Firstly, I must apologise for my slackness in not updating my blog for the last couple of weeks. There are some valid reasons but I still feel bad about it so let me explain.
For the last 6 weeks or so I have been suffering from a particularly nasty cold that has been doing the rounds here in Wollongong. Everyone who has had it has found that it takes about 5-6 weeks before the symptoms finally go away. They include a hacking cough, dull ears and a very sore throat. Like most people my age, and, like most men, I chose to tough it out. The doctor advised that, since its cause was viral rather than bacterial, no amount of antibiotics would help and that I just had to wait for it to run its course. Rest and no exertion was also mentioned but, they always say that, don’t they?
So I have tried to steer a middle course between what I was supposed to be doing and what I really needed to do. So, what HAVE I done since last I updated?
Well, firstly, I have installed the necessary hardware to enable me to transport two bikes around in the back of the Minibago. In consultation with the guys at Oak Flats Motorcycles, we came up with a very simple but elegant solution which I was able to put into practice courtesy of the advice and expertise of the guys at the Mens’ Shed where I go regularly. And, rather than install all sorts of hardware, we came up with this.
Four eye bolts secured to the seat mounting and strengthened with a steel plate at the back of each means that I can secure the front of either one bike or two if I am carrying two. A steel grate is put in between the seat mounts and the front tyre rests on that and prevents the bike from lurching forwards.
At the back to stop the bike/s from sliding forward or sideways I have installed two more eye bolts in the wheel wells.
It is simple, inexpensive ($23 total) and it works. As I will now relate, I have carried the Gold Wing home from the other side of town and the Shadowfax nearly 2500km and neither bike moved a millimetre. Best of all, the installation in no way interferes with the normal usage of the van as a van or as a camper.
So, despite feeling very ordinary indeed, I accepted the challenge of reporting on the 50th Annual Historic Road Racing Championships at Lakeside just out of Brisbane and, along with my good IRA mate, John H, we headed north on Wednesday evening. Going as far as Buladelah, we stayed the night there then pushed on on Thursday morning. What should have been an easy run turned out to be anything but. The roadworks on the Pacific Highway are even worse than they were when I last rode it nearly 5 years ago and the rain that set in not long after we crossed the Queensland border brought traffic to a near standstill up the Gold Coast Highway for well over an hour. The end result? A trip that should have taken about 7 hours took nearly 12 and we arrived at the gate of the track at 1800 to find them locked and the track deserted.
Oh, well, not going to do that again. Decision was made immediately to return home via the longer, but much less aggravating New England Highway.
So we adjourned to our digs for the night. Thanks to the incredible generosity of an old CRRC buddy, we were to stay at his house and enjoy his and his wife’s fabulous hospitality, and fabulous it was. We were treated like royalty and nothing was too much trouble. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it, NOBODY looks after their mates like motorcyclists do.
And here they are. Leif (who provided the hospitality,) Axel, his dad, and Alan, his elder brother. SO good to get the old CRRC/CDDC connection back together.
The next three days were frantic, as race meetings usually are. Trying to fulfill my media obligations while manning the Shadowfax display and catching up with a heap of friends, many of whom I haven’t seen for over 30 years. What a thrill it was to see and talk to so many legends.
Here is 4 times World Champion, Kork Ballington (who thought the Shadowfax was pretty cool, actually)
Rather than repeat myself, can I suggest that you cruise over to mcnews.com.au and read the whole report
Another great privilege was to meet up with and speak to the two sons of one of my all-time heroes, the late, great, Gregg Hansford. Along with their mum, they were there as guests of the organisers to watch one of Gregg’s bikes being ridden in the Legends Demo at lunch time on Saturday. To say that Ryan is his father reincarnated is putting it mildly.
The meeting was hectic, the racing was great and the atmosphere brilliant. And, while I was there, I received a private message on Facebook from Dan Bowden. The Bowden family has a large estate on the Sunshine Coast and a collection of the greatest racing cars of Australian history. And, as part of that collection, they have the ex-Ron Thorp, ex-John Blanden AC Cobra. This iconic Australian sports car was raced by Thorp in the 60’s and is still in its as-raced condition, preserved but not restored. As I have previously been in contact with Dan about the car and supplied him with some photos and some racing information, Dan said that, since I was only 45 minutes south of him at Lakeside, would I like to come up to his place and see the car again? WOULD I WHAT???? It is 47 years since I saw it last and 48 years since I last rode in it, so I determined that I would try to do it if I could.
So, on Monday morning after the meeting, we headed north and found the Bowden’s shed. And there, pride of place in the very front, was this glorious motorcar.
This photo was taken in February 1966 when my brother and I went to Ron’s place at Yallah and he took each of us for a ride around the backroads of Dapto.
And here it is again, with two very smug sightseers sitting in the seats. What a thrill.
Then, it was back to Brisbane for a quick inspection of Leif’s business in Albion. bikebuiders
Recommended.
Then it was west to Ipswich, Warwick and home down the New England as already decided. Traffic was light, the Minibago was singing and I was, as I had been for the whole weekend, coughing my lungs out. Yes, the cold that I thought I had thrown came back with a vengeance and, after an overnight stop at Armidale on Monday night, we pushed on to get home here on Tuesday afternoon. The van had performed brilliantly and we were tired but happy.
However, on Wednesday morning I woke to the worst sore throat I have ever had, not only that but the coughing was continuing and I had a lump at the back of my throat that I felt was going to choke me at any moment. I was seriously scared so we took off to the hospital and the doctor diagnosed me with acute Pharyngitis and prescribed rest, no speaking and heavy-duty antibiotics.
So, that’s just about up-to-date. There will be heaps more that I will remember after I have published this so, if you don’t mind, I’ll take the next few days to detail some of the other highlights of the weekend, but that better be it for now. Thanks for your patience.
small e says
I feel for you Phil carrying that lurgy around for so long. I had a flu i couldn’t shake when I went to Isle of Man. I well remember sheltering from the wind behind a stone wall cursing that I shouldn’t be feeling like shite with all this incredible racing going on. It just wasn’t fair.
Harry Jnr spooky likeness indeed. And Kork Ballington enjoyed a party I recall..He showed me his nipples at a pit party at Le Mans. At the same do I had a great natter with Kenny Blake. Such lovely bloke sadly not long for the world.
Hope you shake the bloody thing off soon mate.
Phil Hall says
Soldier on, I’m afraid, John. Yeah, it’s real pain. Thanks.