ULYSSES CLUB WAIKATO BRANCH. March Newsletter. Branch Committee

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1 ULYSSES CLUB WAIKATO BRANCH March Newsletter Ulysses Club Waikato Branch meets 7.30pm at the Waikato Commerce Club 197 Collingwood Street, Hamilton on the first Monday of the month except January. Visitors Welcome. Evening Meals available from 6.30 pm except Public Holidays. Waikato Ulysses website: This Newsletter plus other information is available on this website. Branch Committee Coordinator Rowena Smith Phone: Mobile: waikato@ulysses.org.nz Secretary Athol Thompson P: M: E: athol.thompson@hcc.govt.nz Committee: Mark Empson P: M: Glen Proctor P: M: E: shrek36@orcon.net.nz Vice-Coordinator Phil McKinnon Phone: Mobile: phil_sharon@clear.net.nz Treasurer Bruce Nelson P: M: E: bruce.nelson@icfrith.co.nz Committee: Lawrence Gosnell (Goose) P: M: E: g.cd@xtra.co.nz John Turkington (Turk) P: M: E: peglers@orcon.net.nz Sheriff Mick Aldred P: M: E: mick@eznet.co.nz Quartermaster Anthony Mol-Krijnan P: M: E: penant68@gmail.com Newsletter Editor David Coy P: E: dcoy41@gmail.com

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3 Waikato Branch Activities, March & April 2015 DATE DESTINATION MEET TIME IN CHARGE Fri-27-Feb Toy Run Fund Raiser Te Awamutu 9am Graham Sun-1-Mar Toy Run Cambridge 9am on Committee Mon-2-Mar Club Night Commerce Club 7pm Committee Wed-4-Mar Kawhia F & C Te A Caltex 6.30pm Goose Sun-8-Mar Mystery Ride Rototuna BP 10am Phil Sat-14-Mar Te A, Caltex 9am Jim Northern Odyssey weekender Sun-15-Mar Jim Wed-18-Mar Mystery Ride Hillcrest Caltex 6.30pm Shrek Sun-22-Mar Tauranga Charity Ride Cambridge BP 9.00am Jim Sun-29-Mar Mokau - Whitebait fritters Te A, Caltex 9am Goose Mon-6-Apr Club Night Commerce Club 7pm Committee April National Rally & AGM Tauranga Nat Com Mon-27-Apr Northern Odyssey conclusion Jim & David Contacts: David Lou Footrot (Anthony) Mark Goose (Lawrence Phil Jim Shrek (Glen)

4 The good riding weather continues, heaps going on. The spud judges did their annual round on 8 Feb, crop not so good as last year, perhaps it has been too dry? You would expect the farmers in our ranks to be weigh ahead of everyone else, but not so, another win for the townies. On the Thursday Ride 12 Feb, there must have been the biggest turnout ever for lunch at Lake Tarawera Landing café. About 10kms out back of Rotorua, long time since I ve been there, neat spot. We had about 30 for lunch; eight from Waikato branch, at least a dozen from Whakatane, and others from Waihi-Thames, Tauranga and other branches. Included were Bruce Ferguson (Whakatane) who is 90 on 1 st March and young Tom Jones, only 89 this year. Remarkable. Editor oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo F I R E, F I R E!! A bush fire rapidly approaches your house, family are safe but you could lose all your possessions and you have only a minute or two to grab what is most important to you. What is it? The wedding photos, malt whisky, family heirlooms, Stihl chainsaw,.. P T O 4

5 THE HARLEY, of course Man departs Pine Beach (Canterbury) home after fire approached neighbourhood. [Waikato Times, 6 Jan 2015] oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Murphy s Cup 2015 The judges came digging on second Sunday in Feb for the moment of truth in the branch annual spud-growing competition. There were fifteen survivors after half a dozen no-shows, or rather nogrows, advised the judges to by-pass them. The judges tour started in Te Awamutu, went north to Huntly, east to Morrinsville before finishing in Hamilton. Goose (2.09kg) was the early leader, but was overtaken by Topher (2.76kg) who in turn was pipped at the post by Sabine (3.65kg) in Hamilton. So the Cup resides at Brookview for another year. Many of the participants enjoyed refreshments at the end - thanks to Domino s for the pizza, Trevor for the drinks but most of all, Jim for organising the whole event different to cruising around the countryside, but good fun. The answer lies in the soil!! 5

6 Mick did much better than last year (1.36kg).. but Sabine pipped them all (3.65kg). Graham promised more than he delivered (0.23kg).. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Cop that me & my bikes by Lance Lillas #2787 When I turned 15 I bought a 50cc Zundap with pedals from the farmer s son up the road for 10 quid. You didn t need a licence to ride one, so it happily transported me to my holiday and weekend jobs, as I never particularly enjoyed riding push bikes. We lived at Sisam s Valley in Taneatua, so I needed transport. One day I was following my brother on his 125 James, when I noticed my sister galloping on her horse towards us. Not realising he had stopped and being in the same groove on the metal road, I slammed into the back of him. The whacking stopped after I promised to pay for the damage. I then hopped back on the Zundap. It was then I realised it was bent like a banana and the mudguard was hitting on the front pipe, so I could ride only about 5 metres then point the bike in the opposite direction to where I wanted to go. When I finally got home the old man (a mechanic) said Go grab the neighbour an equally big man. They both put one foot on the engine, pulling on the forks and my little Zundap literally straightened out before my eyes. A succession of old bikes was bought, swapped and sold. I used to paint them with mum s vacuum cleaner to get a better price. I ended up with a 600cc single cylinder BSA, which those of you who had ridden this beast know, if you didn t set the valve lifter and the advance retard levers correctly one of two things happened. You either ended up over the handle bars or had your stove pipe pants torn up the inside leg. I managed to get a mechanic s apprenticeship with 1963, first bike, the Zundap, looks like the old man s BSA in background? 6

7 Bells in Waimana, so needed a reliable bike. They were the local BSA & Yamaha agents so I asked them for some recommendations. I was keen on the new YDS2 Yamaha but the old man said stick to BSA s as he rode them as a dispatch rider. He bought a brand new 1200 after the War instead of a section, which my mother reminded him on a regular basis. Bells were happy to finance me into a 250 and showed me a photo of the new bike, which duly arrived on the back of a truck. When I saw it I told the boss that it wasn t new as it had been sitting in Don Billinghurst s shop for years. I agreed to ride it back to Whakatane, but couldn t kick it over even without a sparkplug. It had been sitting there so long the engine had seized. The new 250 arrived and provided me with reliable transport for years, until I joined the Whakatane Motorcycle Club on a club ride to Opotiki via Wainui Rd, which was metal and recently graded. On a sharp RH corner, the excessive camber forced me towards the centre of the road, which ended with a head on. The Doctors did a good job patching me up and refitted my manhood back into the correct bags. The bike was a write-off so I took the cash and bought a Humber 80 which my boss was happy to finance. The Police charged me with dangerous driving and when I told the Judge what happened, he agreed with me as he travelled the road on a regular basis as a circuit Judge. I was fined 5 pounds with no disqualification. A decade on I was an A Grade mechanic working at ABJs in Gisborne, had married the Station Master s daughter who had a bun in the oven plus a mortgage on a house. To top it off the Labour Party won the election so I didn t have to complete National Service and when my son arrived, I was somewhat relieved I was able to reproduce. My life changed when I was servicing a Hillman Hunterbeing the local MOTs IP car. The T/O (Traffic Officer) came Highway Patrol ready for some action over for a chat and during the conversation asked if I was interested in being a T/O as mechanics who could ride motorbikes, had a better chance of getting in. The acceptance telegram finally arrived showing my salary was $4,191 plus a $1,255 allowance. We worked 6 days a week and I was to report to Trentham on 1 st April Following 3 months training I was riding a Triumph Bonneville around the streets of Hastings, with a permanent smile on my face. They slowly phased out the British bikes in favour of the Japanese Police specials, which pleased us, as they were fast, didn t leak oil and started on a frosty morning. Only the 550 Suzuki two-stroke gave problems with oiling up plugs and blowing vast amounts blue smoke when you gave it some stick. I was glad I didn t buy that YDS2 10 years earlier. 7

8 Traffic Officers normally doubled up at night in a car and on one particular evening we were sitting on Tomoana Rd watching the stop sign on Frederick St, when we noticed a young couple walk out the fish n chip shop and started kissing around the corner. After 10 minutes we lost interest until I heard a motorbike start up. We watched as it powered straight through the stop sign. I was in hot pursuit with the red light on, checked his speed at 80kmh, then was about to hit the siren when a car pulled out of Nelson St from my left and drove between the motorcyclist and us. I pulled right managing to avoid T boning as at 80k would have been curtains for the driver. Both vehicles were written off with our Patrol car bursting into flames. Unlike the modern cars the doors wouldn t open so we sat back to back and kicked our way out. Unknown to us, the Hospital was setting up its serious burns unit so it was ready for a couple of fried cops. Young hotlips on the bike was unaware of the carnage behind him. When I returned to full duty I called in at the fish shop, where the owner said the guy on the bike was his daughter s boyfriend. Ironically some months later I attended a fatal accident at Longlands - car Vs motorbike. The rider, with pillion, overtook a southbound car ending up in a head on. I found out later that the rider was the same guy who had pulled out in front of me and that he had only purchased the bike that day. The pillion survived minus a leg. Clearly destiny wasn t on his side. A less serious incident occurred when I was driving a DIC s (Drunk in Charge) car back to the Police Station which we often did as a courtesy if the person behaved. I had helped myself to one of his cigarettes from his dash and as I was about to light up, I was grabbed around the neck and being pulled into the back seat. Not a good idea when travelling at 50kmh. The Traffic Officer following called for back up as the car Doing the community PR stuff with the Honda CB350, about 1975 zigzagged down the road, with a hell of a commotion going on inside the car. I managed to drag him over the front seat by the hair, turning off the ignition and then proceeding to beat the shit out of him when I realised he was the car s owner. Apparently when we finished processing him, some hours earlier, he walked back to his car and went to sleep on the back seat. He thought someone was stealing his car. Roll on I was appointed car officer in Hamilton and when paraded in front of Supt Everitt, was told I had the worst car job in NZ, as an unpaid taxi driver. He was right. However 6 months later, I was seconded to the TLU (Transport Licensing Unit) or referred to as the God Squad by the truckies. Our brief was to enforce the 150km road rail restrictions by whatever means. We drove plain cars and wore uniforms only in Court. We used SIS means of surveillance, which the truck drivers never worked out. You will have to buy the book to learn that one. 8

9 Some years later we operated a number of businesses - mainly service stations and always took a break overseas between opportunities. On one trip we flew to LA, bought a Suzuki 1100 tourer from Berts in Azuza. It was the perfect machine, with a good screen and detachable paniers. We travelled through 16 states in the west and across the north and through a big chunk of Canada. We shipped the bike home and continued our trip to Great Britain and Japan. The bike was sold by Road n Sport. Since joining Ulysses 20 years ago, I have met and made life-long friends, travelled the length and breadth of NZ, on a variety of bikes from 400 to 1500 cc. We still partake on Sunday rides, however, prefer the more sedate Thursday rides organised by David Coy. Thank you for your interest. Lance Lillas 2787 Modern Times with wife Jennifer on the Gold Wing oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Does your nose get sun-burnt? Here s the perfect solution the plastic Schnozz cunningly attached to sunnies by a member of Thursday ride group at Fairview Golf Club café, Katikati on 5 Feb. And the good nose is that it is not patented, so go for it while you can. 9

10 WHO S GOT A NEW BIKE? Ivan s FJR Yamaha had a date with destiny on the Whanganui River Valley Road, and has been succeeded by a newish Suzuki Bandit. A younger, shinier Beemer R1200GS for Topher Suzuki Boulevard for Peter Nicolaas Graham Smith with his nicely restored Honda TT500 at Cambridge BP on 18 Feb ready for the Okoroire F & C ride ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 10

11 Motorcycling at the Masters Games in Wanganui At the end of January every two years, the Wanganui branch of Ulysses organises three days of road rides for anyone over 40 to partake with or without pillions and make it an event at the Masters Games (not an Ulysses ride). This year was the 2 nd time we d done it and the 2 nd time we ve come away with medals of all colours. Our group of four rode down to Wanganui via the Paraparas on Friday so we were ready for the Saturday morning start. The events are kms road rides all over the Manawatu or Taranaki and this time, Wairarapa. On Saturday, we started off in great weather towards the Manawatu with the usual rules about marking corners. On this ride, we had no less than three tail end charlies. The pace was pretty good on the road out of Wanganui and soon we neared Ashhurst for a coffee and a card. Did I mention the format was a Poker Run setup? Best Poker hand. No sooner had we turned off the main road near Ashhurst when we turned off again and the rider in front of me chose not to mark the corner so I pulled over and marked it knowing that there were three tail end charlies on the ride and one was on a red Bandit. Lots of bikes went through then one or two then none and I waited for a red Bandit that never came. After 15 minutes of standing in the sun in full kit and with motor turned off, I waited some more thinking that someone must have come off but of course I didn t know the area or the destination so stayed put. My friend Chris rang me to ask where I was and sorry to say but I lost it when she told me everyone had turned up at the coffee venue. Apparently, one group had gone the wrong way and the three tail end charlies had followed them! So I got back on my bike only to find about two minutes down the road was a bicycle event and I couldn t overtake them as Mr Plod was in the line up... very frustrating. Chris told the organisers what she thought of them for leaving me behind and a big apology was forthcoming when I finally arrived at the coffee house. I resolved not to mark any more corners and the rest of the ride went fine until nearing Pahiatua, all the bikes were overtaking a long line of cars and we all completely missed the turn off to Pongaroa where we were to have lunch. By the time we got to Eketahuna, we knew we were lost but Google Maps are great and we soon found a back road to Pongaroa along with a lost companion on a Goldwing. Just out of Eketahuna, the Hurricanes were playing rugby against the locals at the school we passed. It was a great road and the good natured abuse for getting lost again at Pongaroa was priceless. Roger, the organiser, was first out the door of the Pongaroa Pub to tell us where we went wrong (the overtaking manoeuvre earlier). Couple more stops and back to the Games Village in Wanganui for prize-giving and medal ceremonies. Turk got Gold, Henry got Silver, Chris and I got Bronze. Sunday dawned wet and we met up at the racecourse with the real bikers, lots had dropped out with the weather and we were down to about 20 bikes (no Harleys). Roger took a vote as to whether we took the planned route up the Pipiriki Road beside the Whanganui River or a more sedate route. 11

12 (l to r) Masters Chris & Henry Kraayvanger, Turk & Annie Pegler Pipiriki it was and off we went, what a great road even though I voted for the straighter road, glad we did it. Had morning tea at an old school made into a cafe near Jerusalem. The ride was shorter than planned due to weather but it was still a good one. There were a couple of plonkers on the ride, one of whom we called Banana Man cos he wore bright yellow wets and seemed to delight at starting off at the back of the group then overtaking everyone on the inside and in other stupid places. More medals back at the Games Village and an early night for the ride back to the Waikato on Monday. We ll be back in Annie Pegler #4954 FOR SALE I ride no longer, the Yammie has gone but new home needed for riding gear... ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo M/C boots Gaerne size 47 (11) Waterproof riding jacket and trousers...xxl Winter and summer Gloves..L Waterproof jacket and trousers, light weight..xxl Shoei helmet XR 1000, size L Back brace All the gear is in good order, all reasonable offers considered Please contact: Les Jepson les.j.jepson@gmail.com 12

13 COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THE NORTHERN ODYSSEY I ve just got back after completing the Northern Odyssey and regardless of whether I got the answers right or not, I had a great time and feel a sense of achievement in having completed it. [AR, Auckland] Thankyou for your efforts in setting up the ride, it was a pleasure to do. A very well set out run sheet, clear instructions and accurate distances much appreciated. Cheers. [BH, South Waikato] THERE IS STILL TIME TO ENTER & RIDE THE 2015 NORTHERN ODYSSEY ENTRIES ACCEPTED UNTIL 27 MARCH, FOR COMPLETION BY 27 APRIL 13

14 David s bread pudding After the spud-dig on 8 Feb there was a special treat, bread pudding. As a war-time London baby, David s Mum used to use stale bread to make this treat which became a family staple. Several of those present asked for the recipe, so here it is, it s seriously easy to bake, very forgiving and always tastes yummy. Not in Edmonds so not that well-known in NZ. Prep: 10 mins plus 15 mins soaking Bake: 1 hr 30 mins Additional info: Freezable Ingredients: 500g white or wholemeal bread (I use $1 Countdown loaf); 500g mixed dried fruit; 1 ½ tbsp mixed spice; 600ml (blue-top) milk; 2 large eggs, beaten; 140g raw sugar; zest 1 lemon or 2 teaspoons lemon juice(optional); 100g butter, melted; 2 tbsp raw sugar to sprinkle on top. Method: Tear the bread into a large mixing bowl and add the fruit, peel and spice. Pour in the milk, then stir or scrunch through your fingers to mix everything well and completely break up the bread. Add eggs, 140g raw sugar and lemon if using. Stir well, then set aside for 15 mins to soak. Heat oven to 180C. Butter and line the base of a 20cm non-stick square cake tin. Stir the melted butter into the pudding mixture, tip into the tin, then scatter with raw sugar. Bake for 1½ hrs until firm and golden, covering with foil if it starts to brown too much. Turn out of the tin and strip off the paper. Cut into squares and serve warm. Enjoy. I eat it cold, but you may prefer to warm it in microwave. The Old Flame There s a delightful column in The Guardian (UK paper) called What I m Really Thinking where people in interesting situations reveal what s going on in their mind. Recent contributors have been a bank cashier (has to be polite when customers are abusing her about interest rates), an on-line desk operator (who is frequently asked where they are), the fracker (who is criticised at social gatherings by people running huge SUVs) etc. I found this one, by a woman calling herself The Old Flame, amusing, maybe you will too? At the funeral of an aunt she meets a man she hasn t seen for 50 years when they were at university together. At the time, she quite fancied him but their association came to nothing and they went their separate ways, got married, raised families, pursued careers etc. After the funeral, he spots her, latches on and can t stop talking, most of it pretty boring. His attention is becoming embarrassing and she can see his wife in the background looking anxious about the woman her husband is spending so much time with. The Old Flame then reveals what she is really thinking: Don t worry lady, I m so glad he married you, and not me!! 14

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