, which removes about 10 kilos in weight and sounds great. It’s about a quarter the price of any other system. You can’t put the pillion pegs back on so be warned, plus, the system removal is very difficult.

The other accessories I have installed are a radiator guard, fender extender, Hepco and Becker rack, sump guard and a licence plate relocator.

Next was a 17 tooth countershaft sprocket, up from 16. This engine can handle it with ease and makes it a lot less of a revver.

Without any wind protection you can’t hang on above 150kph. I purchased a mini fairing which solved that.

The small grey background LCD screens in each of the speedo and tacho housings are extremely difficult to read, especially in bright sunlight! Plus, the intensity of the indicator light isn’t really bright enough to draw your attention to it, so you do tend to forget to turn them off... self-cancelling indicators please!

I believe the whole display should be tilted about 30 degrees more towards the rider.

The rear suspension is far too stiff and I’d already seen a road test report about it. I had a couple of options. I could purchase the Ohlins shocks for a Thruxton at around $2500 but unknown if it would solve the problem. I have experience with altering motorcycle suspension, so I figured it may be possible to change just the springs on the standard shock absorber. Luckily, a Triumph loving friend had already worked out what would be the correct spring and I ended up purchasing two of the same

The 14.4 litre fuel tank is a problem. This limits the range and the fuel gauge is fairly pessimistic about distance to empty. For someone used to 300klm rides, it means refuelling somewhere which is annoying.

There’s no storage places anywhere which is a pain because I like to carry a puncture repair kit. I eventually managed to put this kit behind the left side frame cover.

Maintenance on this bike is very easy and even a valve clearance check will be a lot easier than the Tiger.

Overall I would rate this bike as a 9 out of 10.

Graeme #29766 RIDING ON

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The Mini Me Bear Chronicles202.

Originally in this edition of The MMB Chronicles I was going to write about my adventures with the little bear. However, as I write this article MMB is on an overseas adventure with a mission to raise donations to the ‘Shake it Up Foundation’ and I think it more opportune to impart his current story as you may also wish to contribute.

After sharing my home with MMB during covid it was time to let the little guy move onto the next adventure. The decision of who to pass the MMB baton to was not a hard one. Maryanne and Hank Tigges, both of Central Highlands Branch were in training to undertake the Spanish Camino de Santiago pilgrimage Way of St James. This journey by the trio is a personal one both to share the experience of the Camino and to raise important funds for Parkinson’s Disease research.

A little about “the Camino” to put the epic journey into perspective.

Its history has an ancient beginning in medieval times as a pilgrimage of faith, to now a contemporary journey that is not limited as a journey of religion but popular with hikers as the number one bucket list item, and those searching for peace and clarity. There are various routes leading to the central destination of the Shrine of the Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia and can cover 800 km, usually taking 30 days of walking to complete.

During this time the pilgrim carries only meagre essentials, relying on low-budget hospitality in auberges, living, eating, and walking with people on their own personal quests. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its history of bringing people from all over the world together in harmony.

Their preparation had its hiccups, especially when Hank was training on their bush block slipped and broke his leg in two places. Maryanne continued with her training, and as Hank’s carer, she ensured he did not do anything silly while he was rehabilitating. One method in the early days was to confiscate his crutches. There was no way they were going to miss out on this pilgrimage.

Once a date was set for them to head off, we arranged for the handover of MMB at the Victorian Breakfast Club meeting at Euroa in February. I was amazed at how it felt, like I was setting free a loved

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How Much Can A Koala Bear?

one out into the big world once more. He is a little guy that gets into your heart.

A few changes to MMB attire were made for this journey.

The TT hi-vis vest was ditched and now stored with his other memorabilia with yours truly. He now dons an Australian flag bandanna and Maryanne knitted him some winter woollies for the journey.

The first stop on their tripwas Paris, after such a long trip, in which he may or may not have consumed a little bit too much vino, he snoozed a lot in Maryanne’s backpack but ventured out at Notre Dame only to be frightened by the soldiers with guns. Maybe he was worried about being in trouble for sliding down the rails outside the Basilique de Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre.

Before undertaking “The Camino” Hank wanted to visit his heritage trail, so MMB and company moved on to Belgium

getting a free ride.

With the promise of gum leaves, MMB was enthusiastic about the Camino. Yes, Australian eucalypts are found in Spain. Day one had the trio passing through Orrison. MMB was enjoying the sights after a misty start. Happy to hang out from Maryanne’s pack, wearing the Bombers hat as the sunshine was a pleasant change, pleased to not have to walk the steep climb through the Pyrenees region.

Later during their journey, as the weather turned against them again, the trio had to hike through rain and mist.

This makes it slippery on the already steep, rocky, and now muddy tracks. MMB was forced to take cover in the backpack for a few days.

MMB is experiencing life on the road staying in auberges, monasteries, and motels. Many nights were spent communal dining with people from all walks of life from around the world. What most impressed MMB was the siesta lifestyle in Spain with the shops closing between 1 pm and 3 pm. Despite being a globe-travelling little adventurer, he is still a Koala appreciating the odd nanna nap time.

“Before undertaking “The Camino” Hank wanted to visit his heritage trail, so MMB and company moved on to Belgium where he made friends with the City Cow.” where he made friends with the City Cow. Travelling, often by train, through Holland, Rotterdam, Belgium, Delft, and Volendam to mention a few. As the weather turned into rain and snow, MMB was feeling the cold and forced to snuggle into a Melbourne Football Club scarf and hat. I’m not sure he was impressed with the choice of the team but hey, he was

Sadly, after approx. 14 days on the pilgrimage the trio had to go home due to an injury that was going to take too long to heal with plans to return soon. Where credit is due, they achieved approximately 90 days of constant travel, including 14 days of serious full-time hiking. All this with the aim of raising awareness and money for the ‘Shake It Up Foundation’ Australia. Please feel free to donate via http://shakeitup.org.au/make-a-donation and be sure to mention Maryanne Tigges to put it on her tally.

PS I’d love to hear of any MMB previous adventures via mmbstories@gmail.com Holly Fields #54062

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Old Bikes Find a Home in Bendigo The City of Greater Bendigo has made a firm bid for the title: ‘Classic Motorcycle Capital of Australia’.

How so? Well, two very substantial and valuable collections are now ensconced in permanent premises in the city. One in Castlemaine, the other in the heart of Bendigo.

early- to mid-20th century restored and preserved machines to display, there’s plenty to attract those with even just a passing interest in motorcycles.

The cream of the collection is his priceless 1901 model, one of only three survivors from the first years of production.

We were able to visit these two incredible displays during “Viva Bendigo” promotions, celebrating the most impressive ‘Elvis: Direct from Graceland’ exhibition at the city’s art gallery. And, BTW, Elvis’s last custom FLH Harley-Davidson is also on display as part of the exhibit, but that’s another story.

“It’s a very important find that I bought at auction, which was inserted into the catalogue at the last minute, so maybe didn’t attract as much attention as it normally would have,” said Dr James, who understandably declined to reveal exactly how much he paid for it.

The delightfully eccentric surgeon and vintage motorcycle aficionado, Dr Dugal James, has finally found a home for his many Indian, BMW and various Italian machines with the acquisition of the former Black Swan Hotel on McRae St. With the working title of ‘Indigo’ (a word combo of Indian and Bendigo) the once bustling nightspot will be transformed into Dr James’ vision with hope that it will become a major tourism drawcard for riders and tourists alike.

“I do plan to exhibit a variety of marques and styles and to also have friends’ bikes on display with the intention of having a variety of themes every two or three months to inspire repeat visits,” Dr James told Riding On.

Currently the Black Swan is only open on designated days and by appointment, but the good doctor is happy to open on weekends to visiting groups, clubs and enthusiasts by prior arrangement.

With the historic and ornate city of Bendigo less than two hours from the centre of Melbourne, the former gold rush hub is a nobrainer for day rides, especially in the generous daylight saving season.

Dr James is particularly well-known as an enthusiast of Indian motorcycles with what is almost certainly the largest private collection of the marque in Australia. With around 100 mainly RIDING ON

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Forty minutes away is Dave Reidie’s astonishing collection of (mainly) vintage Harley-Davidsons. There’s a couple of surprises like a Crocker, Vincent and an Indian, but mostly it’s a shrine to Milwaukee offerings.

Older members (which is all of us) might remember Dave was proprietor of the Melbourne Harley-Davidson dealership, Harley City, from 1981 to 2017 and continues collecting, riding, and restoring today.

He’s secured his collection in a brand new industrial unit just outside of Castlemaine and welcomes visitors by prior arrangement. We caught up with him recently for a chat (after we picked up our jaw).

RE: Dave, tell me, this is a brilliant collection, how long has it taken you to put this together?

DR: About 40 years, Unfortunately, it takes that long.

RE: Now, the obvious questions I have are “how many have you got” and “what is your favourite” and “what is the most valuable”?

DR: I think there’s about 50 of ours here and there’s probably eight or nine of other peoples that leave them here. It was never a numbers game; it was purely about finding unique machines and mainly machines that are unique to Harley’s history.

RE: Well, I think by any measure you’ve been successful in that endeavor. There must be a favourite somewhere amongst here?

DR: Not really. I always say the favourite is the one you are riding at the particular time. Look, there are some that are more desirable, more valuable than others. But, you know, they are all hand-chosen just fitted our eclectic taste.

RE: Looking at them, many are kind of standard, but there are obviously a lot of heavily modified racers particularly from the – am I guessing here if I say the ‘20s and ‘30s?

DR: That’s the era we ended up being focused on. Probably started on bikes from the ‘50s and ‘60s that we related to. But then we worked our way down and Harley have a really rich history of building really cool racers in the ‘20s and early ‘30s.

And that was the area that we sort of concentrated on. And it was also in that period that period-modified started, so the really cool bobbers and all that originated from that era. And if you were lucky enough you started with a race bike to build the ultimate bobber, and we are fortunate enough to have a couple of those.

RE: Excellent. Well, I can see there’s some pretty exciting machines here. I think the only time I’ve ever seen a

comparable collection is actually in the museum itself in Milwaukee. Would I be close in that approximation?

DR: Again, the Milwaukee collection is fabulous and it’s far broader and generally of stock machines. Where this is, you know, we were a dealer for 40 years and this is just what appealed to our taste. We were also into customizing, chopping, riding, racing and so those were the bikes that appealed. And if they were modified that didn’t matter too much. And we generally left them in as-found condition.

RE: And (the premises) is beautifully presented, you’ve got brand new premises here, you’ve got wonderful photos on the wall and all sorts of memorabilia all around the place. How can the public see this?

DR: They can go to our website harleycitycollection.com.au and open days are posted on there.

Apart from these two outstanding collections, it’s worth popping in to see Rod Hadfield’s outrageous hot rod collection at Chewton and the ferocious chopper he built on a whim. On our tour of the region, we also stopped for excellent pastries at the Harcourt General store only to learn that proprietor and chef, Annette Larsen, is the custodian of her late father’s collection of vintage motorcycles, mainly BSAs. We’ve left with full bellies but not before encouraging Annette to bring a couple bikes in to enthral passing riders.

When you’re done with motorcycles, there are a multitude of wineries to explore (learn to spit) and great accommodation to keep you in the region. I bet you didn’t know that Bendigo is actually a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, so if you do decide to stay over, there’s plenty of foodie fetishes to delight you.

Roderick Eime #68221

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I NTE RESTI NG STUFF APRILIA TUAREG 660

Aprilia Australia is excited to announce its highly anticipated Tuareg 660 adventure bike. It will have an alluring ride away price from $22,230 when it arrives in local showrooms in May/ June.

Based on Aprilia 660 technology, the new Tuareg sees a legendary name in off-road riding return in style.

Born for exploring, Tuareg 660 is designed to withstand the toughest off-road riding while guaranteeing touring comfort and riding pleasure.

With an outstanding weight/power ratio, excellent off-road performance, extraordinary chassis features on asphalt and

best-in-class electronics, Tuareg raises the bar in the adventure category.

Tuareg 660 raises the bar for off-road adventure bike riding.

But, at the same time, it places its supreme travelling spirit centre stage thanks to its impeccable performance on asphalt, its premium technical content, the performance of its 80hp (58.8kW) twin-cylinder and its reduced weight of just 187kg without fluids.

Many Thanks to Brisan Motorcycles & Powersports, 250 Maitland Road, Islington NSW 2296 T:02 49408777

THOSE DAMN LUCKY ITALIANS.....

Varese, 16 May 2022 - With its 75 year of industrial and racing history, MV Agusta stands for the quintessential Italian genius for engines and design. Today, the winged gearwheel brand is an icon of unrivalled elegance and a synonym with speed and cutting-edge technology. For the two-wheels enthusiasts, it embodies the idea of a racing aristocracy and Italy’s unique knack for designing and building superlative motorcycles. From production models to limited editions, to one-offs entirely custom-built for clients, every single MV Agusta bike is a shining example of “Motorcycle Art”. On May 21st and 22nd, two of MV Agusta’s latest models will be on display at Villa Sucota in Como: Superveloce Ago, with its classic yet incredibly modern lines, and Brutale 1000 RR, with its naked and aggressive beauty, able to express awe-inspiring power. Visitors will also have the opportunity to watch MV Agusta’s feature-length documentary film, “You See a Bike”, celebrating the company’s 75th anniversary. 8 exceptional testimonials tell their side of the MV Agusta story, from an unexpected and most personal perspective. A poignant and engaging account of one of the most exceptional tales of the modern industrial age and of the motorcycling world. www.fuoriconcorso.org MEDIA CONTACT: Alessia Riboni, Head of Communications, MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. RIDING ON

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THE NEW BMW CE 04 – THE SILENT REVOLUTION With a maximum output of 31 kW (42hp), BMWs CE 04 has a powerful motor and offers outstanding riding pleasure. For the classic “traffic light start” discipline from 0 to 50 kph, it takes just 2.6 seconds. The maximum speed is 120 kph, for speedy progress not just in the city but on main roads and motorways too.

The BMW CE 04 has an ample battery cell capacity of 60.6 Ah (8.9 kWh), providing a range of some 130 kilometres. This enables day-to-day emission free riding in the city, in an urban setting and for smaller scale fun tours after work or at the weekend, with complete peace of mind.

The lithium-ion battery is charged using the integrated charging device either at a regular household socket, a wallbox or a

public charging station. When the battery is completely flat, charging time ideally lasts 4 hours and 20 minutes. With the quick charger available as an optional extra with an output of up to 6.9 kW (2.3 kW is the standard level), charging time is reduced to just 1 hour and 40 minutes when the battery is completely flat. If the battery level is only 20 per cent and the battery is charged to 80 per cent, the charging time is reduced to just 45 minutes with the optional quick charger. Depending on the market, the standard charging cable with a charging capacity of 2.3 kW comes as standard with the BMW CE 04.

Many Thanks to Brisan Motorcycles & Powersports, 250 Maitland Road, Islington NSW 2296 T:02 49408777

MV APPAREL After the successful launch of Logo Level 1 last July, MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. announces the release of the second drop of its branded streetwear apparel collection, Logo Level 2. As with the first capsule collection, the theme of this release revolves around the iconic MV Agusta logo, with new colours and the addition of a special tribute to Giacomo Agostini, the 15-times World Champion motorcycling legend. LL2 aims to appeal to a wide, streetwise and discerning audience of younger-generation bikers and non-bikers. The collection will be found on MV Agusta’s official online store and at street-fashion garment stores around the world.

Check this out also Born to celebrate MV Agusta’s 75th anniversary, and shot between 2020 and 2021, “You see a bike, on the wings of legend” is now available on major streaming platforms Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play, who started featuring it from March 28th. The film is distributed by moto.it, a leading digital media player specialised in motorcycling, which recently expanded its activities into producing and distributing films and documentaries. 50 minutes of intense emotions with the riveting stories of the people who made the MV Agusta legend, but also of the extraordinary characters who, in some way, crossed the path of the brand from Schiranna.

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I NTE RESTI NG STUFF

INDIAN FTR Indian Motorcycle celebrates its flat track racing legacy with the new FTR Championship Edition.

With only 400 available globally, the limited-edition FTR allows race fans from around the world to join the Indian Wrecking Crew in celebration of the team’s five-consecutive American Flat Track championships.

Inspired by the sport’s preeminent flat track race machine, the FTR750, the FTR Championship Edition touts an authentic race paint scheme and a commemorative Indian Motorcycle Racing bezel with each championship season on display. But more than a show piece, the limitededition FTR features premium components, including a titanium Akrapovič Exhaust, fully adjustable front forks, and piggyback shock. Carbon fibre parts, including a seat cowl, front fender, airbox covers and headlight nacelle, complete the bike’s premium design.

Adding to its flat track-inspired design are a host of premium features and ride-enhancing technologies, including three ride modes, wheelie control with rear lift mitigation, stability control, traction control and cornering ABS. The FTR Championship

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Edition also touts a 4.3-inch digital touchscreen display and a 1203cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine that produces 92 kW and 120Nm of torque. The limited-edition FTR is equipped with a race-inspired wheel combination of a 19-inch front and 18inch rear wheel – wrapped in Dunlop® street tyres with flat trackinspired tread. Radially mounted dual front disc Brembo brakes offer exceptional control and stopping power, while flat tracker aluminium handlebars complete the race bike look.

Many Thanks to Nolan Howard Marketing, Indian Motorcycle Australia & New Zealand.

INDIAN PURSUIT DARK HORSE And now for something alternate in the luxury touring category.

Low-end torque right off the line and exhilarating top-end passing power from the liquid-cooled V-twin PowerPlus 1768cc engine.

The frame-mounted fairing provides exceptional wind protection on its own. For even more, adjust the vents in the lowers or simply push a button to send up the windshield. Both Rider and passenger get a heated seat with premium style. Adjust to your preference with controls on the seat, or from your infotainment screen.

More than 133 Litres of weatherproof, remote-locking storage can handle all the gear you’ve got. Or take off the quickrelease trunk to drop weight and give yourself a whole new profile.

Cruise control, built in audio, keyless

ignition and even more ride enhancing tech are combined with a 7-inch touchscreen.

High-output speakers in the fairing and trunk deliver 200-watts of crystal-clear audio. It also sports a dynamic equaliser that automatically adjusts for road, wind and engine noise.

Electronically adjustable rear suspension preload lets you optimise suspension setting based on exactly who you’re riding with and what you’re hauling.

Plus, Smart Lean technology uses a Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit to tune traction control, ABS, and torque for even more control.

Starts at $44,995 Ride away.

Many Thanks to Brisan Motorcycles & Powersports, 250 Maitland Road, Islington NSW 2296 T:02 49408777

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Telemachus Medal Presentation to Bill Ingall Our Social Meeting on Thursday evening February 3rd was to be a special occasion for the Hunter Coalfields Branch.

William (Bill) Ingall was presented with Telemachus Medal No: 156.

Fortunately for the Committee we only had to keep the approval secret for one month. The recipient Bill or “Dangas” as he is known to most members, was very surprised and speechless during the presentation ceremony.

Bill joined Ulysses in June 2000 member #21507.

When the Branch suffered “growing pains” not unique, Bill was the member who came forward to both stabilize and put the Branch back on track. Bill held the position of Branch President for more than ten years and is currently serving as Branch Secretary.

He created strong ties with surrounding Branches, Newcastle Lower Hunter and Port Stephens. He has organized Hunter District Memorial Days, Branch functions at his own home, Christmas in July celebrations at a number of locations and many of our midweek and weekend rides as well as supplying a “ breakdown trailer”

for members 24/7. He also organized many Branch fund raising activities, with the monies raised being presented personally by the Branch to CWA and small country communities which were hard hit by the drought.

He also produces The Branch Monthly Newsletter and keeps the Hunter Coalfields Ulysses Facebook page current and relevant for members.

Dave Wright, Life Membership information.

In 2017 Dave worked to reduce the minimum quantity orders placed, and the time to order, allowing the stock to be kept at a manageable level with shorter turnover. Dave worked to put special merchandise packages together to first be advertised in the Riding On magazine, and then in the enewsletters.

Dave also conducted a review of suppliers of clothing and merchandising to ensure the best deal and service for the Ulysses Club. This was conducted over some time and the results presented to the National Committee. The project had resulted in the existing supplier continuing in the role.

The advertising pack was revamped and updated and this was implemented by Dave as part of his Advertising Liaison role on the National Committee.

Working with Amy Zazy, Dave created the new look Ulysses Club promotional banners and flags for the use by branches. These are a vast improvement on those in use, being more eye catching and up to date.

Dave didn’t just “do his job” on the National Committee, but went above and beyond to make changes and to deliver the best results for members.

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Jen Woods Life Membership Award.

At the Warwick Ulysses National Rally, Jen Woods #21395, was presented with her Life Membership number #20. It was appropriate that retiring NatCom President, Henry Roxx #28636 be the person to present Jen with her award seeing as it was he who took over the role from her.

You could be forgiven in thinking that Jen has been on the NatCom doing one task or another for the last 20 years, but no, she has only been doing that for a bit over a decade and she has done a splendid job at whatever she has been asked to do.

The Club also had to negotiate the problems of Covid and this held up the usual process of NatCom succession for 2 years and the need for the then Committee to continue working in their various roles until an alternative AGM could be achieved.

Jen helped steer our Club through some very testing times and she has always shown the ‘grit and determination’ required to keep the Club on an even course.

Did she know she was getting the Award? Hard to believe she didn’t have a clue, as she has always been so incisive.

However, it was notable that she was caught out unable to come up with a speech.

Well done Jen Woods and well deserved.

George Finlay Dearnley award George Ian Findley #21312 from The Hills Branch, was awarded Dearnley Medal 77 at the Warwick Ulysses National Rally.

He was given the Award for exceptional and meritorious standards of service to the Ulysses Club and his efforts for the past 23 years have been well above and beyond the normal expectations of any member.

George was awarded the Telemachus Medal in 2016 for his exceptional services to The Hills Branch. It’s said that George is one of Ulysses’ most avid advocates.

Taken from George’s D.M. submission by The Hills Branch Committee, John Uidam #37212 President.

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Ridden On

This is one of the saddest sections in the Riding On and if we can be fair to everyone we ask that submissions are kept to a maximum of 300 words.

Greg CUTTING #61961 (16th May 1954 – 28th February 2022)

Kenneth Barry Sevenoaks #5469 (6th July 1942 - 12th March 2022)

Commenced his Ulysses Club Membership on the 21st of November 2012 with the Yarra Ranges Branch.

‘K7’ as he liked to be called, was a founding member of the Gladstone Branch. He was present at the initial meeting on the 15th May 1993 when it was realised there was enough Ulysses members in our area to form a Branch. ‘K7’ continued to be an active member until old age caught up with him. He often travelled great distances on his trusty BMW. Every event Ken went to, he would gather a badge and fasten them to his hat, which became so heavy in the end some badges had to be removed. He could be spotted easily from a distance wearing his characteristic hat. Even when ‘K7’ could no longer ride he continued to be an active member, always attending our monthly meetings and outings such as the Toy Runs.

Greg was never a fast rider and rode a Boulevard for a time, but, due to a hip problem he never sat astride the bike properly and after a fall in 2020 he saw the light and graduated to a 3 wheeled 2019 Spyder F3 which he commenced to master.

Always the Comedian, he told awful jokes which were difficult to understand at the best of times, but would always burst into laughter, so much so it would bring tears to his eyes, then everyone would laugh at him rather than the joke.

Greg was a dedicated Ulyssean, attending activities and social gatherings. He volunteered his Musical Ability by playing his Cornet at the Branch Memorial Service with a variety of Music, reflecting our members who had “Ridden On” during the year as well as ANZAC and Remembrance Services within the Community.

An active member within his local Community Greg was an active volunteer Fireman with the Country Fire Authority, being awarded his 20-year Service Award and Life Membership with the Mooroolbark CFA on the 19th of February 2022. He was a member of the Croydon Brass Band playing the Cornet, an instrument he loved playing with confidence.

Greg leaves behind his loving wife and riding partner, June, plus his son, Robin.

He will be sadly missed.

Ride on Greg, ride on.

Stewart Westfield #59019 President, Ulysses Club, Yarra Ranges Branch 03/ 03 /2022

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Sadly missed by everyone.

John Watson #66167 Secretary Ulysses Club Inc. Gladstone Branch Ph: 0408 694 676 www.gladstoneulysses.weebly.com

Shaune McNamara # 59069 A popular member of Warnbro Sound Wanderers, Shaune’s life ended far too early at 62 after a suspected heart attack.

Shaune had everything to live for after recently marrying the love of his life, YanQin. His love of riding started at an early age and he thoroughly enjoyed the mateship of our Club.

We will miss his smiling face on our rides.

R.I.P. Shaune.

Chris Glover #25012 Secretary Warnbro Sound Wanderers (W.A.)

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