OPEN ROAD MOTORCYCLE TOURING CLUB

from ORMTC July online

by ORMTC

Ride Report: June Club Ride

July 2023

ClubObjectives

1)To promote, encourage and co-operate with kindred bodies in fostering and maintaining motorcycling.

2)To organize and conduct social outings and to encourage good fellowship amongst members.

3)To maintain and keep up the prestige of the club.

Committee

Contact Details

ORMTC Postal Address: Care of Nic & E-J Club Internet Home Page: Club e-mail address: Editor’s e-mail: https://ormtc.club admin@ormtc.club stives73@bigpond.com

Cut off date for magazine articles is ONE (1) week prior to the meeting; if in doubt call the Editor! Disclaimer

Comments and technical articles printed in this magazine are the results of member contributions and, as such, the views and opinions expressed DO NOT necessarily reflect those of ORMTC Inc. but are for general interest only. The ORMTC accepts no responsibility for accuracy of any comment, opinion or information contained in or omitted from this magazine.

Page 01…………………………………..Club Objectives, Club Committee, Club Contact details

Page 02…………………………………..Contents

Page 03-04.……………………………..President’s Report

Page 05…………………………………..By-laws and Birthdays

Page 06….. .……………………………..Editor’s/Treasurer’s Report

Page 07-08…..………..…………………Meeting Minutes from last month

Page 09….. .……………………………..Points table

Page 10-11…..………..……………… Club Run photos by Chris

Page 12-13…..………..……………… Club Run article by Ash

Page 14…....……………………………..Finances for last month

Page 15………………………………….. Merchandise

Page 16-19…..………..……………… Social Ride photos by Ivan

Page 20-21…..………..……………… Member details

Page 22-29…..………..……………… Archives discoveries by Ivan

Page 30….. .……………………………..Awards Night / Christmas in July / Mad Hatter details

Page 31….. .……………………………..The Desert Wildflower Dash to visit Mark and Deena - August

Page 32………………………………….. June Club Run details

Page 33………………………………….. June Social Ride details

Page 34…....……………………………..Ride calendar

During our monthly visit to the local tip in my hometown of Port Pirie with my Dad, one well timed visit led to discovering 3 discarded postie bikes ditched by the post office. What a score, my riding journey began on a stripped down red Honda 70, equipped with 3 speed gearbox, centrifugal clutch, sawn off exhaust, and terrible brakes. Fuel was sourced carrying a gallon tin on my 3 speed dragster pushy to the local Golden Fleece, filled for around 20 cents. I had to earn that 20 cents completing a heap of house chores.

Riding skills and bruises were gained throughout the back paddocks behind our house amongst rich kids riding XR 75 Hondas or Monkey bikes fitted with Victa engines. I was the butt of many jokes on that Honda 70, but when Dad and I had the grey Honda 90 up and going, they all ate dirt and the jokes quickly stopped. They were the ones asking for rides then. That Honda 90 was ridden until all parts were exhausted, so back to the tip it all went. Thanks Dad.

I attended a technical high school in Port Pirie that included passing our provisional licenses for a car and motorcycle during year 11. Motorcycle training predominately consisted of tearing up the grassed oval on Honda AG bikes until the instructor managed to regain lesson control. Those bikes were well wrecked following the class of ’82. We all made a pact to own different trial bikes (up to 250cc), so by July and my 16th birthday, the cool bikes - XR’s, KLX’s, KDX’s, IT’s, and XT’s, were already gone. My choices included an XL250, TT250 or DR250. The Honda and Yamaha were beyond my price range, so I settled on the Suzuki DR250 at $1,500 with cash earned by loading mail bags at the railway station. Man, I worked hard for that money amongst the old barflys and local tough guys.

My Suzuki journey had begun - wheelie competitions, dirt drags, and racing around salt flats and mangrove creeks, and a hilly spot we called the pig farm. I also had an old DR 500, but that was quickly stolen and gone forever. My beautiful black DR250 with gold rims soon became a bent and buckled steed. I clocked up almost 30,000km on that bike before I wheeled it into Adelaide HB Suzuki to trade in on the brand new 1983 RG250 Gamma. 500 bucks trade in - Sucker

The RG cost around 3K, fitted with cool expansion chambers and went like the clappers compared to the old DR. That 2 stroke power band will never be forgotten. I was working as an apprentice in Adelaide, so uncountable trips with throttle pinned flat out between Adelaide and Port Pirie (250km) before the days of speed traps were great fun. That bike did 200 km/h downhill with a tailwind. I don’t know how I survived.

That RG was absolutely hammered for around 2 years and 80,000km to the point where no exhaust chamber packing remained. Not a single oil leak or mechanical issue though, I don’t recall ever servicing it except for a backyard oil and air filter change – maybe once. Admittedly it was blowing a lot more smoke than a normal 2 stroke should when I traded it in for a new 1985 GSX-R 750 sling shot. 1000 bucks trade in. Sucker again

The GSX-R was almost 6K on road. An amazing oil cooled engine coupled with crap tyres, poor brakes, and no steering dampener. You certainly had to hold onto it, especially when tank slapping at over 160 km/h. Almost all my cash was spent on replacement parts, low siding and bouncing off cars was now my specialty. No chicken strips on those tyres. Still, power wheelies and blowing off everything on the road, including the local Popo on several occasions provided memories I’ll never forget – particularly when facing the court Magistrate who didn’t hesitate in taking my license for 3 years. I deserved it, and that man probably saved my life, living at 240 km/h can only be maintained for short periods. That bike ended up with the debt collector and was pretty shabby when it was trailered away, ending my early motorcycle journey in 1988. Upon begging for my license back from the nice Magistrate after 3 years, I decided to stick to a 4 wheeled cage for a while. After all, I was married and had 3 daughters so the ability to provide was priority.

Cue almost 30 years in 2017 as a 51 year old empty nester with a boat gathering dust and a bit of cash to spend, I persuaded my dear Cathy about returning to “proper” motorcycling. Despite holding a long term unused unrestricted motorcycle license and researching the high death rates amongst “older” motorcyclists in WA, I attended Midland DOT and requested I start from scratch. They agreed, issued me an RL license after a 5 minute theory test, and organised an RE practical assessment. I had 3 months to prepare.

Jumping aboard a Honda CB125 with a local roadcraft instructor, I could have ridden past my house without even realising it. The CB had to go though, and I welcomed a lovely 2016 Kawasaki 650L with 3000km on the clock into my garage. Following 10 or so sessions on the 650L, I felt RE seasoned and passed the practical test at Midland DOT. I was free. With no motorcycling friends, and after several life threatening boy racer FB group rides, I met a few like-minded older chums through MROP. One suggested I check out ORMTC, so with a little anxiety I attended a meeting at the Kewdale tavern, warmly welcomed by Peter and the members. I even drew the raffle. Chuffed to say the least.

First off….totally blown away by the country road riding and friendly lunch atmospheres with ORMTC. Secondly, a Kawasaki 650L with under seat LAMS plug removed was somewhat disappointing despite ORMTC member encouragement. Problem solved with a low km 2016 BMW K1300R fitted with obligatory “L” plate. Now we’re riding….with many thanks to ORMTC shadows, you know who you are. Since 2018, class R test completed, K1300R & R1200GS in my garage, surrounded by awesome people within my cherished motorcycle club ORMTC, I’m in heaven, a most rewarding return to motorcycling anyone could wish for. Whilst the FB riding groups are falling apart, our ORMTC surges forward. Let’s make more unforgettable motorcycling memories Cheers, Chris C.

Club by-laws as at August 2008

1. All motions need to have 2 months notice before they are voted on unless the 2 months notice is deemed unnecessary by the membership present at the meeting.

2. People on committees do not have to pay for an event that they are organizing except for their own accommodation.

3. Only financial members of the club can vote.

4. No person is to spend any monies unless prior approval has been granted by 2 or more committee members.

5. Any money spent and claimable from the club must have a receipt.

6. Members wishing to attend a club event must pay for that event before it occurs.

7. If a member is unable to attend a Club event, refunds are to be decided by the committee organizing the event.

8. If the club organises any event which requires financial commitment, members who have committed to attending will be financially liable for their share of the costs unless they can find someone to replace them.

By-law for Committee meetings:

1. A quorum for a committee meeting consists of 2 people less than there are members of the committee.

This edition is a rather interesting one. s Report is quite epic and goes well beyond what we’d normally expect in a report, so I’ve credited him with 5 points for his contribution to the magazine, along with his other contribution of photos from the Club Run.

Ash has also submitted an article about the Club Run, which I expect you will find to be an interesting compilation, although ‘unforgettable‘ might not be the best term to use given the way our memories seem to behave at Club meetings.